Bacteria's mini project - making a "Helping Hands"

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:11 am

Just a mini project.

I didn't like the rather small "Helping Hands" tool - basically holds your wires together while you solder them together - cost about Â£10 and I can do better for next to nothing!!

10 minutes work...

I looked in my garage and found this gardenwire - about 2mm thick, maintains its position when moved and is flexible - ideal!

I cut two equal sized pieces, bent them into the two crocodile clips I had, hot glued them in place, secured the ends to the metal paperweight by hot glue (lots). For good measure, I then wrapped some electrical tape around it. job done!

Seems to be strong enough...

This will save me time on my soldering jobs. I also got some shrink tubing for soldering too - nice stuff!

nightwheel · Post by **nightwheel** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:21 pm

I like it and very cheap to make. I'm going to make me one. Not today though. But that would come in very handy when I need to do work on the GG and namco. (Yes the namco is not dead yet. I still have plans to make it.)

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:10 pm

Yes, very cheap to make and anyone on this forum could make one! The wire was virtually free, I used about 10p worth of hot glue and tape and 60p for the crocodile clips (30p each) - total was 70p ($1.40). You can use anything for the base, as long as it sits square on the desk - a paperweight, rock, whatever.

Edutainment · Post by **Edutainment** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:52 pm

Cool. I intend to make one when I get my new soldering iron (mine mysteriously disappeared).

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:58 pm

How about making it before you get your replacement soldering iron, in preparation? This mini project doesn't need any soldering after all!

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 5:39 am

Final pic on this - used it today, works nicely. I also tried some of that shrink tubing; used a piece too small so used electrical tape too! (won't make that error next time).

Seems solid and fit for purpose.