The process of desoldering is a messy business. Therefore, the routine of upkeep is essential to extending the tool's life and improving the performance of your desoldering equipment.

Without proper maintenance, the tools can become clogged and result in a dramatic loss in performance.

Take the following advice when cleaning your desoldering tools:

• Make sure that you always have a spare tube to hand. This will help to minimise downtime when completing extensive rework tasks.
• Put aside 10 to 15 minutes at the end of each shift to use a reaming rod. This will push out the baffle and the filter in the glass. You can then take a small wire brush to gently rub the baffle into a hazardous waste container or nearby bin if using lead-free solder.
• Replace the baffle into the tube and put in a new white filter.
• Ensure to periodically check the secondary filter on the front and back of the tool (depending on the model) being sure to keep an eye out for any discolouration. If the filter looks dirty, be sure to replace it.
• Clean out the desoldering nozzles to prevent build-up and clogging.

Of course the amount of use that your desoldering tool gets determines the frequency within which maintenance is undertaken. Please consult the manual for your equipment to see additional recommendations.