How to make our soldering tip last longer

The Soldering tip is one of the most crucial elements for soldering quality.

Even the best tool will not perform properly if the tip is oxidized, not clean and not at the correct temperature.

We don’t need to constantly change tips, just some “bad habits”. Let’s see what they are and how to replace them.

A very important factor is the soldering iron’s operating temperature.

For lead-free soldering, the temperature should be between 340° C – 360° C. For most cases, this temperature is sufficient!

Higher the tip oxidises and wears out very quickly, while lower the solder does not melt properly, and the result will not be reliable.

When using cleaning wire, we must ensure that it is clean, free of flux and solder residues, and that it is changed frequently.

In order to avoid tip damaging, avoid shaking the soldering iron to release the solder, passing it sideways over the wire, and immersing the entire tip in it.

It is enough to immerse only the tip in the wire and rotate gently.

When using a sponge, we should remember to wet it before use.

However, special care must be taken to ensure that the sponge is damp, not soaked.

To remove the residue, gently wipe your nose from one side to the other, without pressing.

Extra tip: If we see that the work we are doing requires frequent cleaning, it is better to alternate with cleaning with a wire so that the temperature of the tip does not drop.

Usually, larger and flatter noses are best cleaned with a brush. It is important to always use a brass brush and not a steel one!

Clean with movements towards the tip, never upwards, so as not to damage the coating.

We should not use any abrasives, such as sandpaper, or chemicals to maintain a soldering iron tip.

The only thing we will succeed in is scratching them or damaging their coating.

We let the heat do the work, not the pressure! There is no need to press the pad. It doesn’t make the soldering faster or better, it just wears out the tip.

We place the solder on the surface of the pad, not directly on the tip.

We activate the standby mode to avoid unnecessary wear and tear. Whenever the soldering iron is not used for a while, the temperature will drop, protecting our tip.

When changing the tip, we can carefully clean the heating element (yes, it needs cleaning too). With a brass brush, a gentle cleaning is enough, as shown above.

At the end of each use, we clean the tip and cover it with a thin layer of clear solder. Then we let it cool.

This way, we protect the tip coating and increase its lifespan.

If the tip has lost its shine or the solder no longer “sticks” well, we don’t throw it away just yet.

Using the tip reactivator, according to the manufacturer’s instructions, it is possible to fully restore it.

It requires caution when removing the tips from our soldering irons. If our tips support being removed without cooling down, then we don’t do it with just any tool.

We only use those recommended by the manufacturer with the corresponding instructions, avoiding touching the point of the tips.

Proper care of the soldering tip simply requires a few simple habits. This way, we will ensure clean welds and a much longer lifespan for our equipment.

At ADEM we place particular emphasis on the quality and reliability of equipment.

That’s why we recommend soldering stations and irons from Ersa, a company with many years of experience in tool design.

Its systems are distinguished for their ergonomics, the durability of the tools and tips, and their temperature stability, features that substantially contribute to upgrading the way you work.

You can contact us via email at [email protected] or call us at +30 2102401961.