Huh? Any help appreciated

[cozmik_cowboy]

How about wiping off the tip in the can of spun brass, then insert the tip in the hole in the sponge for final cleaning?

Bill, tgo

The hole's too big & the sponge is too thin for that; it would slide clean up to the hilt, and the tip wouldn't touch the sides.  I don't expect to put it to much use at all.

Peter

[growlypants]

...maybe it's just a Christmas tree ornament they threw in there???

[paulman]

It is a solder sponge.  I still don't find them worthy of my projects. 
 

[keith_h]

Sounds like a solder sponge. They are intended for use while you are using the iron to remove the slag, flux and excess solder that builds up while soldering. I just use an old damp rag folded into a pad.

I'm still using my trusty old Ungar 610 which I guess was purchased in the 50's or 60's. It was my Dad's but it moved out of the house with me since I was doing electronics design and prototyping at the time and the only one soldering stuff. 
 
 

[cozmik_cowboy]

It is a solder sponge.  I still don't find them worthy of my projects. 
 

Yep - except for the color, that's it.  But I still don't understand:  1)  What's the point of the hole?  (Both my old iron & my "helping hands" have rectangular, non-perforated sponges) and 2) Why include it when the brass-wire cleaner is also included?

Peter

[paulman]

I couldn't find any Intel on the purpose of the hole in the sponge; maybe so the tip can be pulled back across the sponge from the center.


Reddit is split on the sponge/brass use too.  Whatever floats the boat works I guess.  . What does the Wizard use??


https://www.reddit.com/r/AskElectronics/comments/75l9gy/those_who_solders_do_you_prefer_wet_sponge_or/

[lbpesq]

Mine came today (one day early!).   I placed the blue disc in water and it immediately expended into a 1/2” thick sponge, but without a hole in the middle!??   Upon closer inspection, there is indeed a hole cut in the middle, but the middle piece of sponge is still there but can easily be punched out.   ‘Tis a puzzlement?  Otherwise the station looks great and quite the deal for the money.  I’ll know more when I fire it up and do some soldering this weekend.

Bill, tgo

[cozmik_cowboy]

Yeah - mine awaits a punch-out, as well.  It can keep waiting, methinks.

Peter

[keith_h]

I think the hole is there to allow a place to collect the excess solder and slag rather than have it sit on top of the sponge to be picked back up or have it all over the table top. 

[lbpesq]

So, basically, it’s an edge against which you can drag your tip?

Bill, tgo

[paulman]

That sounds logical! 

[gtrguy]

Mine showed up yesterday. I must say that it was very well packed, with some nice additional items like a tube of solder and some other helpful stuff. I just did my first job with it and I like it!

[BeenDown139]

is a blue fiber disc.

[old time engineering tech weighs in]

a solder sponge is nice.  if mine is AWOL, a wet paper towel passed over the tip usually works nicely for removing the schmutz from the tip.  even toilet paper will work in a pinch.  make sure it's wet or you'll start a nice little fire or at the least release some unpleasant smell from the paper.  it should be noted that water is a pretty good conductor of heat and so you want to perform this operation quickly or you'll scorch your fingertips, which is never a good thing.

i also keep a small muffin fan from a computer power supply running by the workpiece so i don't have a continuous flume of solder smoke going up in my face while trying to do fine work without getting poisoned.  solder used to be made up of lead, dunno what's in it these days, but i still don't like breathing it.

i learned long ago that ya gotta keep that tip clean, kids!  or you'll have a crappy joint first time, every time.

[lbpesq]

even toilet paper will work in a pinch.  make sure it's wet or you'll start a nice little fire or at the least release some unpleasant smell from the paper.

Maybe one can avoid the “unpleasant smell” by cleaning the tip with new, as opposed to used, toilet paper?

hehehehe

Bill, tgo