Introduction: Soldering Iron Tip Cleaning Stand

About: For the past few years I have been working on the Great Uncles Project. Three of my great uncles served in the Great War of 1914-1918. I've been studying their lives through their service records, the history…
I've used an empty paprika tin, a pot scrubber and stuff I found in my scrap pile to make this quick project. Better soldering starts with a soldering iron with a tip clean of dirt and oxides. Here's my soldering iron top cleaning stand.

Step 1: Let's Look in the Scrap Bin

Plywood off cuts, a bracket. I paint everything grey. It's my universal colour in the workshop. I used a paprika tin. Use a brass pot scrubber. The steel one shown will rust and might damage the soldering iron tip.

Step 2: Cut Up Some Wood

Step 3: Make Some Adjustments on the Go

As you see the screws are longer than the wood thickness. I put extra wood bits on the bottom. Added little rubber feet too.

Step 4: Bend the Bracket

I bent the bracket back about 60° so I could have the tin sit around 30°. Super strong bending effort put into this.

Step 5: Add the Tin

I had to pack the lip on the bottom of the paprika tin to make it sit better in the bracket.

Step 6: Everything Comes Together

Here's the finished soldering iron tip cleaner made with a paprika tin, things I had in the scrap bin and around the house. I was made in an afternoon while I sat in front of the telly. Solder dross stay inside the tin and so too does smoke.