Am I the only person that does this?

[JasonB1989]

Back in school I remember learning to solder in tech class, very basic stuff with basic LED's, 9v batteries etc. I would have been about 13 at the time and my tech teacher used to have small squares of mdf cut with wooden clothes pegs stuck to them with a hot glue gun. Us kids would use them to hold the wires in place whilst we made the soldered connections. It is something that has stuck with me until this day. Recently an old bloke in the shop watched me do this and said he'd never seen it before. I have a whole draw of my tool box full of boards with clothes pegs glued at different angles and different configurations solely for this purpose. Does anyone else do this?

 

[mm08822]

No I don't, but I like it. Simple but very effective. Just the idea of using clothes pins is handy.

 

[dogdog]

to hold wires for soldering , I just use my hand even when I was a kid... but nice idea for a third hand though... some pics?


was never that innovative, I bought this from radioshack way way back in the days...

 

[Stuff]

I was taught that if you need to use something to hold a wire in place then you are doing something wrong. The solder is for electrical conductivity, not physical.

But, then again, I was also taught how to solder vacuum tube sockets.

 

[JasonB1989]

I'll grab some pics when I get a minute but it's not difficult to imagine. I have some boards with magnets glued to the back so you can stick them to chassis rails on semi trailers etc then hold the harness wires with the pins. It's just a super cheap throw away item I suppose that takes the octopus factor out of an already fiddley job!

 

[gungatim]

yes, pretty common still today. I have some scored with cuts and pins to help hold wires when I solder, and a portable stiff wire with alligator clips on the end that sort of mimicks those "handy" third hands that are cumbersome to use anywhere but on a desk...

 

[Mamrak76]

I stripped an 12awg solid wire, about 6 inches and coiled it around 2 fingers and soldered some alligator clips on the end. It works good as you can rebend it when you need too. Also acts to dissipate heat.

 

[-Brent-]

Does anyone else do this?

I haven't. But I have a small soldering project that I've been thinking about how to hold it all in place and work on it. And... you just solved that problem. Thanks.

 

[donpauli2]

I was taught that if you need to use something to hold a wire in place then you are doing something wrong. The solder is for electrical conductivity, not physical.



But, then again, I was also taught how to solder vacuum tube sockets.

Vacuum tube sockets. Oh my you are old enough to remember tube testers in the hardware stores


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[gungatim]

Vacuum tube sockets. Oh my you are old enough to remember tube testers in the hardware stores


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I am as well. but they got rid of them when I was around 12...

but I do have a B&K Radio Analyst and know how to use it

 

[y'sguy]

Well, first of all I would wonder if younger people would even know what a clothes pin is for? I don't see many clothes lines in use anymore. But in my opinion, they work great!
I use the spring clamp style all the time for odd small clamping projects.

 

[gungatim]

Well, first of all I would wonder if younger people would even know what a clothes pin is for? I don't see many clothes lines in use anymore. But in my opinion, they work great!
I use the spring clamp style all the time for odd small clamping projects.

Actually, I needed to buy some a little while ago. couldn't find them at walmart so asked a young employee, thinking exactly the same thing...she not only knew what they were, where they were, but said they are really popular as lots of people are starting to skip energy hog dryers and hanging their laundry again....go figure...(I just wanted them because the plastic chip-clips always break).

 

[Speleo]

Who doesn't still have a tube tester in the workshop?

 

[Innov8tive1]

Who doesn't still have a tube tester in the workshop?

Well I don't, but I know a guy who does and still knows how to use it....far as I know. I do have an oscilloscope, a variac and an isolation transformer, among other things.

Regarding the clips, I like that idea. I have one of the Radio Shack double alligator clip devices. Never thought of clothespins, not that I do a lot of soldering on the workbench anymore. It's mostly under the dashes of cars now and the wires are firmly wrapped before soldering so no need for something to hold them.

 

[JasonB1989]

Well, first of all I would wonder if younger people would even know what a clothes pin is for? I don't see many clothes lines in use anymore. But in my opinion, they work great!
I use the spring clamp style all the time for odd small clamping projects.

I live in rural Western Australia. The first clothes are dry by the time you've finished hanging the last!

 

[Steevo]

I live in rural Western Australia. The first clothes are dry by the time you've finished hanging the last!

. . . and dusty

 

[gayler]

I was taught that if you need to use something to hold a wire in place then you are doing something wrong. The solder is for electrical conductivity, not physical.

But, then again, I was also taught how to solder vacuum tube sockets.

So it was you that built ever old amp Ive worked on that ties a knot in the wire on the tube sockets!

 

[Falcon67]

I was taught that if you need to use something to hold a wire in place then you are doing something wrong. The solder is for electrical conductivity, not physical.

Thats not how the inside of the battery charger I fixed last night was wired - connections sitting right on copper posts - clean, tin, hold the gun on the connection against the post, when solder flows hold in place with a screwdriver tip until it cools.

