Well, idk what the previous owner was using these tips for, but they just won't re-tin.
And the answer is yes, I've tried that (unless you come up with something I never heard of before).
Looks like I need to buy a selection of new ones
EDIT: Two for the US folks: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HeathKit-Capaci-Tester-Model-IT-22/184212372434
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Heathkit-Capaci-Tester-Intermittent-Capacity-Capacitor-CT-1-Powers-On/353012025141
That's a shame... a good Oki/MetCal tip is a terrible thing to waste. My PERSONAL opinion... having used about a dozen of both brands... spend the extra couple dollars for genuine Oki/MetCal. They use heavier tubes, and the overall fit/finish is better than Thermaltronics.
Also, a couple of my TT tips just don't perform as well with my MX500 as similar tip mass/rated temp MC tips. Not so much getting to correct temp as just not having the ooomph... the magical thermal recovery capability... that my genuine Oki/MetCal tips have.
There has been some conjecture in some of my enginerding threads that years ago, when the people involved parted ways and some of them started ThermalTronics, the folks at Oki/MetCal figured out a way for the SmartHeat base station firmware to recognize ThermalTronics tips and deliberately eff up the PID loop so they don't work as well in a MetCal station. Whether it's that, or the development just diverged so that their firmware worked better as it was optimized for the tips they were developing, I don't know or care.
The bottom line is that with my 3rd-hand boat anchor MX-500, Oki/MetCal tips just perform better.Just buy one. That’s all you need. As mentioned I’ve had mine two years and the tip that came with it is pretty good for everything.
The reason I didn't have any of that stinky tip cleaner/tinner is because I never fucked a tip in my life. The tip on my W60D is 25 years old, and if I hadn't broken the damn barrel trying to get the tip nut off I'd still be using it.
I do want a couple of sizes. I know people dis the conical tips but I like them and never had a problem using them.
So I do want a nice fine conical tip, but also a bigger chisel tip for heavier duty jobs that aren't quite big enough for me to use the 200W gun.
My collection is long conical in 600° & 800° temps, angled conical in 575° & 860° temps (the latter is pretty much just a firestarter... but it WILL desolder fat caps in close quarters like nobody's business), a fat and tapered chisel, and a couple hoof points. Oh, and the stepped 1mm conical that came with the used handle.
For sure get a fat chisel and a long conical; next add the angled conical as it is really useful for SMD work.
Their naming conventions will tell you what is what... but it CAN be a bit confusing:
http://www.okinternational.com/metcal/english/globalnavigation/products/hand-soldering-systems/tips-and-cartridgesmnem