Maintenance rules for soldering iron tips
1. Before welding
Wet the cleaning sponge with water first, then squeeze out the excess water. Only in this way can the tip of the soldering iron get the best cleaning effect. If you use a non-moist cleaning sponge, it will damage the tip of the soldering iron and cause it to not tin.
2. When welding
The following soldering sequence can protect the tip of the soldering iron and reduce the oxidation rate.
3. After welding
First adjust the temperature to about 250°C, then clean the tip of the soldering iron, and then 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 tinning.)
4. Matters needing attention
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 temperature of the soldering iron tip exceeds 470°C, it will oxidize twice as fast as 380°C.
b. Do not apply too much pressure
When soldering, do not apply too much pressure, otherwise the tip of the soldering iron 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 tip of the soldering iron on tin
This can reduce the chance of oxidation of the soldering iron tip and make the soldering iron tip more durable. After use, new solder should be added after the temperature of the soldering iron tip has dropped slightly, so that the tin plating layer has a better anti-oxidation effect.
d. Keep the tip of the soldering iron clean and remove oxides immediately
If there is black oxide on the tip, 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 clean the soldering iron tip with a cleaning sponge, and then tin it. Repeat the action until the oxide is cleaned up.
e. Select flux with low activity
Fluxes with high mobility or strong corrosiveness will accelerate the 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 soldering iron tip.
f. Put the soldering iron on the soldering iron stand
When not using a soldering iron, 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 right soldering iron head
It is very important to choose the correct size and shape of the soldering iron tip. Choosing the right soldering iron tip can make the work more efficient and increase the durability of the soldering iron tip. Choosing the wrong soldering iron tip will affect the soldering iron's inability to perform at its peak efficiency, and the soldering quality will also be reduced as a result.
The size of the soldering iron tip is directly related to the heat capacity. The larger the soldering iron tip, the larger the heat capacity, and the smaller the soldering iron tip, the smaller the heat capacity. When performing continuous soldering, use a larger tip for less temperature drop. In addition, because the heat capacity of the large soldering iron tip is high, a relatively low temperature can be used during soldering, and the soldering iron tip is not easy to oxidize, which increases its life.
