solder tip size for PC work

[mozarti]

I was just about to solder my C4S printed circuit, and I began to wonder that the tip of my weller soldering iron (.063" x 1.6mm) might be too big and that by accident I might melt the board. Does anyone know the ideal size for work on PC work? Thank you.

 

[mcandmar]

I find a 2mm chisel tip is the best for through hole PCB components.

 

[Doc B]

PC boards don't melt, but a big tip can make it difficult to get into a tight spot. I suggest buying  couple of different tips and finding which one works for you. I prefer a pencil type tip for PC work but most seem to prefer something a little bit fatter. A 2mm tip is a good suggestion

 

[Grainger49]

I use a chisel or screwdriver point on my iron.  It is small enough I can get one edge on the PCB trace and the other on the component lead.  You want heat into both so the solder bonds them together.

I solder more often than the instructions call for just to keep the leads out of my way while soldering.

Paul Joppa, who has soldered more than I ever will, uses a pencil tip on PCBs.

 

[mozarti]

Thank you, all three of you, for your helpful advice. 

 

[Paul Joppa]

...
Paul Joppa, who has soldered more than I ever will, uses a pencil tip on PCBs.

Well yeah, but for decades I used a 300-watt soldering gun for practically everything. (For really fine stuff I had an old woodburning kit.) I'm not exactly picky!