how do you clean your tip?

[Eric]

Most of us, because we were taught that way, use a wet sponge.

But the local university says, you should never use a wet sponge.



Has anybody got a better way and maybe the tips last longer?

 

[John Miller]

But the local university says, you should never use a wet sponge.

Lots of folks will be willing to accept a better way, if there is a good
reason given for it (but equally ready to reject a new way, if it's
presented without reason).

What's the university's reason?

--
John Miller
Email address: domain, n4vu.com; username, jsm

The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has
a past and every sinner has a future.
-Oscar Wilde

 

[Boris Mohar]

Most of us, because we were taught that way, use a wet sponge.

But the local university says, you should never use a wet sponge.

Why do they say that?

Has anybody got a better way and maybe the tips last longer?

I re tin mine with Kester Ultrapure Tip Tinner.

What I would really like is a recipe for iron plating soldering iron tips.





Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs http://www3.sympatico.ca/borism/

 

[Sofie]

Eric:
You better get an e-mail off to Weller and Ungar right away..... many of
their soldering stations (and other brands too) come with a tip cleaning
sponge.
It works for me.... and has been working just fine for many decades.
And please enlighten me...... why should "we" never use a wet sponge?
thermal shock? corrosion? Just think of the thermal shock when pressing
the hot tip against a cold joint...... not to mention the corrosion
possibilities from electrolytic capacitors that have leaked on the pcb, etc.

 

[Leonard G. Caillouet]

I use a stainless steel pot scrubber stuffed into the bottom of my iron
holders. It cleans the tips everytime you put the iron into the holder.

Cheap and most effective, my favorite kind of solution.

Leonard

 

[Leonard G. Caillouet]

Don't put it in any nasty places...if it needs cleaning, gentle soap and
water...

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Leonard

 

[Charles Schuler]

Most of us, because we were taught that way, use a wet sponge.

But the local university says, you should never use a wet sponge.

I worked at universities for 33 years and can tell you that they are not
necessarily the last word ... on any subject. I use the sponge that came
with my soldering station and it works just fine!

 

[Andy Cuffe]

Most of us, because we were taught that way, use a wet sponge.

But the local university says, you should never use a wet sponge.



Has anybody got a better way and maybe the tips last longer?


---

I use one of those tip cleaners that looks like a brass brillo pad.
It cleans even the worst looking tips without cooling them down and
lasts much longer than a sponge. It's also nice not to have to wet
the sponge every day.

Andy Cuffe
[email protected]

 

[george stringe]

Most of us, because we were taught that way, use a wet sponge.

But the local university says, you should never use a wet sponge.



Has anybody got a better way and maybe the tips last longer?

use one of those curley stainless steel tip cleaners in place of the wet sponge.

 

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

I use a stainless steel pot scrubber stuffed into the bottom of my iron
holders. It cleans the tips everytime you put the iron into the holder.

Sounds like a good idea. I might have to give it a try.

William

 

[jakdedert]

I worked at universities for 33 years and can tell you that they are
not necessarily the last word ... on any subject. I use the sponge
that came with my soldering station and it works just fine!

I once had someone try to tell me (this forum?) that harmful fumes would be
given off from synthetic sponges. I don't believe it myself. About all
that gets 'burned' is the water the sponge is periodically soaked in. The
sponge itself doesn't even get scorched if kept well hydrated.

jak

 

[Ross Herbert]

On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 17:00:31 -0400, "Leonard G. Caillouet"

|I use a stainless steel pot scrubber stuffed into the bottom of my iron
|holders. It cleans the tips everytime you put the iron into the holder.
|
|Cheap and most effective, my favorite kind of solution.
|
|Leonard
|

That type of accessory is also available ready made
http://www.apogeekits.com/solder_tip_cleaner.htm

Ross H

 

[Michael Black]

Most of us, because we were taught that way, use a wet sponge.

But the local university says, you should never use a wet sponge.



Has anybody got a better way and maybe the tips last longer?

I just use paper towel, dry.

A sponge is handy because it can fit into the well intended for it
in the soldering iron stand. But if it's not wet, at the very least it
burns when you touch it with the iron, and it can be rather stiff. If
you want it to last, I suspect that's why it's damp.

Since paper towel is really cheap, it doesn't matter, and it is handier
not to have to keep something damp.

But nobody can tell you whether a wet sponge is a bad idea unless you also
tell us why the university thinks so. At the very least, the statement is
ambiguous, because it's not clear whether it's the wet, or the sponge,
that they consider the problem.

Keep in mind that most tips do last a long time. At least, if you use plated
tips. If you don't use plated tips, the tips will corrode, and often fairly
fast, and no amount of cleaning will fix that.

You wipe plated tips not to prevent damage, but to get off the excess solder,
and the rosin that collects there.

Michael

 

[Leonard Caillouet]

Why would I pay $8.79 + shipping and have to have another item on my bench
when I can clean the tip just by putting it in the holder with the same
thing available for $1.89 at the grocery store across the street?

Leonard

 

[Jeff Rigby]

Most of us, because we were taught that way, use a wet sponge.

But the local university says, you should never use a wet sponge.



Has anybody got a better way and maybe the tips last longer?

wax and a dry sponge just before you solder

 

[Ross Herbert]

|Why would I pay $8.79 + shipping and have to have another item on my bench
|when I can clean the tip just by putting it in the holder with the same
|thing available for $1.89 at the grocery store across the street?
|
|Leonard

Nobody was telling YOU that you had to BUY this product were they?

It was merely offered as a suggestion for those people who like to buy
something off the shelf which comes with a little aluminium holder for
the stainless pot scrubber, that's all.

Ross H
|
||> On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 17:00:31 -0400, "Leonard G. Caillouet"
|>
|> |I use a stainless steel pot scrubber stuffed into the bottom of my iron
|> |holders. It cleans the tips everytime you put the iron into the holder.
|> |
|> |Cheap and most effective, my favorite kind of solution.
|> |
|> |Leonard
|> |
|>
|> That type of accessory is also available ready made
|> http://www.apogeekits.com/solder_tip_cleaner.htm
|>
|> Ross H
|

 

[John Del]

Subject: how do you clean your tip?

From: "Eric" [email protected]
Date: 8/26/04 6:47 PM
Message-id:


Has anybody got a better way and maybe the tips last longer?

I don't use no stinking sponges!

My wife has long ago stopped asking what the dark brown slash marks are near
the right pocket of my pants. Fortunately, they do wash out.

John

 

[JW]

I use a stainless steel pot scrubber stuffed into the bottom of my iron
holders. It cleans the tips everytime you put the iron into the holder.

Hmm. I was taught to clean before using and put back dirty to keep a nice
tinned tip. Also, I was under the impression that using abrasives would
wear out the tip quicker.

 

[Michael Black]

Hmm. I was taught to clean before using and put back dirty to keep a nice
tinned tip. Also, I was under the impression that using abrasives would
wear out the tip quicker.

I thought he was talking about that plastic "steel wool" that isn't nearly
as abrasive as actual steel wool.

And yes, the cleaning is more to get rid of the accumulated junk, so it
doesn't need to be cleaned when idling, and I suspect the junk may help
to protect the tip.

Michael

 

[Leonard G. Caillouet]

OK, let me try again. What I meant was why would anyone pay $8.79 +
shipping and have to have another item cluttering the bench when you can
clean the tip just by putting it in the holder with the same thing available
for $1.89 at any grocery store? I have often wondered when I see these
items advertized why anyone would buy one.

Leonard