giovanni
Well-known member
Ok I just sanded it and the little blob basically immediately pulverized. I haven’t had time to tin the tip again but it’s looking much better. Thanks man! Good tip for cleaning my tip! (Phrasing)
How do you keep your tip clean?
- Thread starter giovanni
- Start date
Cybercow
Well-known member
This thread could have easily been titled: "Looking for Tip Tips." 
Glad you found a resolution. I never use abrasives on a tip because if it is cleaned/sanded/filed down to what I refer to as a tip's "quick", no amount of tinning will help past the next soldering session. As going into the "quick" will create a corrosion start and the cleaned/sanded/filed spot will harden and refuse to take solder properly down the road. Learned early on that filing or sanding a tip down to the "quick' ruins the tip.
I always make sure my tip is wet (cleaned & tinned with a bit a of fresh solder) when I set it down for more than a few minutes or am done with a session. I use a wet sponge only. I've found that using those metal scrub brushes tend to ware the tinning down to the "quick" faster than a sponge does.
Glad you found a resolution. I never use abrasives on a tip because if it is cleaned/sanded/filed down to what I refer to as a tip's "quick", no amount of tinning will help past the next soldering session. As going into the "quick" will create a corrosion start and the cleaned/sanded/filed spot will harden and refuse to take solder properly down the road. Learned early on that filing or sanding a tip down to the "quick' ruins the tip.
I always make sure my tip is wet (cleaned & tinned with a bit a of fresh solder) when I set it down for more than a few minutes or am done with a session. I use a wet sponge only. I've found that using those metal scrub brushes tend to ware the tinning down to the "quick" faster than a sponge does.
giovanni
Well-known member
Good to know. I switched to the brass because the wet sponge can cause a temperature shock while in a soldering session.This thread could have easily been titled: "Looking for Tip Tips."
Glad you found a resolution. I never use abrasives on a tip because if it is cleaned/sanded/filed down to what I refer to as a tip's "quick", no amount of tinning will help past the next soldering session. As going into the "quick" will create a corrosion start and the cleaned/sanded/filed spot will harden and refuse to take solder properly down the road. Learned early on that filing or sanding a tip down to the "quick' ruins the tip.
I always make sure my tip is wet (cleaned & tinned with a bit a of fresh solder) when I set it down for more than a few minutes or am done with a session. I use a wet sponge only. I've found that using those metal scrub brushes tend to ware the tinning down to the "quick" faster than a sponge does.
RetiredUnit1
Well-known member
I believe it's time for a new tip... I had one look like that and after a while it became obvious that the blob was actually the original surface and that my tip was eroding making the original surface look like a blob.
peccary
Well-known member
I don't use any tinner and I leave my iron on for hours at a time. I've been using the same tip for about three years when I bought a new station (Weller).
I just put a blob of solder on the tip before I put it in the holder. When I take it out I use the brass sponge to clean it off and put a small amount of solder on the tip and go back at it. Rinse and repeat.
I just put a blob of solder on the tip before I put it in the holder. When I take it out I use the brass sponge to clean it off and put a small amount of solder on the tip and go back at it. Rinse and repeat.
Cybercow
Well-known member
I keep my sponge damp - not "wet". I've never had any problems with a damp sponge and temp shock. Even with my cheap little $25 soldering station. And I don't mind changing tips as I need - one goes bad or when a different tip is simply needed. Mind you, soldering is an art form & technique as well as a science & skill; and we each have to find what works as we go. It's a process.
Feral Feline
Well-known member
All the posts here are starting to look the same, so I believe this thread has reached its tipping point.
andare
Well-known member
What do you use to rinse the tip?
Cybercow
Well-known member
After physically cleaning a tip, I dip the HOT tip into this lead-free tinning flux, wipe clean on a dam; (NOT WET) sponge, then tin the tip again by applying fresh solder.What do you use to rinse the tip?
swelchy
Well-known member
exactly how I put mine away... hit it on the brass.... melt some fresh solder on the tip and then turn it off
andare
Well-known member
Actually I did it to my first ever tip because I couldn't tin it and then it worked. I guess I was light handed enough but yes, never sand a tip.
giovanni
Well-known member
Quick update: just started using a new tip and as recommended it’s a small blade one. I have to say it’s working flawlessly. I had really got used to the broken one I had before and was making it work but in hindsight I was really suffering! Thanks all for the suggestions!
giovanni
Well-known member
I am not sure why but it keeps oxidizing really fast, no matter how much solder I tin it with. The very tip seems shiny enough and it works tho.
Harry Klippton
Well-known member
Have a look at the tips in this thread. Lots of god examples of how they should look
Laundryroom David
Keyboard Cowboy 🤠
I prefer RA flux. No clean just doesn’t work as well for me.
my workflow fwiw:
Wipe tip on sponge/brass curls - I’m agnostic but also too lazy to keep distilled water in the basement. So I use brass curls a fair bit. Tin. 4-6 joints. Tin. Holder. Futz with glasses. Wipe tip. Tin.
My point is - use lots of solder to keep it tinned. Tin it after making joints, then back in holder, then clean the tip and re-tin before making more joints. I don’t wipe solder off before putting iron down, just add a bit more solder to the tip. Once I’m all done, then I clean tip, re-tin heavily and turn off iron.
YMMV
