On a sunny day (Sun, 1 Jul 2018 17:48:56 +0100) it happened Peter Percival
 wrote in :

>Peter Percival wrote:
>> I think I want one with a straight conical tip and the soldering iron
>> that I already own has a tip which looks like a cylinder cut off at an
>> angle (does that make sense? If not, see
>> https://www.gearbest.com/soldering-supplies/pp_248246.html).  Any
>> recommendations?
>
>Also (sorry if I'm boring anyone by returning to the subject) should the
>soldering iron be powered via an isolating transformer, or is it ok if
>it plugs straight into the mains?

For electronics use one with a transformer,
good ones also have a ground connector one the iron side,
not that I ever used that.

Use a wrist strap, grounded too, against static electricity.
Not that I ever used that either.
Use common sense, do not solder on live circuits, circuits that are 'on',
NEVER.

All that said: I have a glass table covered with cardboard covered with paper
for prototype building and testing.

YMMV
All that super anti statics, walk a mile in my shoes,
I can pull > 1 inch sparks in the supermarket towards the racks when walking
around there.
So, type of floor counts too.
If your hair stands up you are probably charged, acryl clothing
works great here too if it is dry.

And lightning:
http://panteltje.com/pub/bliksem_1.png
I have repaired my DVB-S2 USB receiver satellite receiver countless times,
I think I got it right, flash proof, this time...
:-)

There is a learning curve there I am sure.

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