Seeking advice re. soldering tip selection

[Sajen006]

Hello all,

I am currently looking to upgrade from my current cheapo soldering station and have pretty much settled on getting a simpler JBC station using the T245 handle (BT-2BWA). However, I'm a bit on the fence about which tips to choose for it. My current plan is to
get two tips, either a 1.2 mm chisel tip (906 or 774) and a 2.2 mm bevel tip (945), or a 2.2 mm chisel (907) and a smaller 1.5 mm bevel (905). What I'm looking for with this post is some input on which of these two options (or any other recommendations) would be the most flexible in terms of what I can and cannot do with them. I haven't been able to find any posts regarding how to chose two tips for the most versatility in a hobbyist setting, albeit some threads get somewhat close, but if I've missed anything that you think I should read through you are more than welcome to drop a link down below 

For some background, I am currently studying Electronics Design Engineering and have a large project coming up that I would like to work on at home, which has been the triggering event for a long due upgrade to my at-home equipment. I've mostly worked with THT and point-to-point soldering at home so far, but am planning to get more personal projects started using SMD components. I'll probably go down to 0805 or 0603 for passives and will be using using various surface mount IC's and active components as well. The large school project will include a combination of all the above. I don't plan on creating any densely populated PCBs, though, so space around pads should be quite ample for the time being. For now, I would like to be able to do a most "normal" things with no issues, and if I move into more specialized stuff, such as even smaller components, very high thermal mass components or low gauge wire in the future I'll get the appropriate tips and equipment as needed.

Do you think any of the two options above would cover me for this use-case, or should I go for something else entirely? I would like to start with just two tips, as they're quite pricy.

Thank you for taking the time to read this 'til the end and I look forward to hearing your opinion down below!   

[tooki]

I'd look at the Pace ADS200. The station itself costs about the same, and is built like a tank, but Pace tips are far cheaper. While I do appreciate JBC's insanely huge assortment of tips, they're so expensive that it becomes prohibitive. (We use JBC at work, and with their tip prices, we can't justify having a whole selection of tips at each workbench. Each bench has a basic chisel and bevel, and then we have a selection of the more "exotic" tips that students can borrow for a task.)

IMHO, a 1.6mm chisel is an optimal "everyday" tip that works well for most THT and SMD components. A large bevel tip is great for using desoldering wick. I'm a big fan of the special drag soldering tips (the ones that are basically a bevel whose face is concave, to hold onto a drop of solder. JBC calls these "spoon" tips, others call them "mini wave" and similar). I love the C245067 spoon. (Bear in mind that I find spoon tips useful beyond their official purpose of drag soldering SMD ICs with legs: their ability to pull away excess solder is useful for many other types of components, too.) Note that a regular bevel tip also works well for drag soldering SMD ICs, just not quite as luxuriously as the spoon tip.

For many things, I also like PLCC knife tips. They're great not only for PLCCs (which is mostly only LEDs these days), but also for QFN ICs that have no legs at all. The C245789, their smallest T245 knife, has worked out great for us for clearing bridges from QFNs, as it's sharp enough to really get into the corner of the joint.

[S. Petrukhin]

I have tips of all kinds, but I have come to the conclusion that only three are enough: a large bevel, a medium bevel. I can solder everything with them, turning the bevel upside down I get a needle. But the 0.5 mm pitch is more convenient to solder with a microwave. Now I use a chisel never, a needle very rarely in repair.

[Sajen006]

In my initial search, I did check out the Pace station, but found that not only was availability somewhat limited, but it was also significantly more expensive than the JBC station I'm looking at. I can get the JBC station for approx. €190 and the ADS200 (w/ setback stand) for around €350, both before VAT and without tips. Even with the price difference for tips being significant at €5-15/tip (depending on the specific tip choices) it will be a rather long time before I recoup the cost difference of the station if I were to go with the Pace. As I also quite like the very simplistic single-dial interface on the JBC, I think I'm set on getting that station over the Pace, although I do really appreciate the recommendation! :-)

A spoon tip is definitely on my radar as well, albeit maybe not from the get-go. I think I will be getting the C245-768 (1.5x0.3 mm chisel) and C245-912 (3.0 mm bevel) tips to start with, and then add a smaller, a spoon and/or a knife tip as I see myself needing them. Thank you both for your input, it has definitely been helpful in coming to a decision! 

Any tips on good solder and flux to go with it? :-)

[tooki]

Any tips on good solder and flux to go with it? :-)

Do a search. There are many, many, many threads on that topic, with comprehensive recommendations.