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Now I've got my bench back in use I'm using my soldering iron more but it's just that, a soldering iron with a fixed temperature, fixed tip and a hook that just about fits over the handle on one of the workbench drawers - but frequently ends up on the floor! It's also rather clumsy to use (more likely I'm a clumsy user of it) and doesn't have sufficient reach to get inside things without the danger of melting other things on the way to the target point!

I'd like something a bit safer and more versatile, with a 'parking spot' that minimises the risk of me burning myself, or it dropping on the work surface or floor!. 

I'm a casual and occasional user, not a brass chassis builder so it doesn't need to cost the earth. Currently its main use is for soldering ferrules and motor wires plus heat sealing plastic parts in anything from 1/24 down to HO scale, so I'm looking for interchangeable tips and a longish tip reach as it's too easy to melt HO body parts when trying to heat weld deeper in their bodyshells. 

I have looked at reviews online but they lose me very early on as I don't know what temperature range or wattage I need. One particular make had several virtually identical stations ranging from £30-ish up to £140-ish and all that seemed to vary was those figures - temp/watts/heating time.

Very long winded way to ask but can anyone suggest a reasonably priced compact-ish and versatile soldering work station to suit please?