How to prevent oxidation of the soldering iron tip and tin sticking to it
When the soldering iron tip is used for lead-free soldering, it will often happen that the soldering iron tip does not stick to the tin. In addition to the quality problems of the product itself, it may also be caused by choosing a temperature that is too high, which can easily cause violent oxidation of the tin surface of the soldering iron tip, incorrect use or defective cleaning methods, etc. Let’s follow the editor to analyze the reasons:
1. If the temperature is too high, the tin surface of the soldering iron tip will easily oxidize violently.
2. Do not tin the tin-dipped noodles before use.
3. Use incorrect or defective cleaning methods.
4. Use impure solder or the flux in the soldering wire is interrupted.
5. When the working temperature exceeds 350°C and the welding is stopped for more than 1 hour, the amount of tin on the lead-free soldering iron tip is too small.
6. "Dry burning" the soldering iron tip, such as if the soldering station is left open and not used, but there is no tin on the surface of the soldering iron tip, which will cause rapid oxidation of the soldering iron tip.
7. The flux used is highly corrosive, causing rapid oxidation of the soldering iron tip.
8. Use neutral active flux and do not frequently clean the oxide on the soldering iron tip.
9. Contact with organic matter such as plastics, lubricants or other compounds.
Commonly used methods:
Use a knife to scrape off the oxide layer of the soldering iron tip to expose the copper that has not been oxidized by air. Then, put it in the rosin box and dip it in tin, and you can use it normally. However, it is not completely removed by this method. At the same time, if it is scraped for a long time, the soldering iron tip will become thinner and affect the heat transfer, causing the temperature to drop and even damage the soldering iron tip.
A quick and efficient way to do this is:
Hold the wooden handle of the electric soldering iron, immerse the oxidized soldering iron tip into a container filled with alcohol, and take it out after 1 to 2 minutes. The oxides will be completely and cleanly removed, and the soldering iron tip will look brand new. This is because when copper oxide and alcohol are heated, a chemical reaction occurs and the copper is reduced, which has no corrosive effect on the soldering iron tip.
