Which tips do you like for Metcal MX series?

[dcarr]

I'm fulfilling my lifelong dream of owning a Metcal and now it's down to picking out tips!

Which tip part numbers do you recommend?

My use is 90% lead-free 0402-1210 SMT work and 10% "heavy iron" soldering chunky connectors to solid ground planes.

On my current iron, I use a medium size straight conical tip and generally don't like the super pointy ones.  For the heavy stuff I use a largish chisel tip, but even that runs out of gas sometimes.

Your advice is requested!

[thm_w]

Generally conical tips are not liked here for good reason. Unless you are talking about the bent ones to get into tight areas (STTC-140 is useful IMO).
STTC-136 (1.5mm) or STTC-137 (1.8mm) for general soldering and STTC-117 for the big stuff. Not sure if the 136 is small enough for 0402 or you need to go smaller.

[calexanian]

My go to tips for rework are STTC-199 for drag soldering and little stuf STTC-117 for larger bits and switches and such, and SMTC-162 for multi pins at one time like desoldering headers and such. For assembly I use a weller WTCP and have for over 30 years. Some people don't like that iron, particularly hakko fanboys, but it is the best through hole iron ever created for high volume pcb assembly with proper heat flow and capacity characteristics. Its only real fault is the magnestat in the handpiece goes out after a few years of heavy use. Small price to pay for the savings from the long tip life. The Metcal is a terrible iron for assembly because of its wake/sleep hysterisis cycle. Half the joints are cold because it is either going into or out of sleep/tip saving mode. It makes rework possible though because of the specialty tips. For that, and you will notice its marketed as a rework station, its perfect. For the weller our shop standard is the We use the weller PTBB8 and PTAA8 tips

[mikeselectricstuff]

I use 2 tips 95% of the time :

http://www.ams-electronics.co.uk/shop/iron-tips/m7ds525-thermaltronics-soldering-tip-hoof-60-3-3mm-smtc-1147/

The thermaltronics version has better geometry - sharper edges to get into QFN pads. I use this maybe 75% of the time, good for drag soldering and general TH and SM work

STTC-122 conical sharp for fine work.

Other useful ones are
STTC-122 117 big-ass chisel, for when nothing else will do, like soldering TO220 tabs or M3 bolts to ground planes

SMTC-160 
10mm long blade handy for reflowing SO/SSO and QFPs, and desoldering 2-lead TH parts like caps
 
STTC140 angled long reach for hard-to-get places

I hardly ever use anything else.

[dcarr]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.  Off to spend some money...

[KE5FX]

Its only real fault is the magnestat in the handpiece goes out after a few years of heavy use. Small price to pay for the savings from the long tip life. The Metcal is a terrible iron for assembly because of its wake/sleep hysterisis cycle. Half the joints are cold because it is either going into or out of sleep/tip saving mode.

Pro tip (no pun intended): remove the magnet from the stand.

[stefanh]

Mike, which big-ass chisel tip do you prefer?  The part number is for the conical tip.

[cs.dk]

I have used the STTC-117 chisel for larger projects

[mikeselectricstuff]

Mike, which big-ass chisel tip do you prefer?  The part number is for the conical tip.

Sorry - sttc117

[J Jones]

I just got the new high thermal demand upgrade (handpiece and tips) seems pretty boss - Check it: