Buying task · Tips and cartridges
Soldering tips and cartridges
Which soldering tip system fits your handle, which shapes to start with, how to keep tips working, and why 'T12' on a listing rarely means Hakko made it.
Short answer
Soldering tips are not universal. Each belongs to a system that fits particular handles, so start from the handle you own or plan to buy. For a first set, get a chisel tip for through-hole work and a fine point for very small surface-mount parts, and keep every tip tinned. A "T12" or "C245" tip on a marketplace is a compatible part, not proof that Hakko or JBC made it.
The main tip systems
Each maker documents which handles its tips fit. These are the systems you will meet most often:
| System | Fits, per the maker | What the maker designs it for |
|---|---|---|
| C245 | JBC T245 handle | SMD work and high-power jobs such as ground planes; handle rated 150 W peak[1] |
| C210 | JBC T210, B.100 and B.500 handles | Precision work with medium power; T210 rated 40 W peak[2][3] |
| C115 | JBC NT115 nano handle and nano tweezers | JBC's smallest tips, for very small parts, even under a microscope[4] |
| T12 / T15 | Hakko FM-2027 and FM-2028 irons | Heater and sensor inside the tip; iron rated 70 W at 24 V[5][6] |
| Hakko T18 | FX-8801 iron of the FX-888D and FX-888DX | Heated by the iron's ceramic heater; about 29 shapes in groups B, C, D, I, J and K[7][8] |
| TS100-style | Pinecil, TS100 and TS101 irons | Portable irons powered by USB-C or DC[9][10] |
Not sure which one you have? The tip system finder starts from the model on your handle.
Shape: start with two
Adafruit's Collin's Lab suggests a flat, screwdriver-style (chisel) tip for through-hole parts and a fine point for very small surface-mount components.[11] Most systems offer far more than that: JBC's C210 range alone includes conical, bent conical, chisel, bevel, spoon, barrel and knife groups.[3] Add shapes as specific jobs call for them. The tip shape guide maps shapes to jobs.
Genuine, compatible or clone
- Hakko names tips by region. It sells T12 tips in Japan, Oceania, Asia and other countries, and T15 tips in North America and Europe.[12] Genuine Hakko cartridges sold for the US and Canada carry T15 part numbers, so we call marketplace "T12" tips T12-format. See T12 vs T15 tips.
- Counterfeits exist. American Hakko warns that fakes can look like Hakko products and even carry the logo, and tells buyers to use authorized distributors.[13]
- Other brands build to JBC's formats. AiXun, for example, lists stations for T245, T210 and T115-format handles.[14] We found no JBC statement about marketplace sellers, so we describe third-party cartridges as C245-, C210- or C115-compatible and never call them genuine or fake. JBC's power ratings describe its own handles only.
- TS100-style tips come from many makers. SEQURE, for example, sells TS-format tips for its own iron.[15] Pine64 says no genuine Pinecils are sold on AliExpress.[16]
Keep tips working
Tinning protects the tip. SparkFun tins the tip before each connection, and Adafruit says to keep a thin, shiny layer of solder on it.[17][18] Adafruit also warns against files and abrasives, which damage the plating and ruin the tip; a badly oxidized tip can usually be reconditioned with tip-tinning paste.[18] If solder beads up instead of sticking, read why solder won't stick to the tip.
How to choose
- Identify the system your handle or planned station uses.
- Buy a chisel and a fine point in that system before anything exotic.
- Stay in one system per bench where you can, so spare tips fit every handle you own.
- Buy from sellers you can identify, and read "T12" and "C245" as formats, not brands.
The T12 vs C245 guide explains the most common choice between systems.
Everything in this topic
Guides
- C115 vs C210Stops you buying a nano system you will outgrow on the first connector, or a precision handle that is too coarse for your smallest parts.
- C210 vs C245Helps you decide which JBC-style handle to buy first, or whether you need both, based on the joints you actually solder.
