Third Hand (Helping Hand)

I recently started with PCB fabrication and some basic soldering.

The first challenge I came across was... I only have 2 hands.

So I needed a third hand.

After shopping for one I realized that they are over priced and stupidly simple.

So I built one myself.

Let's do this.

Material list:

1. Guerrilla Tripod

2. Alligator Clips

3. Soldering stand - I had this

4. Neodymium magnets - I had this as well

Tools:

1. Rotary tool (Dremel)

2. Glue gun

3. Soldering iron (to show your friend afterwards)

I had a different shape magnet, but the magnet shape does not matter as long as it's neodymium

Yes you read that correctly...

You have to break apart the camera pod.

It has a interlocking system that simply pulls apart.

So remove the 3 legs from the mounting base. You can save that for some other projects or just chuck it away.

We just want the legs.

Time for the alligator clips.

They basically hold the component.

Remove the rubber casing to expose the metal clip.

The lower part is going into the legs of the pod.

Now you may be asking: "Bean, what about the magnets and the stand?"

You'll see soon.

You see the clips and the legs like each other. So lets get them together.

Make a small hole in the lower part of the leg (the rubbery part). Remove the runner foot. You can either use the rotary tool or a knife.

Just be careful when using a knife. The plastic is hollow and you can hurt yourself when going through the first layer. (As I did)

Bend the lower part of the clip to enter hole. Dab the hole with hot glue and squeeze the clip into it using a twisty motion.

Now the magnets comes into play.

After repeating the last step 3 times, get those magnets.

Apply some glue to the other side of leg.

Establish the center of the magnet and stick it to the freshly glued leg.

Congratulations you have one arm of the third hand. Now 2 to go.

And there you go, you have your own third hand.

The magnet base of the arms make it great to attach to any metal surface.

END CREDITS...

1. Background was a foam board sheet

2. Music for the build was a 2000's Playlist on YouTube.

Thanks guys...