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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: mcsnails on Thu, 26 January 2012, 16:28:02

Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: mcsnails on Thu, 26 January 2012, 16:28:02: Does anyone own one of these (http://www.amazon.com/SE-Soldering-Station-Helping-Hand/dp/B0007MF0W4/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_1)? It looks quite useful and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations.
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: kidchunks on Thu, 26 January 2012, 16:42:25: I use two in my soldering station. For the price, they work.

This one (http://www.amazon.com/Helping-Hands-with-Magnifying-Glass/dp/B000RB38X8/ref=pd_cp_hi_0) and another I picked up from ebay without the mag glass.

If you buy it be sure to put some heatshrink tubing on the teeth. It can scratch your boards pretty bad.

I heard the panavise are good but cost a little more.
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: Jigo on Thu, 26 January 2012, 17:04:32: I actually own one without the iron rest on it. Thing is damn handy, indeed. Makes precise soldering a breeze. Only recommendation i have is look for the cheapest one you can find, because in my experience, virtually ALL of them use the same parts, with a special extra addon every so often (like that iron rest).
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: keyboardlover on Thu, 26 January 2012, 19:34:10: No. I have a "third leg" though.
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: hazeluff on Thu, 26 January 2012, 19:37:00: I always need one of these when I solder...But uni done'st provide them ,so I have to grab some random friend to hold down stuff for me. Thinking about it. You could easily make one yourself with some crocodile clips + wooden skewer and then stabbing one end into like a block of foam packaging.
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: sordna on Thu, 26 January 2012, 19:55:10: I got this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NQ4Q4C/
I wouldn't get one with a solder iron holder, it'l just get in the way, and it won't make such a great holder anyway.
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: TheProfosist on Thu, 26 January 2012, 20:06:36: I have one with 2 clips but took the magnifying glass off i just searched solder stand on amazon i need to cover the clips thought their too pointy.
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: kidchunks on Thu, 26 January 2012, 20:36:57: Quote from: TheProfosist;500150
I have one with 2 clips but took the magnifying glass off i just searched solder stand on amazon i need to cover the clips thought their too pointy.

Heat shrink tubing can help! :smile:

(http://kidchunks.com/gh/clip_heatshrink.jpg)
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: TheProfosist on Thu, 26 January 2012, 20:40:51: Yea was thinking that but dont have any nor a heatgun theres a few things i need to pickup
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: Input Nirvana on Thu, 26 January 2012, 23:04:08: This guy has been around for a while. I get a kick out of all his various "Helping" versions mounted to his soldering pad. They start at $20 and go up to $250 with all the crazy bells and whistles, check them out. I think one soldering stand will hold a dirty martini while you work.

Mild:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Simple-Mighty-Nice-3rd-Hand-w-attached-soldering-pad-/330670574399?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cfd808b3f#ht_621wt_1165

Wild:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wild-Stork-Nest-Silver-Solder-Tool-Work-Round-Ring-Boss-Block-/390351203205?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae2beab85#ht_554wt_1165
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: sordna on Thu, 26 January 2012, 23:16:00: I like my panavise with the suction cup (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CONJUM/ref=wms_ohs_product), you can stick it on a wall for electrical work, a car, whatever.
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: 1uckyNumb3r7 on Thu, 26 January 2012, 23:57:48: My amazon wish list just grew by a few items. :D
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: litster on Fri, 27 January 2012, 00:37:48: Quote from: input nirvana;500292
This guy has been around for a while. I get a kick out of all his various "Helping" versions mounted to his soldering pad. They start at $20 and go up to $250 with all the crazy bells and whistles, check them out. I think one soldering stand will hold a dirty martini while you work.

Mild:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Simple-Mighty-Nice-3rd-Hand-w-attached-soldering-pad-/330670574399?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cfd808b3f#ht_621wt_1165

Wild:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wild-Stork-Nest-Silver-Solder-Tool-Work-Round-Ring-Boss-Block-/390351203205?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae2beab85#ht_554wt_1165

The wild one looks like something from a torturing chamber!
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: Input Nirvana on Fri, 27 January 2012, 00:39:19: It's pretty extreme, to say the least :)
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: litster on Fri, 27 January 2012, 00:40:51: I don't have a "third hand". But may be I need one. So do you clamp on the whole PCB and have it in mid air?
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: sordna on Fri, 27 January 2012, 00:58:27: Sometimes that, sometimes even a simple thing like tinning the end of a loose thin piece of wire is very hard unless you stabilize it somehow. I've held solder with my mouth too many times on loose components, so a 3rd hand is much better.
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: Lanx on Fri, 27 January 2012, 04:31:08: helping hands cool, think i have some old radio shack version, anyways take the heatshrink tubing advice, those alligator grips are vicious.
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: rvrebel on Thu, 02 February 2012, 18:38:41: Go with the panavise. They start at $25 and built way better than the "helping hand". Got one for xmas and have used it a bunch already.

I do also have the helping hand but the magnifying glass made me paranoid. Like I was going to come home to a pile of ashes... from the sun.. and the window. Beside that it's pretty cheapy and doesnt hold up if you put any pressure on what's being held.
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: TheProfosist on Thu, 02 February 2012, 18:45:54: got 2 helping hands which were so cheap one already lost a hand I did do the heat shirink tubing mod and its a definite improvement. I will probably pick up the suction cup panavise next time I order from amazon.
Title: Anyone have a "third hand" or "helping hand" soldering station?
Post by: lorem3k on Thu, 02 February 2012, 19:22:44: They're crazy useful for really thin/small wires. For thicker wires I still like it but it's not as necessary.