I use alcohol and Q-Tip to clean out the inside first of the tip. I have changed over to Ferr-Tite. Basically heat it up until it almost melts and swipe some on the POC taper. I then heat up the tip and put it on turning several times. I used to use a glue gun and some sticks I got on 3Rivers. I never lost any unless it was cold and in 3D targets. I like the Ferr-Tite way better. I loathe glue guns.