How To Clean Solder Iron Tips

If theres krud building up that doesnt come off with the sponge wipe it on a cleaning wireIf the tip gets really bad it can often be restored with a chemical tip tinner.

How to clean solder iron tips. Its something of a vi-vs-emacs war about which is better but whatever. This step will coat the iron in a mixture of flux and solder. Cardboard works in a pinch.

If all else fails Soldering Iron tips do not last forever. Wipe the tip clean and re-tin it between every joint. Push the soldering iron tip into the chemical cleaner until the entire rusted area is submerged.

Then slide the retaining nut over the tip and sleeve and tighten it using your hands. Heat your soldering iron up to the low end of a typical work range generally between 280 and 320C. First use a wet sponge to wipe off the tip before soldering.

Use stainless steel wool flux and thick clothe to clean the tip. Switch on the Soldering Station or the Iron and Make sure it is Hot Enough. Set the temperature of the soldering iron between 250C and 300C.

The best tip tinner is your solder--tips should always be coated with a small amount of solder. How to Clean Soldering Iron Tip. When pre-cleaning is necessary for plated tips they should be cleaned with a mildly abrasive emery cloth and may require an acid flux to remove the oxides before tinning or re-tinning.

This is because as the soldering iron expands and contracts quickly. Turn it off as soon as you have finished soldering. Now remove the tip and clean it with a moist sponge to remove the cleaner.