How Does Steel Wool Clean Soldering Iron

jarthel

I've seen tip cleaners that looks like a dishwashing scrub (the metal one).

I am wondering if anyone has use a dishwashing scrub as a tip cleaner. thanks

Uncle Erik

I regularly use one of the metal dishwashing scrub-type cleaners on my tips. They piece of work well.

Nevertheless, I'd advise against using a Brillo or other dishwashing pad, considering many of them come with soap already in them. Also, do not use regular steel wool. It has oil in it. The oil won't necessarily injure your tip, but it *is* probable to grab fire if you put a hot iron in it. If you lot've never seen a slice of steel wool catch fire, believe me, information technology does. One time, I had just grouted and gear up the tile in a kitchen. As it got pretty firm, I started rubbing the tile with steel wool to get the excess off. I didn't detect that there was an unwired, yet live socket on the wall. I got a adept zap and then the steel wool caught on fire. Fortunately, I wasn't hurt and there was a bucket of water nearby. Just this is one of those lessons y'all don't want to learn firsthand.

If I recollect correctly, the metal scrubs for soldering irons are just $10-$15 or so. You lot could probably get a used one for fifty-fifty less on eBay. They're fabricated out of brass, don't rust, and don't catch burn.

If y'all want to go cheaper, you can use a fine sandpaper (220 or higher) or 0000 steel wool on a *COLD* atomic number 26 to lightly sand the tip. Can the tip once again after that, and it should exist like new.

jarthel

thanks for the reply. i exercise not take a trouble with the price. just wondering if the in that location are readily available alternatives to the "scrub".

tomb

My feel is express compared to most around here, but I would exist reluctant to apply sandpaper of any sort to a soldering atomic number 26 tip. In my feel, information technology can prepare up an irreversible tip degradation. Some of the newer loftier-tech irons take multiple coatings/platings on the tips. I think those would not exist conducive to an annoying. It's probably OK on cheaper, legacy irons with simple copper tips or similar.

The "scrubs" you refer to are not coordinating to steel wool or a brillo pad at all. They could be better termed equally metal squeegees that gently brush off old solder and flux. If you think nigh it, a sponge is pretty gentle where metal is concerned. These were designed every bit a better replacement, because the iron doesn't lose its heat.

I get mine from Jameco - they seem to be the cheapest at $four.95:
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/sto...oductId=156777

Replacement "pads" are only $2.79. I think they get used up faster than you lot would call back. The brass tends to flatten out and lose its cushion, but they are a definite improvement over the heat-robbing sponge.

Uncle Erik

Y'all're right about the coatings on the newer tips. I merely go in for serious cleaning when the tip is near the end of life. Generally, I wipe with the sponge to remove excess solder and hitting the scrub pad once every couple of hours. When a tip gets pitted, or otherwise damaged, a very fine sandpaper will assist. 220 might even be a trivial potent. I'll usually go for 400 or better. I even proceed some 2000 grit around to occasionally wet sand paint or to smooth a fountian pen nib.

stadams

If you lot have tips for your soldering iron that are atomic number 26-clad, you tin can pick up a cheap alternative to the typical canned formulas of tip cleaner. I accept a friend that has used Sal Ammoniac for years to clean his irons. If you tin can't use it or tin can't discover it, the commercial preparations by Plato or Kester work adept on all irons for tip cleaning and re-tinning.

Your best alternative is to simply estrus your iron when you lot need it, make clean it using a damp sponge right earlier you use it, and re-wet information technology with solder right after utilise before putting it back in its stand. In this way, you will dramatically reduce tip oxidation and will ever take a make clean fe tip for soldering.

There is plenty of info on the web concerning soldering and related tool care. Simply check out the videos at Tangent'southward tutorial site, if you lot oasis't already.

Later,