Maplin Solder Station

[andrew ivimey]

Remember these - we discovered them and some of us enthused so much we bought the company.

I managed to buy three at the princley sum of £9-95 at different times.

A colleague bought one too, for £9-95.

Mappers has been pushing them out at anything between a tenner to 30 smacks in the gob.

Two lasted about an hour and one has lasted about five months of heavy use.

My colleague's lasted ten minutes. None of these heaps of rubbish had receipts kept and carefully filed for just such an occaision.

Has anyone else had this fun discovery?

Now, I need a reliable and powerful soldering iron. I have resurrected my pencil slim Antex. But I need better!

Any advice ???

[Greg.]

Hi Andrew,

I'm not surprised. In the old days when Maplins sold one or two useful things, I bought from them an Antex 660TC solder station when it was on offer and with a coupon from the catalogue, I got it for about £70. As expected, they no longer sell it although you can get from RS (200-7693 or 200-7700) but they want £111 plus vat. A digital version is available for another fifty quid or so. I suspect if you hunt around you could get it cheaper elsewhere.
I bought mine on the recommendation of Tony Moore and James and have been completely delighted. A pleasure to use with the iron having a pliable lead, good temperature control and fast heat/temperature change etc. Being Antex, you get a good choice of bits etc. I've left mine on for hours with no problems. I would suggest for hobbyists at our level, we need an iron of at least this quality for regular use.

Best wishes,

Greg

[Ianm2]

Yes the cheapo one is truly dire.

The one to go for is the £50 one, its superb, I have had mine ages now, works beautifully, heats up quickly.

Some times they do it for £30, but its also either

1/ going in CPC in preston for £30 plus the theft tax.

2/ there are some on ebay, too, same ones.

good luck.

[John T]

Yes, I got one of the £50 ones too. It's been on all day on many occasions with no problems.

As the old saying goes - "You only get what you pay for!"

[Dave the bass]

Here in our workshop we have 3 Weller soldering stations.

2x EC4100M's and 1x WD1, all with digital temp control. They're on for about 6 hours a day 3-5 days a week depending on the type of work we've got in. I've had the same base unit for over 10 years and have been through 3 pencils (the actual iron), normally element or temp sensor failiure.

I think you get what you pay for TBH.

DTB

[Rob042]

I have the under £10 station jobie from maplins - works fine and has done since I bought it, and it has been used alot.
the only problem I have had is the fine tip bending.

Rob

[acorn]

Hi Andrew

Ring them up and explain the situation to them, I am sure they would replace
one for you under the circumstances or reamburse you for your trouble. I find them quite accommadating when it comes to complaints of this manner, even without a bill of sale, its better than a smack in the mouth.

Regards Acorn