The Problem

This is how I used to store my wires for soldering - tossed in a plastic container, tangled together, and generally a mess. Not great when you’re trying to work efficiently.

Messy wire storage before

I needed a better solution, so I designed and 3D printed one.

The Solution

I created a simple wire holder that mounts above my soldering station and keeps multiple spools organized and ready to use.

Finished wire holder with spools

The design consists of two main components:

  • End caps that clamp onto a mounting surface
  • A rod that holds the wire spools and allows them to spin freely as you pull wire

Design Process

I drew a couple models in SolidWorks and got right to printing. The design is intentionally simple - two end caps and a rod that holds your wire spools.

End cap CAD model

Rod CAD model

Everything’s designed to print without supports and assemble in minutes.

For my specific setup, I’m mounting it to a crossbar above my soldering station. However, the end caps can be easily customized for any mounting surface - shelves, the wall, or a workbench.

The Print

I printed these in PLA. Since this lives in my garage workshop and doesn’t see high temperatures, PLA works perfectly fine.

Parts fresh off the printer

The parts were designed to print without supports, making post-processing minimal. End caps came out good, and the rod looks clean too.

Assembly

Assembly is straightforward:

First, screw one end cap to the rod. Load up your spools.

Adding spools to the rod

Assembly process

Slide everything onto the mounting rod. Lock the other end cap in place. Clamp both sides down, and you’re done.

Total assembly time is just a few minutes.

In Use

Once installed, you’ve got organized wire that feeds smoothly right where you need it.

Final wire holder with all spools loaded

The spools spin freely as you pull wire for soldering, and everything stays in place exactly where you mounted it.

It’s one of those simple prints that solves a specific problem and makes workshop time more efficient.

Customization

While this version is designed for my rack system, the beauty of 3D printing is that you can modify the end caps for your specific needs. Whether you want to mount it to a shelf edge, directly to a wall, or clamp it to a workbench, the basic design can be adapted.

What’s Next?

This is the first project on MizuMakes, and there’s