Maybe banal question - Weller tip cleaning sponge: what side to use?

[ciccio]

To-day I was soldering with my Weller station when a doubt flashed in my head: am I using the correct side of the cleaning sponge?
When I got my first Weller station, the sponge was a single layer, clear yellow thing.
It is still available, see first photo.
Some years ago Weller began selling a new sponge, with two layers:
-   one is thicker, clear yellow , less dense.
-   the second  layer is thinner, orange, more dense.
The two layers seems made with the same material.
See second photo.
The sponges I bought recently have a small variation: a round hole in the center, not shown in the photos.
Photos were taken from from Conrad site http://www.conrad.com/ce/ which is the only one showing bot models. The "dual layer " is more expensive.
My question is: which one  is the layer to use for tip cleaning (and obviously the other layer must stay inside the iron holder)?.
In past years I used both layers, and I never noticed any big difference, but there must be a reason for this "complication".
What?
Thank you for your responses.
Best regards

[frozenfrogz]

Frankly, I would not worry too much about what side to use. More important is to not make the sponge soaking wet. When using soldering sponges I usually soak them and then squeeze as much water out again as I can.
When using composite sponges, the thin layer of a more homogenous material on one side usually results in a cleaner tip, because there is not much space to catch balls of old solder in the pores that will end up on the tip again.
Also, if you live in an area with hard tap water (lots of minerals in the water) or are concerned about maximizing tip life, you should use de-ionized water.

[Ian.M]

The thin layer of high density sponge wont make any difference if its in the bottom of the holder so it must be intended to go on top.   If you are a cheap-skate, flip it yellow side up once the orange layer is worn out and breaking up.

As Frozenfrogz mentioned, its essential to soak and wash the sponge thoroughly then squeeze out all the excess water.  If you just wet the sponge in-situ, residue from the flux and solder oxides will build up and contaminate your bit.   When squeezing out the excess water, its best to press it flat against a hard surface as cellulose sponge tears fairly easiiy so you should avoid folding or twisting it.

[stj]

i would use it to do the washing-up and buy yourself some brass-wool. 

[plazma]

I always used it the dense side up. However one colleague sais the dense side goes down as it acts like a water reservoir. Water wicks to the top and the sponge does not dry so fast.

I discarded sponges years ago and went with the brass wool thingies. Does not thermally shock the tip and does not require watering.

[Ian.M]

Tooki posted this in the https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/proper-soldering-iron-tip-care/ topic:


Pete Jenner, West Division Sales Manager, Apex Tool Group (owners of the Weller brand) shows the sponge, orange side up, at 4:35.
He is the regional manager (West USA and Mexico) of all sales teams, and specialises in soldering, so should know which way up the sponge goes! 

[plazma]

Sodder....

[ciccio]

The one in the video is a single layer sponge. In effect I see dual layer sponges only in European adverts.
The gentleman does not answer my question
I have also some brass cleaners (one that was supplied with another Weller station and a separate Xytronic unit) , but I do not like them very much. I  do not use unleaded solder: it has a nasty smell...
I think that the rapid cooling of the tip when it touches a wet sponge helps in removing dirt: my first Weller tips lasted for many years, and they never saw a brass cleaner.
Thanks to everybody
Best regards

[stj]

I  do not use unleaded solder: it has a nasty smell...

that's not the solder, it's the flux-core.
every solder i'v had smelled different.

[GreyWoolfe]

Sodder....

Really? 

[nctnico]

To-day I was soldering with my Weller station when a doubt flashed in my head: am I using the correct side of the cleaning sponge?
When I got my first Weller station, the sponge was a single layer, clear yellow thing.
It is still available, see first photo.
Some years ago Weller began selling a new sponge, with two layers:
-   one is thicker, clear yellow , less dense.
-   the second  layer is thinner, orange, more dense.
Thank you for your responses.
Best regards

The dense layer must be up because it is more resistant to whiping the tip. If you use the softer 'spungy' side you'll notice it will tear up pretty quick.

[stj]

it could also be to reduce evaporation,
i still say bin it and use brass.

[nanofrog]

Seems ciccio's mind is set on a sponge though, and as he's using leaded solder, it won't really matter. It'll get the job done. 

FWIW, if I'm using a sponge, I prefer the ones with a hole as you can pull the tip against the hole's edge (preferably the versions with a thin dense layer). Bit easier & quicker than plain flat sponges IMHO.

BTW, distilled water will work in place of de-ionized water, is inexpensive, and readily available.

[Ian.M]

The one in the video is a single layer sponge. In effect I see dual layer sponges only in European adverts.
The gentleman does not answer my question

Better get your eyes checked! 

Video 4:48, zoomed on sponge.


That's got TWO layers, not one, nor three. Four is right out! 

On the distilled vs deionised debate - both are high purity water, but deionised is cheaper to make in industrial quantities. In most areas with potable tap water, its pointless using either unless you flush your sponge daily with excess water and squeeze it out to reduce the buildup of contaminates. 

[ciccio]

Better get your eyes checked! 

That's got TWO layers, not one, nor three. Four is right out! 

I admit: my eyes are not up-to-date
My french-speaking wife would say: Touché

[bd139]

My Weller ones don’t have any layers!

I use good old London tap water.

[Ian.M]

I use good old London tap water.

There's nothing good about it.  It is generally potable but the ageing infrastructure is under enough stress that the supply companies have to maintain chlorination at 2mg/l,  which is about double the normal chlorination level. As recently as the 1980s there were still Elm wood pipes in situ carrying water that were originally installed between 1613 and 1797. 

70% of the supply is abstracted from rivers, mostly from the Thames above Teddington, the rest from the river Lee, and the other 30% is from boreholes in a chalk aquifer.   If you consider the number of treatment works upstream of Teddington, it is statistically certain that a proportion of every glass of water that comes out of a London tap has been drunk several times since it last fell as rain or came out of a spring or borehole.  There are mineral water brands on the market with lower total dissolved solids!

If you are going to use it for wetting your soldering iron sponge and you want to maximise your bit plating life,  I would strongly recommend boiling it first to reduce the free chlorine concentration.  Don't use softened water for sponge wetting as that increases the chloride ion concentration.  To avoid mineral and contaminate buildup, don't re-wet a sponge without squeezing it out

[bd139]

I understand all that. But I’ve had standard weller tips live for 2-3 years quite happily in medium use.

I’m actually using a xytronix brass wool doohickey these days because I can’t be arsed to wet the sponge

[nanofrog]

That's got TWO layers...

FWIW, Weller offers both single and dual layer sponges IME (i.e. I couldn't get the dual layer versions prior to switching to brass wool for some reason, so I've an unused pack of single layer sponges with a hole in them).