Soldering Iron Fix
ActualDragon wrote 12/02/2017 at 23:40 • 1 pointI have a soldering iron i haven't used in a while, but i need it now. The tip is black and corroded, and the solder beads up on it. Can i still save it?
I have a soldering iron i haven't used in a while, but i need it now. The tip is black and corroded, and the solder beads up on it. Can i still save it?
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I have learned the hard way to stay away from the file and sandpaper as you will grind down the coating on the tip. Get it warmed up, clean it with the sponge or brass sponge and use some tip dinner on it. The little containers are cheap and bring a tip back to life.
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Theres also these 'tip cleaners' which are bscly a bundle of steel wool in a holder, i got one of those and just poke the solder iron in that a couple of times after use, same effect as cleaning, but less effort :3
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keep the tip embedded in solder when you're not using it, even for a minute. Right before you put it into the holder, melt a bunch of solder onto the tip, every time. Then when you pull it out, wipe it off on the solder tip refresher or wet sponge or whatever you use.
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yeah, i'll clean it, so it's shiny, turn it on, and it blackens up again and i have to re clean it with the steel wool. I even soaked it in vinegar (read that somewhere)
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Just give it a good cleaning (cold) with steel wool, a scotch-brite pad, or a file if it's really bad. Heat it up, and re-tin with solder, and you should be fine.
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I have similar problems. Thanks ted!
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That's how I take care of my cheap WM irons :-) Works just fine.
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