Geoffs SMD Dual USB Soldering Iron Holder - Mk4

thingiverse

This updated version is nearly identical to my earlier design found at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2766715, I've added a slot for a firmer grip on the soldering irons. A tip - if the grip is too tight or too loose, simply use a hot air gun to soften the ABS and bend it to fit. I'm using SMD components due to the availability of affordable, high-quality PCBs in low volumes. I design my PCBs using easyEDA's free online tools for schematics and PCB layout, as well as their relatively inexpensive PCB manufacturing services. Soldering is straightforward with a standard iron and a small tip, as described in DIYODE magazine's December 2019 issue. However, de-soldering small SMD resistors and caps proves challenging due to the need to heat both sides simultaneously. The hot-air rework tool often causes nearby components to become too hot and fall off, which can be frustrating. I searched Thingiverse for a solution and found minipimmer's "3D-printed SMD soldering tweezers" at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1934731. Unfortunately, the soldering irons kept falling out of this design. As a result, I've created my own version that has worked well for unsoldering several SMD resistors and caps. It's also easy to remove an iron for single-soldering-iron jobs. I prefer using these $7 USB irons over my temperature-controlled Hakko due to their faster heat-up times - a significant advantage for small soldering tasks, although not ideal for larger projects.