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Comment by the__alchemist | Hacker News Reader

  - No mention of tip types/quality
  - No mention of flux outside that embedded in the solder
  - No mention of braid etc
  - Recommends  a wet sponge to clean (This shocks the tip)
  - Defaults to leaded solder without mentioning the risks (I admit this is hot-take territory!)

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As long as you wash your hands after soldering, leaded solder is fine. Lead-free solder is harder to work with and never comes out as good as leaded solder.

What do you suggest other than wet sponge to clean the tip? I usually try and use a damp sponge, instead of a wet one. This is how I learned like 20-25 years ago as a kid though. I never learned how to professionally solder.

This type with a brass or copper scrubber work great:

https://www.amazon.com/Soldering-Cleaner-599B-Water-free-Hak...

"Brass wool", basically a clump of brass shavings, is quite popular as well. I sometimes use that, sometimes use a damp sponge and I don't find any giant difference between the two. Some people say the brass type are better (more thorough cleaning, less thermal difference, etc.) and some say they are worse (wears the plating off the tips faster)

I actually forgot about the brass you're talking about. I've seen it used, but never used it myself. I only occasionally solder though, just a few times a year either to fix something or to make a simple electronic project kit. I rarely do it correctly, I usually just heat my iron up and solder the item, the only thing I do generally is "tin" what I'm soldering first.

Brass wire sponge works great.

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