How To Use Solder Sponge

It prolongs the life of the tip and keeps it well-maintained after each use.

How to use solder sponge. There is an argument to be made that it is better to use a brass wire sponge instead of a moist cleaning sponge. Then wet the spong with Fantastictm and water and wring out. To wipe the solder off a circuit board you should use a solder wick.

Look for tinning products that also function as cleaners when reconditioning the tip. Apply a small amount of solder to prevent further oxidation. IIRC the brass wool products were the answer to issues that were seen when using damp sponges with the newer lead free solder alloys different behavior vs.

The wick will fill up so kindly pull the wick over the joint and your iron and the solder will move into it as it relinquishes. Wait a few seconds to let the tip heat up again before proceeding to step 4. To make one get a cellulose sponge cut slits in it like you find in commercial solder sponges and alos cut a hole in the middle.

The brass sponge is ok but it seems you do have to train it so it doesnt splatter the solder but stabbing motions into it seem to not splatter the solder compared to just laying it on top of it and rolling the iron like you do on a wet sponge. And by doing that we remove that oxide layer and expose fresh un-oxidized metal and thatll be much more effective at transferring heat to the work piece. It also became apparent that the lead-free alloys when clean with a wet or moist sponge would accelerate the cracking of the plating on the tip of the soldering iron.

The idea behind using a copper pad instead of a wet sponge is that heat is lost to the sponge and a few extra seconds are required after each cleaning to get. Heat the soldering iron and use a moist sponge to clean the surface. Most soldering stations however ship with a sponge that you moisten prior to each use.

This cracking allowed the tin to penetrate the plating on the tip which prevented the tip from being tinned thereby increasing the oxidation on the tip rendering the tip useless and needing to be replaced. Dampen the sponge in the stand. When you have a lot of flux or contaminates a wet sponge cleans it quickly.