Tip system
TS100-style tips: what fits, what they suit, what to check
TS100-style tips fit Miniware's TS100 and TS101 and Pine64's Pinecil. Power depends on your charger, and no genuine Pinecils are sold on AliExpress.
Also listed as TS100, TS101, Pinecil tips, TS-format
Short answer
TS100-style tips are the format of Miniware's TS100 portable iron, also taken by the TS101 and by Pine64's Pinecil. Depending on the model, these irons run from USB-C chargers, DC adapters or battery packs, and their power depends on the supply: Pine64 shows an 8-ohm tip giving 50 W at 20 V and 72 W at 24 V. Pine64 says no genuine Pinecils are sold on AliExpress, so we do not link marketplace Pinecil listings.
Key facts
- Original maker
- Miniware (TS100, TS101); Pine64's Pinecil takes the same tips[1][2][3]Other brands sell TS-format tips too; Sequre lists several.
- Rated power
- Set by supply and tip: an 8-ohm tip gives 50 W at 20 V, 72 W at 24 V[2][4][5]Pine64's examples. Pine64 rates the Pinecil V2 at up to 88 W at 24 V; Oscar Liang lists the TS101 at up to 65 W on DC and 45 W on USB-C PD.
- Handle / iron
- The iron is the handle: Miniware TS100 and TS101, Pine64 Pinecil V1 and V2[5][2]TS101 tips fit the TS100 but not the TS80 or TS80P (Oscar Liang).
- Typical use
- Portable soldering from USB-C PD, a DC adapter or a battery pack[6][4]Pine64 lists 18-21 V tool batteries and 3S to 5S LiPo packs among the Pinecil V2's power options.
- 120 V / North America
- No mains version needed: the iron runs on low-voltage DC[4]Pinecil V2 inputs: USB-C PD at 12-20 V or a 12-24 V DC barrel. Only the charger or adapter plugs into the wall.
- Compatible and clone tips
- Pine64 says no Pinecils sold on AliExpress are genuine[7]Pine64 has no authorized resellers on AliExpress. Genuine V2 units bought after August 2, 2022 should pass its online authenticity checker.
Watch out for
- No genuine Pinecils on AliExpress. Pine64 says Pinecils sold there are not made by Pine64 and that it has no authorized resellers on the platform. A genuine new V2 comes in a white box with a black handle and a green silicone grip.
- Short tips need a stronger charger. The Pinecil V2 also takes Pine64's short ST tips (about 6.2-6.5 ohms) and detects the tip at boot; Pine64 recommends at least a 65 W USB-C PD charger with them. The V1 takes normal-length TS100-style tips only, and Pine64 says to unplug before swapping tips.
- 28 V is not official. Pine64 rates the Pinecil V2 for 12-24 V, up to 88 W, and calls 28 V USB PD use tentative and unofficial.
- Check battery limits before using a flight pack. Oscar Liang notes that a full 6S pack (25.2 V) is not officially supported on the TS101.
Who it suits: field repairs and small benches, especially FPV drone work, where a pocket iron that runs from a USB-C charger or a battery pack is handier than a station. For long sessions on heavy joints, a C245 station has more headroom; JBC rates its T245 handle at 150 W peak.
Buying: we do not list a TS100-style iron yet. Buy a Pinecil only through a channel Pine64 confirms, and check any TS-format tip against your iron's model.
Questions
Does the Pinecil use TS100 tips?
Yes. Pine64 says the Pinecil V2 takes normal-length TS100-style tips as well as Pine64's own short tips, while the V1 takes normal-length TS100-style tips only.[2]
What charger does a TS100-style iron need?
One that supplies the voltage your iron and tip need. Pine64 shows an 8-ohm tip giving 50 W at 20 V and 72 W at 24 V, and recommends at least a 65 W USB-C PD charger (3.25 A at 20 V) for its short tips. A much bigger charger is not required.[2]
Are Pinecils sold on AliExpress genuine?
Pine64 says no: no genuine Pinecils are sold on AliExpress and it has no authorized resellers there. Genuine V2 units bought after August 2, 2022 should pass Pine64's online authenticity checker.[7]
Which heats up faster, the Pinecil V2 or the TS101?
In Tom's Hardware's single-unit timing, the Pinecil V2 reached working temperature in 10 seconds, and its TS101 review reports 15 seconds. Oscar Liang timed his TS101 at 15 seconds on USB-C PD and 10 seconds on 24 V DC, so the power source matters.[1][8][5]