How To Clean Your Solder Iron Tip

If your soldering tip becomes detinned oxidized it can be restored in a number of ways.

How to clean your solder iron tip. You can tell your tip is clean when it appears bright and shiny. Electronix Express points out that in order to remove the dirt and debris that accumulates on the tip of a soldering iron it is necessary to wipe it clean with a sponge. Heat your soldering iron up to the low end of a typical work range generally between 280 and 320C.

Then dip the tip in the cleaner and do a slight twist action. With the iron tip cold use a polishing bar. You also can clean your soldering iron tip with a sponge while using it to keep it clean.

The best tip tinner is your solder--tips should always be coated with a small amount of solder. When you are done for the day simply wipe clean as the iron is cooling and it will be ready to go the next time. A polyurethane foam bar with embedded abrasives which is used to polish the working end of the tip to remove surface oxides.

This will maximize the cleaning the sponge offers by keeping the tip material in a flowing state. You should clean them before during and after use. Dip the tip into the tinner making sure that the entire oxidized surface is in contact with the re-tinning product.

To apply the tip cleaner first heat the soldering iron. Now remove the tip and clean it with a moist sponge to remove the cleaner. Leave for 4-5 Seconds and then Take out the Iron.

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. On a fine pointed tip this will be even more evident. Use the Hakko FS100 Tip Polish as a supplement to regular cleaning Use clean damp sponges for regular cleaning Use a nonabrasive tip cleaner as an alternative to a damp sponge Hakko 599B Tip Cleaner Flood the tip with solder after cleaning to cover the entire working surface of the tip.