I've got some soldering tips that are really oxidized and need a good clean. I've read that brass wool is a good choice for cleaning, but it's not doing the trick for me. What other methods or products can I use to restore these tips?
3 Answers
For really stubborn corrosion, I've had success using wet fine sandpaper followed by a good application of tip tinner. But a good tip for maintenance is to always keep your iron coated with solder when you're done and clean it only as needed. It helps prevent oxidation in the first place!
You might want to try some tip tinner! It's a specialized product designed to clean and re-tin soldering tips when they're too far gone for regular cleaning. If tip tinner doesn't work, you may just need to replace the tips altogether.
Brass wool and a damp sponge are great for quick clean-ups while soldering, but if your tips are badly contaminated, consider using tip tinner. It's packed with more power than typical soldering flux and can tackle tough oxidation. You can find it online easily!