Soldering tip recommendation - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2025, 12:00:27 pm
content: Hi,I asked here for soldering iron recomandation in this threadhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/heating-soldering-iron-station-recommendation/And EEVblog members suggest that I go with Geeboon soldering station, since this is the first time I'm switching to the cartridge soldering station, and my soldering involve mainly MCU's like ESP32, STM32, CH32V parts in different packages from QFN to QFP and passives are 0402 upwards, mostly in the 0603 range, which soldering tips do you suggest to buy?

author: thephil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2025, 04:12:08 pm
content: I have a JBC-clone (245 handle), too. Mine came with 3 small tips: one knife shaped, one very pointy and one bent. The very pointy one is not that great, but I like the other two. On top of that I got myself a biggish chisel tip and my favorites – two beveled/horseshoe shaped tips (C245-797 and C245-784).You want at least one that is chunky and suitable for heavy lifting and one more delicate tip for tiny things in crowded spaces. What shape exactly is a matter of personal taste as much as rational consideration. The most important lesson I learned back in the day was that you can solder very small things with pretty big tips but not vice versa. And tiny tips are only useful in special situations.Edit:If you get only one handle for everything, get the C245 over the C201. It's great for a huge range of soldering jobs from tiny SMD to beefy power transistors. And if you ever needreally tiny, the 115 is a real step towards micro soldering (but rarely needed in my projects).

author: gamalot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2025, 04:55:38 pm
content: For the past ten years, my go to soldering tip has been the horseshoe shaped C245-784. I'm already on my third one. It handles 0603 packages with ease, and even 0402s as long as the component layout isn’t too dense. Just in case, a fine tip is also essential.I think maybe you should also consider a hot air gun and a heating platform.

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2025, 07:00:38 pm
content: Thanks for the feedback, I have a quick 706 hot air and soldering Iron too, this would replace my send gordak 952 Iron that was broken after 10 years of service.I would go and buy a C245 and C210 handle, my next question is that where do you get your tips? what are the quality clone tip manufacturers and shops in china?

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2025, 07:10:19 pm
content: Also what do you suggest for Conical, Conical Bent and Chisel tips? what about the C210 type tips?

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2025, 08:19:08 pm
content: I got my JBC stuff from Accessotronic (shipped from Ottawa) on a few ocassions, but their WEB site is f-king retarded. Also had to send one ore more follow up emails, as they did not bother to ship my orders. Idiots.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2025, 09:16:56 pm
content: Wrong forum section, not sure why a new thread was needed.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2025, 09:55:35 pm
content: One tip to rule them all (for smaller SMT work at least down to about 0402) = Metcal STTC-122 = Thermaltronics M7CS152

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2025, 04:32:27 pm
content: There are many tips for the C245 and they all have their (specialized) purpose.For generic use the oval tips with the flat sides are best. The flat sides really improve with the heat transfer from your iron to your workpiece.Also, the clone tips cost around EUR 10. I do not consider that much for a tip with built in heating element and thermocouple. I suggest you get a few different sized tips and then decide what works best for you yourself.I also recommend to get at least one pretty big tip. Every now and then you will want to solder thick copper wires, or solder someting to a GND plane , and that just does not work with the small tips.

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2025, 07:28:57 pm
content: QuoteThanks for the tip, do you have some pictures?

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2025, 12:09:12 pm
content: I had a look at the JBC cartridge guide, and they call them "Cartridge Chisel" on page 27 (Page 3 of the PDF) For exampleC245-906 or C245-806 although C245-406 has the same tip size but more beef behind it.Without going to extremes (which may not be too bad in this case) C245-708 (chisel 4.8 x 1.5mm) seems a good size for bigger stuff.The bevel tips C245-064 (1.3mm) or C245-845 (2.2mm) seem appropriate. You can get one of the fine conical tips too. I never liked these much before I had a JBC clone, as they loose heat too quickly during soldering, but the JBC clone seems to be better here, and this may make those tips more usable. But I don't do enough soldering these days to be sure.But whatever you choose, it's also a case of personal preference. And the tips are wear items anyway, so you should have a few on stock. If you buy some from the "middle range" then you have the most chance they are usable, and you can extend the range later with either finer or more coarse tips.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2025, 12:14:15 pm
content: Quote from: ali_asadzadeh on September 29, 2025, 07:10:19 pmI bought a KSGER C245-C210 with both handles. The C210 handle is a bit smaller and the tips are a bit thinner. I do not see much benefit of having them both. I would rather have had two C245 handles so I have a spare handle, and can use the tips in both handles.Also, when desoldering SMT R's and C's, it is very handy to have two irons so you can heat both pads at the same time. (Then you will of course also need two soldering iron controllers and holders for both irons).

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2025, 11:36:30 am
content: Thanks Doctorandus_P for your feedback, I'm thinking about buying two soldering station, on with C245 & C210 and one with C245 only

author: thephil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2025, 12:00:00 pm
content: My personal recommendation: skip the 210 and get a 115, instead. There really is too little difference between 245 and 210, in my opinion.

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2025, 08:09:23 pm
content: what does 115 has to offer?

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2025, 10:03:30 pm
content: Quote from: thephil on October 08, 2025, 12:00:00 pmYes what I said as well but he doesn't seem to listen.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/heating-soldering-iron-station-recommendation/

author: thephil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2025, 08:36:42 am
content: Quote from: ali_asadzadeh on October 08, 2025, 08:09:23 pmTwo things:Tips are available in extremely small sizes – good for crowded tiny smd stuffThe handle to tip distance is minimal – excellent control of the positionBoth are an advantage for real micro-soldering under the microscope. So this is what I use if I have to solder the kind of smd parts that I'm afraid of inhaling if not careful.

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2025, 08:40:24 pm
content: I pulled the trigger, ordered two C245-C210 kits with additional tips, I selected theseC245-2.2C 2XC245-I 1XC211-I 1XC210-IS 1XThe total price is 1000RMB, Waiting for them to come to dady to see what they have to offer.

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2025, 10:38:07 pm
content: A nice choice, I just recently purchased the same soldering iron and it is excellent, also recently ordered the C245-2.2C tip.

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2025, 06:39:50 am
content: QuoteThat's good, Have you get your hands on C245-2.2C tip? what's your opinion on it?

author: moffy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2025, 07:18:57 am
content: Quote from: ali_asadzadeh on October 10, 2025, 06:39:50 amStill waiting, but I do like the knife tip.