Looking for a quality “third hand” soldering holder.

[GophersGarage]

I noticed this brand is made in usa. Is there other brands that are good quality?

QuadHands Workbench | Helping Hands Soldering Third Hand Vise | Mount/Position 2 Magnetic Flexible Arms Anywhere | Sturdy Steel Base | Gator Tip Grips | Soldering Iron Holder-Circuit Board | USA Made https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07C1T3BMS/?tag=atomicindus04-20

 

[engineer2]

That's a crazy price!

 

[GophersGarage]

That’s the cheapest version some go up to 100

 

[Indexmill]

Usta be that Radio Shack sold a great one for a good price..... Oh well.

Look on eBay.

 

[vwpieces]

Looks the same to me as all the rest.

 

[Meursault74]

You can buy just the arms. Magnetic or screw. You probably have something lying around to use as the base.

I got these as a screw down arms only. I used a piece of scrap for a base.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XNXH3JT/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have no proof, but I have the feeling that none of them are made in the USA.

 

[engineer2]

I bought the old Radio Shack one decades ago for like $8.
20 years later I saw one on eBay for $50 as a collector's item.

 

[vwpieces]

• 

I started to make one like this a few years ago. Had the flex tubing, never did finish it.

 

[ronkz650]

I made my own kind of similar to the last post using the flex things. Took a little effort, but worked out very well.

 

[GophersGarage]

That’s what I am wondering. I have been seeing a lot more items stating usa but are they being honest

 

[Indexmill]

eBay.

 

[MarvinBerry]

For something a little different check out a panavise. If that's too spendy Bessy makes a solid knockoff for about $25... or at least I think I paid that for mine a few years ago.

Ultimately you probably want both styles... clip arms for wires & panavise for heavier parts like transformers & PCB. Or at least I use both all the time.

 

[Steve_P]

I have this one. It's easy to install and remove the arms as necessary, and has a light and magnifying glass. I don't do that much soldering, but I've used it a few times and it's 1000X better than the POS old HF unit I have with the wing nut tensioned arms and two alligator clips - that cut into the wire insulation.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V6CWRQ3/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[General Geoff]

This video might help, Adam Savage gives his opinion on the best Helping Hands

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081Z7N9JP/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[WWheeler]

Lisle 55000 Magnetic Soldering Clamp is the only one I ever use any more. It works in the smallest spaces under the hood or under the car/truck or wherever else I need it. The base and each of the arms have strong little magnets so they can be positioned however and wherever I need to hold two wires together for soldering. If there's nothing ferrous to stick it onto nearby I can often get away with using a pair of vise grips clamped to whatever.

I don't have as much use for one on a workbench as I do with being able to use it wherever rodents got to on today's new environmentally friendly and apparently yummy wiring in newer cars/trucks. This little clamp does both rather well.

 

[MAD]

I bought this "KOTTO" brand one from Amazon a few months ago- seems good so far...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MDKXNPC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[GophersGarage]

For something a little different check out a panavise. If that's too spendy Bessy makes a solid knockoff for about $25... or at least I think I paid that for mine a few years ago.

Ultimately you probably want both styles... clip arms for wires & panavise for heavier parts like transformers & PCB. Or at least I use both all the time.

I am looking for wires to hold up not heavy items.

Lisle 55000 Magnetic Soldering Clamp is the only one I ever use any more. It works in the smallest spaces under the hood or under the car/truck or wherever else I need it. The base and each of the arms have strong little magnets so they can be positioned however and wherever I need to hold two wires together for soldering. If there's nothing ferrous to stick it onto nearby I can often get away with using a pair of vise grips clamped to whatever.

I don't have as much use for one on a workbench as I do with being able to use it wherever rodents got to on today's new environmentally friendly and apparently yummy wiring in newer cars/trucks. This little clamp does both rather well.

I have this and good for car repair but I wanted something a bit more for my bench.

 

[J_E_F_F]

20 years working in electronics, retired and finally decided to buy my own, had it a couple months, really helpful, and much better than the ones that have 2 clips that just slide on a single bar.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MDKXNPC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[GophersGarage]

.

 

[ecotec]

I have these two styles and the old fashioned helping hand style with the cast base and the clips and the magnifying glass…

 

[Neckb]

This is the best one I've found. I like the solder feed wheel. Great for under dash work in tight spaces.

