comments:
You can get a set of new tips. Watch some beginner videos, as you'd said you're just starting out, and it's one of those things you really do have to know the basics to pull off. You also need supplies that don't actively fight you. fwiw, I found this budget iron a significant step up from the set temp one i used occasionally and very poorly for years: https://a.co/d/0eSwlMIX It's just a little more than tip tinner and probably same as a set of new tips (I'm assuming you're in a similar market - US in my case). It was enough to learn how to care for tips and practice the basics a bunch. I've since upgraded to a much nicer station, but that one worked surprisingly ok for the cost. (I had decent flux, solder, stand and sponge already so didn't care they were crap). But you really won't succeed unless you're aware of the basic concepts and have decent enough supplies. I honestly do get being broke, but you can only cut corners so far before you're bound to fail... so as you save up, watch some tutorial videos.
" 1.7V each. So I guess they're ultra-fresh" I'd say beyond that. I've never seen one that read over 1.6 V. Those black blobs are proprietary ICs so you nevr know what they do. I use an iron like this at PDX repair and as a carry: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R3515SF?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_9&th=1 It's only $11. and this flux: https://store.rossmanngroup.com/amtech-nc-559-v2-30-cc-16160.html and lead solder.