PCB holder; what are you using?

[Short Circuit]

This is ok for my use at the moment.

Terrible for most practical uses. With one exception; these are quite convenient for holding an oscilloscope probe on your pcb.

[Mint.]

This is ok for my use at the moment.

Terrible for most practical uses. With one exception; these are quite convenient for holding an oscilloscope probe on your pcb.

Agreed

[shebu18]

As i sad, for the moment they are ok for what i need. I do not have big PCB's and the hold them well untill i put the smd component on top.

[T4P]

Actually those third hand things are hopeless even with smaller pcbs , they just bend over .
*With a quite big a pcb that 6 pound thing (i have it) actually can tip over*
Third hands are only good for holding probes and wires .

[krenzo]

I bought this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003WNY83M/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00

It works better than the other horrible helping hands.  It's not perfect, but it's much more flexible and has a table clamp so that it doesn't fall over.

I see some people are posting vices that have the vacuum seal on the bottom.  How long does your seal hold?  I bought one, but the vacuum seal will only hold for about 30-60 seconds on mine.

Edit:  Looks like the issue with my Panavise is my workbench's surface is porous and letting air in.

[MikeK]

A Panavise is good (I use one), but you need the 376 head to hold 8" boards.

[T4P]

I see some people are posting vices that have the vacuum seal on the bottom.  How long does your seal hold?  I bought one, but the vacuum seal will only hold for about 30-60 seconds on mine.

Edit:  Looks like the issue with my Panvise is my workbench's surface is porous and letting air in.

hah ! yeah , mine wouldn't work at all on my glass table . No lacquered surface to test on . ( Er , it ain't panavise )

[G7PSK]

I just use a sand bag to place things on, it deforms to shape.

[HooRide]

Good to know about the panavise 376, that looks like a good one too. I'll see how my Weller holder works out for me.

I like your idea G7PSK; inexpensive too!

[saturation]

Just some insights on this view, using mostly SMT you likely don't need a PCB holder for assembly, particular without any components that keep the PCB from lying flat, which is preferred in SMT components.  If you plan assembly to leave tall items to the end, big items like transformers or electrolytics can actually be the platform, balanced against say a prop piece of wood or the dreaded helping hands!     Free_electron mentioned using 'silly putty' as a prop, and that has an added value of being sticky without leaving a residue.

However, in troubleshooting, modding, hacking, removing or salvaging parts, a PCB holder of some kind is very helpful, particularly with through hole parts.  Through hole also means making jumper connections, removing or adding headers, etc., A question then becomes which design offers the most utility, at lowest cost.  I like Panavise because its been around forever, and you can get parts anywhere including used at eBay or swap meets for far cheaper than new.

So in the end, PCB holders I think aren't "useless", as the word implies of no value, but more "used-less" than you expect, given smaller PCB sizes and lower parts count and SMT components.

I find however, that most of what I do is modify rather than build from the ground up.  When I build, its dead bug style and a PCB holder is very helpful when it comes time to etch out the copper with a dremel tool to hold the PCB from dancing about, and keeping both hands free for the fine work. 

A simple test is try to assemble without holder.  If you find yourself using a hand to keep positioning the board in any angle but flat, or holding it down, you probably can use a holder.  The cheapest one that can work is the controversial helping hand, and keeps you from spending too much for something that may be 'used' less than you expected.  If you find you keep fidgeting the helping hand while you're doing the work, you either don't have the best position possible for it, or you need something better.

.......
these 'pcb holders' are useless.

While his tone may not be exactly avuncular, his point is valid.  Those things *are* pretty much useless...

[StubbornGreek]

Funny, I just started a thread on this here:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/better-than-%28un%29helpful-hands/

Here's a quick shot:

[CyberWalker]

I wish to buy a PCB holder, too! I was searching the other day on mostly ebay and I came around some decent designs...  But still, the best of them seem to be somewhat heavy and the shipping costs included become prohibitive... I think that StubbornGreek has a good design idea! 

[meerweten]

i don't use one, i just use my desk and a woonden bar i placed on it to hold it steady

[jaspel]

For smaller boards, I find a drill press vice to work great.  Just don't over tighten it.

[DJKA]

I use "improved" helping hands

http://ikelk.lt/images/2c0b404511

[aluck]

I see some people are posting vices that have the vacuum seal on the bottom.  How long does your seal hold?  I bought one, but the vacuum seal will only hold for about 30-60 seconds on mine.

Same thing with mine. No table or workbench is going to be perfectly flat and clean forever.

Will pour 2-4 pounds (1-2 kilos) of lead into the bottom of my vice. No, seriously. Think it's a good idea.

[updatelee]

I have the panavise 315 and 305 bought on the basis of all the great reviews of panavise.

Id never buy another panavise product again, pure junk. poorly designed almost all cost parts with ruff edges and extremely poor fit and finnish. I rarely use mine because is such a pia and pos. Very poor workmanship and metal, Ive seen better products produced in China.

[jhalar]

I use an old Goot ST-10 PCB holder that I had for about 20 years.
An oldie but a goodie. Works for me.

[Bored@Work]

I have the panavise 315 and 305 bought on the basis of all the great reviews of panavise.

Id never buy another panavise product again, pure junk. poorly designed almost all cost parts with ruff edges and extremely poor fit and finnish. I rarely use mine because is such a pia and pos. Very poor workmanship and metal, Ive seen better products produced in China.

Are you sure you got an original one, and not a counterfeit?

[HooRide]

I should have posted sooner... here is what I bought, works great! Weller ESF120 as suggested by Spawn. Fun to see if any of you can guess what that board is!

[SeanB]

Game console of some sort, made in the 1980's. Looks like you are replacing one of the game controller sockets, they were rather prone to breaking, after heavy use.

[jhalar]

I'm not sure but the feeling I get is of an Atari 2600 games console.

[0xdeadbeef]

This look interesting at least for hot air stuff and it's rather cheap - not for big PCBs though (15x12cm)
AOYUE-326 PCB working platform

[codeboy2k]

I should have posted sooner... here is what I bought, works great! Weller ESF120 as suggested by Spawn. Fun to see if any of you can guess what that board is!

Those triangular endcaps, knurled knobs and board grips all look printable with Dave's new Makerbot...

I don't own a Makerbot or anything like it, but if I did... I'd be printing now, and putting it together with threaded rod from the hardware store.

[saturation]

It looks suspiciously like an Atari 2600 PCB. 

I should have posted sooner... here is what I bought, works great! Weller ESF120 as suggested by Spawn. Fun to see if any of you can guess what that board is!