Best solder cleaner holder ever?

[JustMeHere]

This thing is so perfect.  See photo

[SiliconWizard]

Weird.

[xrunner]

I would jump at a chance to have one. 

[tooki]

Basically any salt pig can be stuffed with brass wool and used as a solder cleaner — even one shaped like a frog! However, I don’t like using a holder made of anything but rubber or plastic, so that inadvertent contact with the container won’t cause tip damage.

Ersa’s soldering iron holders are made entirely of rubber. Weller makes a lovely cleaner holder made of plastic (T0051512499), which is probably my second-favorite after JBC’s — but JBC’s standalone CL costs €80! All of these have rubber wiper edges you can use to wipe off chip components that are stuck to to the tip, should you want to recover them. (Do not get the cute, cheap Weller WLACCBSH-02: the bottom is closed with a disc of metal that is not that tight, so after a bit of use it starts leaking solder dust out of the bottom!) Atten and others make all-rubber holders too.

[selcuk]

JBC salesman told me that the tip cleaner coming with the station had 3 types of cleaning mechanism. But brass wool could scratch the coating of the tip, wet sponge could give a thermal shock to the heating element. So he unofficially recommended to use only the edge of the silicon base for regular cleaning.

[JustMeHere]

I would jump at a chance to have one. 

I was tired of seeing it by the sink and got an idea one night. 

[JustMeHere]

JBC salesman told me that the tip cleaner coming with the station had 3 types of cleaning mechanism. But brass wool could scratch the coating of the tip, wet sponge could give a thermal shock to the heating element. So he unofficially recommended to use only the edge of the silicon base for regular cleaning.

Never had a problem with the brass damaging a tip.  It's a very soft metal.  This is why it is used to clean gun barrels.  It won't damage them. 

In fact, I abuse the hell out of my tips.  Clean up is just a dip in some flux gel and a few dabs in the brass.  Tip clean and shiny.

[Ian.M]

Lets do a bit more debunking!   The classic 'wet sponge' is meant to be barely damp.  Yes, get it good and wet at least once a day to flush away contaminants, but then squeeze it out till its barely damp.  If its swimming in water you are using it wrong.   With that said, the thermal shock of putting the tip on a large solder joint to reheat it is greater than that of wiping it on a damp sponge. 

[gamalot]

Basically any salt pig can be stuffed with brass wool and used as a solder cleaner — even one shaped like a frog! However, I don’t like using a holder made of anything but rubber or plastic, so that inadvertent contact with the container won’t cause tip damage.

Wow! I learned a new English word.

[JustMeHere]

However, I don’t like using a holder made of anything but rubber or plastic, so that inadvertent contact with the container won’t cause tip damage.

Way too many myths about "tip damage" on this board.  The ceramic would crack before you could hit it hard enough to damage a tip. 

[mendip_discovery]

Myths are what forums are about. The more outlandish the better.

[coppercone2]

its kind of a concern for high reliability you don't want iron plating to get in your solder joints, but also that means don't use a 30 year old tip if your soldering a sat

this info will be very useful if we become poor people in deep space one day, like starcraft terrans that use their great great great grandfathers soldering iron to touch up the FTL drive while saving enough money for canned beans. son you scratch that sodder eye-ron one more time and ima be madder then a puffed toad.


when $25 is capital equipment money.

[tooki]

However, I don’t like using a holder made of anything but rubber or plastic, so that inadvertent contact with the container won’t cause tip damage.

Way too many myths about "tip damage" on this board.  The ceramic would crack before you could hit it hard enough to damage a tip.

1. There are many materials besides ceramic that are not rubber or plastic,
2. Not all ceramics are fragile.
3. Tips are much more fragile when they’re hot.

[coppercone2]

this is actually a realistic thing you might hear at work if you try to personalize your work area.

that frogs not regulation!!!

 i wonder how long it would last at the tesla car company

[EPAIII]

Yes, I must agree. Brass brushes are used to clean gun and rifle barrels. Doesn't hurt them. Modern soldering iron tips are steel coated so should be a similar situation.

Just be sure your brass wool is actually brass and not brass coated steel. Test with a magnet.

JBC salesman told me that the tip cleaner coming with the station had 3 types of cleaning mechanism. But brass wool could scratch the coating of the tip, wet sponge could give a thermal shock to the heating element. So he unofficially recommended to use only the edge of the silicon base for regular cleaning.

Never had a problem with the brass damaging a tip.  It's a very soft metal.  This is why it is used to clean gun barrels.  It won't damage them. 

In fact, I abuse the hell out of my tips.  Clean up is just a dip in some flux gel and a few dabs in the brass.  Tip clean and shiny.

[EPAIII]

Again I must totally agree. I have used the wet sponge for decades and never saw any tip damage, even with a lot of water on the sponge. I prefer the brass wool because most work benches of my experience are a distance from the nearest sink so getting the water is a PITA and time consuming. I would keep a bottle of water on the bench - one more thing to spill.

Brass wool works great! Wet sponge works great! Never saw either do any damage. Next thing they are going to say is one of those $500+ soldering stations are a necessity and lamp cord is not good for speakers. I think they have stock in some of these companies that make the expensive gadgets and supplies.

Some people have entirely too much time on their hands and must invent things to worry about and do.

Lets do a bit more debunking!   The classic 'wet sponge' is meant to be barely damp.  Yes, get it good and wet at least once a day to flush away contaminants, but then squeeze it out till its barely damp.  If its swimming in water you are using it wrong.   With that said, the thermal shock of putting the tip on a large solder joint to reheat it is greater than that of wiping it on a damp sponge. 

[tooki]

Yes, I must agree. Brass brushes are used to clean gun and rifle barrels. Doesn't hurt them. Modern soldering iron tips are steel coated so should be a similar situation.

Brass brushes are also used to clean soldering iron tips. Many motorized tip cleaners use them inside.

[coppercone2]

well what would happen if a iron flake got stuck in a solder joint in voyager and caused a solder joint to pop 30 years later?

it does have its uses to maintain plating integrity.

I heard similar stories about turbines, that the nickel plating on service wrenches must be vetted (i.e. snapon process) to ensure that there is less chance of plating that flakes off, and get into a bearing or whatever. The idea is that the plating integrity on a subpar process or a damaged/stressed wrench brings too much risk to the device its servicing.

It also sounds like a good way  to make someone buy the expensive version for no god damn reason most of the time. 

[tooki]

When the iron plating in a soldering iron tip fails, you notice long before flaking becomes a concern: the copper under the plating quickly dissolves in the molten solder, causing pitting. It’s not a subtle effect.

[5U4GB]

Myths are what forums are about. The more outlandish the better.

  -- Joseph Stalin, 1941.

[RoGeorge]

any salt pig can be stuffed with brass wool and used as a solder cleaner

Wow! I learned a new English word.

Pighole? 

[Psi]

So, who is going to update the work instructions to put these on the production line ?   

[5U4GB]

Just be sure your brass wool is actually brass and not brass coated steel. Test with a magnet.

Also check that it's not Chinese brass aka. anodised aluminium, which is very popular as a brass substitute in products from there.

[watchmaker]

Just go to your neighborhood machinist and ask him/her/them for their brass swarf. Wash it you are good to go.  I have been in shops where the machinist was up to his ankles in swarf during a run.