an old post from my FA gallery

detail on the iron tip

no uv involved, this is all using mapping node to rotate and position a gradient texture from object coordinates onto the tip, then mixing that with noise and using it to mix in a darker, less metalic, less specular bsdf

plus a shiny blob of solder on the end ofc to protect the tip, ifyou are new to soldering be sure to store your tip like this, it will make them last longer because they won't corrode