| Electronics > Beginners |
| Brass wool + flux?? |
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| RyanT:
When I last did any electronics decades ago, all I ever used were wet sponges. Now that I'm back into it again, brass wool is the new order of the day, and it's amazing indeed. But mine is already getting pretty gnarly looking, and I will soon need a replacement. I heard/read something somewhere suggesting that the brass wool sold for use with soldering irons is coated with flux. Really? First time I'd ever heard that, and I'm sorry I can't recall the source now. Was that BS or is that true? And if true, how much does it matter? Because I've also heard people advocate for just using brass wool kitchen scrubbers rather than brass wool specifically marketed for soldering. Obviously the kitchen scrubbers would be cheap and easy to obtain. I haven't been able to conclusively figure out if some brass sponges are coated with flux, nor does any flux vapour come off of mine when I use it, so I'm thinking that advice might well have been a load of crap, but would appreciate expert confirmation! |
| Zero999:
I don't know the answer to your question. I like to use both a sponge and brass wool. I thought kitchen scourers were normally steel or even stainless steel, which I'm pretty sure isn't suitable. If you can get hold of some cheap brass wool, then try it. If it needs flux, then it should be easy to add it, by dissolving some flux in alcohol, dipping the wool in it and leaving it to dry. |
| Shock:
The Hakko brass wool I use doesn't seem to have flux in it. It's only $5 for just the brass wool, so not hideously expensive. Hakko part # 599-029. |
| RyanT:
--- Quote from: Hero999 on March 25, 2018, 12:16:32 am ---I thought kitchen scourers were normally steel or even stainless steel, which I'm pretty sure isn't suitable. --- End quote --- Right, steel would scratch the tip. Has to be brass as it's softer than the tip. At least around here, brass kitchen scrubbers are common (again, because steel would scratch the pots and pans, so brass is preferred). Pack of 10 for $8 at a local hardware store, and they look identical to the "name brand" Hakko ones@6.25x the price. Preliminary tests seem to indicate they work about as well, plus I get that warm fuzzy feeling knowing I'm a cheap bastard. I'm just curious about that assertion that the name brand ones have flux. Good point about the DIY flux coating. I might try that just for fun. You'd think regardless of how it got there, that the flux would just boil off right away anyway, though, no? |
| vk6zgo:
I would have thought flux was contra-indicated, seeing you want to scrape the excess solder off your tip, not solder to the brass wool. Without flux, the removed solder falls to the bottom of the container---with flux, it may adhere to the wool. I've tried the commercial stuff & it doesn't seem to work any better than supermarket brass wool, or Stainless steel scrubber pads, for that matter! The hardness of Stainless doesn't seem to be a problem, at least, I've never seen any great wear on tips from it. I personally prefer damp sponges. |
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