How to make Cheap Soldering Iron Tips (including SMD version)

Here is how you can make new tips for your soldering iron for literally only a few cents each! Including a special, bifurcated tip for desoldering SMD components without needing special soldering tweezers.
Since so many of you have asked me where to get copper wire, here's an affiliate link to some appropriate copper wire on eBay. Make sure to check the diameter of your current soldering tip and convert it into the right wire gauge using a lookup table before ordering:
ebay.us/M8WU4s
The lookup table I use:
en.wikipedia.o...
This is the first video I made entirely for KZbin, it's less than perfect but it's also the first video I ever made featuring narration, music and action all at the same time.
Actually I might have overdone the music part of it...
Please like, comment, share... to keep me motivated on my KZbin journey!
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[@802Garage]

Wow! That SMD tip is genius.

[@TheSimoc]

Thanks a lot! This is sooo genius idea, opening up so much possibilities and facilitations without affording expensive special soldering tools!

[@TekCroach]

Smd bit is awesome. Happy to see so young a person teaching. God bless you.

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Whoa thanks!

[@Ramdileo_sys]

@@ChronicMechatronic AWESOME ... now you need to do some nickel electroplating on them... so the copper do not get eat away by the tin.... or they will last a couple of hours to you >> kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWnLnGR4mpqKZ8k

[@mohammedwyatt6796]

Instablaster...

[@ruimvp]

That is a good idea to share. I can share a idea too. I use a cheap soldering iron connected to an cheap outlet with light dimmer (potentiometer/triac type). I check the temperature with an multimeter. Know I have a temperature controlled soldering iron for 25€, since I need the multimeter for other work's too.

[@videoleaks]

Nice to see a young man with hands from the right place.

[@williamd7161]

These tips are gold! Thank you for sharing it. 👍🙂👌👏

[@jeremiahbullfrog9288]

Oh i thought they were copper I kid I kid

[@victoryfirst2878]

I just love your passion making the soldering tips. May I make a suggestion, when sanding metal with a belt sander, make sure the spacing between the sand paper and the holding surface be slid as close to the moving sand paper as possible. Reason, if you slip the fingers have a less of a chance of getting "SUCKED IN" and injured. Just a friendly suggestion to you young man. One more thing fella, one can use steel copper plated which seems to last a longer. Also, monel metal really last long, but expensive. Thanks for the show Sir, too.

[@TheSimoc]

Steel is not good in heat conductivity, making it not work well especially with low power soldering irons. Good point on safety!

[@jeffsfort]

I never would have thought to do this. Without the plating they would break down faster but, it’s wire which means each of those minus the work put in costs next to nothing… I gotta try it now. Thanks for sharing!

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Yep, they erode quickly, but I've had the plated ones and they break down as well. Just takes a bit longer for it to start. Actually, (since I'm not always doing a whole lot to soldering), I'm only now getting to a point where I'd have to reshape the tip I've been using ever since making this video. That's almost a year later. And since I made them quite a bit longer than necessairy, I just need to file it down somewhat to be back in business...

[@ПетровиБоширов-р1ы]

A copper sting forged with a hammer at a temperature no higher than 300 degrees will live for a VERY long time.

[@dfu1685]

It is Wonderful to see a young Man so creative and capable of thinking outside the box! I love it! Not a criticism, but rather an FYI, your files will work better if you only use them on the push stroke rather than the return one. Someone had to tell me before and I am so glad they did. It keeps them sharp so they can do your magic better.

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Thanks for the big compliment 😄

[@mechantics]

Appreciate that, learned something new today ✌️

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Actually Fireball Tool disproved the file theory so I won't bother to comply 😁

[@pepsodenttube]

Im so making that smd bit too thank you!

[@maheendrannair9557]

Nice work, keep it up. God bless you young man.

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Thanks!

[@tunkunrunk]

tanks a lot , few people have access to soldering iron tips replacement , because sometimes you can't find them in your local stores , or they are too expensive

[@ConorFenlon]

This is actually such a great idea! Thanks for sharing your method. Now I know what my next trip to the hardware shop will be for! :D PS: Your video editing and teaching skills are fantastic. Keep up the great work! Looking forward to seeing what the future holds for you!

[@offcenter007]

Perfect. Just what I was looking for. I had the same ideas - more or less - but seeing it done cuts out experimental side of things. Much thanks

[@3deeguy]

Excellent. I'm going to get some 7 AWG wire. I still like to keep the tip coated with fresh solder.

[@matthewJ142]

What a great video! I can't wait to make custom tips!

[@osvaldoantoninodearrudaant1131]

Very good

[@dindindandan6679]

This is just what i needed, thanks for the video bro!

[@tinman9341]

Wow!!! Thanks for the great tips!!! I’m definitely trying this!!!!!

[@jandastroy]

I like your soldering prybar, it's really nice

[@muratefesli5711]

Bro you are really successfull, I wish you good luck in your YT life 👏👏👏

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Thanks! 🤗 Yeah the subs are climbing faster than I expected.

[@seeithappen1]

You have a nice workbench and machines to work with. Good diy soldering tips. Thanks for uploading.

