A catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction without participating in it.

I think what you have in the tip is a bit of glass wool or a perforated
ceramic slug. It should not get fouled with anything because it glows red
hot with fire. Anything a solvent could clean out would have been burned
off.

More likly you have either bunched up the glass wool inside the tip or it is
fouled with carbon (how? maybe you got flux inside or melted some plastic
for example).

Probably cannot clean it, just get a new tip.

If you try a solvent (it really shouldn't hurt) , make sure it is plenty dry
before relighting. You might also try an ultrasonic bath in soapy water
followed by am alcohal rinse. If it is a carbon deposit, you will need the
vibration to knock it loose.

If there are any plastic parts on the tip do not use acetone or any cleaner
that would damage plastic. Just about any solvent can be used on metals,
glass and ceramics.



"Bill Woods" wrote in message
...
I have one of those portable gas-powered soldering irons which I find
useful for electric joints whenever there is no electric power
supply for a conventional iron.

The soldering attachments contain a mesh with the catalytic material
in it.

One or two of my attachments do not work well and I want to clean
them. I am told I can not clean them in certain solvents. can
someone recommend a safe cleaner to use.