there are many similar topics i could have replied to, but i just picked this one because i kind of liked the answers more on average.
i just ordered an aixun T420D with knock-off T245, T210, and T115 handles. two can be plugged in at once. each handle will come with a knife tip cartridge, and i believe they will not be aixun's "high level" carts (just the standard ones).
as a complete newcomer to the jbc ecosystem, i was bewildered. all i knew was that i wanted some genuine carts of which jbc claims to offer over 500 varieties.
https://www.jbctools.com/c245-cartridge-range-long-life-tip-product-19-design-iron.htmlhttps://www.jbctools.com/c210-cartridge-range-product-18-design-iron.htmlhttps://www.jbctools.com/c115-cartridge-range-product-1354-design-iron.htmli noticed that the 245 platform has by far the most variety of carts. tbh, 245 would probably completely cover my needs, but i decided to get the smaller tips on another platform just for the heck of it since it may be more ergonomic, and i wouldn't have to change carts as often.
i found it interesting that, in general, carts seem to get more expensive as you move to successively smaller handle platforms. C245s are often around 37usd. C210s are around $47, and C115s are more than $50.
for now, i decided to get carts for only two platforms. 245 is an obvious choice, but i had a hard time deciding between 210 and 115 for the other. assuming you go for equivalent/overlapping offerings (roughly same size and type of tip), my take on it is that 210 would likely be more performant due to more thermal mass behind the actual tip, and the 115 would probably be more nimble and ergonomic.
i decided to go for 245 and 115.
as for carts:
- C245056 bevel 3.5 – heavy duty use (i mostly picked this as my heavy duty option because i found it on sale)
- C245963 bent chisel 1.8x0.8 – general use, bigger jobs, tough access
- C245906 chisel 1.2x0.7 – general use, smaller jobs
- C115105 bent conical 0.3 – fine smd work