{"id":23674,"date":"2019-08-21T14:06:17","date_gmt":"2019-08-21T06:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"\/blog\/?p=23674"},"modified":"2020-03-26T14:44:57","modified_gmt":"2020-03-26T06:44:57","slug":"how-to-look-after-soldering-iron-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seeedstudio.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/21\/how-to-look-after-soldering-iron-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"How to look after Soldering Iron Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Frustrated because you can\u2019t seem to get that perfect solder joint? Chances are that something\u2019s wrong with your soldering iron tip. Poor solder tips have been cited as the leading cause of low-quality solder joints, which is why soldering tip maintenance should not be ignored. It\u2019s inevitable for soldering tips to wear out over time and need replacing. Here\u2019s what you can do to keep your soldering iron working for years to come, and prevent badly maintained solder tips from affecting your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use High-Quality Solder<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Protecting your solder tips can start as early as from the beginning of a solder tip\u2019s lifetime. For starters, choose high-quality solder. Low-quality solders contain impurities that may accumulate on the tip of the soldering iron, which hinders heat transfer and make soldering more difficult. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solder quality can be determined by how easily it melts. High-quality solder will melt readily at their specified melting points while low-quality ones may struggle to fully liquidize. For example, lead alloy solder in the composition of 60\/40 solder (tin\/lead) melts easily at 460 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For lead-free solder, don\u2019t expect a shiny coating. But if your lead solder looks like this, it\u2019s packed with impurities and will give you a hard time.
(Source: Oscarliang)
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Another way to ascertain solder quality is by appearance. High-quality leaded solder generally appears shiny and low-quality ones will look more matte and dull. But do take note, good-quality lead-free solder also has a matte appearance. It\u2019s worth investigating what brands other people recommend and coughing up the higher price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep the Tip Clean<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During soldering, it\u2019s natural for the iron plating on the tip to oxidize and form an iron oxide layer. This oxidized layer hinders heat transfer from the tip to the pads, which is why some joints never seem to melt no matter how much you turn up the heat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A gunky soldering iron tip
(Source: Metcal)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Maintaining the habit of keeping your soldering iron tip clean before, during, and after use will extend the life of the soldering tip. And if you are using a shared soldering iron at your school or workplace, where dirty irons are commonplace, it helps to know how to deal with the material buildup on the tip.
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One conventional way to keep a soldering tip clean during use is to use a damp sponge (not soaked). Rubbing a hot soldering iron tip on a wet sponge causes the solder to contract at a different rate than the soldering iron, knocking off any traces of solder stuck on the tip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s common for soldering stands to come with a spot for sponges
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You can also opt to use a brass or stainless steel wool. Brass wool is softer while stainless has a longer life. Using brass wool is a popular way to clean soldering tips, as it gently scrubs the tip without damaging the iron plating on the tip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Brass wool in a little pot<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If the solder tip does become oxidized, apply flux-core solder to the oxidized tip. Heat from the solder tip will activate the flux and start the chemical reaction that removes oxides. After soldering, immediately coat the tip in fresh solder to prevent oxidation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid using sandpaper or anything that is too aggressive tools to remove oxidation. This can damage the iron plating that protects the copper underneath, shortening the life of the soldering iron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid Applying Excessive Heat <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the main components of the soldering iron is the heating element. To prevent its premature failure, run it at temperatures in the range that works for your solder, and avoid temperatures higher than that. For example, typical lead-free solder requires higher temperatures than standard solder types, at around 300\u2103. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know When to Turn Off the Heat <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you are not actively using the soldering iron, it is\ngood practice to turn it off or set the temperature to an idle setting to\nextend its service life. Nowadays, there are advanced soldering tools that have\nan auto-sleep function which helps to automatically power down the iron when\nnot in use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, Seeed\u2019s Mini Soldering Iron<\/a> that comes with a built-in temperature display so that you can easily monitor the temperature. With temperature sensors, this pen-like soldering iron is capable of putting itself to sleep mode and warning its user of over-heating.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n