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DIY Propane Soldering Pot

A soldering pot enables electric components to be removed by softening the solder adhering them to a circuit board. A do-it-yourself solder pot can be made from home-and-garden materials and tools found around the house. A propane torch will provide the heat and can be acquired from a hardware store.

Things You'll Need

Empty metal can, 16 inches tall, 10 inches wide
Pencil
Metal shears
Heat resistant pad, 1-foot-by-1-foot-by-2-inches
Disposable Barbecue grill kit
Spirit level
2 cardboard pieces, 2-inches-by-2-inches-by-1/2 inch
Work gloves
Eye protection
Propane torch

Instructions

- 1
  Place the empty metal can on the work surface with the open end up. Measure eight inches up from the bottom and make a mark on the side with a pencil.
- 2
  Rotate the can a quarter turn counterclockwise and repeat the marking of the can on the side. Rotate the can two more times counterclockwise and repeat the marking on the side.
- 3
  Draw a line around the can that intersects all of the marks made. Cut through the line with a metal shears. Dispose of the cut top section of the can in the trash.
- 4
  Place the heat resistant pad on the work surface. Place the leg braces from the disposable barbecue grill kit on the pad. Arrange the leg braces at each of the four compass points.
- 5
  Place the metal barbecue grill on the leg braces. Place a spirit level horizontally on the grill. Place a wadded piece of cardboard beneath whichever leg brace is needed to align the bubble on the level between the two imprinted lines. Rotate the level a quarter turn clockwise and repeat the procedure with another wadded piece of cardboard and one of the braces.
- 6
  Place the cut metal can on the grill with the open end up. Place the propane torch beneath your do-it-yourself solder pot. Angle the tip of the torch up at the bottom of the solder pot.

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