How To Clean Solder Sponge
Professional technician prefer the large one that has rubber feet to keep it from sliding around when cleaning the sponge.
How to clean solder 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. Wipe OFF the solder on the Cleaning Sponge or Copper Wool. These will be found in the kitchen cleaning supplies section.
Only thing i know and propably answers my own question is that ever since i changed from these green and yellow dishcleaning spongesscrubpad to those yellow brassmetal sponges my tip has always been mint and i do add water a bit on the spunge but why exactly is water necessary and how much of it should be added the brass sponge does not soak it at all. I usually just shake out the bits of solder and toss it when it gets too worn out. The cheapest source for a pad is to visit your local grocery or department store.
There is an argument to be made that it is better to use a brass wire sponge instead of a moist cleaning sponge. Using a brass sponge requires no water. How to Clean and Tin Soldering Iron Tip with Cleaning Sponge Copper Wool Tip Tinner - YouTube.
Considering that you can get suitable soldering sponges in 6-packs at the dollar store and can cut them into quarters if you want a pack to last longer this is not usually a huge deal. Do it by wetting the sponge or cleaning pad included in the kit. You will need a cellulose and sulfur-free sponge this is what you will use to clean the tip of the soldering iron.
To apply the tip cleaner first heat the soldering iron. Switch OFF the Soldering Station or the Iron. Synthetic sponges will melt onto the soldering tip and can shorten tip life.
So what we need to do is remove that solder by wiping it on a sponge a wet sponge. Doing this first will take care of any mild buildup and help you discern in a safe way whether the tip is still too warm to touch with bare hands. The solution is to add a copper pad to your soldering station and save your money doing it.