Product not found | Matco Tools

www.matcotools.com

 

[GophersGarage]

This is the best one I've found. I like the solder feed wheel. Great for under dash work in tight spaces.

Product not found | Matco Tools

www.matcotools.com

thats a pretty cool

 

[w.hansen]

Lisle 55000 Magnetic Soldering Clamp is the only one I ever use any more. It works in the smallest spaces under the hood or under the car/truck or wherever else I need it. The base and each of the arms have strong little magnets so they can be positioned however and wherever I need to hold two wires together for soldering. If there's nothing ferrous to stick it onto nearby I can often get away with using a pair of vise grips clamped to whatever.

I don't have as much use for one on a workbench as I do with being able to use it wherever rodents got to on today's new environmentally friendly and apparently yummy wiring in newer cars/trucks. This little clamp does both rather well.

Got two they work great. I did use heat shrink on the clamp ends some times the teeth are alittle aggressive on the wire insulation

 

[Schirmer]

The most useful 3rd hand I've seen for soldering wire is the "Assenmacher WAC15 Wire Soldering Clamp" I'm not 100% sure that's the correct spelling, but it's close enough that google should find it with little effort. It's ~50$, and well worth it.

 

[whitesco]

It may not meet your quality requirement but it's been plenty adequate for me given the price point. The magnifying glass maybe isn't the best clarity but that could be my aging eyes:

Helping Hands

Amazing deals on this Helping Hands at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[tarbellb]

Really easy to make from the coolant tubing, base can be plywood.

Where you really want to spend your time and money is on the clips, those can vary from great to absolute garbage.


Also, a fellow GJ member uses surgical sponge holding forceps, you can find some nice used models on Ebay- HERE

 

[ecotec]

I find Panavises at estate sales. I have 4 of them in three different configurations. I have 2 of the round Panavise bases, too.

I do not remember where I learned about the yellow off brand base with the flexible arms with the alligator clips… maybe Garage Journal… but I am pretty sure that I bought it on Amazon. It was years ago.

Anyways… I paid way more for the yellow base with the flexible arms, than I paid for all of the other Panavise stuff put together…

 

[whateg01]

This is the best one I've found. I like the solder feed wheel. Great for under dash work in tight spaces.

Product not found | Matco Tools

www.matcotools.com

Can that be operated 1 handed? Like like you would need to have a third hand to hold the tool while you position the wires

 

[merkyworks]

It may not meet your quality requirement but it's been plenty adequate for me given the price point. The magnifying glass maybe isn't the best clarity but that could be my aging eyes:

Helping Hands

Amazing deals on this Helping Hands at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I have this one as well, took it off that base and put it on a mag switch base.

 

[ching0n]

I got this one 2 yrs ago. Seems like price hasn't changed:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081MZX8Q8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I've been wanting one of these tho:

 

[Zeus36]

The most useful 3rd hand I've seen for soldering wire is the "Assenmacher WAC15 Wire Soldering Clamp" I'm not 100% sure that's the correct spelling, but it's close enough that google should find it with little effort. It's ~50$, and well worth it.

 

[jonesg]

that assemnacher looks clever,

I just use alligator clips and copper grounding wire or clothes hanger wire.
Most of my work is done in engine bays on the car.

 

[PCMusicGuy]

Omnifixo - Makers Third Hand

third hand, soldering, helping hand, makers third hand, solder iron, model making, magnetic joint, parallel jaws, makers third hand, soldering iron, stability, flexibility, precision, made in sweden, magnetic feet, arduino, PCB, electronics, maker

omnifixo.com

 

[cherokee]

I am looking for wires to hold up not heavy items.



I have this and good for car repair but I wanted something a bit more for my bench.

You say "not heavy items". I have found it depends on just what those items are.

It is not very often that I solder two wires together, I just don't do that very much. I will solder on different connectors to wire depending if I think a crimp is "good enough". Some things you can't crimp.

I use a great many of these type connectors:




These are popular in the RC world. Holding them with a pair of vice grips *****, a rubber band around needle nose *****. I got a cheapo chinese soldering iron with the arms, works just fine for my needs, but then that is all I do.

I would think if you are using it for other things you could take advantage of the other types of "arms" that are talked about.

I guess I would say, look at your needs, you might not need to spend that much to do what you want to do.....only you really know how you work.

 

[JAYoung]

Make your own: Just solder some alligator clips onto 6-gauge solid copper grounding wire and make as many as you need and the lengths you want.