Sandy Harper Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 Hi Guys, My wife noticed Lidl's have a solder station on offer at the moment for just £9, obviously fairly basic with no digital read out and only a dial to adjust the temp but it does comes with a 3 year guarantee. Martyn. You might have missed the boat there Martyn. They were on sale before Christmas and I had a look at one then. I went back last week for another look and they had all gone. They were rated at 48watts (what ever that means) and came with a screw-in pointed bit. There was a screwdriver bit included as an accessory but, as the connection between the element and the bit was by a fairly small screw, into the end of the element, I concluded that you were likely to lose half the 48 watt's worth of heat before it arrived at the end of the bit. Might be ok for 4mm work, or electrical, but I doubt it was man enough for 7mm kits. What was good value though was the packet of assorted slitting discs for a rotary drill at £3 for two pkts. Enough for a couple of years worth! SAndy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz Posted February 6, 2018 Author Share Posted February 6, 2018 Thank for all the solder iron comments. Before turning to Antex some years ago I used Wellar. The tips were a real pain in the a---. Getting jammed all the time. That's not a problem with Antex. I have order a replacement Antex and hopefully will arrive today. I am disappointed to see they are now made in China. That could be the reason they are not built as good as they used to be. I am tired of respected brands constantly going for the cheapest possible manufacturers and the brand suffering as a result. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwealleans Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 My 50W Antex - sounds as if we use the same one - went just at the start of the Christmas holidays a couple of years ago. I'd had my use out of it and replaced it with another as soon as I could. I don't think you can find better for hobby use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
3 link Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 My 50W Antex - sounds as if we use the same one - went just at the start of the Christmas holidays a couple of years ago. I'd had my use out of it and replaced it with another as soon as I could. I don't think you can find better for hobby use. Supposedly " Esra " are the Rolls Royce of soldering irons, but I nearly fell off my chair when I found out how much they cost..... Martyn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 Martyn, you beat me to it. we have these at work http://uk.farnell.com/ersa/i-con-nano-uk/soldering-station-80w-uk-plug/dp/1740474 the dog's whotsits, but not cheap! the 150W version is over £300... best Simon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz Posted February 6, 2018 Author Share Posted February 6, 2018 My 50W Antex - sounds as if we use the same one - went just at the start of the Christmas holidays a couple of years ago. I'd had my use out of it and replaced it with another as soon as I could. I don't think you can find better for hobby use. I do agree on that Johnathan. But the recent experience has shaken that view. I am giving it another go though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Softvark Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 I recently upgraded to a Hakko solder station. Also not cheap (and rather garish) but an excellent iron with lots of bits available. Very controllable either manually or with presets. I got mine off a well known auction site for around £100 but make sure it's a genuine Hakko. https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=hakko+fx-888d Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz Posted February 6, 2018 Author Share Posted February 6, 2018 Martyn & Simon. I do agree that the Esra range are the Rolls Royce of soldering irons. As I cannot stretch to a Rolls anyway, so goes it with the Esra equipment. I cannot justify that cost as at my time of life I'm gambling that the Antex range should see me out if the next couple last as long as they used to. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 Ken, Be optimistic! Best Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Pulham Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 I haven't regretted buying an Ersa, I have the 80 watt and it's a cracking bit of kit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz Posted February 6, 2018 Author Share Posted February 6, 2018 Ken, Be optimistic! Best Simon Always optimistic Simon even when convinced it will go wrong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz Posted February 6, 2018 Author Share Posted February 6, 2018 I haven't regretted buying an Ersa, I have the 80 watt and it's a cracking bit of kit. I don't doubt that for one moment. I swoon at the thought of spending almost £400 on a piece of kit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 The one I posted was “only” £165... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz Posted February 7, 2018 Author Share Posted February 7, 2018 The one I posted was “only” £165... Ha, just the iron then, I was assuming the soldering station. I may look at them if this one does not last. