Black tip soldering iron.

[werto165]

My soldering iron has gone black at the tip. Is that iron oxide? How do I remove it, sanding it? Only asking as it's impossible to solder now... Its some crappy soldering iron btw and I've been using lead free solder, am I meant to use flux with it?

[Bsmith]

it isnt iron oxide for sure(that stuff is red) you might try sanding it if you are willing to risk your iron.

 

The only thing I can say is that I (and others) recommand tinning your iron at first use. which is putting a small layer of tin on the tip and let that harden, so that there is always a layer of tin on it, works protective andyour solder spreads more evenly around the tip.

[Gala]

My soldering iron has gone black at the tip. Is that iron oxide? How do I remove it, sanding it? Only asking as it's impossible to solder now... Its some crappy soldering iron btw and I've been using lead free solder, am I meant to use flux with it?

it's probably oxidation, forgot to tin the tip?

[W-L]

My soldering iron has gone black at the tip. Is that iron oxide? How do I remove it, sanding it? Only asking as it's impossible to solder now... Its some crappy soldering iron btw and I've been using lead free solder, am I meant to use flux with it?

 

You need to remove the oxidation with some sandpaper or wire brush and tin the tip of your soldering iron again, I have a really cheap on on hand that does that too every so often. Apply some flux before reheating and tinning to prevent it from going black while heating up.

[Grrizz]

A tip cleaner will usually clear that up but if it's really bad a light sanding will also do the job, that is fairly common with lead free solder, one of the many reasons I always recommend leaded solder for anything that doesn't need to be ROHS certified (basically any hobby use).

[carguy86]

rub the tip of your soldering iron on a wet sponge while the iron is hot.