Soldering Tip Shape?

[MattAnonymous]

What shape tip do you use.  I use a flat, angled tip but I don't know if it is better than the 'pencil' tip or flat head screw driver tip.  My favorite iron is one I bought for $6 at Big lots and has screw on heads.

[Jason D]

I just recently upgraded to the Radio Shack dual wattage type (20W or 40W selectable) for $22.

The Weller 1/4" thread-on tips fit it. So, I ordered one of the chisel shaped tips from Mouser. Very good quality, and last a long time. But, I don't like the shape for doing fine PCB work. I just finished a Ross Comp board from Tonepad and was left with a solder bridge that caused the effect not to work right.

So, I ordered the pencil type (screw driver was out of stock), that should make soldering the tight spots easier.

[travissk]

I use the pencil tip usually... just personal preference

[Peter Snowberg]

I use a fine pencil tip and .025" solder.

Take care,
-Peter

[downweverything]

super fine screwdriver (almost pencil) but just that little bit of flat to wedge up by components

[smoguzbenjamin]

Fine pencil tip with a digitally regulated soldering iron. Asolutely great stuff

[petemoore]

If you want to 'draw within the lines', nothing beats a sharp pencil.
 Mine get worked down to where theres an ice cream scoop look on one side, when this turns into a catch I clip it off...
 You may have guessed it...I use a RS Iron...
 I tried perfing with a Sears Soldering Gun...kind of like trying to do drafting with a superwide felt tip on sponge paper...
 A little flattip  would probly be cool...

[Dai H.]

depends on what you're trying to solder. Big part? Tiny surface mnt. part? Big joint? etc. And the wattage capability. Stuff like that.

[Gilles C]

Pencil tip, regulated temperature, because the cheap ones (RS) always burn the tips in a couple of uses.

[niftydog]

You should have a range of tip shapes and sizes if you plan on soldering a wide variety of parts.  The larger the pad, the larger the tip.  Chisel tips are better for larger pads, conical tips work great for most other stuff.

But for most of the stuff we would be doing, a 1/32" conical tip is good.  I find a 1/16" good for that occasional suface mount.  I rarely use chisels, but I have a 3/32" chisel for the slightly larger stuff.

[Gilles C]

They have a good range of products, and a nice opening page...

http://www.hakkousa.com/

Btw, here is the soldering station I would like to buy. (By birthday is coming, so, I could make myself a gift...) I like the smaller size.

http://www.hakkousa.com/products.asp?PID=936-9&Page=1

They also have good info.

http://www.hakkousa.com/docLibrarylist.asp

Gilles

[runmikeyrun]

whatever rough pencil shape my file makes it into...  :oops:

[niftydog]

You probably know this already, but for those that might not;

you should NEVER file a soldering iron tip.  Filing removes the plating and causes them to corrode much faster than they would normally.  If tining and wiping on a damp sponge isn't cleaning it, use a tip cleaning product or replace the tip.

weller tip polishing bar (bottom of the page, while you're there, check out the f#*ing ridiculous URL!)

multicore TTC1 (this is da beezneez!)

here's a good link.

[Dai H.]

I think filing the tip was what they did in ye olden days, and newer stuff, I think they do tell you not to file the tip because it's plated. That seems to be the case, but maybe there are ones out there w/out any sort of plating??

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

I use the smallest chisel point i can get. The thing to remember is, the aim is to get heat from the tip to whatever it is, and if you are just poking a point at it, there isn't much chance for the heat to get over, you have to have the tip in some way 'lying in contact' with the object(s) you are heating.
Incidentally, my assistant foirced me to switch from a sponge to one of those metallic wire bunches. Feels funny, but no problems.