Sponges and cleaners

Factors influencing the wear of the tip

A soldering iron tip is a component exposed to very difficult, even extreme working conditions. It is destroyed by temperature, which already in the times of the reign of lead technology was at least 200 to over 300 oC, and the displacement of old tin and lead alloys made the situation even worse, increasing the temperature level by another several dozen degrees. In addition to the high temperatures, the surface of the soldering tip is also exposed to mechanical and chemical damage, as fluxes, which are designed to remove oxides and improve the solderability of the components to be joined, degrade the tip by depositing the burnt residues of the substances it contains on the tip. This is compounded by contamination (particularly present when working with older, dirty boards). An inappropriate cleaning method can worsen the condition of the tip and damage its delicate surface. Therefore, you should always take care to choose only high-quality sponges and cleaners specially designed for this purpose.

How to care for the tip?

The basic principle is very simple - the tip should be cleaned from time to time to avoid accumulation of oxides and flux residues which are harmful to its surface. If there is a visible amount of tin "sticking" to the soldered parts, it should be immediately removed from the tip (from all sides) by gently rubbing it on a wire cleaner or a damp sponge. Afterwards, it is advisable to apply a small amount of clean, fresh tin (with flux inside) to the tip, which will significantly improve the solderability and prolong the life of the flux. The black ooze that sometimes collects above the tin-coated surface is made up of flux residue and any other impurities - this too should be removed immediately with a cleaner or sponge to prevent the impurities from becoming entrenched on the tip surface.

Cleaners - Botland store

 In this category you will find universal wire cleaners and special sponges for cleaning different types of soldering tips. The simplest, wire tips in transformer soldering irons and tips in cheaper models of soldering irons can be successfully cleaned with both these types of cleaners. It is better to clean delicate, more expensive soldering tips with a sponge, so as not to damage their coatings. Salmiac is useful for cleaning stubborn dirt from transformer soldering tips, but you should neutralize the hydrochloric acid that is produced when salmiac is heated up, so that it doesn't damage the tip or, even more so, the components or tracks being soldered.