Show and Tell: Favorite Helping Hands!

For this week's Show and Tell, Will shares with us his new favorite set of helping hands for the workshop. We've all see those small third-hand tools sold at electronics and craft stores, but the best set is the one we've used at Adam's shop. This precision tool is made for jewelers, and are great for big soldering projects too.
Thanks to B&H for providing the One Man Crew camera slider system for this video. Find out more about the One Man Crew here: www.bhphotovide...
Find these third hands here: www.grstools.co...
Shot and edited by Joey Fameli
Music by Jinglepunks
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Tested is:
Will Smith / willsmith
Norman Chan / nchan
Joey Fameli / joeyfameli
Adam Savage / donttrythis
Jamie Hyneman / jamienotweet
Thanks for watching!

[@Grstools]

Thanks for sharing our Third Hand station, Tested! We actually make this product from start to finish here in the USA - not in China - and they are manufactured with top-quality materials made to withstand much higher temps than what you would use for electronics soldering...think platinum temps around 3200˚F (with the platinum upgrade) down to working with silver alloys. BTW, you can get a single GRS Third Hand and a single board for much less than this double-hand one shown here - and neither are going to crumble or fall apart. ;)

[@curlyfry562]

Have been using one of these at my work for the past year. Worth every penny if you use it regularly.

[@Tutoelectro1]

I did my own helping hands for like 6 bucks. I even made a video on how to made them.

[@dpmakestuff]

The one I built on my channel was over the top and still not as expensive as this one. It has nicer clips than mine, but I could replace mine if i wanted to. Check it out

[@TheMyeloman]

But you used a ridiculously expensive CNC to build it. Cool, but still not within reach of those who don't have a lot of $$$ dude...

[@dpmakestuff]

Tracy Luegge FAR from ridiculously expensive and you could just as easily do the same job with a band saw or jig saw. Thanks for watching regardless.

[@TheMyeloman]

As regards a $175 dollar tool being far too expensive to replace a $10-15 tool, making one with a machine that costs that much doesn't compare. If I could afford a CNC I wouldn't bat an eye at a $175 Third Hand. That's my point. I agree people could do much better than the $10 3rd hand if they used their noggins and built one themselves. TOTALLY! And I intend to modify the cheapo one I bought to make it better when the time comes, but I'm not using a CNC or buying a $175 replacement...

[@VexedFilms]

Tracy Luegge You wouldn't need to use CNC for something that simple, but if he has a CNC machine why shouldn't he use it?

[@dpmakestuff]

Vexed Films

[@bunkerfest]

Please do more videos like this one specially about the organization bins and tool storage i see all around in the background of your make videos.

[@californiakayaker]

Yes. I've been waiting for this. Which one of the Tested group is the electronics nut ? Arduino//Pi maybe ? Robots ?

[@JoggingWithForks]

175 bucks? There's less than $20 in that thing, and that includes materials, manufacturing, shipping and handling from China to the US, stateside costs including everything from warehouse storage to cashiers salary. You know, there's a point where fair price for a fair product becomes usurious greed, think it's pretty safe to say that point has been reached here.

[@Razyre]

PJ It's intended for jewellers, who basically work in an industry which should be worth nothing but is worth a lot, so the price is hardly surprising.

[@JoggingWithForks]

Ross Bishop That's not quite how the world works. The indended use is irrelevant as far as manufacturing costs go. Take that same product, change its name and market it towards the electronics hobby/semi pro market which is a lot larger and the manufacturing costs would still be exactly the same. However, good luck trying to sell it for 175 bucks. Even jewellers who check specialized jewellers webshops prior to Amazon aren't willing to pay 175 bucks for that thing. www.jewelrytools.com/eurotool/grs-tools-and-supplies/BenchMate-Third-Hand-Double-Third-Hand-Soldering-Station.html has it for $125. And that's still highway robbery. But you're right about it being hardly surprising. People are sucked in by false syllogisms all the time, claim it's "intended for jewellers" and all of a sudden it's somehow special, like a rainbow coloured unicorn laying golden eggs. It's one of the most reliable marketing tricks ever created and people fall for it all the time. In marketing few tools are as powerful as those who use your own preconceptions against you.

[@JoggingWithForks]

oBLACKIECHANoo The engineering and reseach costs are exactly the same as any other $4 piece of Chinese junk from Horrible Fright. There are no unique engineered parts, no new or special materials or manufacturing techniques. It's a handfull of chromed steel parts assembled and attached to a piece of stamped and bent sheet metal. The high cost is a marketing ploy. People see "intended for jewellers" and all of a sudden it's special. Even jewellers who shop at speciallized webshops before checking Amazon aren't willing to pay 175 bucks for this thing. www.jewelrytools.com/eurotool/grs-tools-and-supplies/BenchMate-Third-Hand-Double-Third-Hand-Soldering-Station.html

[@Razyre]

PJ That's exactly what I was saying, they're OP because of the intended market. I don't really know what a jeweller would or wouldn't pay for something and I don't know the tolerances to which the product is rated - I live in a world where people think gold plated watches that don't keep the time very well that have a certain label on them are a good way to spend their money.

