How to maintain the soldering iron tip of electric soldering iron
1. Before welding work
The cleaning sponge must be wetted with water first, and then the excess water must be squeezed out. Only in this way can the soldering iron tip get the best cleaning effect. If you use a non-moist cleaning sponge, the soldering iron tip will be damaged and the soldering iron will not be tinned.
2. When performing welding work
The following welding sequence can protect the soldering iron tip from solder and reduce the oxidation rate.
3. After welding work
First adjust the temperature to about 250°C, then clean the soldering iron tip and add a new layer of tin for protection. (If you use a non-temperature controlled soldering iron, cut off the power first and let the temperature of the soldering iron tip drop slightly before applying tin.)
4. Things to note
a. Try to use low temperature welding
High temperature will accelerate the oxidation of the soldering iron tip and reduce the life of the soldering iron tip. If the soldering iron tip temperature exceeds 470°C, its oxidation rate is twice that of 380°C.
b. Do not apply too much pressure
When welding, do not apply too much pressure, otherwise the soldering iron tip will be damaged and deformed. As long as the soldering iron tip can fully contact the solder joint, heat can be transferred. In addition, choosing the right soldering iron tip can also help heat transfer.
c. Always keep the tin on the soldering iron tip
This can reduce the chance of oxidation of the soldering iron tip and make it more durable. After use, the temperature of the soldering iron tip should be slightly lowered before adding new solder, so that the tin plating layer has a better anti-oxidation effect.
d. Keep the soldering iron tip clean and clean the oxide immediately
If there is black oxide on the tip of the soldering iron, the tip may not be tinned and must be cleaned immediately. When cleaning, first adjust the temperature of the soldering iron tip to about 250°C, then use a cleaning sponge to clean the soldering iron tip, and then apply tin. Repeat the action until the oxide is removed.
e. Choose flux with low activity
Highly mobile or corrosive fluxes will accelerate corrosion of the soldering iron tip when heated, so low-corrosive fluxes should be selected. Note: Never use sandpaper or hard objects to clean the tip.
f. Place the soldering iron on the soldering iron stand
When the soldering iron is not needed, the soldering iron should be carefully placed on a suitable soldering iron stand to prevent the soldering iron tip from being damaged by collision.
g. Choose the appropriate soldering iron tip
Choosing the correct size and shape of the soldering tip is very important. Choosing the right tip can make the work more efficient and increase the durability of the tip. Choosing the wrong soldering iron tip will prevent the soldering iron from functioning at its highest efficiency, and the welding quality will also be reduced.
The size of the soldering iron tip is directly related to the heat capacity. The larger the soldering iron tip, the greater the heat capacity. The smaller the soldering iron tip, the smaller the heat capacity. When performing continuous soldering, the larger the tip, the smaller the temperature drop. In addition, because the large soldering iron tip has a high heat capacity, a relatively low temperature can be used during welding, which makes the soldering iron tip less likely to oxidize and increases its lifespan.
