Abstract: A soldering iron holder for holding an electric. Soldering iron having a large square tip at the end of a barrel, such as an iron that is used with surface mounted integrated circuits, has a base with a shield attached to a depressible mounting rod that extends through the upper surface of the base. The shield has a large frontal opening and mounted inside the shield, offset to one side, is a bracket with a side facing slot. The large opening allows a soldering iron with a large tip to be inserted into the shield, then moved sideways to insert the barrel of the iron into the slot of the bracket. When the iron is inserted into the slot, it depresses the shield which activates a weight switch connected to the base of the mounting rod. Activating the weight switch starts a timer that removes power from the iron if the iron remains in the holder for a long period of time. Also disclosed is a spring clip that may be attached to the slot in the bracket to aid in inserting the barrel of the iron into the slot.