Clean Solder Iron Tip
The tip of your soldering iron should always be silver. If it is
any color other than silver, stop soldering immediately and
clean it as solder will not stick to an oxidized tip. Normally this is done on a damp synthetic sponge while the
iron is hot. If the tip of your iron becomes black and you just cannot
get it tinned (silver colored) again, you can use a
Sal Ammoniac Block
to re-tin the tip.
Hints to Keep the Iron Tip
Silver
- Do not leave the iron plugged in
when not in use.
- Do not use the iron at a higher
temperature than is necessary to melt solder.
- Clean the tip of the iron on a damp
synthetic sponge as soon as it starts to change from silver.
- Even when heating up or cooling down
your iron, check that the tip doesn't discolor. If it does, wipe it
on a damp synthetic sponge.
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Sal Ammoniac Block
Sal Ammoniac is a toxic substance used to clean corrosion from
the oxidized tip of a soldering iron.
- First dig a small hole in the block
of Sal Ammoniac and
stir it up into a powder.
- Mix the powder with some solder in
the hole in the block of sal ammoniac. You can do this by
transferring a small amount of solder on the tip of the hot iron or
by cutting a small chunk of solder off the roll and then putting it
into the hole in the block. You'll need 1/4" or so.
- Stir the contents of the hole with
the tip of the hot soldering iron. Remember, this is toxic. Do not breathe the fumes!
- Wipe the iron on a damp synthetic
sponge.
- Use the tip of the iron to push the
solder/sal ammoniac into the sides of the hole (I think of it as the
same motion as creaming sugar and butter together).
- Repeat until the tip is completely
re-tinned and silver. Now, never ever let the tip be
any color other than silver again!
- As with all soldering products, it
is highly recommended that you use this product in a well ventilated
area. We sell a charcoal activated smoke absorber for your safety.
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