[@d.pigg1768]

the star trek chair had you devoted to that soldering XD as i watched that video i said to myself that i needed one of those too.

[@crazyhans]

Hey Will acknowledged something was expensive as fuck, he's learnding! Also that looks like overkill for any soldering job I can think of.

[@SuperChopstiks]

I've always founder that holding the solder in my lips works just fine. I link like a fool doing it, but it gets the job done

[@jjlwis]

SuperChopstiks uhhh I hope youre joking..

[@SuperChopstiks]

jjlwis I am.

[@Zanzubaa]

You know you need one of these when you're trying to solder something and you don't have enough hands so you are holding a piece of wire in one hand, another in your mouth and a soldering iron in your other hand. I would not spend more than $30 on one of these though. As you say this device would be for someone who does alot of soldering who values the extra control this device offers.

[@MartyBeardFace]

RIP Radio Shack. FYI the cheap "alligator" clips helping-hands is at Harbor Freight for under $10.

[@MsSomeonenew]

At that price I expected they come with 6 extra arms and all the attachments you could thing of... but no, they don't even set the base up for expanding. They look well made for sure, however not only are they expensive but you can get far better equipped stuff for less.

[@notthatwillsmith]

MsSomeonenew We got these in specifically because tons of people asked for us to find them after they were featured in another video. As I said in the video, $175 or $180 for these is crazy expensive.

[@versask8td]

Cool stuff, but my cheap radio shack helping hands haven't failed me yet, no tip overs of huge messes to clean.

[@wwaxwork]

ZealousAce Yeah but I suspect you can't heat your cheap radio shack one to 600F soldering without an issue or two.

[@rdoetjes]

Unless you are into making jewelry. For electronics 600F is an utterly useless temperature as you'd fry most components. 180C is as high as you need.

[@versask8td]

wwaxwork Do you solder electronics? Ive heated mine up as much as they will ever see soldering numerous times and i cant see why id ever have a issue. I'm not doing any jewelery making and cannot see the point in buying a tool made for that, especially when it cost as much as my soldering station that will last me a lifetime.

[@wwaxwork]

So you don't need it nobody needs it? Got it.

[@mikephantasmic]

ZealousAce The only problem i've had is the grippers can damage electronics.

[@TomsBackyardWorkshop]

I've got to get me a pair of helping hands. Probably not going to spend that much on them though.

[@ROTEsimplemachines]

What is innovative for me are not the precision arms and clamps but the stone base. I would be curious to know if that has been machined down to 10,000th of an inch like a machinist's stone. I cannot say I'm an electronics wiz, but I would also be curious to know if any build(or layout) require that kind of precision in three axes.

[@Autotrope]

Lol "you're not the real Adam Savage, you're just one of his helpers"

[@jadenjohnson71]

I got one for $25 on Amazon and it works great

[@ctskifreaks]

Is the project you're referring to the Star Trek Captain's chair?

[@rdoetjes]

Omg he was so out of his league in that video. Daisy chaining a few data wires, took for ever and it didn't even work ;)

[@rsdiligent4646]

0:23 "when i was helping him with a project" lol im not sure how much help a person like you could be to Adam

[@metalsmithseamus]

GOLDSMITHS love there i have one, there awsome for soldering goldrings ect. think they work with platnium too for high heat.

[@konstasalminen2405]

I think you could make one of those much cheaper.

[@JasonHoogerhyde]

Konsta Salminen Yea you can. I've cobbled together my own which is kind of similar.

[@konstasalminen2405]

Jason Hoogerhyde Yea I have actually made also a pair. Alot smaller and crappier.

[@jonnywaselectric]

Adams doppelganger

[@hiwayM9]

At that price, the market demands a similar product designed for those of us who solder more than casually, but not 175 bucks more. I would think something could be produced without the fancy stone for around 50 bucks... Kickstarter anyone? I will sign up.

[@swsephy]

Holy hell $175?!

[@brockneuhaus90]

A hundred and seve...eighty dollars. 😂

[@reddcube]

Could you replace the stone with a wet sponge?

[@peshozmiata]

175$ for helping hands, that costs more than my Weller soldering station ffs. A real maker would rather build one for less.

[@kbauer57]

thingiverse had a pretty sweat helping hands featured probably cost alot less then that.

[@TheCoolStuffHD]

$175?? I got one from Harbor Freight Tool for $10 and it works just fine.

[@rdoetjes]

I solder a lot and I hardly ever use he,ping hands. My friendly competition who solder even more don't use them either. Is this a tool for people who aren't frequent solderes? I always manage to hold things place with dexterity and the tabletop. And I see other people do the same. Especially pcb soldering.

