restorer-john
Grand Contributor
I ended up drill out the tips a little larger to stop the clogs.
Unclogging is a pain isn't it? especially when you need the bast#rd thing to be hot to unclog it. I have a drill bit that is a perfect fit and if I get a really nasty clog that the highest temp won't melt, I'll dismantle the thing and carefully get the clog out. Not a fun job.
Another tip (no pun intended) is using them horizontally where possible and forcing yourself to keep the suction on for a second after each desoldered joint. That means the particles of solder cool from the suction and set. Vertically means the solder drops back onto the opening in the end of the iron tube and melts over the hole near the chamber where it sets like a mongrel. And, if the suction is not quite as good- stop and clean it there and then. Otherwise you pay the penalty with a clog.
Unless I'm doing more than 100 joints, the manual ones are still goto for me.