Anything special about these tip cleaning pads from circuit specialists?

[sixstringphil]

Are these better than just using copper pot/pan scrubbers like these...



The Tip Cleaners say they're made of brass, and the Chore Boys are copper. Will the copper do as well for cleaning iron tips?
BTW, I have the AutoTemp 379 from Circuit Specialists.

I know it's an odd question about a cheap item, but I hate to pay shipping when I can pick them up down the street.

Thanks!!

[Ice-9]

I only ever use a soldering iron sponge to clean the tip of my iron, if you use something abrasive then the coating on the tip will be removed and will start to corode away (if thats the right word) i.ve not replaced the tip on my iron for over 6 months and its just like new and used everyday. ive seen people use abrasives to clean tips and they only last weeks if not days.

So i'm saying just use a wet soldering iron sponge.

[sixstringphil]

yeah, I know there's a debate about wet/dry tip cleaning. I've always used the one that came with the iron with much success, but it's pretty much worn out. (the sponge, not the iron tip)

[PerroGrande]

I have one of those tip cleaning pads from Xytronics, and they work very well.  I cannot compare to the other type of pad you put up there for certain, but I think they are different materials.

The one nice thing about the metallic cleaning pad is that it doesn't noticeably lower the temperature of the iron. 

[John Lyons]

There was a pot about this a while back.
I bought a couple dollar store copper scrubbers and have been using one for a few weeks now.
So far so good, we'll see. It cleans the tip well and does not lower the temperature.
I was wondering if the abrasive qualities would degrade the tip...time will tell.

john