Why does a soldering iron have a life of its own ?

[sarah_louise]

Have you ever noticed that an electric soldering iron no matter where it is put on the workbench will slither around and burn something when you take your eyes off it. ?

[Loosehead]

It is governed by an as yet undiscovered law, it is related to the "self tangling Hose" law, and the "Buttered side down" law. As yet it's mysterious workings have been unfathomable to scientists. Although I believe progress has been made on the "Where do all the pens go" front. It seems there is a parallel dimension where biro's go and live.

[rojash]

I think it's actually governed by the law of the weight of the mains cable. Get a cordless soldering iron, and a decent stand!

[heathfield]

Thank the idiots in the EU who make up regulations and think they're doing everyone a good turn.
It used to be that soldering irons had a hook on them so you could hang them on the edge of a bench. But people tended to get burns under their forearms from doing this. (Anyone want to see my scars?). So the EU banned hooks - the idea being that everyone would then have to use a stand for the iron.
But people don't. As you know, they lay the iron on the bench instead. So it slithers into your lap. Or drops tip down and stabs your socks. Or, (worst case I know of), a visitor comes over for a friendly chat and leans on the bench, and places his hand directly on top of the iron. (Took weeks to heal).
Cables, buttered toast, soldering irons...Its all called 'perversity', and tends to exist throughout the known universe.

[mibn2cweus]

It is only searching for an old speaker magnet to rest on.

[CSG2306]

Hi sarah_louise,

A length of copper or aluminium pipe is quite a good receptacle for a soldering iron.

Regards

[NORMANTHEDOG]

why not use the stand that comes with it,its quite simple

[brachiopod]

I find hammering an 8" masonry nail through the handle normally stops them rolling about. I've never had a problem with any of the 53 soldering irons I have owned burning anything since adopting this tactic.

[sarah_louise]

thanks brachiopod but the electric wires go through the handle !

[brachiopod]

Aahh.... now that's probably why I've had to buy 53 of them in only 4� years.....

[Bramleyboy]

Rojash, are cordless soldering irons any good? How do you measure the power rating? Bramleyboy.