How To Use Solder Sponge

Most soldering stations however ship with a sponge that you moisten prior to each use.

How to use solder sponge. Touch the solder to the tip of the iron and make sure the solder flows evenly around the tip. The solder will melt and be drawn into the wick. IIRC the brass wool products were the answer to issues that were seen when using damp sponges with the newer lead free solder alloys different behavior vs.

Touching the heated iron can cause second- or third-degree burns. Remember that your ability to solder effectively will determine directly how well the prototype or. The soldering sponge you get from Weller Metcal etc is a cellulose sponge with a strong butyl Fantastic tm surfactant.

It prolongs the life of the tip and keeps it well-maintained after each use. Soak the sponge in water and rub it over the tip of the soldering iron for a couple of minutes. The iron will take a few minutes to reach its operating temperature of about 400C.

Heat the soldering iron and use a moist sponge to clean the surface. There is an argument to be made that it is better to use a brass wire sponge instead of a moist cleaning sponge. Look for tinning products that also function as cleaners when reconditioning the tip.

The whole point of keeping the soldering iron tip clean is to protect it against wear which can lead to tip failure. This cracking allowed the tin to penetrate the plating on the tip which prevented the tip from being tinned thereby increasing the oxidation on the tip rendering the tip useless and needing to be replaced. Then wet the spong with Fantastictm and water and wring out.

The idea behind using a copper pad instead of a wet sponge is that heat is lost to the sponge and a few extra seconds are required after each cleaning to get. Apply a small amount of solder to prevent further oxidation. This is a handheld mechanical vacuum that sucks up hot solder with a press of a button.