Soldering board holder/helping hands?

[randytsuch]

Wondering what you guys are using for holding boards while soldering?

I have been using a Harbor Freight panavise knockoff for years
https://www.harborfreight.com/2-3-4-quarter-inch-articulated-vacuum-vise-3311.html

The vacuum feature never really worked, but while it gets the job done, I'm wondering what else is out there?

Looked at Panavise options. They look nice, but get a little pricey.
Then there are the helping hands things with alligator clips on flexible arms.
And these little clamp things

So any advice or suggestions appreciated.

Randy

 

[entropist]

Maybe not the cheapest option, but I've found it worth every penny; the little arm does a good job of holding through hole parts in place: Weller ESF120

 

[kp93300]

The little clamp things work well. I have been using it for 1 year and like it.

 

[rebone]

And these little clamp things

I got one of these and found it very flimsy and holding the boards very loose.
Ended up in the bin.

I use something similar to your Harbor Freight panavise, but older and a bit larger and it clamps to the desk.

After using something like this you may not be too happy with other solutions.

I found this at amazon, which clamps to the desk.

Fasmov Swivel 3" Universal Table Vise Tilts Rotate 360°

 

[audio king]

I use an old Technical Devises PCB holder (interweb pic). Or, If you want to spend the dough, buy a modern Panavise. You won't regret it 🙂

 

[dangus]

I've tried several board holders, but I find that "Painter's Mate Green" tape works about as well or better for holding components. The only time I really want a board holder is for desoldering where I need to apply the iron to one side and the solder sucker to the other. And then it's liable to be a board that's too big to fit the holder (like changing bad caps on a motherboard).

 

[Brijac]

If you have access to 3d printer and a couple of neodimium magnets, these are cheap options and do their job solidly for quite a few use cases.
https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/tool/magnetic-pcb-holder

 

[rayma]

Sometimes you need a big one, sometimes not.

 

[soundchaser]

I have the jaws like Audio King has (they were throwing them out at work) and I hold them in a Panvise knockoff from Princess Auto (a Canadian Harbor Freight kind of place)

 

[randytsuch]

Thanks for all the input guys.
I'm now leaning towards a panavise, maybe the one Audio King pictured.

If I had a 3d printer, I'd probably try Brijac's link.

 

[1audio]

For PCB assembly these are great :https://www.amazon.com/Velleman-VTH...jQuODkifQ==&sprefix=pcb+holder,aps,127&sr=8-4 and cheap. I have a number of options but if the board fits its the first choice. This is also a useful, cost effective object (connector) holder: https://www.amazon.com/Bench-Horizo...2470954011&rps=1&sprefix=vise,aps,131&sr=8-14

 

[myleftear]

I got one of these little clamps, but something like this (see

) is way better!

 

[Lee Knatta]

I feel a bit cheap admitting that my preferred tool is a pair of cross lock tweezers, but this really what I prefer. I also have a stand like the Weller ESF120, but don't really like using it. I install components one by one and find flipping the board is fastest without any sophisticated stand.

 

[rayma]

Those tweezers are great, everybody should have them. The reverse tweezers (squeeze to release), that is.
Excellent for handling smt components. Also good for heat sinking the component leads when soldering, too.