How To Make A Soldering Iron Tip Last
The thermal conductivity of brass is only about 14 that of pure copper.
How to make a soldering iron tip last. Try the 3 cleaning methods mentioned above and failing those just get a replacement iron tip. Having a stained glass soldering iron in good condition and keeping it that way will make a huge difference in your enjoyment and success at soldering well. Use High Quality Solder.
Probably the easiest way is to grind or taper one end of a long brass rod and then make rough threads similar to the ones the original non-brass tip has screw it into the soldering iron cut it off an inch or so and then sharpen the end that was just separated from the rod. 10 Soldering Tips to Instantly Improve Your Soldering Skills. Do NOT clean the old solder off when you put the iron up temporarily do NOT clean all the solder off when shutting down for the night.
Then dip into the tin of tinner cleaner with a slight twisting action. This step will coat the iron in a mixture of flux and solder. They normally can last for years.
Do NOT scrape it. Keep the Solder Tip Clean. To make sure that your soldering iron lasts longer you may consider the following instructions.
Clean the iron immediately before use with a moist natural sea sponge. Avoid excessive wiping on a wet sponge as this can cause temperature fluctuations which expand and contract the metal and stress the tip. Always pour on some solder at your solder tip before you turn off your soldering iron and store the tip with solder on it this will make the tip last longer because the tip wont be exposed to oxidation because its protected by the solder.
One last piece of advice is to always tin the iron tip before turning it off or unplugging it. You can also make soldering iron tips out of brass. Taking Care of Soldering Iron Tips.