Electronic component vice

[BobL]

I've been meaning to make something for a while to hold components and circuit boards while I use a soldering iron.
Last year I made up a "4 hands" unit and while it's very useful the alligator clips are not always strong enough to hold some things firmly while soldering.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=387208&d=1468125796


So this is what I have come up with.

The base is a 2.5 kg piece of 12mm thick scrap steel which provides plenty of weight to stop it moving around.
The ball and socket arm comes from a damaged motor vehicle rear vision mirror.
The most difficult bit was drilling the holes in the hardened steel rod of the Irwin clamp - I ended up using a TC tipped masonry bit do that.

415493

The ball and socket arm can be moved through about 90º off the vertical for improved access and the soft rubber jaws are perfect for small circuit boards, switches, wires etc.
415494

I will take it apart and pretty it up a bit WIGRTI.

[Bohdan]

An alternative that regularly appears at Aldi is their small benchtop swivel vice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjcRUGsQYvw)for $15.

[BobL]

Thanks Bohdan.

Yeah I have seen those at Jaycar, but there the prices are $32 for the clamp mount and $40 for the suction mount. I nearly bought the suction base model, instead I walked away with the idea as I remembered I had a ball and socket joint
.
They look like quite rugged little vices that could take a fair bit of punishment but they also look like they would take up more room than desirable on an already crowded bench.
The main thing I wanted was something that did not take up much room, with smaller jaws that opened wider than either of those vices, and quick release/setting action for faster for opening and closing as I don't need high pressure.

I also wanted to be quickly able to remove the vice quickly when its not needed and didn't want to be clamping and unclamping to my desk all the time.
The suction base model would suit better but that would require me to remove the cork tile desk cover - no biggie and could do that if required.
I might still get one of the suction mount type from Aldi when they come up again.

[Bohdan]

Like you I balked at the price in Jaycar but for $15 I think that they are worth the huge expense.

With the one that I bought i found that a little dry lube on the screw made a huge difference to its feel.

[bueller]

They're pricey but the Panavise Jr really are fantastic, we had them at my work years and years ago and they were invaluable. Keep meaning to buy one for home but not exactly top of my list right now.