17 replies to this topic

[Pablo]

I watched the Mike Steube/Keith Tanaka video today (third time).      

 

Mike's tips look brand new, clean, and smooth throughout the video.  I'm not a newbie, but my tips look like crap compared to Mike's.

 

 
I notice his preference for tip cleaning is a sponge. No tip tinner/cleaner, no brass wool.

 

I know some people prefer a wet sponge, and some prefer brass wool. I have always preferred the brass wool. I tried the sponge once, and for me, it sucked.

 

How does Mike keep that tip looking like new? He sure applies a lot of acid! Maybe I need to learn the sponge?? 

 

Your experience and advice is appreciated.   

[Dennis David]

I always thought he licked the tip...

 

BTW I loved the video and look at it all of the time.

[Michael Rigsby]

Pablo,

 

I use a combination of a damp sponge (damp, not wet to the point of being soggy), and a Hakko tip cleaner with brass shavings. I don't have an issue with any iron I use. 

 

Mike Swiss even likes using one of the small three-inch nail drying fans to blow on the tip. The trick is to keep the tip wet with solder and not let it hang in the holder dry.

[Pablo]

Hi Michael,

 

Yes, I have a fan in place but only use it for the Rick's Ungar, since it seems to burn through tips really fast. Maybe I need to employ it for the Hakkos as well.

 

You have not convinced me to switch to a sponge, though. You say to keep the tip wet with solder, yet in the video, Mike's tip looks brand new with no solder every time he uses it. Maybe it's careful choreography??

[Gator Bob]

Sponge.

 

Wipe it before putting it back in the holder. Turn the dial down to 60% if the iron will be sitting for more then a minute or so. Then crank it back up to the temp needed for the next joint.

 

If I get any 'crusty stuff'' that doesn't come clean with the sponge then I lightly hit it with a brass bristle brush.  

 

Tin, tin, tin... I use much more solder maintaining the tip than would ever go on the chassis.

 

_{Disclaimer: This is my preference.}

[slotcarone]

Pablo,

 

The brass wool works much better than the sponge IMO. Using a fan also keps the tip from getting cruddy.

 

Also when you are finished using the iron after you turn it off put some solder on the tip as it cools and then clean it off the next time you use it.

[Gator Bob]

I always thought he licked the tip...

 
  Bite your tongue.

[gotboostedvr6]

I use a brass toothbrush and have good success.

[MSwiss]

Yes, I have a fan in place but only use it for the Rick's Ungar, since it seems to burn through tips really fast.
Maybe I need to employ it for the Hakkos as well.

Why not use the fan all the time?
 
What's it doing is simulating the iron being constantly being used (heat being drawn out of it).
 
An iron idling at high heat, with nothing sucking out some of it, is the tip's worst enemy.
 
I tried the brass wire.
 
I didn't feel it worked as well as a wet sponge.
 
Especially when you use the fan and the tip just needs the lightest swipe.

[Bill from NH]

Pablo, if you want to be vintage, in the late '60s and '70s Ungar sold a rectangular black box with a sponge in it for tip cleaning. The sponge had four or five straight cuts part way through its surface. They sold replacement sponges too, but buying a small one in a grocery store, cutting it in half, and adding your own straight cuts was usually cheaper.

Today, I mostly use a sponge, occasionally a Hakko tip cleaner or brass wool from a stained glass shop.

[Mike Patterson]

I use a damp sponge as well, mainly because it's part of my "soldering station":

 

 

You'll notice it has the black box that Bill mentioned, which contains the latest version of the Ungar sponge (For you history buffs, the box has "Ungar Division Eldon Industries Inc." molded on the bottom).

 

I spent a lot of money on my temp control, too:

 

[dc-65x]

Hi Pablo,
 
Everyone has their own "tips and tricks" that work for them. Here are mine:
 

You should also get a variable heat control as you don't need 1,100 degrees to solder on lead wires and dialing down the heat when the iron's just sitting there lengthens its life:



Since I'm lazy, here's all I do to keep my iron good to go. When I install a new tip/heater:

1. With the iron off, dip the tip in paste flux
2. Turn the temperature control up about 2/3 of the way
3. Touch 60/40 solder to the tip and as SOON as it starts melting coat the tip generously (tilt your head back to avoid the massive amounts of smoke )
4. Once the tip is coated, turn off the iron and wipe the excess solder off in the magical and wonderful device pictured below:



I no longer use a wet sponge. EVERY time I'm going to solder a joint I wipe the tip in the Hako Tip Cleaner.

When done soldering:

Turn the heat off and let it cool down a bit, put a dab of 60/40 on the tip and rub it around inside the Hako. It will rub off the nasties from the tip and tins it to shiny goodness.

Hope this helps, it sure works well for me.

 
I absolutely LOVE the Hakko brass wool gizmo. My much maligned Ungar (Weller) heater tips are lasting SOOOO much longer than when I used a wet sponge. A little solder on the tip and rub her around in the brass wool and she's tinned.
 
Onward.

[Mike K]

Try BRONZE wool. Available at some hardware and paint stores. Not magnetic like steel wool but finer than the Hakko metal cleaner. Not sure where I first heard about it, but it works. I have also used a copper Chore Boy scrubber available from your grocery store.
 
I have always heard that a wet sponge creates too much of a temperature change or shock to the heating element, shortening the life of the element, especially on Weller/Ungar elements.
 
If you want to keep the tip shiny and tinned, try dipping the hot tip into paste flux. Always brings the wet, shiny tip back as long as you have been tinning it as you go.
 
Your mileage may vary... Buy a Hakko - you can leave them on for DAYS and they always seem to come back to life.

[Pablo]

Sounds like I need to continue using the Hakko brass wool, but be more careful.

Use the fan all the time, clean it and apply new solder before storing it.

Thanks everybody !!

[Ramcatlarry]

When you realize that the acid flux is corroding your brass wool ball, switch to the grocery store STAINLESS STEEL WOOL ball.

[gascarnut]

Remember the Radio Shack tip cleaner stuff too - it works great.

[tjcdas]

My Hakko 936 is 8 years old and still has the original tip. 

[gfox]

Wet sponge and keep the tip tinned when not using it.