[@keninthekitchen1562]

Great Idea! I have been searching for a surface smoothing tip for some post processing on my 3D prints. This is a great idea to get exactly what I want!

[@rembrantsworkshop]

This was fun to watch, have you thought about trying to nickel plate the tips for longer life? Geoffrey Croaker has a great low cost plating video that might work within your budget constraints.

[@nixo0077]

Jestem pod wrażeniem twoich umiejętności i zdolności. Gratuluję pomysłu z drutem miedzianym z przewodów elektrycznych.Też ostatnio zastanawiałem się z czego zrobić nowe groty do lutownicy. Dzięki za pomysł, teraz będę szukał odpowiedniego grubego drutu!! Pozdrawiam i życzę następnych kreatywnych pomysłów.

[@adredy]

Pytanie czy sie oplaci tak gruby kawal miedzi nie kosztuje 5zl i zabawy co nie miara

[@wesiyadimaurisza]

Great.. Awesome tutorial. Thank you, Sir

[@davidwalters8225]

Great Idea. Looks like it would work very nicely. Thanks.

[@humacao01]

Great idea if you're in a pinch. Good luck on the channel too, you have one more viewer here.

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Thanks!

[@DeanBermio-ed3zx]

Great ideas, thanks bro..

[@vrokhlenko]

If you are in the USA and what a pure copper rod of a smaller diameter - your best bet is Lowes or Homedepot. Get a solid grounding wire. They sell it starting from 4 gauge (5.189 mm for $2.06 per foot presently) and up.

[@johnkemas7344]

nice job!

[@Michael-dp5me]

Great ideas! Thanks!

[@juanokita4401]

The last tips are the good ones thanks

[@elikamil7651]

thank you so for good tutorial sr..

[@bparker86]

I'm totally making the smd one. I'm also going to make a 4 way design that can be used to remove bipolar transistors from rf amplifiers without having to get them so hot soldering one pin at a time

[@munirhamsaji2528]

It's wonderful, awesome idea and nice tips.

[@omarramirez5764]

Good!... Please do a tutorial about soldering smd Leds.

[@bhartveersingh1865]

Good job man love u from India Punjab Amritsar

[@andreicheptea8020]

You're such an inspiration to me!! Keep up the good work!!!

[@masterblaster5296]

wow this is great for smd capacitors

[@MicahFunk]

Good idea in making your own tips. The next step is how to do easy budget plating of the tips 🤔😁

[@vobinhthu5299]

This project is very good!

[@blocks_watch4892]

Hey man it’s so great to see your creativity inspire us all, I am looking to make some tips for my soldering iron but I was wondering what the measurements for the width of the cable you used is (in mm) thanks

[@ChronicMechatronic]

3.5mm But you need to measure your existing soldering tip to make sure it's right

[@anallynmagsanok6358]

I think # 7 solid tw and #8 solid tw wire

[@abdulhamideltounsy7533]

Dear .. Very nice works

[@shafiullapjan3422]

Superb boss, amazing 💡ideas 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Thanks

[@shafiullapjan3422]

Wellcome you boss

[@nelsoncarvalho7826]

Very nice. You're the guy. God bless you.

[@itmeetings]

its only help with small and tiny iron solder station but its marvilous and high qu

[@gibbywankenobi66]

That is awesome! Good job!

[@ronniewetherington509]

Very good and inexpensive!

[@jagjitkumar2446]

Very nice and useful video good job 👍

[@cokeforever]

just stumbled upon your channel yesterday ) it is a nice vid with good and practical idea in it... ...but Chinese sell such 6-piece kit on Ali for less than a dollar... also, dont get discouraged by modest view numbers, once you "struck the gold", a vid can get 1M views so easily these days... you have the charisma to do it, so keep it up!

[@FitzroyKennedy]

Very good lesson.

[@Jonathan-jo2xu]

Great job, i have been making my own solder tips for quite some time now using copper wire as well. I have to ask her when filing down in your makeshift lathe, do you really need to move your file back and forth since the drill is already spinning?

[@ChronicMechatronic]

It's technically better to not move the file to prevent removing material unevenly - but if I don't, the file quickly clogs up.. ;)

[@shreya_x8721]

Won’t the copper react with oxygen and eventually corrode?

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Sure, but it's cheaper to file them down and eventually make new tips than try to plate it

[@ishizukahikaru643]

Your vids are amazing!

[@gerardcousineau3478]

Excellent. Thank you. 👍

[@cowboy6591]

I'm amazed at how well the split fork tip works. The greedy corporations are pooping their pants when they see videos like this. Great video, eye opening. Your website is down😞

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Haha, I don't care about greedy corporations, but I know the greedy life hack channels got dollar signs in their eyes when they saw it, because they could copy it and get more views than I did 🙄 Yes I had to take my website down after registering this channel as a business, because my government requires me to put my full contact info and adress on the legal info page, and there's no way I'm doing that... 😮‍💨 But I never had time to write new articles for it anyway, so it's not a huge loss. Thanks for reminding me to take the link out of the description :)

[@goldenboy5500]

thats ok if you have one of those crappy cheap single heat soldering pencils but is you have a soldering rework station with adjustable heating it wont work and btw brass works much better holds up to flux much better

[@techparistech2659]

Excellent job

[@soupflood]

tips made out of masonry nails last longer. my problem is that the tip i need is like two nails head to head, its like that because it goes through the nut that holds it inthe iron

[@muhammadshoaib3577]

Can i use steel bit

[@cybermaus]

The specialized SMD tip may actually be a good idea. Maybe I can should convert a knife tip for that.

