Methods to hold components while soldering?

[poodlesrule]

I got to practice soldering on my recent guitar find, and one of the initial difficulties is finding ways to hold components while soldering.

What do you use, short of the fancy, pro-level, articulated-joints fixtures.

I have seen some tutorials showing repurposed clamps and such.

[Bloozcat]

I use hemostats mainly. I pick them up in various lengths and shapes at the local flea market. They also make excellent heat sinks when soldering.

The other thing I use if the components are free standing is a device called "helping hands":
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_181.jpg
Cost is $3.99 at Harbor Freight Tools. I think I paid $2.99 with a coupon.

[kiteman]

Rubber bands on needlenose pliers.

[poodlesrule]

free standing is a device called "helping hands":
Cost is $3.99 at Harbor Freight Tools. I think I paid $2.99 with a coupon.


Ah, that is the name of what I called "articulated-joint fixture".

Argh... Nearest HF is quite far from me, and the (very good) local electronic store will want a bundle for a brand model, I am sure.

[duhvoodooman]

In addition to the methods BC already mentioned: Visegrips & a gentle hand tightening the screw....

[Heywood Jablomie]

My wife......

[marnold]

I've used many of the above methods (except Heywood's wife :) ). Soldering is about the only time I wished I had a third arm.

[poodlesrule]

My wife......

I was thinking same, but figured it won't work!

I also reminded myself I should have had children... useful little buggers!

[Tig]

I've used many of the above methods (except Heywood's wife :) ). Soldering is about the only time I wished I had a third arm.

Thanks for the unexpected laughter, Rev! :laughingatyou

I have some super skinny needle nose plyers I use, but also fashion together something make-shift from scrap wires for those wierd situations. Most of the time, nothing is needed.

[Mr Pants]

My wife......

+1

[poodlesrule]

Funny, "Mr Pants" likes to have his wife hold his "components".

A picture would be very helpful, Mr Pants.
We would like to see how it is working out, so we can all learn something. That's what the forum is all about!

[gordy_sg_no1]

i have haemostats, fishing fly vice, forceps, needle nose pliers and the rubber band, a helping hand thingy, a soldering aid set and i still need another set of hands.

[deeaa]

Interesting...I have this tiny vice I use sometimes, and some plastic small clamps...but mostly I try to affix the pots to the guitar and just try and wing it.

[FrankenFretter]

Toes.

[syo]

Ah, that is the name of what I called "articulated-joint fixture".

Argh... Nearest HF is quite far from me, and the (very good) local electronic store will want a bundle for a brand model, I am sure.
$12 (shipping included) from ebay maybe cheaper if you look around:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Helping-Hand-Soldering-Stand-Magnifying-Glass-TOOL-/290485225694?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a244c8de
I use something like this regularly as well as some bent-nosed pliers.

Or if you're into cheap vintage try this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Hopalong-Cassidy-Lends-Helping-Hand-VINTAGE-1950-book-/260672024078?pt=US_Childrens_Books&hash=item3cb1436e0e

Comes complete with two Hop-Ups...

[poodlesrule]

Toes.


No safety shoes..?


Other: being a good dog, I bought some DeoxIT... and red thin tube does NOT want to fit into spray nozzle, making it near-useless. Sheesh.

[Spudman]

Same here. I have some locking hemostats and this same magnifying device pictured below from Harbor Freight. It was cheap!


I use hemostats mainly. I pick them up in various lengths and shapes at the local flea market. They also make excellent heat sinks when soldering.

The other thing I use if the components are free standing is a device called "helping hands":
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_181.jpg
Cost is $3.99 at Harbor Freight Tools. I think I paid $2.99 with a coupon.

[Ch0jin]

I have this total sense I've posted this before here so sorry if it's a repeat, but back in the days when I soldered for a living (component level repair of PCB's usually) we (the other techs and I) used pretty much all the methods above with one addition. But before I get to that, my personal main tools for this were a large pair of locking tweezers and (sorry I don't know the medical term) but a locking clamp thing (it's like a pair of scissors, but with like tweezer tips that locks closed) I got from a dentist. (I actually got a bunch of really, really useful tools from my old dentist)

Those devices with the clamps and arms and magnifying glasses are awesome for working on small boards and individual components, but as most of the gear I worked on had far larger PCB's and I often worked on them in the chassis, I never bothered to buy one. I would however totally endorse their use for the smaller stuff!

Now the one thing that hasn't been mentioned is fingers. I used and still use them a lot. If it's not too hot to hold, it's not going to be too hot to damage a component. I used to do this with sensitive IC's a LOT. Push the chip into the board and leave your finger on it as you solder it in. It's quite easy to overheat an IC of your not careful, but this way you get a real "feel" for how hot the component is getting.

[otaypanky]

Ch0jin got it with fingers ~ That's pretty much all you need most of the time. With a little practice you can hold your solder in the same hand you're using to position your component.
For working in an amp or wiring a LP style guitar where the pots are down in the control cavity I sometimes use hemostats although I don't use them to try and hold parts together. I'll put the tip under a wire and let the stats hang so that it raises or pushes the wire against the terminal. I don't use hemostats as a heat sink for caps and small components as the weight of them could easily pull the lead out of a cap. Some caps are really fragile. I use copper alligator clips instead. They are light and I guessed the copper would absorb the heat faster than stainless steel.
When soldering to the bottom of pots I give them a touch with sandpaper first, then try and bend the component lead or wire so that it's pushing itself against the pot, and make sure the iron is good and hot.
The wiring in a guitar like a Strat is pretty easy to get at and you'll probably find you don't need any helping hands.

[tunghaichuan]

But before I get to that, my personal main tools for this were a large pair of locking tweezers and (sorry I don't know the medical term) but a locking clamp thing (it's like a pair of scissors, but with like tweezer tips that locks closed) I got from a dentist. (I actually got a bunch of really, really useful tools from my old dentist)

They are called hemostats which are a type of forceps. I got a couple at an army/navy store for $3 each a few years ago.

Dental picks are a good thing to have as well.

[Ch0jin]

They are called hemostats which are a type of forceps. I got a couple at an army/navy store for $3 each a few years ago.

Dental picks are a good thing to have as well.


Oh! so -thats- what a hemostat is! I spose I probably should have just googled it.

Oh well, yeah I use them from time to time :)

And yeah I have a collection of dental picks that have been used for everything you can imagine except orally haha. Also the little mirrors have proved useful in the past too.

[Bloozcat]

I don't know what the flea markets are like elsewhere, but the one here has several vendors that carry stainless hemostats, dental picks, and dental mirrors. Great place to find them cheap.

[Mr Pants]

Funny, "Mr Pants" likes to have his wife hold his "components".

A picture would be very helpful, Mr Pants.
We would like to see how it is working out, so we can all learn something. That's what the forum is all about!

behave yourselves! :spank