Electronics > Beginners
What to use to hold things to solder?
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David Hess:

--- Quote from: jtruc34 on May 22, 2019, 02:55:35 am ---I've usually used a typical helping hand, with a cast iron base and two crocodile clamps. It has two major problems : the crocodile clips are really not durable. After two months of non-intense use, one has begun to fall appart and the other's parts don't line up anymore. The second problem is that it has a lot of play, and if I wanted to remove it I would have to tighten the screws very much.
--- End quote ---

I replaced the crocodile clips on mine with better ones and used brass tubing to strengthen the joints at the screw clamps.
RobertHolcombe:
I have a few sets of self-closing aka cross-locking tweezers for non-specific holding tasks

Heatshrink on both jaws makes them more suitable for holding small objects, the rubber conforms to and holds items more securely
Gregg:
This is one of the more versatile devices for the price: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JP865B0
You can add your Panavise to the middle and it is steel which is handy for keeping small magnets to hold screws etc.
Berni:
Well there certainly are uses for helping hand jigs.

I tend to use mine for soldering wires to other wires or to connectors. Still mostly using the method of pre-tining and then tacking on. Not having whatever you want to solder the wire onto move around is very helpful. I have also occasionally used it to hold a scope probe.

I fixed mine up by wrapping wire around the back end of the crocodiles and soldering them closed into a solid tube. Some fine adjustment to adjust the turning friction can be made by squeezing the tube with pliers into a more elliptical shape to make it squeeze down on the thread some more.

As for tiny PCBs that love to move around when soldering i sometimes just stick them down to a larger PCB with some double sided tape or kapton or something.
jtruc34:
Thank you for your replies.

A holder is indeed not always mandatory as pre-tinning often works pretty well.

Also another question: have you noticed any difference between crocodile clips of different brands? I'm about to change broken clips from different devices, and I wouldn't like to rebuy things that will fall apart in two months.
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