[sdiy] soldering iron problem

[KA4HJH]

>harrybissell at wowway.com wrote:
>> no need to use water / sponge.  Tip life is WAY better that way.
>
>Does using water cause too much heat cycling?

No, it comes back up in a couple of seconds. I've used the sponge for 20
years. Every time the pencil comes out of the holder it gets scraped over
the sponge. That way the tip is perfectly clean just as I'm about to use
it. In a production environment running the irons 18+ hours a day, five
days a week tips would last over six months.

Are there better ways? Probably. I've never needed to do it any different.
The sponge tray is right under the pencil holder. Less futzing around for
me.

Still on the same WTCP-N for over 20 years now. I've changed the tip once.

-- 

Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"