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Harper Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Have a look at this from Farnell. A good range of tip sizes also. http://uk.farnell.com/tenma/21-10115-eu/soldering-station-60w-220v-eu/dp/2062627?MER=bn_level5_5NP_EngagementRecSingleItem_3 Sandy 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 2ManySpams Posted February 7, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 7, 2018 Have a look at this from Farnell. A good range of tip sizes also. http://uk.farnell.com/tenma/21-10115-eu/soldering-station-60w-220v-eu/dp/2062627?MER=bn_level5_5NP_EngagementRecSingleItem_3 Sandy Interesting that the whole solder station is just over £40 but that each new tip is £23. Looks like they are following the inkjet printer pricing model where the consumables can be almost as much as the printer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M Wright Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 (edited) Interesting that the whole solder station is just over £40 but that each new tip is £23. Looks like they are following the inkjet printer pricing model where the consumables can be almost as much as the printer. Hi, Farnell listings are never the best, but bits are not £23 each, In very small print above the bit prices it does say "pack of 10"! Obviously they need a Plain English consultant to charge the earth to make their listings clear. Regards. Edited February 7, 2018 by M Wright Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 2ManySpams Posted February 7, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 7, 2018 Hi, Farnell listings are never the best, but bits are not £23 each, In very small print above the bit prices it does say "pack of 10"! Obviously they need a Plain English consultant to charge the earth to make their listings clear. Regards.Ah yes, the small print... Not clear on the main listing that it's a pack of 10 Until you click on the more details link A solder station at that price looks too good to be true. Are they any good? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano747 Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Hi All It's a minefield out there!! I've recently bought this 80W https://www.rapidonline.com/atten-st-80-premium-intelligent-soldering-station-80w-85-6926 which is Chinese made too? Not had a chance to try it yet (due to the house move) but it takes the HAKKO tips, available in packs of 10 various sizes, (same as Tenma in 2ManySpams post) for about a tenner on Ama zon. Regards, Deano. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 do be wary, RS, for example give pricing thus "£3.20 each, in a pack of 10" which means you have to shell out 32 quid, which is alright if you can use 10, but if that's going to last you for about 47 years... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barry_yardley Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Ken, I have been using an ERSA RDS80 since setting up Midland Carriage Works over 4 years ago. They cost around £140 at the moment, much cheaper than when I bought it. I can't recommend them enough. I haven't even had to replace a tip in that time. Regards Barry 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano747 Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 (edited) do be wary, RS, for example give pricing thus "£3.20 each, in a pack of 10" which means you have to shell out 32 quid, which is alright if you can use 10, but if that's going to last you for about 47 years... Yes Simon, I've seen those, and a wary trap. These are the ones I refer to though. I bought 2 sets, a normal one for 179*/145* solder and one blackened set for low temp, whitemetal. No chance then of me mixing them up!!! https://www.amazon.co.uk/fitTek-PUNTE-SALDATORE-SALDATURA-HAKKO/dp/B009LEDSPK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1518012066&sr=8-2&keywords=900m+soldering+tips HaHa! 2 sets should last me 94 years then!! Regards, Deano Edited February 7, 2018 by Deano747 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz Posted February 7, 2018 Author Share Posted February 7, 2018 Thanks for the advice and tips guys. I'll see how the replacement Antex works out for now. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz Posted February 8, 2018 Author Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) Hi. The Antex iron finally arrived yesterday pm and I'm now playing catchup. Whilst I was awaiting I had prepared all the parts ready for quick assembly, soldering what I could with the 25w Antex which dd sterling work. There was only one thing to what out for, the eccentric crank is too long and needs shortening for clearance at the top. It is also a little to wide and will foul the connecting rods. That required an obvious remedy as you will see during the construction. Hope the photo shows what I mean. Here is the progress as of today. Edited February 8, 2018 by jazz 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz Posted February 9, 2018 Author Share Posted February 9, 2018 Making some progress on the body after assembling the bogie this morning. So far going well. No problems with all fitting together well. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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