rejuvenating soldering tips

[MikeH]

An EE friend of mine told me that you can rejuvenate old dirty soldering tips by taking a clean file to them and then re-tinning the tip.  Anyone ever try this?  If so, what type/grade of file would you suggest?

[zjokka]

wouldn't steel wool be better? or less radical? heard any conflicting stories about this though

[MartyMart]

My tips are quite small, so a file would destroy them !
Steel wool and a re-tin should work OK.

[SteveB]

I have a cheapo Weller that I do this to all the time. I will eventually break down & buy a better one, but it's lasted many years.

I use a small flat file to reshape the tip, then apply solder to the tip, let it sit a second or so, & wipe off the excess. I was shown how to do this by a tech. over 20 years ago. I like a small conical type, while he liked to have a flat spot on one side of the cone.

Steve

[Mark Hammer]

I've done this, but depending on the tip it can eitherextend or shorten the lifespan of the tip.  Really and truly the best thing to do is spring the few dollars for a little container of the tinning compound that several companies make (it looks like a small container of salve/ointment).  Scrape the oxide off your hot tip with autility knife or one of those little abrasive pads they make for cleaning tips, and dip it into the tinning compound.  Then tin soon after with solder.  I've had the same tip for at least 5 years now without problem using this method.  I used to go through them in under 2yrs before I started doing it.  And of course, it is not the cost of buying a new tip that isso aggravating.  It is the unavailability of one in town when you REALLY need one!

[MikeH]

Oh absolutely.  2 dollars for a new tip is no big deal, it's just that when you need one a 1am, there's no place to get one.

[Big Red]

I've only done it once, but I just placed mine in the chuck of my drill press, turned it on, and shaped it to a nice point with some sandpaper. I think it was around 220 - 400, one of the rougher grades. when I was done I dipped it in some flux, tinned it with solder, and I was back at it. I'm pretty sure I got this idea from the forum 

[GibsonGM]

I also use the file, to shape the point while I rotate the iron by hand, and then follow up with steel wool and tinning.  Just an ordinary mill bastard file...don't press hard or you'll eat the tip off the iron, he he he.  Works great; I get a year out of a cheapo fine tip this way.  +1 to the unavailability of new tips!

[markm]

I've only done it once, but I just placed mine in the chuck of my drill press, turned it on, and shaped it to a nice point with some sandpaper. I think it was around 220 - 400, one of the rougher grades. when I was done I dipped it in some flux, tinned it with solder, and I was back at it. I'm pretty sure I got this idea from the forum 

Same here.
It's not as good as a new tip but hey, in a pinch it works! 

[Meanderthal]

 It'll get you by for a while til ya get a new tip. That's what I do(file, just not a rough one). And, yes, I also dip it in flux and keep it tinned.