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Solder resistant plating
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BradC:
I have an Aoyue desoldering station. I make adapters for this that fits Hakko tips, and I generally turn this out of a bit of 1/2" copper bar. The problem is two-fold.

1) The copper oxidises badly, so I have to clean it every time I change tips; and
2) The solder sticks to the interior of the adapter and slowly dissolves it until it gets so thin it breaks.

I've made a couple, and I've been looking at plating but never thought it about it much more.

I initially thought about electro-less nickel plating, but nickel tends to be easy for solder to adhere to. So I'm fishing for ideas. Admittedly Nickel will stop the copper dissolving, but is there something else I can do at home that'll both plate the copper *and* reject the solder?

Anyone? McFly?
Ian.M:
Could you use aluminum for the adaptor?

Most solder-resistant metals aren't at all easy to plate with.   It would be possible to chrome plate your parts (over the Nickel layer), but due to the high toxicity of chromium compounds, you should strongly consider sending them out to be plated rather than DIY.
BradC:

--- Quote from: Ian.M on April 27, 2020, 12:09:20 pm ---Could you use aluminum for the adaptor?
--- End quote ---

It had crossed my mind. I have some ally bar somewhere. Certainly worth a try.


--- Quote from: Ian.M on April 27, 2020, 12:09:20 pm ---Most solder-resistant metals aren't at all easy to plate with.   It would be possible to chrome plate your parts (over the Nickel layer), but due to the high toxicity of chromium compounds, you should strongly consider sending them out to be plated rather than DIY.
--- End quote ---

I did think about Chrome plating, and I certainly have no intention of playing with hexavalent chrome or cyanide.

Might give the aluminium a try. I suspect given the difference in thermal expansion might require some adjustment in the dimensions.
SeanB:
How about just using thin steel, and then treating the surface with phosphoric acid to create an oxide layer that will not be wettable by the solder.  either a iron phosphate layer, or simply blue it to make it relatively inert. Cheap, and you can do a few at a time, even make them from appropriate sheet bent to the right diameter, or slit thin wall tube.
Gregg:
Titanium nitride coating would fit the application but may be expensive in small batches.
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