Soldering Iron Stand

Intro: Soldering Iron Stand

A few years back my grandfather gave me a gift of his old soldering iron. I've gotten a lot of use out of it and decided that it's finally time to build my own stand for it!

STEP 1: Preparing the Form

We're going to be using a coat hanger for the coil that the iron sits in. To make this coil, I drilled a hole the same width as my coat hanger in an old broom.

STEP 2: Making the Coil

I cut the coat hanger down and inserted it into the hole I had just drilled. Once it was secured, I began to wrap it around the broom handle, producing the coil that we need.

STEP 3: Safety First!

With the coil removed, I straightened the piece of wire that would raise it up from the base. After that, I filed the ends to make them less dangerous and pointy (which I should have done before I wound it!)

STEP 4: Test!

I clamped the wire in a vice and saw that it did indeed support my soldering iron! Now on to the base!

STEP 5: The Base

I chose to make the base out of 18mm thick plywood, which should provide plenty of stability. I cut it to size and then sanded it smooth.

STEP 6: Assembly

I drilled a hole in the base for the coil to sit in and then secured it using CA glue.

STEP 7: Sponge Holder

Using some odd scraps, I made a small space in which I could place a cut sponge to dab the tip of my iron. I secured these pieces with CA glue and sanded it all smooth by hand.

STEP 8: Paint!

With everything assembled, I gave the piece a coat of black paint to make it look a bit more professional.

STEP 9: Done!

With that, the project is finished! I cut a small sponge to fit in the holder and I am absolutely delighted with how it looks and works! I hope you found this instructable useful and if you make one of these, I would love to see it!

-Shaun

Comments

[KITWS]

nice ill make one tomorrow and just one idea to make your stand more useful bend a piece of wire to make a solder spool holder post pic tomorrow hope fully

[ShaunM11]

I look forward to seeing it :)

[harleyjon]

The stand you built looks like it could have been the stand from the very beginning. I think you did a great job of making the stand look like it was built for that tool. I also agree that the safety factors come from being aware of your surroundings.

[ShaunM11]

Thank you very much for your comment! As my dad says: safety first, second and third!

[DonSteve]

Get the hot tip a cover cap, perhaps just extend the wire holder.

Also you might want to make the holder base a bit bigger and add a holder for a soldering wire spool to be always at arms reach.

However it's a pretty good job.

Thanks for sharing :)

[ShaunM11]

Thanks for your comment and the suggestions :)

[BeachsideHank]

It's great you put grandpa's old tools to work but you really ought to rethink having a hot tip unsheilded and hanging out in space like that, there's a reason why commercial stands have a cage as a recepticle.

[ShaunM11]

Hey, thanks for your comment! I do appreciate the fact that the hot tip is an issue, but it's a risk that I have evaluated and am aware of when working in the shop.