How to Choose the Right Weller Soldering Tip

In this guide

1. Why the tip matters more than the iron
2. Which tip shape for which job?
3. What the Weller tip series mean
4. Finding the exact tip for your iron
5. Getting size & temperature right
6. Making your tips last

The soldering tip does the actual work — not the iron. Get it right and you'll make clean joints faster, at a lower temperature, with a tip that lasts for months. Get it wrong — or fit a tip that was never made for your iron — and you'll fight cold joints, waste heat, and burn through tips. This guide covers the three things that matter: shape, series and fitment — and points you to a tool that finds your exact tip in seconds.

Heat reaches the joint through the tip, and the tip's shape and size decide how much of it actually gets there. A tip that's too small or too pointed starves the joint — so you crank the temperature, cook the board, and still get a dull, cold joint. The right tip makes broad thermal contact, transfers heat quickly, and lets you work at a lower set temperature — which is gentler on components and makes the tip itself last far longer.

So the goal isn't “the hottest iron” — it's the right tip, at a sensible temperature.

Whatever the series, tips come in a handful of profiles. Pick the shape for the work:

A good rule: use the biggest tip that fits the joint. More contact means faster heat and a lower temperature — the opposite of what most people assume.

This is the part that trips everyone up. The letters — LT, XT, XNT, RT, ET, XH and so on — aren't shapes. They tell you which iron the tip fits. Each Weller soldering pencil is designed around one tip series, and they are not interchangeable between irons. An XT tip will not fit a WXP 90; an XNT won't fit a WXP 120.

So choosing a tip is always two steps:

1. Which iron do I have? — that decides the series.
2. Which shape and size do I need? — that decides the exact tip within the series.

Here are the most common series and the irons they belong to:

Rather than cross-reference codes by hand, use our Weller Tip Finder: pick your iron model from the list and it shows every compatible tip, with live stock, ready to add to your basket. No part numbers to decode, no guessing.

Not sure which iron you've got? It's printed on the pencil or the station — or call our team on 01202 588900 and we'll identify it for you.

Two quick principles that save a lot of grief:

• Thermal mass beats temperature. A bigger tip stores and delivers more heat, so it's better for large joints, ground planes and thick wires. If a joint isn't taking solder, reach for a larger tip before you reach for a higher temperature.
• Lead-free needs more heat. Lead-free alloys melt roughly 30–40 °C higher than leaded, so expect to run a little hotter — but again, the right tip does most of that work for you. New to this? See our guide on leaded vs lead-free solder.

Tips are consumables, but good habits triple their life:

• Keep them tinned — a fresh coat of solder before you set the iron down, and again before storing. A bright, tinned tip transfers heat; a black, oxidised one doesn't.
• Clean on brass wool, not a wet sponge where you can — a wet sponge thermally shocks the tip on every wipe.
• Don't idle hot. Use the station's standby or turn the temperature down between joints — oxidation accelerates fast at working heat.

There's a full routine in our guide on how to clean and maintain soldering tips.

The tip is a small, cheap part that makes a big difference to your work. Match the shape to the job, the series to your iron, and the size to the joint — and keep it clean. When you're ready to buy, find your exact Weller tip in seconds with the Tip Finder, or browse the full Weller tip range.