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Best tips for cleaning a soldering iron from lead-free solder

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Write_to_Smokegenerator:
Hello

I know that's a quite common question.

I wanted to do some soldering today for a project and i realized my iron is not working, I took a closer look and bingo, tip is full of leftovers of lead free solder.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77940640@N04/6863342980/#in/photostream

I did measure the heat, instead of 300° it displayed 150° i looked in the net for some hints.


I tried to get it off with a wet piece of cotton,steel wool and i tried it with a little mechanic help of my tweezers (gentle).
None did show any results, a friend says I can at least bring the tip back to working but I'm out of ideas.

Anyone got some usefull hints?
 
cheers.

Mechatrommer:

--- Quote ---I wanted to do some soldering today for a project and i realized my iron is not working, I took a closer look and bingo, tip is full of leftovers of lead free solder...
I did measure the heat, instead of 300° it displayed 150° i looked in the net for some hints.
--- End quote ---
your iron is not working.

Write_to_Smokegenerator:
the iron is working quite fine, i measured the heat a a little behind the tip did read 270° or so (the accuaracy is not that well +- 3 Digits at this range)

The Problem is as i described the solder I may did not clean during work enough so a little solder was left on the tip and the flux burned so it's like an isolating layer and the heat can't get through.

I still would appreciate some tips to clean the tip, i don't want to buy a new one because this tip was only used 1 time or so (also I would love to do the soldering this weekend and i can't go to a shop this WE to buy a new one)
cheers.

TerminalJack505:
Sometime all you need to do is just use some 60/40 RA or RMA solder to clean the tip.  Try turning the heat up until it will melt 60/40 rosin core solder (350C or so) and use the solder and a wet sponge until the tip will finally wet properly.

sonicj:
keep applying rosin cored solder to the tip until the contaminants are removed by the rosin flux. you local electronics shop should have tip tinning products which do the same thing, but with a more aggressive flux. if repeated attempts to re-tin the tip are not working, you can remove the contaminants by mechanical means. ie: lightly sand it with 800 grit, scrape lightly with hobby knife, use a polishing bar, etc.
-sj

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