Guide
T12 or C245 soldering tips: choosing an ecosystem
T12 and C245 are two cartridge-tip systems used by many affordable stations. How they differ and why you should choose one ecosystem and stick to it.
The short answer
Both are cartridge systems: the heater and temperature sensor are built into each tip, which is why they heat and recover quickly. They are not interchangeable. Pick the ecosystem first, then the station.
T12
- A long, slim cartridge used by many budget and DIY stations.
- A very wide range of tip shapes is available, often cheaply.
- Quality of third-party tips varies widely.
C245 (and the smaller C210/C115)
- Shorter cartridges used by "JBC-style" handles; the name describes the format, not an official product.
- Many stations offer several handle sizes, letting you move to finer tips later.
- Third-party C245 tips are common; again, quality varies.
How to choose
- Already own tips? Stay in that ecosystem.
- Want the widest cheap choice of shapes? T12.
- Want to add finer handles later? A station that supports C245/C210/C115.
See the two station picks.