My Cigar Box Stir Plate

I know stir plates have been done before, but I'd like to share my DIY stir plate with ya'll. I have learned a lot from this site, and I hope this helps someone out. I had a lot of fun building it because I like to tinker with things.

First thing I got was a free cigar box from the liquor store. Then I went up into the attic to get that old PC. I got a fan and a hard drive out of it. I broke one of the hard drive magnets trying to get it out, then I remembered that I had some really strong magnets stuck to the fridge. At first I just stuck the magnet to the fan, but the fan wouldn't start spinning on it's own because the magnet was so strong. I ended up putting a washer on top of the fan, then the magnet on top of the washer. It was hard to get the washer and magnet centered on the fan, but once I got them in the right place I used hot glue to hold them down. I have no idea what the dc adapter is from. It's 12.5v 180ma and it seems to be a good size for me. Then I went up to Radio Shack and got a rheostat and switch. The wiring wasn't exactly easy for me but I finally figured it out. I could have left the wires as they were in the box, but I've seen how some of you are so anal about wiring, so I decided to make it look nice and neat and I'm glad I did. I also used a piece of wood to raise the fan so the magnet is right under the lid.

Enough of that, here's the parts list and some pics.

Romeo Y Julieta cigar box: Free
DC adapter: Free
PC fan: Free
Washer: Free
Magnet: $19.99 http://www.amazon.com/Applied-Magnets-Neodymium-Strong-Earth/dp/B0012DNFS8/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Rheostat: $4.29 http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062299
Switch: $4.99 http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3125352
Stir bar: $4.05http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ACM0O6

I think thats it.
This is when I was testing it out. .

This is after I got it all wired up.

The inside.

And here it is in action.


I'm probably going to get a 2000ml flask for it because none of my jars have a flat bottom.
Any questions, comments or concerns?

Very cool!

Funny, I used a block of wood just like you did. I love the cool switch and the rheostat knob. I need to add at least a rheostat to mine so I can start it off slower. Nice work!

Very nice. i recently built a cigar box stir plate as well. No rheostat on mine though. I sort of want to add one but it works so nice without it..i dunno

Thanks guys!
I think mine would be fine without the rheostat too, but it's just cool.