How To Remove Oxidation From Soldering Iron
While sandpaper works when used properly if you find yourself spooked by the warnings of damage you can also use chemical cleaners to remove oxidation from your soldering iron tip.
How to remove oxidation from soldering iron. Once clean and shiny perform tinning and now your tool is ready to use. Apply the flux cored solder wire used in the assembly process onto the oxidized surface. Leave it there until the paste melts around the tip.
If it happens that the soldering iron tip is oxidized you can clean it with a tip activator and or sanding. Since oxidation occurs through a chemical process you can use another chemical process to remove it. You should wipe all surfaces of the iron tip.
Nearly all solders have a flux core of some sort. Now remove the tip and clean it with a moist sponge to remove the cleaner. Use a damp sponge to wipe away the black oxidation from the tip of the soldering iron until the tip is silver and shines in the light.
But for the harder to remove. Use brass wool or specially designed cleaners on the tip. Tip Tinner copper is used to deoxidize and clean your soldering iron tip so that the solder can stick to the iron again.
ChipQuik is a solder that stays molten for a longer period of time to allow for the removal of components. Push the soldering iron tip into the chemical cleaner until the entire rusted area is submerged. Here are some options.
Turn the solder pot on and allow it to achieve the desired temperature. Melt some good quality of solder wire on the Tip. The steel wool is made with alloys that dont react quickly on the soldering iron.