Best Way To Clean A Soldering Iron Tip

If theres krud building up that doesnt come off with the sponge wipe it on a cleaning wire.

Best way to clean a soldering iron tip. You also can clean your soldering iron tip with a sponge while using it to keep it clean. Dont think about keeping clean from dirt but keeping cleaning from soldering wire. Tinning the Soldering Iron Tip.

If all else fails Soldering Iron tips do not last forever. The brass wool is very efficient and provide a perfect cleanning. For the wet sponge be sure to use one that is intended for use with a soldering iron.

Heat from the solder tip will activate the flux and start the chemical reaction that removes oxides. Soldering iron only works if there is a temperature difference. This should lead to a clean shiny tip ready for use.

Just clean old solder while the iron is hot or file it cold if too dirty. After you have finished cleaning the soldering iron you want to tin the tip. The best tip tinner is your solder--tips should always be coated with a small amount of solder.

If some of the oxides are just sticking really well you could try to mildly abrade them on a brass sponge copper braid or similar but you cant be too hard or you will damage the iron plating good tips are typically copper core plated with iron then chromium everywhere but the working area. It can be easily done with soldering paste and solder. This may be a wet sponge or a wiremetal sponge.

The flux in tip cleaner removes the oxidation and build up from the soldering iron tip and then the solder re-tins the tip ready for use. If the tip gets really bad it can often be restored with a chemical tip tinner. This will help protect the soldering iron from rusting oxidization and other forms of damage.