Pinecil Soldering Short Tip Set: Which Tip for Console Mods
By Hand Held Legend | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: Buying Guides
A practical guide to the Pinecil Soldering Short Tip Set and choosing the right tip for Game Boy, GameCube, and retro console mods.
Quick answer
For most Game Boy and handheld console mods, start with the ST-I tip from the Pinecil Soldering Short Tip Set. Its fine point reaches small pads and vias without bridging, while the ST-D24 and ST-C4 handle larger ground planes and connector pins. The ST-K is the choice for drag soldering or heavier joints. Because these tips are shorter than typical TS100 tips, they sit closer to the work and transfer heat more directly, which helps on dense retro boards.
Why short tips matter for console mods
The Pinecil Soldering Short Tip Set contains four standard tips that are shorter than typical TS100 tips. That shorter length reduces the distance between the heater and the tip, so heat reaches the joint faster and the iron feels more balanced in your hand. On a Game Boy Color recap or a backlight install, you are often working close to plastic shells and delicate flex cables, so a shorter tip gives you more control and less chance of bumping something you should not.
Tip-by-tip breakdown for retro repair
ST-I: a fine conical tip, 86.1 mm long and 8.4 grams. Use it for small through-hole pads, capacitor legs, and wire tinning on Game Boy Pocket and Game Boy Color boards. ST-C4: a 88.2 mm, 9.2-gram tip with a slightly larger contact area. It works well for larger pads and connector pins where you need a bit more heat. ST-D24: 86.0 mm, 8.5 grams, a chisel-style tip that is great for drag soldering IC legs and for ground planes that suck heat away. ST-K: 91.1 mm, 9.2 grams, a knife-edge tip for reaching multiple pins at once or for heavier joints on power connectors. If you are unsure, the ST-I covers most console mod work, and the ST-D24 is the best backup for stubborn ground connections.
Matching tips to common console jobs
For Game Boy Pocket capacitor kits, the ST-I lets you replace one capacitor at a time without bridging adjacent pads. For Game Boy Color TFT LCD backlight kits, you will solder a few wires and possibly a brightness point; the ST-I or ST-C4 keeps those joints neat. When you are working on GameCube controller buttons or other plastic-heavy projects, you are less likely to need a soldering iron, but if you are repairing controller PCBs, the ST-D24 helps with the larger pads. The set gives you enough variety to avoid buying single tips for each job.
Thermal transfer and ergonomics in practice
Because these tips are shorter, they lose less heat along the shaft. That means you can often use a lower temperature setting and still get a fast joint, which is safer for old console PCBs. The shorter length also moves your hand closer to the work, so you have better fine motor control when placing a tip on a tiny pad. If you are used to longer TS100 tips, give yourself a few joints to adjust to the new balance.
Decision rules for picking a Pinecil tip
- If you are working on small pads or fine wires: Choose the ST-I. Its fine point fits between closely spaced pads on Game Boy and Game Boy Color boards. Best all-round tip for handheld console mods.
- If you need more heat for ground planes or larger pins: Switch to the ST-D24 or ST-C4. The larger contact area transfers heat faster into stubborn joints. Keep the ST-D24 handy for power and ground connections.
- If you are drag soldering IC legs or need to bridge multiple pins: Use the ST-K knife-edge tip. It can touch several pins at once and is useful for removing solder bridges. A specialist tip, but worth having for chip-level repairs.
Product facts
- Pinecil Soldering Short Tip Set - Standard (Gross) - PINE64: These Pinecil tips are shorter than typical TS100 tips, providing better ergonomics and better thermal transfer to your work surface. This collection contains 4 standard tips: ST-I (86.1mm, 8.4g), ST-C4 (88.2mm, 9.2g), ST-D24 (86.0mm, 8.5g), and ST-K (91.1mm, 9.2g). Shorter tips mean faster heat-up at the joint and less hand fatigue during long mod sessions. The four shapes cover fine work, general soldering, drag soldering, and heavier joints, so you can handle most console repairs without buying extra tips.
- Game Boy Pocket Capacitor Kit - Console 5: This is a high quality kit that contains Nichicon and Panasonic caps. Simply replace the capacitor with the same capacitance on the board. It's okay if the voltage rating is higher. Included: 1x Capacitor Kit. Documentation: Console5 Wiki contains cap list and values. A capacitor kit is a common first mod for a Game Boy Pocket. Using the ST-I tip from the Pinecil set makes it easier to replace each capacitor cleanly without damaging the pads.
Who should buy this set
Best for
- Console modders who repair Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and other retro handhelds
- Anyone who wants one set of tips that covers fine, general, and heavy soldering tasks
- Users who prefer shorter tips for better control and faster heat transfer
Not for
- People who need a single tip for only one specific task and never do other soldering
- Users who prefer longer TS100-style tips for reach into deep enclosures
