How To Clean Solder Iron Tips

This step will coat the iron in a mixture of flux and solder.

How to clean solder iron tips. If all else fails Soldering Iron tips do not last forever. You also can clean your soldering iron tip with a sponge while using it to keep it clean. Push the soldering iron tip into the chemical cleaner until the entire rusted area is submerged.

Repeat the Process 3-4 Times until the Soldering Tips start Shining. Once clean and shiny perform tinning and now your tool is ready to use. Its something of a vi-vs-emacs war about which is better but whatever.

Like other posters have said to make the tip last longer leave a blob of solder on the tip when you are done. Switch on the Soldering Station or the Iron and Make sure it is Hot Enough. Be careful not to over-tighten the locking nut.

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. Heat your soldering iron up to the low end of a typical work range generally between 280 and 320C. It took a lot of effort with tip tinnercleaning compound to make the solder wet the tip again.

The best tip tinner is your solder--tips should always be coated with a small amount of solder. To use the Tip tinnercleaner heat the soldering iron. Wipe the iron on a damp sponge to remove the excess.

This will protect the iron from oxidation as the solder serves as a sacrificial buffer zone against oxidation it oxidizes rather than our tip. We will achieve this by allowing a thin coating of solder to cover the tip of our iron. This is done by first ensuring the tip is clean and free of surface oxides.