[Elecraft] RE: Elecraft digest, Vol 4 #279 - 48 msgs

Mon Sep 1 06:27:09 2003

Probably helps to know what you're talking about...

The metal scrubbers I and others have been referring to contain not a single
particle of steel, they're made of low abrasion brass.

"Time honoured" is hardly an adequate reason for continuing with an inferior
practice.

Message: 17
To: [email protected]
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2003 09:27:30 -0500
From: [email protected]
Subject: [Elecraft] cleaning pad

The tips of most soldering irons are not copper, they are plated
steel...Using metallic scouring pads gradually wears the plating off your
expensive tips...Once the plating is gone, the tip will turn black, start
to burn, and you will not be able to tin it...Steel wool is magnetic and
can leave tiny steel shards clinging to the tip that can transfer to the
joint and cause a short...The wet sponge is the time honored tip cleaner,
and the best in the long run...If one holds the tip on the sponge too
long, that might cool it down, but you are supposed to just swipe the tip
across the sponge...I've never experienced tip cool down from that...

Jerry, wa2dkg