[Boatanchors] Soldering Iron Stand/Holder Component Material

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Groups,

I have a dual soldering iron holder that I use with my Pace two-place 
soldering-desoldering station.  It was originally made by Royel,  I did a fair 
amount of modification work to the base, turning it into a water reservoir 
that will keep the sponge wet for a week or more.  The holder for the soldering 
iron has a steel insert that exactly fits the model of Weller handpiece I 
use.  The holder for the Pace desoldering handpiece has a nonmetallic insert 
large enough to hold the handpiece, but it has over many hours of use nearly 
disintegrated and I need to replace it.  Although probably not originally 
made for the Pace, it was once a perfect fit.  

I have bought several different dirt cheap stands off of eBay just for the 
insert but they have all been either too large or too small.  And I have had 
no luck finding another original stand.  So I think I am going to have to 
make one.  Can anyone recommend a specific material to use, that is likely to 
be readily available from say McMaster?  I have a lathe so whittling a 
piece of solid rod into the proper shape isn't a problem.  I considered making 
it of aluminum but the way in which the Pace handpiece is contructed and the 
way in which it needs to fit into the holder insert is such that a part of 
the handpiece not intended to get super hot would.  And as anyone who has 
bought one knows, they do not exactly give those suckers away.

73
Robert Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480