This will make your solder connections look nicer and will increase the life of your iron. You should periodically clean your tip as you're soldering. Doing so could result in holes in your tip, which ultimately ruins your iron. Avoid jamming the tip into the sponge or leaving the tip on the sponge for more than a few seconds. Now, very gently, wipe the excess solder off onto the sponge. It doesn't need to be soaked, just wet enough to pull solder off your iron. That's where the sponge comes in handy.ĭampen it in a sink or using a water bottle. It can also build up a nasty residue on your iron tip and corrode it to the point where it won't accept solder any more. As you solder, old solder tends to clump up and lose its ability to melt and flow properly. This sponge plays a very important role in soldering. You'll notice that on your stand there is a little pool with a sponge in it. If you have trouble getting the solder to melt on the tip, let it warm up a little bit longer. The solder smokes because the rosin inside the solder is burning off - it's not harmful. The best way to test if your iron is warmed up and ready is to melt a little solder on the end. NEVER TOUCH THE TIP OF THE IRON TO SEE IF IT'S ON. There isn't any indicator to let you know when the iron is ready. Hold it like a pencil and move your hand further away from the tip if the heat is uncomfortable. It is normal for the handle of the soldering iron to heat up a bit. The tip of the iron is normally 700☏, hot enough to melt metal solder. Allow it to warm up for about 30 seconds - 1 minute. With that said, put on your safety glasses and plug your iron in to let it warm up before using it. They are also very easy to forget about when left plugged in and can be a potential fire hazard. Leaving soldering irons on for long periods of time will wear out the tip much quicker. For starters, it is best to keep your iron unplugged when not using it. There are some basic tips that will help you achieve the best solder connection possible, help keep your soldering iron in good condition and also keep you safe.
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