Soldering Iron tip sizes & shapes

[pontrumlee]

I am wondering the different uses for specific tips and sizes. I can find very general information on the shapes but not much on uses or what size for what application. Specifically I am looking for a Hakko T12 for soldering RCA plugs.

[tautech]

Welcome to the forum.

Here's the full list:
https://www.hakko.com/english/tip_selection/series_t12.html

Personally I prefer either a 2-3mm chisel or a hoof style tip. Pretty good all round use and good heat conduction capability whereas if you go too fine the tip won't deliver enough heat in larger joints.
If you are to do any SMD the hoof is preferred but a K style is good for passive rework as it can contact both pads for the passive to be wiped or lifted off with tweezers.

[GreyWoolfe]

I have chisel tips in sizes from.7 mm to 3.2 mm.  The thing to do is to try to size the tip to the work you are doing.  I don't do much SMD soldering and it is pretty much passives so the .7 mm tip works great for that.

whereas if you go too fine the tip won't deliver enough heat in larger joints.

This is not so much of an issue if you have really good equipment.  I have a Hakko FX-951 and a Metcal MX-500.  It is much more of a factor when using inexpensive equipment, especially some of the really cheap clones.  If you plan to do a lot of soldering, don't cheap out.  Buy good equipment and OEM tips for it for the best possible performance.  Even if you have a T12 clone, buy Hakko tips to get the best performance out of it.  You stand a good chance of finding out that the quality/fit/finish/performance of cheap clone tips to be very much lacking.

[dk_wiking]

Hi

I am using the T12 Series only for non SMD. And have four different bits/tips (D16, D24, BC2, BC3). For your purpose I would narrow it down to a BC2 for the heavier stuff and a D16 or maybe a D12 for the lighter stuff