Solder pot and first experience with a metal lathe

I have bought a bunch of kits that have toroids. Cleaning the magnet wire is a bit if a pain in the butt. Using a small propane torch to burn off the coating is one method. Running a blob of solder using a large tip on the magnet wire is another. Sanding off the coating is also done. But using sand paper on thin wire does not work well. Using a solderpot is the best. The issue is that most people don't have access to a solder pot. If they do, they tend to be large and take a while to heat up.

I saw an article at http://qrpkits.com that shows one persons homemade solder pot. My issue was that I wanted a larger solderpot than a 1/8 inch wide opening. As a member of the techshop I have access to a metal lathe. So I decided I want to make a wide opening solderpot with a stem that would fit in a soldering iron. I made it tonight.

Just like the shopbot, there were things I did not remember from the class. Joe and me decided to meet up to play with the lathe tonight. Between his experience using metal shop tools and my having taken the class, I figured we'd get-r-done. There were a few things I forgot how to do. We asked for help from the staff. The guyus at eh techshop are really good about helping you use a machine.

But in the end I got it done.

The copper at the stem was because I took a bit too much metal off. Someone suggested I just wrap it in some metal. I was a little leary. We are combining 3 metals. What ever the soldering iron is made from, the copper jacket and the mild steel. In the end it worked. The brand new $4 60W soldering iron did smoke for a few minutes. But nothing caught fire.

The width and depth of the pot is quit nice.

About 3/8" wide and deep.

I got to use multiple lathe blades. The parting tool, right cut, rounded edge. I used the tail stock so I could drill the hole and to keep the piece stable I used a live center.

I think my next turn at the lathe I will just play with learning to be accurate and careful with how much I am taking off.

Here is the solder pot.



Here it is with some molten solder. That steel did turn a pretty blue when it heated up.

And proof it works.


I will add something to remind people it is hot and add a piece of coat hanger as a 3rd hand tool to hang the torrid in the pot.

The cost was about $8. Although I do not know how long the iron will last.

Also I will pickup my own set of lathe blades. People really do abuse these things.

This week I did the driving with constant advice from Joe. I most probably would have screwed it up without his help.

Next week we are meeting up to play with the bridgeport mill. His turn to drive.