First, try an inexpensive lamp dimmer on your iron to give you some control
of the tip temp.

Can't make suggestions for tip sources without knowing the type of iron you
are using (mfg).

For short-life spans, it's OK to sand, turn, or grind your existing copper
or copper alloy tip down to a smaller size. With the plating removed it
won't last as long, but you'll get through quite a bit of soldering  first.

You can try www.contacteast.com for a good assortment of pro
(translation:expensive) tools, or you could simply have Sid do all your
prototype work for you. I believe he can solder things by hand that I can't
even see.....

Why ever would you want to put these on DIP adapters? are they not available
in DIP packaging?

C

> My iron is probably a bit high (30W), but I'll probably have
> to live with
> that for the moment. Any pointers on a good mail order source
> for suitable
> tips for fine SOIC/SMT work?
>
> (I'm going to be soldering the SOICs onto mini-PCBs and
> making them DIPs,
> FYI).

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