Soldering Iron Tips Types and Which to Use
Conical, chisel, bevel and knife soldering iron tips, how each shape handles a different joint, and tip sets for 900M irons and the Weller WE1010NA.
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A joint that will not wet, a tip that will not hold solder, and pads too small for the tip in the iron: start with the tip, not the iron. Soldering iron tips types come down to shape: conical for fine joints, chisel for broad joints, bevel for drag work and knife for bridging pads. Match the shape to the joint and the series to the iron.
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Below: the tip shapes in the sets here, how to match a tip to the iron, and the sets compared.
HANGLIFE 900M Soldering Iron Tips for Hakko
A 12-piece 900M tip set in purple copper with multi-layer plating, covering conical, knife, bevel and chisel shapes for Hakko-style stations.
Pros
- 12 pieces across conical, knife, bevel and chisel shapes
- Purple copper with multi-layer plating for rapid heat transfer
- Fits 900M stations from Hakko, Yihua, Atten, Quick and more
- Lead-free materials
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- Tip diameters and lengths are not stated in the bullets
- Only fits irons that take 900M series tips
- No case or holder is named in the listing
Weller Genuine 5 Piece Tip Set for WE1010NA
A genuine Weller 5-piece tip set in copper with iron plating for the WE1010NA, built for general purpose soldering.
Pros
- Genuine Weller tips for the WE1010NA
- Copper with iron plating, the standard for Weller tips
- Professional-grade construction for extended tip life
- General purpose set that covers everyday soldering
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- Only 5 pieces, so the shape range is narrow
- Tip shapes are not named; the size is given as Various
- Fits the WE1010NA only
900M Soldering Iron Tips for HAKKO 936,937,907
A 10-piece 900M-T tip set with 10 shapes for Hakko-style stations, electroplated for 72 hours.
Pros
- 10 pieces in 10 shapes, from I and B to K, SK and C3
- Electroplated for 72 hours; the listing says not easily oxidized
- Fits 900M series stations from Hakko, Atten, Quick and more
- Names the irons it does not fit: Hakko 908, 900s and X-Tronic 3010-XTS
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- The listing names no base metal, only the electroplating process
- No tip diameters or lengths are stated
- The shape list uses codes with no plain-language shape names
Soldering iron tips types: the shapes that matter
The 900M sets here cover the shapes a bench iron sees most. A conical tip comes to a point and suits fine joints and tight pads. A chisel tip has a flat face and suits larger joints where heat must spread across the pad. A bevel tip has an angled face, and a knife tip has a blade edge for bridging solder. Hanglife’s set names all of these shapes: conical in I, B and IS, knife in SK and K, bevel in 2C, 3C and 4C, and chisel in 0.8D, 1.2D, 1.6D and 2.4D.
| Shape | Tip codes in the Hanglife set | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Conical | I, B, IS | Fine joints and tight pads |
| Chisel | 0.8D, 1.2D, 1.6D, 2.4D | Larger joints |
| Bevel | 2C, 3C, 4C | Work across a row of pins |
| Knife | SK, K | Drag soldering and bridging pads |
Shape is part of the story: the metal under the shape affects how long a tip lasts. Copper carries heat well, and the Weller and Hanglife sets plate the copper to protect it. The Weller set uses copper with iron plating, which the listing calls the standard for Weller tips, and the Hanglife set uses purple copper with multi-layer plating and polishing. ShineNow takes a different route and electroplates each tip for 72 hours, with a listing claim that the tips are not easily oxidized. Plating wears with use, so a tip that stops wetting has usually lost its plating.
Match the tip to the iron
A tip only fits an iron that takes its series, so check the series before the shape. The Hanglife and ShineNow sets are 900M series tips, and the listings name the same family of stations: Hakko, Atten, Quick, Aoyue, Yihua, Vastar, Sywon, Tabiger and SOAIY, with models such as 936, 937 and 907. The Weller set is different: it is a genuine Weller set for the WE1010NA, and it does not belong on a 900M iron. ShineNow also names the irons its set does not fit: the Hakko 908, the 900s iron and the X-Tronic 3010-XTS. When the series matches, the shape is the choice; when it does not, no shape helps.
When the listing gives a size guide, use it. Hanglife tells buyers to check whether the iron supports 900M series tips, compare the old tips by outer and inner diameter and length, and refer to the size guide on the listing page. If you need a station iron rather than a gun, the best soldering station irons guide covers what to look for in the iron itself.
Tip sets for the bench
Shape choice decides the joint, and series decides the fit, so the sets below are ranked by shape range, build and value for the irons they fit.
How to keep tips in shape
Tips last longer when the plating stays intact. ShineNow electroplates each tip for 72 hours and says the tips are not easily oxidized; Hanglife uses multi-layer plating and polishing on purple copper. Wipe the tip clean, keep a coat of solder on it between joints, and store the iron where the tip cannot knock against other tools. A tip that will not wet again after cleaning has usually lost its plating, and cleaning will not bring plating back.
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FAQ: garage tools
What soldering iron tip shape should I use for general work?
Start with a chisel tip: the flat face spreads heat across the joint, and the Hanglife set covers chisel sizes from 0.8D to 2.4D. Keep a conical tip in the set for fine joints and tight pads.
Do 900M tips fit my soldering station?
They fit stations that take 900M series tips, including Hakko models 936, 937 and 907 and stations from Atten, Quick, Aoyue and Yihua. Check the exclusions: the ShineNow set does not fit the Hakko 908, the 900s iron or the X-Tronic 3010-XTS.
Are copper soldering iron tips good?
Copper carries heat well, and the copper sets here add plating over the copper: the Weller set uses copper with iron plating, and the Hanglife set uses purple copper with multi-layer plating. The plating is what keeps the copper from wearing away.
How many tip shapes do I need?
A bench set that covers conical, chisel, bevel and knife shapes handles most joints. The Hanglife set holds 12 pieces across those shapes, and the ShineNow set holds 10 pieces in 10 shapes.
What is the difference between the Hanglife and ShineNow tip sets?
The Hanglife set holds 12 pieces and names its shapes by family, with purple copper and multi-layer plating. The ShineNow set holds 10 pieces and electroplates each tip for 72 hours.
Related: best soldering station irons, the best adjustable temperature soldering irons, the best soldering flux for circuit boards and the best solder wire stands.
