Hello all,
I just realized that they make hoof tips for my MX500. I occasionally
work up projects with SOIC, SSOP, and QFP chips, and while I get good
results with a micro tip, I can do better with a hoof. I've got a
bunch of QFP reworks coming up in the near future.

I have a lot of metcal tips, and I know from experience that you
sometimes need to bump up to the next hotter range with long-reach
tips. So rather than spend 80 bucks on both tips, I was wondering if
someone could tell me whether the 600 or 700 degree gives better
results.

The part I'm looking at is the SMTC-_167. It's available in 600 or 700
degrees F.

On Mar 21, 10:33*am, "
wrote:
Hello all,
I just realized that they make hoof tips for my MX500. I occasionally
work up projects with SOIC, SSOP, and QFP chips, and while I get good
results with a micro tip, I can do better with a hoof. I've got a
bunch of QFP reworks coming up in the near future.

I have a lot of metcal tips, and I know from experience that you
sometimes need to bump up to the next hotter range with long-reach
tips. So rather than spend 80 bucks on both tips, I was wondering if
someone could tell me whether the 600 or 700 degree gives better
results.

The part I'm looking at is the SMTC-_167. It's available in 600 or 700
degrees F.

I vote for 700. I have some 600 degree tips for my Metcal and I don't
like them.

G²

On Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:46:15 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

On Mar 21, 10:33*am, "
wrote:
Hello all,
I just realized that they make hoof tips for my MX500. I occasionally
work up projects with SOIC, SSOP, and QFP chips, and while I get good
results with a micro tip, I can do better with a hoof. I've got a
bunch of QFP reworks coming up in the near future.

I have a lot of metcal tips, and I know from experience that you
sometimes need to bump up to the next hotter range with long-reach
tips. So rather than spend 80 bucks on both tips, I was wondering if
someone could tell me whether the 600 or 700 degree gives better
results.

The part I'm looking at is the SMTC-_167. It's available in 600 or 700
degrees F.

I vote for 700. I have some 600 degree tips for my Metcal and I don't
like them.

G²

I second that.

0°

--

Thanks. I suspected as much. I have a long-reach fine point at 600 F
that just doesn't get hot enough for any but the tiniest components.
Smartheat tips seem to be no better than anything else when you put
more than a few millimeters between the heater and the actual tip. The
biggest advantage IMO is the handpiece. Whenever I use another iron I
feel like I'm swinging a baseball bat or jousting.

On Mar 23, 8:41*am, Boris Mohar wrote:
On Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:46:15 -0700 (PDT), wrote:
On Mar 21, 10:33*am, "
wrote:

The part I'm looking at is the SMTC-_167. It's available in 600 or 700
degrees F.

I vote for 700. I have some 600 degree tips for my Metcal and I don't
like them.

G²

*I second that.

0°

--

On Mar 24, 7:50*am, " wrote:
Thanks. I suspected as much. I have a long-reach fine point at 600
F
that just doesn't get hot enough for any but the tiniest
components.
Smartheat tips seem to be no better than anything else when you put
more than a few millimeters between the heater and the actual tip.
The
biggest advantage IMO is the handpiece. Whenever I use another iron
I
feel like I'm swinging a baseball bat or jousting.

You mean a soldering tusk? I just picked up a dozen tips on eBay, 2 of
which are 800 degree STTC-836. I haven't tried them yet and don't
expect to 'need' them but it's nice to have them available. Also got 4
STTC-126 tips (my favorite for both SMT and through hole) for $41.

G²

How many kinds of soldering implements are named after cattle parts?

The tip I'm looking at is SMTC-1167. I'd describe it as an oblique
conical frustum.. like the one you describe but with a rounded tip and
flat on only one side. I don't have one of these on my bench but I
tried drag soldering with a similar one and I can't get it to work as
well.

When I left a job about ten years ago, I poured the contents of my
desk drawer into a cardboard box and didn't give it much thought. I
went through it later and found about a dozen metcal tips in there
that my predecessor had left behind, some in original packaging. A
year or so later, that turned out to be one of the factors in buying
my MX500.

I see a lot of metcal stuff for sale on eBay.. is it generally pretty
safe?

On Mar 24, 10:34*pm, wrote:
On Mar 24, 7:50*am, " wrote:
* Thanks. I suspected as much. I have a long-reach fine point at 600
F
* that just doesn't get hot enough for any but the tiniest
components.
* Smartheat tips seem to be no better than anything else when you put
* more than a few millimeters between the heater and the actual tip.
The
* biggest advantage IMO is the handpiece. Whenever I use another iron
I
* feel like I'm swinging a baseball bat or jousting.

You mean a soldering tusk? I just picked up a dozen tips on eBay, 2 of
which are 800 degree STTC-836. I haven't tried them yet and don't
expect to 'need' them but it's nice to have them available. Also got 4
STTC-126 tips (my favorite for both SMT and through hole) for $41.

G²

" wrote:

How many kinds of soldering implements are named after cattle parts?


How many cars were marketed to Proctologists?


--
Lead free solder is Belgium's version of 'Hold my beer and watch this!'

On 3/25/2010 5:04 PM, Michael A. Terrell wrote:

" wrote:

How many kinds of soldering implements are named after cattle parts?


How many cars were marketed to Proctologists?

Ford Probe?

"[SMF]" wrote:

On 3/25/2010 5:04 PM, Michael A. Terrell wrote:

" wrote:

How many kinds of soldering implements are named after cattle parts?


How many cars were marketed to Proctologists?

Ford Probe?


You got it, in one! ;-)


--
Lead free solder is Belgium's version of 'Hold my beer and watch this!'