How To Clean Your Soldering Iron Tip

Of the tip regularly.

How to clean your soldering iron tip. The best tip tinner is your solder--tips should always be coated with a small amount of solder. You also can clean your soldering iron tip with a sponge while using it to keep it clean. Wire wool has the advantage of not cooling down the soldering iron too much and you dont have to wait for the iron.

Repeat the previous steps a few times if necessary until your tip is fully coated. Then dip the tip in the cleaner and do a slight twist action. After every cycle and before you start to solder always clean your tip.

Switch OFF the Soldering Station or the Iron. 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. The best solder for oxidation prevention is one with a high amount of flux core.

Melt some good quality of solder wire on the Tip. When you are done for the day simply wipe clean as the iron is cooling and it will be ready to go the next time. Switch on the Soldering Station or the Iron and Make sure it is Hot Enough.

Hold it here for a few seconds and you will see the chemical from the tip tinner melting around the tip. A polyurethane foam bar with embedded abrasives which is used to polish the working end of the tip to remove surface oxides. Once clean and shiny perform tinning and now your tool is ready to use.

If all else fails Soldering Iron tips do not last forever. To apply the tip cleaner first heat the soldering iron. Each time you clean the soldering iron and put it away apply a fresh solder to the tip.