- Soldering tip shapesHelps you buy the one or two tip shapes that match your joints, instead of a set of fine points you will rarely use.
- T12 vs C245 soldering tipsExplains the tip-system decision that locks in which stations and tips you can use.
- T12 vs T15 tipsExplains why US Hakko tips carry T15 part numbers and why an AliExpress T12 station is not a Hakko system, so you order cartridges that match your iron.
- Why solder won't stick to the tipTells you whether a tip that will not take solder can be rescued or needs replacing, before you buy a new tip or station.
Tools
- Soldering tip system finderMatches your handle or station to the tip system it takes, so the tips you order actually fit.
Common questions
Is C115 better than C210 for phone repair?
Only for the very smallest parts. JBC rates its C115 nano station at 25 W peak for high-precision micro-soldering, while the C210's T210 handle is rated 40 W peak and also handles conventional components. For mixed phone-board work, we suggest starting with C210. More in C115 vs C210
What happened to JBC C105 cartridges?
JBC says its C105 range will be discontinued and replaced by C115, which works with the NT115 nano iron and the AN115 and NP115 nano tweezers. More in C115 vs C210
Do C115 cartridges fit hot tweezers?
In JBC's system, yes: JBC lists C115 cartridges for its AN115 and NP115 nano tweezers as well as the NT115 nano iron. Compatible tweezers from other makers are their own designs, so check their specifications. More in C115 vs C210
Do I need a microscope to use C115 tips?
In practice, yes. JBC describes its CDN nano station as made for high-precision micro-soldering and microscope work. Choose a microscope with enough working distance for the tool; see digital vs stereo microscope. More in C115 vs C210
Which package sizes need C115 rather than C210?
JBC does not say. It describes C115 by purpose, very small components at high precision, rather than by package size. If a fine C210 tip reaches every pad you work on, you do not need C115 yet. More in C115 vs C210
Can I put a C210 cartridge in a T245 handle?
Do not plan on it. JBC lists C210 cartridges for its T210, B.100 and B.500 handles, and C245, C245E and C245L cartridges for the T245. Buy the handle that matches the cartridge family you want. More in C210 vs C245
Is C245 better than C210?
Neither is better; they do different jobs. JBC rates the T245 handle at 150 W peak for SMD and high-power work such as ground planes, and the T210 at 40 W peak for accurate, medium-power work, including under magnification. More in C210 vs C245
Do I need C210 for phone repair?
It helps with the fine joints: JBC positions C210 for small SMD work, even under a microscope. Connectors and shields still suit C245, and the very smallest parts suit C115. See C115 vs C210. More in C210 vs C245
Questions
Do T12 tips fit a C245 handle?
Neither maker lists them as interchangeable. Hakko lists T12 and T15 cartridges for its FM-2027 and FM-2028 irons, and JBC lists C245 cartridges for its T245 handle. Buy tips listed for the handle you have.[6][1]
What is the difference between T12 and T15 tips?
Mainly the region: Hakko sells T12 tips in Japan, Oceania, Asia and other countries, and T15 tips in North America and Europe. Treat marketplace 'T12' tips as T12-format parts unless the seller can show Hakko authorization. More in T12 vs T15 tips.[12]
Which soldering tip shape should a beginner buy?
Start with a chisel tip for through-hole work and add a fine point for very small surface-mount parts, as Adafruit's Collin's Lab suggests.[11]
Can I sand or file a dirty soldering tip?
No. Adafruit warns that files and abrasives damage a tip's plating and ruin it. A badly oxidized tip can usually be reconditioned with tip-tinning paste.[18]
Does the Pinecil take TS100 tips?
Yes. Pine64 says the Pinecil V2 accepts its own short tips and normal-length TS100-style tips and detects the tip at boot; the V1 takes normal-length TS100-style tips only.[9]
Are JBC tips sold on AliExpress genuine?
We could not establish that either way. We found no JBC statement about marketplace sellers, so we describe such cartridges as C245- or C210-compatible and never as genuine JBC parts.