Is this bad?

[ToastBucket]

So I've only used this iron like 6 times and its got this burned look to it.

(Large pic)
http://a.yfrog.com/img706/8017/vd9.jpg

Why is this? How can I get rid of it or how can I prevent it in the future? Is the iron too hot?

 

[βeta]

It's fine.

 

[Metalcookie]

My iron looks worse than that, but it still works fine. Just make sure to clean the actual tip of the iron and make sure it stays relatively shiny. You want good heat conductivity on the tip.

 

[ToastBucket]

Yeah the tip is fine. The part that looks burned is this little cover thing that screws off. It just holds the tip in place. What would be the best temperature for soldering things? I have anywhere from 350-850 degrees. About 650-700?

 

[bentomo]

The coloring is completely normal, it's just oxidizing, this happens when the iron cools.

 

[samjc3]

for temperature, youll probably want somewhere between 400 and 600 Fahrenheit. i run at about 790, but i do stuff fast.

 

[TheNineRings]

A hole is being melted in my iron whenever I solder. That, I believe, is not good.

 

[Basement_Modder]

A hole is being melted in my iron whenever I solder. That, I believe, is not good.

You're melting the metal?

WTF 0.0

 

[TheNineRings]

That's what I thought.

 

[qerkdtx]

yah it did that with my old crappy iron too.

 

[TheNineRings]

It isnt even acid-bearing solder. It's silver bearing.