Helping Hands or Third Hand for Soldering

[JatoTheRipper]

I need help holding my XT60 connector and wires when soldering! It should have a heavy base so as to not slide around. The arms should be sturdy and the grips strong. There are a huge variety of helping hands, third hands, and solder jigs, but I am looking for real world reviews and recommendations. See some of the different styles below that I have found. Which one do you prefer and why? Specific brands would be helpful as we know that just because two things look alike does not mean they are of the same quality nor do they offer the same performance.

QuadHands
QuadHands® - Helping Hands Tool

Loc-Line helping hands/third hand - and there are many options with some being cheap and generic. This one is from SparkFun.

 

[Col_Sanders]

The small helping hands I have suck. Every time I need to solder connectors, I cuss at how stupid I am for not buying something better. Then I forget about it until the next time I need to solder. There are jigs on Amazon that look like they'd work pretty well for battery/esc connectors and bullets...

Link to Amazon RC Jig

 

[JatoTheRipper]

The small helping hands I have suck. Every time I need to solder connectors, I cuss at how stupid I am for not buying something better. Then I forget about it until the next time I need to solder. There are jigs on Amazon that look like they'd work pretty well for battery/esc connectors and bullets...

Jig

Like this one below? Yeah they are garbage!

Sure a lot of jigs look good on Amazon, but most of the things on scAmazon look good yet the majority of the products are low-quality, Chinese garbage. That's why I'm asking for firsthand accounts.

 

[svt923]

I have one like the second picture and don't find it all that helpful. 99% of the time when I have to solder, I use a cheap benchtop vise like this:

It holds connectors and wires more securely than alligator clips so I don't have to worry about things moving accidentally. The ability to hold motors and keep them from rolling around is nice too.

 

[Col_Sanders]

I currently have something similar to what you posted Jato and I hate it. Over the next week or so I have several things to solder so I should probably get something before its too late. I'll buy the one in the link I posted. Its an aluminum block with holes in it...not much for them to screw up.

 

[JimrC]

I have the same as the one you don't seem to like Jato Not perfect but it does the job just fine and has done for he last six years or so now ... also have a small bench vice that gets used also. Holding wires in place is just a pain in the rear end at times ... seem to have a mind of their own some days i find ... nowt is perfect.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

I have one like the second picture and don't find it all that helpful. 99% of the time when I have to solder, I use a cheap benchtop vise like this:

It holds connectors and wires more securely than alligator clips so I don't have to worry about things moving accidentally. The ability to hold motors and keep them from rolling around is nice too.

The problem with a vise is that I am usually not soldering on my workbench. It would be handy to have one of these suction vises, but not for soldering. I solder anywhere from my desk to my kitchen table to the top of my one toolbox. Like anything, there are good suction vises and garbage ones. Now to find a quality example of that! LOL

I currently have something similar to what you posted Jato and I hate it. Over the next week or so I have several things to solder so I should probably get something before its too late. I'll buy the one in the link I posted. Its an aluminum block with holes in it...not much for them to screw up.

Which one are you referring to - QuadHands or SparkFun? I guess either should be fine if the arms are stiff and the clamps have a strong enough grip.

I have the same as the one you don't seem to like Jato Not perfect but it does the job just fine and has done for he last six years or so now ... also have a small bench vice that gets used also. Holding wires in place is just a pain in the rear end at times ... seem to have a mind of their own some days i find ... nowt is perfect.

Interesting. Maybe yours is a higher quality than my Harbor Freight job.

 

[Col_Sanders]

Like this one below? Yeah they are garbage!

Sure a lot of jigs look good on Amazon, but most of the things on scAmazon look good yet the majority of the products are low-quality, Chinese garbage. That's why I'm asking for firsthand accounts.

View attachment 507148

I have one similar to this. It works ok for some things but a lot of the time it just makes me mad.

 

[AnimalHippie]

I use one of the ones with the magnifying glass on it. It’s not the best but it works for me. Almost all of my soldering has been done with it for years. It can be aggravating at times to get everything lined up tho. My vote would be the quad hands

 

[smog]

I use that 'garbage' one pictured above. It's not great. I use in combination with another equally crappy hand. It gets the job done but always takes some fidgeting.
I agree, something with a heavy base and long flexible arms that stay where you put them would be nice

 

[grob23]

I also have a garbage harbor freight magnifying glass one...

I wouldn't recommend it, I took the glass and the base off years ago. Packs up nice, so I've been rolling with just that for 10 plus years now

I know there's something better, so I'll for sure keep watching!

