Q?:Cleaning Soldering Iron Tip

[turbine682]

Hi Folks,

I use the Radio Shack tip cleaning and tinning compound, but is it possible to use fine sand paper or steel wool to further clean the soldering iron tip?

BTW, I've recently have had great success in soldering wire, i.e., flux + tin = nice solder flow and joint in the wires... I just want to keep my tip as clean as possible.

Thanks in advance,

--Ed

[DrifterNL]

Using a wet sponge in between soldering will also keep your tip clean.

Don't use sand paper or steel wool, you will be exchanging tips more that necessary.

A tip will eventually eat away and you will need to replace it.

[seanm]

Sandpaper sounds like a bad idea. I use a damp folded up shop paper towel. Seems to work well and I can wrap it around the tip and get all sides. I seem to have more trouble getting off excess solder with a sponge.

[MooseID]

Some soldering iron tips are plated. If the is the case, never file it or use anything abrasive on it. When it wears out, replace it.

Solid copper/bronze tips only need a quick wipe with a damp rag. Keep the tip tinned at all times. It will eventually erode and get pitted. Then replace it.

The same is true for soldering gun tips.

[turbine682]

I had some concerns about abrasives... kinda like using sandpaper and steel wool on your tracks and loco wheels...

Once again, you folks came through with the needed info.

--Ed

[nemoskull]

about your solder, i would recomend silver solder, small gauge. radio shack sell what they called 'hi tech silver bearing solder' it cost about $5 for a 4 or 8 ounce roll (can't remember exactly ho much i got) but i get a good shiny joiny about 90 times out of a hundred, and thats not an exageration. great stuff, i dont mess with flux, i just works, though, what i solder is all ways clean.

[Michael]

I have been sanding/filing the tip of my soldering iron for years. During my electronics years in highschool we always wiped down the soldering iron with a damp sponge - a habit I have practiced ever since. But from time to time I find the tip seems to get too gunked-up and I will reshape the end with files etc and then re-tim the tip.

I'm not suggesting that this is how anyone should treat their iron, but it's what I've been doing (iron is 18 years old) and I'm still using the same tip!

Truthfully, I wasn't aware the iron should be treated better.

[bridgeman]

I use one of those sanding blocks (foam inside) to rest my pencil iron on so it doesn't slip around. I also use it to clean the tip. I've been doing it this way for years.

[Redesford]

Lots of good advice. I agree with no sand paper or files. This will degrade the surface of the tip. Steel wool? Never tried it, but I have always cleaned my tips with a damp sponge whilst the iron is hot.

[seanm]

I have seen a cleaning pad that looks like steel wool in a pile that you shove the tip into. Can't remember where I saw it, but it must work. I still like a damp shop paper towel.

[epumph]

H&N Electronics has a tip tinner/cleaner. they also have liquid flux and other soldering stuff.
http://www.ccis.com/home/hn/

[wilkimoto]

Best to use a wet sponge and proper holder. If you first "crack" the solder on the cold wet sponge and then immediately and gently bump the tip upward over rungs on the holder the excess solder will drop off.
NEVER use abrasives ...they cause an uneven surface on the tip making it impossible to properly control application. And also ruins coated tips.
The right solder is essential to a good solder job and life of the circuit board.
Kester #66/44 rosin core .031" is one of my favorites.
My solder tips last me a long time and I solder daily, as I am an installer/repair tech.

[rpcelect]

There are a couple of simple good habits to get into when soldering:

1. Try to use a temp controlled iron whenever possible. I recommend even a cheap-o such as the Haiko stations. Having the ability to control tip temp serves several purposes:

A. Depending on what you are soldering, full brute force is almost never a good idea. You can have unintended melting/damage.

B. Excessive heat damages the tip's plating.

C. Excessive heat can damage the solder and cause somthing called "embrittlement". Basically seperating of the tin/lead alloy. You will get a very grainy texture when this happens.

2. When placing the iron into the stand for extended periods of time, make it a habit to load the tip up with solder and then drop the temp to a standby temp. This maintains a good tin on the tip and protects it from oxidation. At the very least, tin the tip before putting it in the stand, even if you can't drop the heat.

3. Cleaning the tip is essential whenever using the iron, before and after making the solder joint. A damp sponge for between soldering cleaning is plenty. Anytime a tip needs some oxidation managment, a solder cleaning compound in the best. It has the proper abrasive to clean the tip, without removing the plating. NEVER use sandpaper, files or anything else of this abrasive nature. You will simply ruin the plating and the tip is toast.

The soldering process is a simple one. The order should be this: Clean, Tin, Solder, Clean, Tin and Place back into the stand. I like to call it CTSCTP.

Just my $0.02. I'm a NASA certified soldering instructor, but what do I know

[bigford]

if all else fails use a hotter tip

[rpcelect]

if all else fails use a hotter tip

The really interesting thing is, I find myself teaching one week classes to techs that are well over twice my age and most are former military electronics techs. The biggest hurdle to get over with those guys is the "Bigger the blob, the better the job." creedo

[rpcelect]

I have seen a cleaning pad that looks like steel wool in a pile that you shove the tip into. Can't remember where I saw it, but it must work. I still like a damp shop paper towel.

I believe this is what you were referring to, Sean?

http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-Cleaner-.../dp/B000PDQORU

These work fairly well. We keep them in the classroom kits as an addition to the traditional sponge.

Here is the tip cleaning compound I was referring to, as well:

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/pro...oducts_id=8966

Here is the Hakko soldering station I mentioned. Great station for the price:

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/pro...products_id=84