Cleaning your soldering tip will not only keep it operating at optimum efficiency, but also extend its lifetime. Just follow these three steps to ensure that you keep your soldering tip clean.
Step One:
Try using a brass sponge or copper braid to clean off any particles or oxidation by inserting the tip and twisting a few times. If this didn’t clean it, apply solder with a flux core, and repeat.
Step Two:
If the tip is still not clean, apply tip cleaner (also known as tip tinner or activator). This is a mixture of flux and solder that has a much higher concentration of flux than your typical flux core solder. To use this, heat the soldering iron, dip it in the cleaner and twist to cover the entire tip. This contains flux that will help to remove the oxidation and buildup that may be on it, while the solder in it will help to re-tin the tip to protect and prolong its life.
Step Three:
Remove the excess tip cleaner using a wet sponge, brass sponge, or copper braid. At this point, if it is still not looking great it may be time to replace the tip.
Never use harsh abrasives to clean the soldering tip as this will remove the protective coating and degrade the life of it altogether. This will ultimately require you to replace the tip prematurely.
Keeping the tip clean and tinning it before you store your iron will help prolong its life. However, just like everything else, things wear out over time. If the above steps clean it, but the tip cleaner needs to be utilized more frequently than previously, the tip is wearing out and it would be a smart idea to procure a new one before the other is totally worn out. If you find yourself needing a replacement, take a look at our large selection of stocking soldering tips here.