 

[Brian_WK]

All surface mount electronics the solder is the electrical and the physical bond. They are just sitting on the board with solder paste that is then melted with hot air.

I have a version for field soldering it is a little metal clamp that holds 2 pieces of 12 gauge wire with alligator clips soldered onto the ends. I can either set the clamp on a surface or use magnets to stick the clamp to a metal surface.

Brian

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have a helping hand like that for soldering wires together. I also made a wooden block for holding 3 pin XLR microphone connectors to solder. Will grab a picture.

 

[ddawg16]

I have a little vice for those things....

 

[OzarkMan]

Just got into tubes as a hobby. Found a neat Hickok cardmatic tester on eBay.

I am 47 and remember having radios and TV's in the house with Tubes. Dad used to slap the side of the console TV to get a good picture. if that didn't work, he would pluck the tubes and take them to the pharmacy to get them tested. Good times.

 

[That1Guy]

I am as well. but they got rid of them when I was around 12...

but I do have a B&K Radio Analyst and know how to use it

D104 mic - classic!

 

[Jawn]

I am as well. but they got rid of them when I was around 12...

but I do have a B&K Radio Analyst and know how to use it

I recognize that Heathkit radio... I inherited one like it from my dad.

 

[6768rogues]

Great idea. When I went to school, LEDs had not been thought of.

 

[CoogarXR]

When I was in school, we had many torturous soldering exercises. Such as these big (must have been 50+ pins) connectors. Better not forget to slide the shell on the cable first, lol. Then they all had to pin out correctly, and no blob-bridges, etc.

My school district was too poor to provide "helping hands", but I do own a couple sets myself.

 

[TractorJeff]

I've got a whole bunch of Radio Equipment that I need to post for sale now that I know there are people here who know what Tubes are!

 

[Ray-CA]

That's a great idea! I've been using a spray paint cap with two slits to hold the wires in place.

Ray

 

[Firebrick43]

I don't use the set of helping hands I have. If it's a splice I use an uninsulated crimp splice before adding the smallest amount of solder. Some where years ago I got some wire with ultra fine tinned wire about the thickness of a hair. For y splices and such I take one of those fine strands and wrap around to keep things in position(and tight) while soldering.

 

[MikeF2316]

I have one of those "Radio Shack" devices, although mine didn't come from Radio Shack. The clothespin idea is a good one - I'd steal it if I didn't have that alligator devices.

 

[jd_1138]

Just got into tubes as a hobby. Found a neat Hickok cardmatic tester on eBay.

I am 47 and remember having radios and TV's in the house with Tubes. Dad used to slap the side of the console TV to get a good picture. if that didn't work, he would pluck the tubes and take them to the pharmacy to get them tested. Good times.

I am just a few years younger than you. Yeah my dad bought his TV tubes at the pharmacy too -- Thrifty's. And we kids would go with him and ask for a double scoop ice cream cone. I think they were 20 cents for a double, 10 cents for a single scoop. 1979 prices.

 

[Bigbandguy]

I like the MDF and clothespin trick.. will remember / use that one . Another is a surgical hemostat clamped close to a solid state device... sometimes held in a small vise. This not only gives the extra hand you need but also serves as a heat sink and prevents damage to the diode or transistor.

 

[6768rogues]

My dad used to call the TV shop and the repair man would make a house call on his way home. In those times, a day or two without the only TV in the house was miserable.

 

[Tyberius]

What I use. Also helps the aging eyes.

 

[Corndoggeh]

I just do a lineman splice and hold the exposed wire with the iron. When it reaches to temp the solder mwlts in without effort on my part.

 

[Gerald O]

I am as well. but they got rid of them when I was around 12...

but I do have a B&K Radio Analyst and know how to use it

Nice radio bench! I hope your nickname is not Sparky!

 

[James-W]

Who doesn't still have a tube tester in the workshop?

Funny you should say that, I used to have a tube tester but several years ago I threw it away. I tried to sell it, real cheap, but nobody wanted it. Then I tried to give it away, no takers there either. So I ended up throwing it away. It is a shame too because it still worked good, at least it did the last time I had used it. Oh well, it was a product of a bygone age and it had outlived its useful life.

 

[Gerald O]

Who needs clips?
I usually just hold the two wires to be soldered in one hand and the iron in the other.

 

[Gerald O]

...Another is a surgical hemostat clamped close to a solid state device... sometimes held in a small vise. This not only gives the extra hand you need but also serves as a heat sink and prevents damage to the diode or transistor.

That used to be important back in the early days of semiconductors and non-temperature controlled soldering irons. Not so much these days.

 

[MikeF2316]

Who needs clips?
I usually just hold the two wires to be soldered in one hand and the iron in the other.

You should be holding the solder in your teeth!