Archer Solder Helper Tool Handle

Don't you just hate it when that 35 year old, vintage solder tool from your first starter soldering toolkit you received as a child - marking your first entry into geekdom - just up and snaps in half, launching shards of cheap injection molded plastic across the room?

At this point, you have several options. You can go to Amazon and Buy a new toolset for $7.50 that doesn't have that vintage radio shack feel, you could hop in the car, and hope the Radio Shack Store Locator tool on their website has kept up with the closing of more than 1000 stores, leaving only 70 corporate stores in the US. Here's hoping one is near you.

Alternatively, you can take the option I chose. I went to Amazon and bought a 3D printer then designed and printed my own replacement handle, so as to preserve that last vestige of early childhood geekdom that Radio Shack had stolen from me as the company and their products pass into the netherworld reserved for those companies consumed by the the ceaseless drumbeat of progress, smartphones, and Amazon.

It's with this in mind that I share with you a design that will likely appeal to only the narrowest of demographics - My replacement handle for RadioShack/Archer double ended solder tools.

Print Settings

Printer:

Malyan M200 / Monoprice Select Mini

Rafts:

No

Supports:

No

Resolution:

0.13125

Infill:

20%

Notes:

Ultimately the resolution won't make a difference here. There are holes in each end of the handle though if you print it as provided, on it's side you should be fine with no supports. I chose PLA rather than ABS as this is effectively a prying tool so didn't want something so brittle as ABS but ultimately either would work fine.

While the handle is printing, it's time to head to the garage (any plae with a cement floor) and take a hammer to any residual plastic from the original broken handle, remaining attached to the metal tool ends, clearing them of debris in preparation for insertion into your newly printed handle.

Post-Printing

While the handle is still warm, secure each of the recovered original tool ends in a vise-grip and press each into one of the holes at each end of the newly printed handle. As the handle cools, the material will shrink slightly, and tighten around the shaft of the tool-end.

Category: Tools