The tip & cartridge compatibility matrix
Tips are where the money and the confusion live: they're the consumable you'll buy for years, the naming is regional and hostile (T12 = T15; C245 ≠ C210), and they're the most counterfeited items in electronics. This is the matrix the community keeps assembling in forum threads, kept in one place and kept current.
Community/vendor-sourced (Pine64 docs, EEVblog threads, vendor catalogues), checked July 2026. Found an odd combination that works or doesn't? Use "report an error" below — this page improves by field reports.
Hakko T18 (900M-style)
Conventional tips for separate-heater handles · typical $5–12 per tip
| Fits | Hakko FX-888D · FX-888/936 family (T18 succeeded the 900M series) |
|---|---|
| Doesn't fit / traps | Does NOT fit the FX-951/FM-203 (those take T12/T15 cartridges). |
| Counterfeits | Heavily counterfeited; fake tips run underweight and plate thinner — buy from authorized distributors. |
Hakko T12 / T15 cartridges
Heater-in-tip cartridges; T12 and T15 are the SAME cartridge under regional names (Japan/Asia vs NA/EU) · typical $3–28 per tip
| Fits | Hakko FX-951 · FX-950/FM-203 · KSGER/Quicko T12 clone stations (clone cartridges + genuine both fit) |
|---|---|
| Doesn't fit / traps | Not the FX-888D (T18 territory). |
| Counterfeits | The definitive fake-tip battleground: measured genuine T12-C1 ≈ 7.7 g vs fake ≈ 7.24 g; performance gap is measurable (Voltlog #215). Genuine ≈ $25; $3 marketplace 'T12s' are clones of wildly varying quality. |
JBC C245 cartridges
The general-purpose JBC cartridge (T245 handle) — the workhorse format · typical $4–50 per tip
| Fits | JBC CD-B and 245-handle stations · Aixun T3A · Sugon T36 · Jabe UD-1200 · most 'JBC-compatible' clone stations and handles (Aifen, KNOKOO...) |
|---|---|
| Doesn't fit / traps | Not interchangeable with C210/C115 handles (different geometry and power class). |
| Counterfeits | Genuine C245s from marketplaces are a live counterfeit concern (EEVblog, Jan 2026); clone C245s range from 'tests identical to original' to junk — buy genuine from authorized channels for daily drivers, clones for occasional shapes. |
JBC C210 cartridges
The fine-pitch/precision cartridge (T210 handle) — lower thermal mass than C245 · typical $4–45 per tip
| Fits | JBC 210-handle stations · Aixun T3A/T3B with the C210 handle · clone 210 handles |
|---|---|
| Doesn't fit / traps | Not a C245 substitute for heavy joints — it's the scalpel, not the hammer. |
| Counterfeits | Same clone economics as C245; precision geometries suffer most from bad cloning. |
JBC C115 cartridges
Micro-soldering cartridges (NT115 handle) — under-microscope work · typical $6–45 per tip
| Fits | JBC nano stations · clone 115 handles on Aixun/Sugon micro setups |
|---|---|
| Doesn't fit / traps | Everything that isn't a 115 handle. |
| Counterfeits | Clones exist; at this tip size, genuine is usually worth it. |
TS100-style long tips (~8 Ω)
The classic smart-iron tip: ~8 Ω heater, long shaft · typical $4–12 per tip
| Fits | Miniware TS100 & TS101 · Pinecil V1 & V2 · most TS100-compatible irons |
|---|---|
| Doesn't fit / traps | Nothing notable — this is the universal donor of USB-iron tips. |
| Counterfeits | Huge clone market, mostly acceptable; premium Miniware/Pine64 tips heat more evenly. |
Pinecil short (ST) tips (~6.2-6.5 Ω)
Shorter, lower-resistance tips — faster heat-up, less tip wobble · typical $5–10 per tip
| Fits | Pinecil V2 (auto-detects tip resistance) |
|---|---|
| Doesn't fit / traps | Fit the TS101 poorly (seating/length) and older TS100/V1 irons need firmware awareness of the lower resistance — treat them as V2-only unless you enjoy edge cases. |
| Counterfeits | Buy from Pine64/authorized resellers; the ecosystem is young enough that 'compatible' listings deserve suspicion. |
Weller ET tips
Conventional tips for Weller's classic handles · typical $6–14 per tip
| Fits | Weller WE1010 · WE/WES/WESD-series handles |
|---|---|
| Doesn't fit / traps | Anything non-Weller. |
| Counterfeits | Less faked than Hakko; marketplace quality still varies. |
Which stations use which system
| Iron / station | Tip system |
|---|---|
| Pinecil V2 | Pinecil short (ST) tips (~6.2-6.5 Ω) |
| Miniware TS101 | TS100-style long tips (~8 Ω) |
| Hakko FX-888D | Hakko T18 (900M-style) |
| Hakko FX-951 | Hakko T12 / T15 cartridges |
| KSGER T12 (STM32) | Hakko T12 / T15 cartridges |
| Aixun T3A | JBC C245 cartridges |
| Sugon T36 | JBC C245 cartridges |
| Jabe UD-1200 | JBC C245 cartridges |
| JBC CD-B (245 handle) | JBC C245 cartridges |
| Weller WE1010 | Weller ET tips |
Worried a tip you bought is fake? The counterfeit bench-gear checklist has the weight tests and tells.