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Christmas DIY list

post #1 of 16
12/13/09 at 7:32pm
Thread Starter 
OK, I'd always wanted a 'helping hands' gadget, and have to use a magnifying glass to check my solder joints on boards, so, today I happened onto this while looking for a cheap White Elephant gift:

Project Partner Hands-Free Magnifier

Small, good range of motion, and just what I needed on small boards. Might need to anchor to a larger base, but, no biggie. Similar things I have looked at are north of $100, but for beginners, intermediates and otherwise cheap bastards, well, Merry Christmas.

Oh, and there is currently 20% off, and mine was a floor sample, with an extra 20% off, so, it was $9.72, tax and all.
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post #2 of 16
12/13/09 at 7:39pm
I've taken to using a digital camera to photograph the solder joints on those pesky little ssop chips. I can zoom in and see the joints quite well.
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post #3 of 16
12/13/09 at 8:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pabbi1 View Post
Similar things I have looked at are north of $100, but for beginners, intermediates and otherwise cheap bastards, well, Merry Christmas.
Like this?

RadioShack® Helping Hands with Magnifier - RadioShack.com

or this for $10 shipped:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Helping-Hand-Wit...item3a55c2b2b1

PoS really

Save up a few dollars and get a real one:

Amazon.com: PanaVise Model 201 "Junior" Miniature Vise: Industrial & Scientific
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post #4 of 16
12/13/09 at 9:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by luvdunhill View Post
That last one looks great,much better for holding PCB's , I know what I am getting myself for Christmas.
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post #5 of 16
12/13/09 at 9:44pm
I think I paid about $8 for mine. I have 2 of them and they come in handy. Lately, I use them for holding perf board while soldering small accessory circuits. While the pana-vise is nice, these helping hands work great for some things, and the price is right. I take the magnifiers off because I have a head-mounted magnifier I like better (<$10 at harbor freight).
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post #6 of 16
12/13/09 at 10:20pm
The PanaVise with the circuit board holder is amazing and a great investment if you do a lot of DIY. Of course, it's more expensive than the third hand and doesn't have a magnifier.
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post #7 of 16
12/13/09 at 10:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by srserl View Post
these helping hands work great for some things
I cannot stand the sharp points on the clampy things. They mark up PCBs and easily bite through wire insulation.
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post #8 of 16
12/13/09 at 11:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by luvdunhill View Post
I cannot stand the sharp points on the clampy things. They mark up PCBs and easily bite through wire insulation.
Electrical tape or heatshrink on the clamps works wonders.
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post #9 of 16
12/13/09 at 11:31pm
Thread Starter 
As always, looking for love (well, or panavise) in all the wrong places.
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post #10 of 16
12/13/09 at 11:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pabbi1 View Post
As always, looking for love (well, or panavise) in all the wrong places.
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post #11 of 16
12/14/09 at 1:15am
great thread Pabbi! i'm sick and tired of my "helping hands". i'm going to ask my dearest for a Panavise: base - PanaVise Products, Inc. and roach clips - PanaVise Products, Inc.. and of course a stocking full of CDs.
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post #12 of 16
12/15/09 at 8:48am
I don't get it, what's wrong with the Helping Hand? (Other than the pointy clamps)
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post #13 of 16
12/15/09 at 10:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sad_katz View Post
I don't get it, what's wrong with the Helping Hand? (Other than the pointy clamps)
They hold the weight of a feather at best and the magnifier isn't much to write home about either.
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post #14 of 16
12/15/09 at 11:17am
If magnification is what you're after I have yet to find anything better than the tried and true magnifying lamp. I use one similar to this for all smd work, it reduces eye strain if nothing else.



I also use not one, but two panavise products. I have the standard vise like this:



as well as one of their medium sized circuit board holders:



and if you decide to go hardcore you could get one of these (currently on loan to a friend since I'm not doing any large pcb based projects)

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post #15 of 16
12/15/09 at 11:52am
Nice Nate.
Yepper, perhaps not the greatest but I've one of these magnifier arms on my Xmas list. But would not skimp on PCB vise. I got a hefty oldie off the bay & very glad I did.

I do use those cheapo helping hands but only for holding bits I'm tinning or soldering to.

Forget the saying, something to the effect that the regret using a purchase far outlasts the brief boost you might get from getting a "bargain".

Edit: Maybe: Benjamin Franklin had a saying, "The bitterness of poor quality, long outlasts the sweetness of low price."
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