Another soldering Iron goes pop!

Graham Walters · May 01, 2016, 08:41:07 PM

Thats the third this year, and it's only May.

Ki think I must be jinxed, if I'm not grabbing them by the hot end, they are going pop on me, so I'm not listening to anyone about Wilko's Irons being as good as so and so's and half the price.

I've ordered one off Amazon, apparently it will even make the coffee or tea when required, £150 if this one goes pop in three months I'm emigrating to somewhere warm.

Rant over !

Lazy-Ferret · May 01, 2016, 09:03:50 PM

You do get what you pay for with soldering irons, and if you want to use them more than once a month for 10 mins a time, anything under a £100 is not worth wasting your money on...

I have had a Weller Temperature controlled iron for 34 Years... Had to finally buy a new element last year... I dread to think how many new tips it has had over the years, and how many times I have abused it to weld/melt plastic.

I have a Weller Soldering Gun as well....

austinbob · May 01, 2016, 09:16:57 PM

I've used a Maplin temperature controlled iron for 3 years now with no problems. Built like tank and about the same size!! Bought a couple of spare irons just in case but still using the original one. Don't know the Maplin part number but its a great iron.

stevewalker · May 02, 2016, 12:00:02 AM

From my experience (some years ago), wandering around any factory floor, repairs company or design lab would show the vast majority of soldering irons to be Weller Magnastats. Industry was buying them in large numbers for good reason.

Snowwolflair · May 02, 2016, 12:20:04 AM

I think the Maplin (built like a tank) mentioned above is either a re badge Weller magnastat or is incredibly similar. I have used one for years, and have changed the heater three times, about one every two years - and i'm a heavy user. To be fair i have a bad habit of tapping the tip to clear solder and that eventually cracks them, never had a heater failure.

PLD · May 02, 2016, 12:54:15 AM

Antex XS25 for my main iron...

Cost approx £25 approaching 10 years ago and still going strong. Goes through around 100-120 heat cycles/year
(current model is only around £35).

Tips - I have 3 different sizes interchangeable for different jobs. the most used is replaced approx every 18 months. others last 3+ years.

4x2 · May 02, 2016, 08:11:43 AM

I'm an Antex fan too... XS25 and XS18 for most stuff n gauge. I also a maplins 40w cheapie and that actually seems pretty good so far (about a year old). I may get a 100w iron for loco kit building in O gauge (when my wallet will let me !) I've wanted to have a crack at them for a few years now...

I have used the Weller stuff (in my apprentice training it's all we used) and it is good - maybe I just prefer Antex because they're yellow !

CliveH · May 02, 2016, 09:53:58 AM

Quote from: PLD on May 02, 2016, 12:54:15 AM
Antex XS25 for my main iron...

Cost approx £25 approaching 10 years ago and still going strong.

Ditto, except probably over 10 years ago for mine, and I've forgotten the price. Cheap, reliable, good enough. Paid the extra shilling for the version with the more flexible mains cable - it does help.

Cheers

Greybags · May 02, 2016, 10:26:52 AM

Always used Antex irons...

I have several, from mini to large, and apart from replacing bits, never had a problem.

The oldest I have were given to me as part of my company tool kit when I was an apprentice, and I have now been retired a number of years, so they will be over 40 years old...

Brilliant kit..

NinOz · May 02, 2016, 10:46:02 AM

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3in1-YIHUA-853D-USB-2A-DC-POWER-SUPPLY-HOT-AIR-GUN-SOLDERING-REWORK-STATION-OZ-/131563869744?hash=item1ea1d15630:g:VOIAAOSwDNdVtYQx

My latest for bench work. Magic.

Zogbert Splod · May 02, 2016, 12:24:12 PM

Another vote for Antex. Also for the flexible cable option. The ease of changing tips is a winner with me too. I do like the magnetic temperature controlled Wellers, and as someone says above, they are an industry standard and that doesn't happen by accident.
Like 4x2, I wonder if it is 'yellow' that made me settle on the Antex for home use over the slightly insipid 'baby blue' Weller...

Les1952 · May 08, 2016, 10:35:43 PM

This week the Rise Park lot found out why you watch carefully where the iron is left when not being used.

A loud bang tripped off the power to the clubroom. Investigation showed that an iron (MY iron but being used by another member of the group while I refilled the kettle- important jobs first!) had been left in its stand on the floor and then kicked without being noticed. A few moments later it had melted the extension lead it was connected to with predictable results.

No damage to the iron but the culprit has an extension cable to shorten and get PAT tested.....

Les

Zogbert Splod · May 09, 2016, 01:35:10 AM

Quote from: Les1952 on May 08, 2016, 10:35:43 PM
This week the Rise Park lot found out why you watch carefully where the iron is left when not being used.

...A few moments later it had melted the extension lead it was connected to with predictable results.

That's another point in favour of spending the extra few quid if you go the Antex route - it will buy you the flexible cable which is made from silicon rubber and thus very hard to damage if the tip and the cable come together. Many of the Weller (all?) irons also come with this cable (possibly as an option?)

stevewalker · May 09, 2016, 07:39:46 PM

Quote from: Zogbert Splod on May 02, 2016, 12:24:12 PM
I wonder if it is 'yellow' that made me settle on the Antex for home use over the slightly insipid 'baby blue' Weller...

I have two Wellers - the light blue one, with a sponge tray and spring holder attached to the right of the power unit and a much older black one, with the sponge tray moulded as part of the top of the power unit and the spring up there too. The black one is older than me and I'm 49! I do also have an Antex CS and somewhere a no-name gas unit.

Les1952 · May 10, 2016, 11:10:49 PM

Quote from: Zogbert Splod on May 09, 2016, 01:35:10 AM
Quote from: Les1952 on May 08, 2016, 10:35:43 PM
This week the Rise Park lot found out why you watch carefully where the iron is left when not being used.

...A few moments later it had melted the extension lead it was connected to with predictable results.
That's another point in favour of spending the extra few quid if you go the Antex route - it will buy you the flexible cable which is made from silicon rubber and thus very hard to damage if the tip and the cable come together. Many of the Weller (all?) irons also come with this cable (possibly as an option?)

It wasn't the iron's own cable it landed on. It had been kicked and come out of its stand, landing across the mains extension lead the iron was plugged into. Make and model immaterial- if the hot end of a soldering iron rests on an extension lead for long enough it will melt it.....

In a similar vein you can always tell an experienced chemistry teacher in a lab. They always pick up tripods by the bottom of one of the legs no matter how long since the Bunsens were nominally turned off....

Les