# USB Rechargeable Cordless Soldering Iron ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/710/medium800/tools_banner.jpg?1452726463) This project takes an existing tool — the **Hakko FX-901 cordless soldering iron** — and adds  **USB charging** and a  **Lithium Ion**  battery inside a **3D-printed** pack. The FX-901 normally uses four AA cells, either alkaline or NiMH type. I like having this little iron around for cosplay electronics emergencies, and adding USB charging means there’s less to pack…it can use the same phone charger and USB cable I’m already traveling with. Less is good. A fine little backup iron for anyone who does electronics outdoors…RC helicopters, ham radio, Burning Man, things like that. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/652/medium800/tools_cosplay-packing.jpg?1452581241) Danger: No modifications are made to the iron itself or the original battery pack; it can still be used if needed. What we’re building here is a complete swap-out replacement for the pack. # Adafruit Parts: - **[2200 mAh Lithium Ion Cylindrical Battery](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1781)** - **[PowerBoost 500C Charger](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1944)** - **[Breadboard-Friendly SPDT Slide Switch](https://www.adafruit.com/products/805)** Use the **PowerBoost 500C** _ **Charger** ,_ not the 500 Basic. We need the former’s USB charging feature. And **not** the PowerBoost 1000C; it’s wider and won’t fit in the 3D-printed case. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/656/medium800/tools_parts-adafruit.jpg?1452671816) # Also Required - **3D printer.** The battery holder is just under 110mm long and will fit in the build volume of most printers. For exceptionally small printers, try rotating the part 45 degrees, so it’s pointed corner-to-corner. - **Filament:**  transparent PLA or ABS is preferred, allowing the PowerBoost status LEDs to show through. White or natural may also work. - **Glue:**  5-minute epoxy (preferred) or E6000 craft glue. - **Hakko FX-901** cordless soldering iron (and batteries, if currently using it to build this project). We don’t currently stock the FX-901, but it’s available through Amazon and elsewhere. - **Wire cutters** , **solder** and related **paraphernalia** , optionally some **heat-shrink tubing** - **2 (two) #4-40 x 3/8" oval- or pan-head machine screws** (steel, brass or zinc-plate, not nylon — we’re using these as makeshift power terminals) - **4 (four) #4-40 nuts** - **20 gauge**  wire (for powering the iron) - **30 or 28 gauge** wire (for the on/off switch) - **USB power adapter** and **A-to-microB** cable for recharging ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/029/657/medium800/tools_parts-other.jpg?1452671825) - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/usb-rechargeable-cordless-soldering-iron/3d-printing.md) ## Featured Products ### Lithium Ion Cylindrical Battery - 3.7v 2200mAh [Lithium Ion Cylindrical Battery - 3.7v 2200mAh](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1781) Need a big battery for your project? This lithium-ion battery contains a 2200mAh and a protection circuit that provides over-voltage, under-voltage, and over-current protection. Yet, it is slim and easy to fit into many project cases. This cell can provide 2 **C** of... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1781) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1781/guides) ### PowerBoost 500 Charger - Rechargeable 5V Lipo USB Boost @ 500mA+ [PowerBoost 500 Charger - Rechargeable 5V Lipo USB Boost @ 500mA+](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1944) PowerBoost 500C is the perfect power supply for your portable project! With a built-in battery charger circuit, you'll be able to keep your project running even while recharging the battery! This little DC/DC boost converter module can be powered by any 3.7V LiIon/LiPoly battery, and... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1944) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1944/guides) ### Breadboard-friendly SPDT Slide Switch [Breadboard-friendly SPDT Slide Switch](https://www.adafruit.com/product/805) These nice switches are perfect for use with breadboard and perfboard projects. They have 0.1" spacing and snap in nicely into a solderless breadboard. They're easy to switch no matter what size fingers you have, but not so easy that they'll get flipped by accident. Work great as... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/805) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/805/guides) ### Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire - 2m 30AWG Black [Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire - 2m 30AWG Black](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2003) Silicone-sheathing wire is super-flexible and soft, and its also strong! Able to handle up to 200°C and up to 600V, it will do when PVC covered wire wimps out. We like this wire for being extremely supple and flexible, so it is great for wearables or projects where the wire-harness has to... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2003) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2003/guides) ### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B [USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides) ### 5V 1A (1000mA) USB port power supply - UL Listed [5V 1A (1000mA) USB port power supply - UL Listed](https://www.adafruit.com/product/501) Need a USB jack for charging or powering a project, but don't want to lug around a computer? This switching supply gives a clean regulated output at up to 1000mA! 110 or 240 input, so it works in any country. The plugs are "US 2-prong" style so you may need a plug adapter, but... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/501) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/501/guides) ## Related Guides - [Touch Pi: Portable Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/touch-pi-portable-raspberry-pi.md) - [Super Game Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/super-game-pi.md) - [DIY Pocket LED Gamer - Tiny Tetris!](https://learn.adafruit.com/diy-3d-printed-handheld-pocket-game-tiny-tetris-snake.md) - [Raspberry Pi Wearable Time Lapse Camera](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-wearable-time-lapse-camera.md) - [Energy Budgets](https://learn.adafruit.com/energy-budgets.md) - [UV Manicure Lamp](https://learn.adafruit.com/uv-manicure-lamp.md) - [Printy Boost: Reimagining a Classic Adafruit Kit](https://learn.adafruit.com/printy-boost-reimagining-a-classic-adafruit-kit.md) - [Collin's Lab: Solar](https://learn.adafruit.com/collins-lab-solar.md) - [Motion-Activated Solder Fume Extractor With Lamp](https://learn.adafruit.com/motion-activated-solder-fume-extractor-with-lamp.md) - [Booster Cable](https://learn.adafruit.com/booster-cable.md) - [Adafruit PowerBoost 500 + Charger](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-powerboost-500-plus-charger.md) - [Trinket NeoPixel LED Longboard](https://learn.adafruit.com/trinket-neopixel-led-longboard.md) - [Mini Mac Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/mini-mac-pi.md) - [Mystery Box: NeoMatrix Mk I](https://learn.adafruit.com/mystery-box-neomatrix-mk-i.md) - [USB Rechargeable Mini Solder Fume Extractor](https://learn.adafruit.com/usb-rechargeable-mini-solder-fume-extractor.md)