[@mixinginthebox]

this is genius FR..

[@carlospastranaosorno1440]

Gracias por compartir tus conocimientos. Bendiciones

[@strannik8234]

Cool! I need to try to do the same somehow.

[@zeez9053]

Great well made tips 🇬🇧👍❕

[@mobilered2776]

Good idea , but U have not polished plz advice what metal and how can we do, is it silver metal or any other to protect the copper bits .all branded bits are shining,

[@dottechgames9690]

Nice work keep it up dude

[@HunzaMisgar]

Hey bro. I become a big fan of you after watching this great job because you solved my sliding iron issue... It's really amazing and appreciatefull.. so keep it up bro.. Greetings from Pakistan.

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Hi! Glad to have you aboard!

[@pradeepcd1157]

Valuable information thanks

[@josearmandosanchezvaldez6624]

saludos desde mexico city..excelente video de como hacer puntas para cautin....

[@DreadPirateRoberts1]

you need a dremmel, my man, or any brand rotary tool, they are great for jobs like this.

[@richardurdaneta530]

Thanks bud😊

[@IS-77]

Awesome 👍🏽👌

[@letsgoexperiment725]

I like your post 👌👍💯

[@trikoprastyawan4937]

thank you Brother

[@Rony...1310D]

Muy buen aporte excelente contenido like x mas videos !!! Saludos de Argentina Bs As

[@dans9317]

Nice guitar music

[@souravbhattacharyya3392]

Great work kid👍keep it up

[@RixtronixLAB]

Keep it up, nice video clip, thank you for sharing it :)

[@shinningraj]

vry good ideo. thanx for ur input. i wish i would hv seen your video bfre buying those pricy soldering tweezers that too Hakko brand Long live bro!

[@carmelsaliba7710]

An excellent idea and easy to make. Difficult to find pure copper with the diameter which I need for my soldering iron here. I did find brass rod of the correct diameter. What's your opinion? Better than iron for sure.

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Yeah, brass is certainly better than iron. It's third-best at conducting heat (just checked) I think for most electronics soldering jobs it should do fine, tho it could pose problems when trying tin thicker copper wires. What's the wattage of your soldering iron?

[@carmelsaliba7710]

@@ChronicMechatronic Thanks for your opinion. I will make a tip using brass rod 4.75mm diameter for my old but very reliable Weller 25W and let you know. Its ideal for small soldering jobs on pcb board but tips are unobtainable so I will make a tip using your post. I have another 60W soldering iron for tougher jobs (but not Weller!!)

[@ChronicMechatronic]

@@carmelsaliba7710 yeah, thx for letting me know, that'll be interesting.

[@anullhandle]

Typical tips are copper for thermal conductivity iron plated to reduce corrosion, chrome plated body to prevent solder wicking and solder plated at the end for wetting. Keep the iron at a reasonable lower temp. Clean and retin constantly to prevent wear/oxidation. Avoid lead free solder. Your tips will last. Filing a mistreated tip will expose the copper core and rapidly disolve in the solder and or oxidize. How did the brass work out?

[@spicky2966]

SMD tip rocks tks who could afford hot tweezers

[@Circuit42]

You should Nickel plate them by electroplating

[@georgegeorge6442]

BRAVO!!!!!!VERY GOOD VIDEO,,,,,,,GEORGE ATHENS GREECE.

[@omsingharjit]

You have to plate Fe Ni Fe and tin to make is run longer

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Waste of time, it's literally cheaper to make a new tip when its worn down

[@myhomelab]

wire guage?

[@unitiveinv854]

great work. what if a soldering tip for ICs 😉

[@inhisnameislay3401]

good job tysm!

[@op-tim_auto]

Fantastic!

[@lemonagaming]

Tips to making tips Thank you

[@tanveeritv]

Good idea 💡👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@moidheenpazherikunjumon920]

Good 👍

[@sam_memes_100k]

Nice bro

[@aayush_789]

Did they got black oxidized after initial uses?

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Yeah, they always do, but as long as you keep the tinned part of it clean (and tinned), it doesn't matter.

[@lorriecarrel9962]

Good work

[@MartinSBrown-tp9ji]

Is that loud music necessary in your videos?

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Yes it is. If you don't like it, don't watch it.

[@Izzy-w2p]

Awesome mate,like a pro, if you make tips like you do isnt wire for new tip to soft for 400 celsias of heat?

[@ChronicMechatronic]

Copper melts at 1048°C

[@budgetdrone990]

Awesome DIY.. thanks bro. Done subcribe.. i really hard to search single core wire like u..

[@nanmoophoung9145]

Thanks.