Soldering Help

[nativepaul]

I started struggling with my weller40 when I had to switch from 60/40 to the crappy leadfree stuff we get now, its just about workable even with 8gauge wire but you have to preheat the wire and connector for a long time which burns you fingers, holding the wire with pliers is essential and its a risk for any electronics on the other end of the wire, I have upgraded to a weller80 now I'm using 8gauge a lot and only de-soldering 12gauage or under for fatter replacemnets. My tips have also started pitting much worse than they used to and require taking a file to the tip every few jobs and regular tip replacement, I put it down to the $h1tty leadfree solder we have to use now being more corrosive than 60/40, just a guess but I already don't like it due to its higher melting point and poor wicking so its an easy thing to blame.