How To Tin A Soldering Iron Tip
Holding the solder in one hand and the iron in the other briefly touch the solder to both sides of the tip.
How to tin a soldering iron tip. Solder will flow from the tip onto the area. Pliers will keep it at the proper place as well as tighten the windings. Thats how you can tin your new soldering iron.
Answer 1 of 5. It will generally just wipe away. Do not wait for it to get hot before touching the solder to the tip.
You will want to tin your tips when you first purchase them before use when the iron is sitting idle in the holder during use and when you finish soldering before you pack your tips for storage. Insert your prepared tip into the soldering iron. Then immediately re-tin the tip with rosin core solder.
The trick is to apply the solder AS its heating up. Get a sponge to clean the tinned tip and voila. A polyurethane foam bar with embedded abrasives which is used to polish the working end of the tip to remove surface oxides.
Wait till the Solder melts. If you over-clean the tip after use and then leave the iron in the holder there is a slight risk of oxide on the iron plating - I always clean and tin the tip immediately before using and leave any residual solder on the tip while its in the holder. Something to hold the piece down.
It protects the tip reduces wear and tear and extends its life. Set a temperature of the soldering iron to be tested eg. Wait for a minute or two to melt the solder.