Solder iron tip -- is it okay to not insert all the way into iron?

[lee321987]

I've seen two kinds of soldering iron tip:
1) short tip with threads that screw into the iron.
2) long tip that slides all way into the iron, and is held by a set screw.

My question is about 2):
Would it be okay to run the iron with the tip only inserted half-way into the iron?

I'm asking because i have ground-down my tip (many times) to get to bare copper, and if i grind it any more it will be too short.

(i know you aren't supposed to grind the tip because of the protective plating, but that had worn off of my tip)

 

[chemelec]

You Can, But Inserting it only Partly in Will Reduce its effective heating.

Also Tips are Plated to Avoid the copper from Oxidizing.

SoI would recommend getting a NEW TIP.

 

[lee321987]

You Can, But Inserting it only Partly in Will Reduce its effective heating.

Also Tips are Plated to Avoid the copper from Oxidizing.

SoI would recommend getting a NEW TIP.

I hadn't even considered the tip getting less heat. Understood.
I'm more concerned about the iron getting too hot and damaging itself...???

The plating also protects the copper from being dissolved by the molten tin in solder.
I didn't grind mine till it was too oxidized to work anymore.

As far as a new tip... i actually have a new tip, but I've ground this (current) tip down to fresh copper many times -- it works for a while, then you have to grind it again.