Off-brand Tip Replacement for Yihua 939D+ IV?

[rorschario]

Hello everyone. I recently bought a Yihua 939D+ IV soldering station . I can't really find the official product link description, but if I look at WEP product page
https://www.weptools.com/products/939d-iv-soldering-station it looks just like it, just different color. I bought this because I can't really afford to buy a Hakko FX-888D for my first soldering station.

Now, the problem is I want to buy different tips, because the tip that it came with is a very long and pointy tip. I want to swap it with a chisel type, but I'm not sure if I can replace it with tips I can find around me (i need to order it from china if i want to get the officially supported tips https://www.weptools.com/products/902-series-soldering-iron-tip-set-6-in-a-set-). They also sell 900M tips and the description didn't mention "designed for 939D+ IV", which makes me think 900M definiteny won't work.

Can tips like T18 from Hakko work?

[BillyO]

What's wrong with ordering from China?

They look like standard Hakko T18 tips would work.

If you can a hold of one locally you could try it in the store. 

[rorschario]

What's wrong with ordering from China?

They look like standard Hakko T18 tips would work.

If you can a hold of one locally you could try it in the store. 

the problem is more on the shipping cost side, buying the soldering station itself already costs me quite alot. sure thing! i'll try to buy and try one T18 tip first. Can you recommend me what chisel size should I buy? I'll be using mostly for electronics and IoT related stuffs.

[Wallace Gasiewicz]

Plato makes tips for many irons. They make very good tips and are less expensive.
They do make tips for Hakko
Most soldering is done with chisel or screwdriver tips (different name for same style tip), They come in different widths.
Probably a 2.4 mm screwdriver tip is most useful. If they are Plato, you could find some on ebay or other similar site.
If you do any soldering at all you would maybe two tips every year.

Here is just a reference to look at the tip styles and sizes Plato numbers are listed

https://www.techspray.com/soldering-tips-hakko-compatible-2

Just for reference here is a US ebay listing

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265254231349?hash=item3dc2625d35:g:l5AAAOSwl1diRHRq&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsDzGFAsFkUkR6xAQtqsK9qXG8gIAOfgPpK4pfKxdiRpAY6qmL%2FW67HNrjxVesQtuh0OrziBNtsyNu2LyAfr5%2Bq0Gasoyi0jVQN7AckV4kszHb%2Bif35Y43to7uv%2F8SREhytfdrVd6PLFd6ba5bOiAJbR86vvMgo9w2NHdpysrLEnUZsduncSwTchLxM1lHX9z58gKfeDSbHT%2BDtTGyPxPe34A9EFZivAihoq%2FTYWpYAVi%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8Sy3cW1YQ

[BillyO]

Can you recommend me what chisel size should I buy? I'll be using mostly for electronics and IoT related stuffs.

I usually have 3 irons ready to go.  One with a fairly fine point tip, one with 1.6mm chisel and one with a 2.5mm chisel.  I use the 1.6mm chisel the most.

You can get these all over eBay and a lot of sellers offer free shipping.

[rorschario]

I found the spec sheet for the soldering tips. does that means I just need to find any soldering tips with 6.5mm outer diameter? Is there any "normal name" for it, like T18 or something?

[BillyO]

Just go onto ebay and search for "900 series soldering iron tip".  You will find a bunch of offerings like this: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/334578373746

10 tips for about $5 USD - free shipping.

They are not as good as genuine Hakko tips, but while they only last 1/2 as long they only cost about 1/15 as much.

I have both these kinds of tips and genuine Hakko.  In actual use the Hakko last longer, but do not solder any better.  These ones are a huge bargain in comparison.

BTW, the inside diameter is more important.  6mm or 6.5 outer are good, but you need 4mm inner.

[rorschario]

Plato makes tips for many irons. They make very good tips and are less expensive.
They do make tips for Hakko
Most soldering is done with chisel or screwdriver tips (different name for same style tip), They come in different widths.
Probably a 2.4 mm screwdriver tip is most useful. If they are Plato, you could find some on ebay or other similar site.
If you do any soldering at all you would maybe two tips every year.

Here is just a reference to look at the tip styles and sizes Plato numbers are listed

https://www.techspray.com/soldering-tips-hakko-compatible-2

Just for reference here is a US ebay listing

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265254231349?hash=item3dc2625d35:g:l5AAAOSwl1diRHRq&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsDzGFAsFkUkR6xAQtqsK9qXG8gIAOfgPpK4pfKxdiRpAY6qmL%2FW67HNrjxVesQtuh0OrziBNtsyNu2LyAfr5%2Bq0Gasoyi0jVQN7AckV4kszHb%2Bif35Y43to7uv%2F8SREhytfdrVd6PLFd6ba5bOiAJbR86vvMgo9w2NHdpysrLEnUZsduncSwTchLxM1lHX9z58gKfeDSbHT%2BDtTGyPxPe34A9EFZivAihoq%2FTYWpYAVi%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8Sy3cW1YQ

Just go onto ebay and search for "900 series soldering iron tip".  You will find a bunch of offerings like this: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/334578373746

10 tips for about $5 USD - free shipping.

They are not as good as genuine Hakko tips, but while they only last 1/2 as long they only cost about 1/15 as much.

I have both these kinds of tips and genuine Hakko.  In actual use the Hakko last longer, but do not solder any better.  These ones are a huge bargain in comparison.

BTW, the inside diameter is more important.  6mm or 6.5 outer are good, but you need 4mm inner.

Well noted. Thank you for the information! One last question, you mentioned that the tip lasts 1/2 as long, how can I know if it is time for me to replace the tip?

[BillyO]

you mentioned that the tip lasts 1/2 as long, how can I know if it is time for me to replace the tip?

The high temperature cladding will have worn away and the tip's profile will change quickly and it will no longer keep a good tinning.  You will know.

[Wallace Gasiewicz]

BillyO is right. You will see it.
Don't use anything but a brass Brillo like  pad or a wet sponge to clean your tip. Or use a brass brush; sometimes. Don't use chemical cleaners.
The brass pads last a very long time. Never had to replace one.
Wet sponge is slightly worse because rapid temp changes can damage the cladding, causing micro fractures. Supposedly more important now that non lead solder requires higher temp of the tip.
Cladding wears away slowly with use and the underlying copper rots away, deforming the tip.This is normal. You will see it. The tip will look funky.
Old time solid copper tips could be reconditioned with a file, They had no cladding. But filing the new tips ruins the cladding.
Filing the old solid copper tips was a pain in the butt and had to be done often.

It also helps to clean your tip and apply a little solder to it before turning the station OFF. Supposedly protects the tip.

Watch a few videos on soldering. Most soldering is done with the chisel tips but other tips are useful for special applications. Like putting in small ICs with many leads.
The pointy tips are pretty useless, they do not conduct enough heat to the point of tip to be useful in most applications.