Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Can somebody recommend a fine-point tip for my soldering iron?

  1. #1
    Peach (Level 3) fluid_matrix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    673
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    2
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    16
    Thanked in
    16 Posts

    Default Can somebody recommend a fine-point tip for my soldering iron?

    I had purchased an ST7 for soldering on circuit boards, but the tip was a bit larger than I expected and didn't work as well as I had hoped. Looking for something with a finer point on it.

  2. #2
    Peach (Level 3) fluid_matrix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    673
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    2
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    16
    Thanked in
    16 Posts

    Default

    Anybody?

  3. #3
    Strawberry (Level 2) CRTGAMER's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Southern CA
    Posts
    402
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    What kind of soldering iron, hopefull a pencil and not a gun for ease of soldering in tight spots. You could just use a jewelers file to narrow up that tip.
    CRTGAMER Guides and Reviews
    Apple II+, APF MP1000, Atari 5200 7800, Vic20, TI994A, SX64, Educ64, 128D, Vectrex, N64, PS1, iMac CRT, Dreamcast, PS2, Gameboy Advance, Gamecube, GBA Player, PSP, Wii, PS3 Emotion chip, Samsung Impression, VHS, CED, Video 8, Pioneer Laser, DVD, Sony WEGA HDCRT

  4. #4
    Strawberry (Level 2) bust3dstr8's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Boston,MA USA
    Posts
    442
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Look for a 1.5mm chisel tip that fits your model. You should be able to do 99% of jobs with something like that.


    Quote Originally Posted by CRTGAMER View Post
    What kind of soldering iron, hopefull a pencil and not a gun for ease of soldering in tight spots. You could just use a jewelers file to narrow up that tip.

    You can't file the tip down. You would remove the iron and nickel plating, exposing the copper core and the tip would be junk in hours.
    Last edited by bust3dstr8; 04-21-2013 at 01:37 PM.
    Clowns Suck

    Clowns Suck

  5. #5
    Pretzel (Level 4) Polygon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Utah
    Posts
    865
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    PolygonGTC
    PSN
    PolygonGTC
    Steam
    BlastMode7

    Default

    I have the ST7 as well and I can't imagine a finer tip than that. If you find one, let me know.
    Atari: 2600, Jaguar
    Microsoft: XBox, XBox 360
    Nintendo: NES, GB, GBC, SNES, N64, GameCube, GBA SP, Wii, New 3DS, Wii U
    Sega: SMS, Genesis, Game Gear, Nomad, Sega CD, 32X, Saturn, Dreamcast
    Sony: PS1, PS2, PS3
    Wanted: 7800, Neo Geo CD

  6. #6
    Peach (Level 3) fluid_matrix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    673
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    2
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    16
    Thanked in
    16 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Polygon View Post
    I have the ST7 as well and I can't imagine a finer tip than that. If you find one, let me know.
    Well, I recently tried to solder the D0 wire for an Xbox mod, and the tip was just too big to make a good solid connection. My old wireless soldering iron had a super fine tip that I used back in the day, but that iron petered out a while back. I got a nice Weller's iron and want mod a few things, including an Atari FB2 to play 2600 carts. Just wanted to make sure I have a nice fine tip to solder to pcb's if and when the need arises.

    I'll look into a the 1.5 tip suggested by bust. Thx!

  7. #7
    Cherry (Level 1) raylydiard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    wales united kingdom
    Posts
    388
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    raymondlyd
    PSN
    soniccd

    Default

    http://www.amazon.com/Weller-ST7-X0-.../dp/B000B607OC

    i use a Maplin temp control soldering iron until i can afford a much better iron.

  8. #8
    Pretzel (Level 4) APE992's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Chico, CA
    Posts
    999
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    APE992

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by fluid_matrix View Post
    Well, I recently tried to solder the D0 wire for an Xbox mod, and the tip was just too big to make a good solid connection. My old wireless soldering iron had a super fine tip that I used back in the day, but that iron petered out a while back. I got a nice Weller's iron and want mod a few things, including an Atari FB2 to play 2600 carts. Just wanted to make sure I have a nice fine tip to solder to pcb's if and when the need arises.

    I'll look into a the 1.5 tip suggested by bust. Thx!
    Go for D0 on the bottom. Sounds like you could use a bit of practice if the ST7 tip is giving you problems on the top; try fluxing the hell out of it first and make sure the point is exposed enough to actually take solder.
    I fix things. You name it, I'll work on it. Want something modded? Recapped?

  9. #9
    Strawberry (Level 2) CRTGAMER's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Southern CA
    Posts
    402
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bust3dstr8 View Post
    You can't file the tip down. You would remove the iron and nickel plating, exposing the copper core and the tip would be junk in hours.
    The plating burns off anyways once it is properly tinned. I have salvaged worn tips by filing, no reason why taking off a little would hurt. Also look at the situation, the tip described in the OP is already purchased. The tip will easily survive the solder job, soldering on a PCB would take only a few seconds anyways.
    CRTGAMER Guides and Reviews
    Apple II+, APF MP1000, Atari 5200 7800, Vic20, TI994A, SX64, Educ64, 128D, Vectrex, N64, PS1, iMac CRT, Dreamcast, PS2, Gameboy Advance, Gamecube, GBA Player, PSP, Wii, PS3 Emotion chip, Samsung Impression, VHS, CED, Video 8, Pioneer Laser, DVD, Sony WEGA HDCRT

  10. #10
    Cherry (Level 1) raylydiard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    wales united kingdom
    Posts
    388
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    raymondlyd
    PSN
    soniccd

    Default

    A tip here mate get some tip cleaner it give the tip a new lease of life.
    http://www.amazon.com/Aoyue-Solderin.../dp/B005C789EU

    And this if you filed a tip down a bit,
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/MULTICORE-TT...item1c2ba14d1d

  11. #11
    Pretzel (Level 4)
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    819
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    You could use a 15 Watt Grounded Radioshack Soldering Iron. The default tip is quite sharp, and is rather cheap too.

Similar Threads

  1. Anybody know a good inexpensive soldering iron to use for nes and snes games?
    By hogfishmaster in forum Technical and Restoration Society
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 01-04-2013, 09:10 AM
  2. Help me choose a soldering iron
    By Cornelius in forum Technical and Restoration Society
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 03-10-2011, 05:36 PM
  3. Need New Soldering Iron - What Does Digitpress Recommend?
    By wingzrow in forum Technical and Restoration Society
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 12-19-2010, 05:08 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •