Headlight relays, soldering question

[TWFAUST at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/20/2005 4:05:16 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
audi at humanspeakers.com writes:

> By the way, I'd guess that your soldering iron does not have enough 
> power to get 12-14 gauge wire up to 6-700 degrees.  I use several 100 
> watt soldering stations in my work, with self-regulating tips for steady 
> temerature, and they are barely up to soldering 12 gauge wire.  I've 
> also noticed that when a tip goes bad, resulting in a constant "on" 
> condition, and heats up to orange-red hot, it won't solder properly any 
> more

The gun is rated at 140 watts, but it is on a long cord. I suppose I am an 
amateur solderer. Other than a lot of 1/2" pipe, I haven't done any electrical 
soldering since I was 11 or 12.

I suspected that the tip was bad. The "legs" were getting red/orange but tip 
temp was barely enough to melt the solder (rosin core) when I applied it 
directly. Where is "tinner's acid" when I need it? I think the EPA did away with 
that about 15 years ago.

Tom