Reddit reviews Inland MiniPhaser Temperature Controller
We found 1 Reddit comments about Inland MiniPhaser Temperature Controller. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Solid state circuitry maintains consistent soldering temperature for better controlManipulate solder for decorative and special effects.Use with Inland soldering irons and other non-tip controlled irons.Easy read dial with on/off indicator.Handles up to 600 Watts throughput 115V only
The sponge, as some have pointed out, may be part of your issue. If you're using paste/liquid flux, and it does not match the flux core in your solder (no-clean core with rosin paste, for example), that can definitely cause problems. Your 80W non-controlled iron is also making it difficult because the tip rapidly shoots past the melting point of solder and zooms into the oxidizing temperature range. It's almost certainly running too hot. If you see your solder turning red-orange and then blue, then that's definitely what's happening.
I would suggest trying a tip tinner. Plug the iron in and immediately start rubbing it (gently) into the tinner. The instant it begins to melt, unplug the iron and continue tinning... it'll keep getting hotter for long enough to finish.
Or, if you're impatient, cool the iron, use that awful green Scotchbrite pad to gently scour the black stuff away, then wrap the tip with solder and add a drop of flux (again... make sure it's the same flux that's inside the solder, or use coreless solder), and plug the iron in. It should partially or completely tin the tip. Then you can use a wadded up paper towel with just a tiny bit of water in it to clean the tip off.
To keep the temperature within usable range, I recommend you get a cheap soldering iron controller. I like the Mini Phaser:
https://www.amazon.com/INLAND-Inland-MiniPhaser-Temperature-Controller/dp/B001R4QWK0/
But you could also just buy a cheap light dimmer from a hardware store and use that to power your iron outlet.. it's exactly the same thing and that's what I use in my stained glass studio. I have an 80W iron and I have to turn the power down on it to solder 1/4" thick beads to windows.. so if you're using this for electronics you definitely want to dial it way back.