Micro Vice idea

I saw a really neat idea in a 1996 ME article by H D Bickley

He needed a very small vice so he could bend up a small bracket that would have fouled the vice jaws, it wasn't worth making a block to shape it round for a 1-off.

His idea was to grip a pliers in the vice, pointing upwards, so that the vice jaws held it shut.

Very neat and I can think of several times in the past when this would have saved me much grief - probably worth making a small pair of 'slave jaws' that work in the same way.

Neil

Neil,

Another good idea for extending the possibilities of a vise, is when cutting sheet metal.

Clamp one arm of the tinsnips in the vise, horizontally, and operate the other arm with you free hand.

Jack

Neil,

I use these quick clamps from ARC a lot.

**LINK**

They are one of those tools that don't really have one specific purpose and you will find that different people use them different ways.

Very handy when milling using them in a vice with a work stop. It means you can take them out for measurement or try on a job and then put back if another cut is needed.

Usual not associated bumph other than the fact I'm still trying to get me two quid back.

I have a collection of mostly homemade toolmakers clamps which I find ideal for that purpose.

Russell.

Another method I use for holding parts is to grip a small pair of forceps in my bench vise.

This is extremely useful for tinning electronic components prior to soldering in place on the P.C.B. as the forceps soak up the heat, preventing the component from overheating..

I also sometimes grip the soldering iron in the vise, tip uppermost, for pre-soldering cables etc..

Jack

I find a fly tying vice is handy for holding small parts, I also use it to hold small circuit boards while soldering the bits into them, a great extra set of fingers. Ian S C

Hi Everyone,

A Third hand tool is very useful, two small alligator clips mit magnifying glass.

Regards, Bear..

P.S. I like the new forum set-up.

> A Third hand tool is very useful, two small alligator clips mit magnifying glass.

My brother bought me one of those many years ago. I used to look at it and wonder what to use it for, and then I discovered how it helps with soldering and small siver soldering jobs -a total godsend!

John - now I understand what the 'quick clamp' is for.

Neil

Third hand tool in Lidl at the moment, I bought one today.

Under £6 includes I think a couple of crock clips, a soldering iron stand and a large magnifying glass.

Very heavy and very useful.

regards David

.

Variations on the theme, here

MichaelG.

Neil, gave one of those third hand tools to my Nephew, he's into War Gaming in a big way, and it gets a fair bit of use building his models. Ian S C

Nothing to do with work holding - but I agree with David about the Lidl magnifier.

It's got a small battery operated LED light under it and is mounted on a vertical post held in a small (cast?) base. I've taken the soldering iron holder and spring clips off and just use the magnifier on my cutting mat to look at stuff more closely. My eyesight isn't quite so good these days and I've found it very handy.

They are £4.99 at my local Lidl's and I've been thinking of investing in another one to mount on a post on the boring table of the EW and similar applications.

Regards,

IanT