Sir TophamHatt Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Inspired by this post: Has anyone got any examples of how they've used alternatives to this sort of "helping hand" device? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mick Bonwick Posted October 28, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 28, 2020 I've used these for some time now. Soldering, figure painting, holding small parts for airbrushing. https://www.toolsntoolsuk.co.uk/shop/fiber-cross-lock-tweezers-with-stand-curved-straight-tips-hand-free-soldering/ 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokebox Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Piece of stiff wire & a couple of croc clips Great for soldering wires together Credit to whoever came up with the idea 7 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ISW Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 1 hour ago, Sir TophamHatt said: Has anyone got any examples of how they've used alternatives to this sort of "helping hand" device? Blue tac (or similar product). Simple, cheap, and flexible in its application, so long as you care not trying to support objects too far off a surface. Ian 1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir TophamHatt Posted October 28, 2020 Author Share Posted October 28, 2020 57 minutes ago, smokebox said: Piece of stiff wire & a couple of croc clips Great for soldering wires together Credit to whoever came up with the idea Do the croc clips not cut into the wire? The quoted post has a suggestion of pegs, so I wonder whether some (laid down) mounted to a piece of wood could work in the same way. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCB Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Couple of wooden clothes pegs screwed to a bit of plywood possibly with a shallow groove to hold the wire should do the trick. Personally I reckon the £1 that I paid for a "Helping Hand" in Poundland was one of my best buys ever. Its just so versatile as you can configure it in so many weird ways. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyfox Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 A small sheet of steel and numerous magnets with a really useful square egded one. Will hold work very steady for soldering etc... Cheers 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted October 29, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 29, 2020 13 hours ago, woodyfox said: A small sheet of steel and numerous magnets with a really useful square egded one. Will hold work very steady for soldering etc... Cheers I've never seen the magnet arrangement in the bottom left of the photo - do you recall where you got it please? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyfox Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 51 minutes ago, polybear said: I've never seen the magnet arrangement in the bottom left of the photo - do you recall where you got it please? Yes, i do recall. I found it in a shopping centre (on the floor). It had probably been dropped by a shoplifter (strong magnets are use to remove tags from clothing etc..) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Von Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 A scrap of cardboard with a strip of double sided tape is a good holder for small model pieces that need painting. Either by hand or spray painting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cypherman Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Hi all, I have used those helping hands for years without a problem If you think that the jaws are going to be a bit rough just put a little tissue in them to soften the teeth. Or even file the teeth down a bit so they are less sharp. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAL Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 (edited) Tho I'm no DIY type, I was so frustrated by this problem that I made myself one of these; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHCyHRWCvUc Looks like an alien from a video game, doesn't it? You can get the coolant pipe very cheaply on ebay. I made an immovable base with a sandwich of roofer's lead sheet between two sheets of ply, and only fitted two arms, anchored by Milliput. The shrink wrap is a good idea if you're concerned about damaging delicate items. Do zap the inane music track before you start or it'll drive you mad. Edited October 31, 2020 by PAL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcm@gwr Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 One of the best things I've got from that tutorial, was the idea of using heat-shrink on the crocodile clips, to stop any damage to delicate parts (if you see what I mean!) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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