I bought my station 7 years ago and my purchase order from omnitronelectronics says it's VTSS20U, but the manual says ZD-929C.
Omni search doesn't show VTSS20U, and shows 2 pages for the same ZD model:
1)
http://www.omnitronelectronics.net/phpstore/html/ZD-929C-ESD-SOLDERING-STATION-DIGITAL-READOUT-1251.html Searching for the tips (ZDT-929N1) on the site results in nothing.
2)
http://www.omnitronelectronics.net/phpstore/html/ZD-929C-ESD-SOLDERING-STATION-1478.html Searching for the tips (N1-16) CAN be found, but $15 shipping seems a "tad" high for replacement tips.
Contacting omni through their site resulted in NO communication.
I then contacted Velleman to see if they could offer any information on compatible tips, but the communication, while there, was pretty bad.
I gave him an image to the station I have which is close to the 20U, but with a digital display and black.
His reply was simply offering the ZDT tips I showed above which are non-existent on omni's site. That made it clear this was going to go nowhere. I ended up thanking him for at least contacting me, but it was of no help. I also explained what my issue was with his help and that it seemed like he was pulled of the street for a sales position with a catalog placed in front of him and no knowledge of competitors or the field.
In another reply, I linked him a picture of the 20U Velleman station, but under a Duratool name (ZD-929B). It seems clear something is wrong somewhere. Like these are all "cheap" knockoffs of each other and rebranded under different manufacturer names or something (you'd think the tips would be compatible across them all).
I also had a live-chat with a Hakko rep today on their site which resulted in nearly the same type of conversation.
My frame of mind is that you want to know your competitors and maybe offer compatible tips (expand your reach) for those looking for quality or price (akin to inkjet printer cartridges).
I will be the first to say I'm something of a newb. Even though I've had the station for 7 years, my soldering needs are pretty rare. The most recent thing I tried to do was desolder a bridge-rectifier from my failed induction cooktop, but the solder didn't budge at all (even at nearly 500C (yes C)). It was so hot, I could hear a cracking sound coming from somewhere.
I don't think I ever tinned my tip and now the solder just slips off the tip. I can even roll the tip around a fallen ball of molten solder and it behaves like oil and water. There is no coating of solder at all, even at just above melting point. I'll even turn off my station and roll around the ball as the temperature drops and it still never coats.
I even bought a tip activator/tinner, but that didn't help. I didn't want to use my grinder, though did try using the plumbing sandpaper I have on hand because of warnings I have read.
An interesting difference in my tip vs those I see elsewhere (like on ebay) is mine has some gritty coating like I'd see on galvanized screws/nails (
http://www.kitsusa.net/phpstore/images/products/large_1398_N1-L280.jpg) (oh, yes, omnielectronics also goes by the name kitsusa. Omni is also where I bought most of my stuff when starting out like a breadboard kit and circuit introduction book).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Duratool-Soldering-Tip-1mm-D01845-N22-1-/121634485254?hash=item1c51faf406:g:SjAAAOSwvgdW2coYAnd then you have some strange tips that appear to have a solid core:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/40W-Soldering-Iron-Tip-Solder-Rework-Station-Tool-65mm-Long-2pcs-/321915597521?hash=item4af3aa32d1:g:4JsAAOSwoBtW6SVbThe only thing I can guesstimate is the tip shaft is 65mm and maybe the tip is 4mm for a 40w (48W) station.
The tip that came with the station has a filler piece of metal to make a snug fit to the heating element (I assume that is typical).
Is there any guidance/insight someone can offer to my plight?