Fitted Plugs

Once upon a not that long ago, when you bought electric gubbins, you first had to fit it with the appropriate mains plug.

Nowadays, stuff nearly always comes with a moulded-on plug attached to the mains lead.

Very convenient,

But.......

Just been looking to buy a new precision soldering iron for printed circuit board work.

Lo and behold, it is cheaper to buy one with a European plug, and cut it off, and replace with a UK plug, than to buy the item with a fitted UK plug.

I wonder how many other electrical gadgets this applies to.

My little Antex 12W soldering iron didn't come with a plug on it, wonder if the young folk of today know how to wire a plug up?

I am still using an Antex X25, that I bought in 1969 when first it came out.

It was their low leakage tool launched when the early CMOS and MOSFETS were very delicate, and easily destroyed with soldering irons.

It has had heavy use. I must have got through hundreds of bits.



However, it is far from the best tool for the very narrow tracks used in digital logic on boards of today, and I am dreading having to hand solder any SMDs,

So am shopping for a new one, though in truth getting old, and eyes are not really up to a lot of fine work, not to mention the arthritic fingers!

On Antex site, price is the same, whether UK or European Plug, though earlier I found the latter being offered for keener prices than the former, by various vendors.

I've used this iron...weller for many years.
First came across it in the 70's when working for British Aero Space, excellent for PCB work.
I believe Weller are phasing them out, I grabbed one while I had the chance, there's a vast assortment of temperature controlled bits, also an excellent low leakage design for electronic component work.
I've been gradually collecting the bits while they are available.
The temperature is accurately controlled by the bits, no need for an adjusting dial as with some of the other irons