Datasheet

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Your Guide
Soldering and Desoldering Tips
Nickel-plating
The base material made of highly conductive electrolytic
copper ensures unhindered heat transfer from the heating
element to the ERSADUR LF coating
ERSADUR LF coating (up to 600 micron) of iron-pla-
ting (subject to type of tip) is factory pre-tinned with
lead-free solder at working end
Iron-plating
Chrome-plating prevents corrosion and
solder collection on undesirable spots
Nickel-plating
Cross-section of an ERSADUR soldering tip, non-scale representation
ERSADUR Soldering Tips
Hand soldering operators are happy when
their soldering tips last a long time and con-
tinue to solder well. Soldering tips that do
not allow the solder to melt rapidly due to
excess oxidation clearly disrupt productiv-
ity! Special care of the soldering tip should
be taken in order to solder efficiently.
Important Facts:
1. When a soldering tip remains hot for a
long period of time, the tip will oxidize
or blacken. An oxidized tip will no longer
“wet“ or melt solder properly.
2. The higher the working temperature of
The ERSA Tip-Reactivator al-
lows the regeneration of oxidized
soldering tips. It is environmen-
tally safe, free of lead and halo-
gens and functions even at low
soldering tip temperatures. For
this purpose the heated soldering
tip is wiped on the surface of the
regeneration compound.
Special Care for Soldering Tips
the soldering tip, the faster this oxidation
will take place and tip lifetime will be
shorter.
3. Soldering irons that automatically go into
a lower “stand-by” temperature increase
tip life.
4. The oxidation of the tip will be very rapid
if the tip is left “cooking” without molten
solder covering the tip end. It happens,
for example, if the tip is not wetted with
solder right after cleaning it.
5. Excessive mechanical force during
soldering will shorten the tip life.
6. Proper care of the tip will greatly in-
crease tip life.
7. Lead-free soldering requires higher
temperatures, is more aggressive to the
tip and will always lead to shorter tip life.
Special Care:
1. Always clean the tip by wiping on a
slightly wet sponge after each use.
Alternatively, tips can be dry cleaned
using the ERSA dry sponge.
2. Always put fresh solder onto the end of
the tip BEFORE putting the tip back into
the iron holder.
3. Always use lowest working temperature
possible.
4. Never leave an iron “cooking” unattend-
ed for some time. Always set iron into
automatic stand-by if possible or turn-off
when not in use.
5. Never use excessive mechanical force
when soldering.
6. Soldering tip oxidation can be easily
removed if detected early. Early detection
and removal will greatly increase tip life.
7. Tip oxidation removal or tip refurbishing
is accomplished in 4 consecutive steps:
a. clean on damp sponge, b. clean with
wire brush, c. using a tip reactivator
chemical, and d. retinning using proper
flux cored solder wire.
Dry cleaning of soldering tips offers sub-
stantial advantages. The soldering tips are
not cooled abruptly and contaminated tips
resulting from dirty sponges are avoided.
Due to the slightly abrasive properties
of the special wire mesh, passive layers
that accumulated on the tip can easily be
removed. Tip life is thus increased consider-
ably in lead-free hand soldering.
ERSA Dry Sponge
The ERSA Dry Sponge is included as a standard alternative to the wet sponge and can be
beneficial especially for lead-free.
Conventional soldering tips
can also be used for lead-
free solders. Since lead-free
soldering requires higher
process temperatures, and
due to the fact that lead-free
solder is more aggressive to
the soldering tip, the tip’s ser-
vice life is shorter. ERSADUR
LF soldering tips have an
increased layer of iron, which
increases tip life. Consequent-
ly they are especially suitable
for lead-free soldering.