 

[durok]

I have the one with the magnifying glass, but I find that I got more use out of the "Mr. Jig" soldering block:

 

[smog]

Can't recall where I got the CF jig. It is supposed to hold an xt60 and a deans but the design is poor. I always use the all purpose peg clamps. The other is a lobotomized 'crappy' clamp. I typically use them in tandem

 

[Fallen]

I really like this one:

It has made me not HATE soldering things.

KUDU Multifunctional Soldering Jig

Shop #BRT10058 KUDU Multifunctional Soldering Jig, now available on BoomRacingRC.com. This item is now in stock and ready to ship worldwide!

www.boomracing.com

You can fit up to 4 arms on it, but it only comes with one. You have to pay for the extras. The battery connector jigs (XT60 included) work very well.

Extra arms:

KUDU™ Arm Set for BRT10058 Soldering Jig

Shop #BRT10058A KUDU™ Arm Set for BRT10058 Soldering Jig, now available on BoomRacingRC.com. This item is now in stock and ready to ship worldwide!

www.boomracing.com

 

[OSRC]

View attachment 507148

Been using one of these for years. Ditched the magnifier and just use the clip arms. Works fine for me...must have soldered 100+ XT60's with it and more motor leads than I can count. What's the issue with it?

I had the idea to modify it slightly - grind off the teeth in the alligator clips and glue on some fuel tubing instead - I think it would hold wires a bit better but I have yet to do it since it works fine as is.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

I have the one with the magnifying glass, but I find that I got more use out of the "Mr. Jig" soldering block:

I think that one has been discontinued. I can no longer find the website nor any listings on eBay.

I really like this one:

It has made me not HATE soldering things.

You can fit up to 4 arms on it, but it only comes with one. You have to pay for the extras. The battery connector jigs (XT60 included) work very well.

That one is pretty damn expensive for how tiny it is and adding $15 per piece arms really jacks up the price. It does look nice though. Hopefully nobody buys it and they reduce the price. $54 for made in China aluminum is crazy. A Labor Day sale on it would be great...

Have you had issues with it falling over? It looks top heavy since the base is so small.

Been using one of these for years. Ditched the magnifier and just use the clip arms. Works fine for me...must have soldered 100+ XT60's with it and more motor leads than I can count. What's the issue with it?

I had the idea to modify it slightly - grind off the teeth in the alligator clips and glue on some fuel tubing instead - I think it would hold wires a bit better but I have yet to do it since it works fine as is.

The alligator clips are weak, these rotate at the worst times and the wingnut joints don't stay put. Maybe yours is higher quality than my Harbor Freight unit. I know you shouldn't have to put much pressure on the connector nor wires when soldering, but sometimes I shake like an old Harley-Davidson and I'm kind of a clumsy solderer at times.

 

[Gula]

I have 2 of the cheap ones, and recently "upgraded" one with better alligator clips for when soldering.
They have worked good enough for me for small paint jobs, to soldering about a bazillion connections.

I've also made ine by taking some cnc coolant pieces that you interconnect and put a piece of wire coat hanger with alligator clip, slipped the wire through the center and the clip on the end. Di that Times 8. Diy octopus type holder. I didn't like that one though.

 

[Fallen]

No, I haven't had the Boom Racing one fall over on me. That base on it is pretty darn heavy. You wouldn't want to drop it on your foot.

But I agree, it's pricey. Fortunately Biden / Harris have made the economy so great that money is no object for me!

I actually had golden tires installed on my full size truck & motorcycle. I can't accelerate, brake or turn worth a damn, but who cares? I'm rich bitches!

 

[JatoTheRipper]

No, I haven't had the Boom Racing one fall over on me. That base on it is pretty darn heavy. You wouldn't want to drop it on your foot.

But I agree, it's pricey. Fortunately Biden / Harris have made the economy so great that money is no object for me!

I actually had golden tires installed on my full size truck & motorcycle. I can't accelerate, brake or turn worth a damn, but who cares? I'm rich bitches!

Well that's good to know about the weight!

All politicians are morons, but that 25%+ tariff certainly didn't help the price of our toys!

 

[Fricker08]

I’ve got the first one you pictured, it’s been a life saver for me and wish I’d bought one sooner. Only other thing I kind of wish I got is one with a light but that’s a catch 22, I like that I don’t have to have it plugged in. I use a snap on magnet strip to hold it off the side of my shelf