Having an issue with my soldering iron tip, it seems to have lost its shine thus making it impossible to use. Iv tried cleaning it up via brass wool and damp sponge but no look..
Has anyone got any hacks on how to amend this problem??? .
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Something like
Or the leaded version.
Chipquik is a solid brand. I used their flux almost exclusively for board repair.
Rs own brand is up there too
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I’m no expert when it comes to soldering, but when I have this issue, I use a small file and clean the tip back to a bright end then re-silver it. Adding a small amount of solder to a hot iron.
I find it needs doing from time to time.
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Most modern tips are plated, just buy a new tip 
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Have you tried dipping the hot tip in flux? I find this helps when I’m doing phone repairs.
I thought this but wasn’t sure as I to have filed the end down but still seems to struggle…
file it down, through any plating, make sure you can see copper everywhere, heat it up, apply leaded solder (lead free is horrible) and try again. When you file it, don’t add loads of ‘facets’ - make it the shape of the Shard with a slightly sharp tip!
File the tip down?!?!
Each to there own but modern solder tips comes plated. Its this surface that adheres to the solder and degrades if not looked after.
If your ‘soldering’ something like stained glass windows or an out houses plumbing then sure, file away but for any accurate quality or micro level work if your tip doesnt recover after using a decent tip cleaner/tinner buy a new one.
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Leaded is the way forward 
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Yeah - not really sure what Lead free is good for - maybe ballast😁
Bugger all imo but the powers that be decided it was bad for the health so manufacturers werent meant not to use it..
Its not bad for making air rifle pellets ;p
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Hi.After years of teaching young RN trainees how to solder etc. id recommend that you replace the tip. The old copper tips were fine for filing but the new plated ones don’t take that well to filing.
And yes leaded, cored solder is best.
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If it’s a decent tip get it hot use fresh solder to flux it then try wire wall
Hi @adhd_maverick, it looks as though you’re quite new here 
Why not nip over to the Introductions page, and say hello properly and tell us a bit about yourself. 
Not heavy enough.
Very odd, but a YouTuber I subscribe to released a video about this in the last few hours, may help you.
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£14 no brainer if you ask me…
(assuming its a TS100 that is)
can probably get them cheaper from elsewhere.
As I’ve just checked that listing and that’s £14 for a single tip not the whole selection in the picture that I first thought. So have a shop around that was just the first result I found.
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Cheers mate I have Sequre S1012 Pro so not sure if they would fit, but agree bargin as the tips for mine are a fiver eack on hobbyRc 
As has been said by others you should buy a new iron tip as its bad practice to use any abrasive on the tips. they are plated with two or three different plated layers to maintain the wetting and in some cases the temperature performance. Of course it depends on the price of the iron you start with. If its of help to members I have included my guide to hand soldering and desoldering posters. I also have a guide to surface mount rework and repair and area array packages which is a more advance package found on many drones. Many thanks
p11Hand soldering2016.pdf (766.9 KB)