do you all routinely and repeatedly bring up risk of contamination any time soldering of any kind is discussed? honest question lol.
Well, as you ask, yes I do. Not necessarily on forum, but there seems to be a misconception that auto tip cleaners are the dogs bollocks, and a must have best method.
I've personally nothing against their use, and in manual high volume production of commercial grade work they're just fine. I just dont see an application outside that.
If you're reviewing for company use, then they're not going to appreciate garbage that breaks down and doesn't have any wearing parts spares availability, there's a reason that Metcal, JBC, etc., are popular,
and expensive.
If it's a little novelty item that will see minimal use, to clutter your hobby workbench, then buy the low end stuff, I've tried some of it but I won't comment because you don't want my opinion on the devices use case in the first place, apart from: you get what you pay for.
Buy cheap, buy again.
As for cutting corners and costs on the job to speed things up, by buying into gadgets like tip cleaners then you're in the kind of cutthroat competition market that isn't worth contemplating doing with manual assembly methods.
I hope you find something that satisfies your retail needs.
Regards.
X