Weller blog

Water-soluble fluxes typically used with lead free solder can quickly wear a soldering tip to the point of unwettability. This is especially true when using thin solder wire with little flux content. The intensive cleaning that is necessary with lead free solder reduces the amount of tin, exposing the tip to oxidation. Black oxide layers that form on the surface of the tip must be removed, or the tip will soon become permanently unwettable.

In addition to the use of a traditional wet sponge for cleaning, Weller now offers a solution for gentle tip cleaning - the Weller Dry Cleaner WDC (order no. 0051512499). The WDC uses a special metal wool ball. Dry cleaning is performed in a two step process. First, excess solder is removed from the hot tip by tapping the soldering pencil lightly on the soft rubber edge of the solder collection box. Second, pushing the tip into the metal wool ball and turning cleans the tip. After cleaning, there is still a fine layer of tin on the tip, which will help avoid fast oxidation of the iron layer.

In addition, use of the WDC will not shock the tip, because the temperature remains constant during the cleaning process.

The sturdy plastic and rubber housing of the WDC is ESD safe.