[@littlestworkshop]

1:19 yet you bought them ;p

[@JuggaloJD420]

1.99$ at harbor freight

[@JuggaloJD420]

www.harborfreight.com/helping-hands-60501.html guess 3,99 without that cupon in the newspaper/mail. but this one for 9$ looks badass www.harborfreight.com/jumbo-helping-hands-with-led-lights-65779.html

[@littlestworkshop]

Jd Cunningham Yeah, those are the crumby ones he refers to at the start.

[@vince086]

Jd Cunningham I have one of those, the base isn't big or heavy enough, tips over easily.

[@Swarm509]

Jd Cunningham And those are crap that you will probably have to buy several times. Not that I think the one shown is worth the asking price, just looking at them the quality difference is substansial.

[@TheMyeloman]

If the cheap one tips over too easily then fix it! Add a larger, heavier base. Isn't that what "makers" do? Clearly we don't all have the budget Adam has so we have to learn to use what we do have instead, ingenuity!

[@garrvict]

One hundred and ei...seventy five dollars.

[@SuperFred001]

wil feels to good about his soldering skills itscthe third Video hes talking bout it in a week jeez mannormaly you learn that shit when your like 12

[@bearrose]

Audio edit at 1:15!

[@neilmc1983]

SOL-DERING!!......not SAW-DERING

[@AlkernZA]

Fraction of the cost www.sparkfun.com/products/11784 and a DIY version www.instructables.com/id/Third-Hand-A-multi-use-helping-hand-for-electro/ (see the comments for many variations to fit everyone's abilities and tools). I've built one out of iron wood, with 2 hands, a light, and fan. Total cost of about $15. I would like better clips though.

[@Swarm509]

For all the guys who are complaining about the price maybe time to make your own and sell it? Seems like there might be a market for it.

[@RFC3514]

Swarm509 There are already dozens of cheaper alternatives, what would making yet another one accomplish? The $175 model is aimed at people who want to say they own a $175 model. If you sold an identical model for $50, most of those people wouldn't buy it.

[@wwaxwork]

RFC3514 They have other versions starting at $44.

[@thestalkinghead]

damn, they do look good, but not $175 good

[@Robertlavigne1]

I think I'll just pay a neighborhood kid 2 dollars to stand there and hold stuff for me, and I still wont end up spending $180 dollars in my life.

[@jjlwis]

i dunno.... seeing how that moves... not very good especially since you're going to be soldering and applying pressure to material, and objects... I am happy with a regular Panavise jaw clamp.. there is one with a wide metal base for holding parts and providing stability... and a lot cheaper than this... which again is used for jewelers who use open flames... and not soldering irons... I wouldn't recommend

[@Bodhi1satva]

“These are for people doing massive jobs”... and paying massive rates for those jobs or just people who have more money than they know what to do with! 🤣

[@dcallstar51]

I use SparkFun's Third Hand: www.sparkfun.com/products/11784 Works great and is super high quality!

[@DCATDESIGN]

Sorry... It's for massive works, or for useless spending money? Just i saw how you working with it... =|

[@firesculpturevideo]

$175??? Mine cost $15

[@pirate.tormon]

Or you could just get a PCB clamp...

[@JimmyNier00]

You need to quit trying to be Adam. It's really starting to show.

[@8a9327]

Jimmy Nier He finds out useful stuff from someone with a lot of experience. I don't see what's wrong with that.

[@lpsowns]

Jimmy Nier What, lol?

[@wwaxwork]

Jimmy Nier Yes how dare he take any influences from anyone he works with, he must stay exactly how he was at all times & never accept any outside influences into his life or have role models.

[@MrHws5mp]

Jimmy Nier Yeah, 'cos none of us are here to pick up tool tips and techniques from Adam, are we? Wouldn't dream of it.....

[@amateurwizard7002]

First!!

[@eurotrash4629]

Probably should have spent your $$$ on the proper soldering tools instead overpriced hipster alligator clips. A $120 Sparkfun Hot-air Rework Station - 303D, solder paste & a $20 third-hand would have made the SMC job much easier....

[@notthatwillsmith]

EuroTrash Like I said, I probably wouldn't have done this as a show and tell except every time we run a video that features soldering in Adam's shop, we get tons of questions about these.

[@saraltayal8249]

Kids in Africa could have eaten that. Stop wasting money

[@wwaxwork]

saral tayal If you cancel your internet connection & sell the computer/tech you are using to watch KZbin videos on you could use that money to feed kids in Africa.

[@CasparAbelmann]

wwaxwork Or just pump liquid internet into the children, no need to go through paperwork!

[@saraltayal8249]

But my phone is only worth 110 dollars vs the ~~175 dollars of the hands. My internet connection is free with the free internet thing in India

[@wwaxwork]

Well that's OK I know people with things worth more than $200 so they can feed the kids instead of Will problem solved. We'll make it someone elses problem all the way up the food chain.