A Little tip

[CodeMonk]

Speaking of soldering iron tips (from another thread actually), heres a little tip.
I go to Lowes (or any hardware store that carries thick copper wire).
I buy a foot of bare copper wire, costs $1 - $2. I think it was 12 gauge.
With that I can make about 10 or more tips.
I just cut to a rough length, then stick it in my drill.
I clamp a file to a work table and drill away, making the tip any size I want.
Its a hell of a lot cheaper than buying new or multiple sized tips.
You have to grind down both ends. One end so it fit in you iron and the other to whatever size you need the tip to be. File it down to a chisel shape or whatever if need be.
Copper is soft so usually you can just thread it into the iron and it will make its own threads (mine did at least).
Takes less than 5 minutes to make a new tip.