What is Reddit's opinion of SE Helping Hand with Magnifying Glass - MZ101B?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

The following content includes affiliate links for which I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you should you make a purchase.

Just be patient, I watched the video twice to make sure I was doing everything right. Don’t be intimidated, worst part is trying to connect the screen back but with the right leverage even cheap helping hands that can be a cinch

90% of the time I shoot handheld (other than the inks & oils, those are on a tripod pointed down), but I do use a flash and small diffuser fairly often. The exception is the shot of pink flowers with the orange background — that one is focus stacked using a rail. I got one of the cheap ones off amazon, it came with two (for two axes of movement) but I just use one. However, I would super recommend getting one of these doohickeys (you don’t need the magnifying glass but you get the idea). Having one to pose things and position them accurately is a huge benefit.

It's pretty hard to screw up wick. It's just a woven copper ribbon.

As for helping hands, I'd just get a cheap one to start out, like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RB38X8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_ONM3zbWTT9KMB

At first, helping hand tools suck because you don't know how to adjust them. But once you learn how to adjust them, they become extremely useful.

Yeah you fucked something up on the pickup selector switch. Try just desoldering everything and rebuilding from scratch. If you've really gunked up the pickup selector you can just replace it. The part's not that expensive and it's always good to start with a clean slate when things get messy.

You want to make your solders as quick as possible so having a good quality iron that gets hot enough is key. Some of the cheap $15 models get hot enough to burn you, sure, but are not as useful as a more higher quality model with a variable temperature knob.

If you keep the iron in contact with the components for too long you can damage them, especially capacitors that you'll find on the tone knob in most setups. If it seems like you have to hold the iron on the prongs of a pot or whatever else you're soldering for a very long time you may have a dirty tip on your iron or it just plain isn't hot enough to do the job efficiently so you're spending time cooking components more than connecting them.

Consider picking up a Helping Hands type rig with a magnifying glass to help you see the tiny things as you're soldering if that's been a problem for you.

You could wedge them under something like some books, but that is just a pain in the ass.

One of these https://www.amazon.com/SE-MZ101B-Helping-Magnifying-Glass/dp/B000RB38X8 is cheap and should work. Not very useful for PCB work but work fine for just cabling.

get one of these and solder on random scrap wire. The helping hand works wonders in keeping your wires from moving.

For electrical stuff, you'll want a decent soldering iron and a stand (if the iron doesn't include one). Also, I strongly recommend a pair of helping hands. Not necessarily this set, but something like this to hold tiny wires while you try to put a red hot iron tip on them will save you a lot of burns.

> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RB38X8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00

The daylight type ones are probably the best. For my detail work I have a daylight light with a flip down magnifier, it's designed for doing close up work and sits right over what you're working on. For my spray booth I just got a couple cheap clip on desk lamps with CFL bulbs. If you don't feel like your current lighting is terribly inadequate just an extra desk lamp would probably get your lighting sorted.

Thanks. I ordered a magnifier off amazon for super cheap. Gets here tomorrow.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RB38X8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00

Do you/anyone have a recommendation for a light? LED lights seem a bit harsh.

Usually called "helping hands".

Used to hold things for electronics, crafts, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/SE-MZ101B-Helping-Hand-Magnifier/dp/B000RB38X8

In case anyone else wants one.

Less than 9 bucks on Amazon

To me, this is overkill. IMO, even for someone who solders like 50 keebs, this is overkill. The only such mounts/holders I'd personally invest in is the one for soldering USBs

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RB38X8

I love my helping hands tool. Only $7 and had never failed. Maybe if I were soldering very small electronics I could see buying a nice vise grip like tool. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RB38X8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-L0HAbVWXN6R8

Hey, I've made one of those :) Sans fancy veneers.

To make your soldering life easier, get one of these guys: https://www.amazon.com/SE-MZ101B-Helping-Magnifying-Glass/dp/B000RB38X8/ref=sr_1_4?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1518785664&sr=1-4&keywords=soldering+helping+hand

Next up is dealing with those frets, get a fret rocker/files off aliexpress (about 1/5th the price of buying from US sellers) and a set of feeler gauges.

The pickups included in those aren't so hot, https://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-Guitar-Pickups_c_7.html for cheap and mildly betterer.

Now, garageband isn't the best way to play, so...lookup on building your own 5e3 kit or the like, you'll save hundreds and probably have another video to make just in that.

helping hands

>You don't need a soldering iron to fix a knob...

Oops, I meant to say that I broke the pot. I tried pulling the knob gently while also rocking it back and forth but I still managed to pull the shaft out of the brand new pot.

Sorry for the confusion; my phone was at 1% so I was typing fast. Perhaps I should have proof-read. >Electrical work on guitars isn't really maintenance, as you should do it right the first time and never have to worry about it again. Unless you're really into modding and replacing pickups, I wouldn't jump on it.

Haha, I've managed to break an electrical part twice in the past month, and I expect it to happen at least a few more times as my guitar collection grows. I figured it would probably be cheaper and fun to learn how to do it myself.

>A multi angle vice can be very helpful as well.

Like this or this?

helping hands do what the name implies

You could use a jeweler's saw which you can get at your local craft store for ~$10, or use a Dremel with a small cutting disk.

You'll need to hold the TIE steady, I have one of those fly flishing lure magnifier clamps for doing electronics work, it also works well for holding models in place to work on them.

If you bought the kit that requires soldering, buy Helping Hands https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RB38X8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_TfgIwbTHFC3S4

Soldering is a beast with just two hands. And desoldering wick in case you make a mistake.

ABSOLUTELY! I have built well over 50 models being a mixture of RGs, MGs and HGs and I have gone through the gambit when building them when it comes to emotions and skills. I started with automotive grade side cutters and using a pocket knife to trim the nub. Than I started panel lining, got a pair of jewlery nippers, sanding the nub and than to my system now a tool kit that includes Gundam Planet nippers, two hobby knives, straight edged toe nail clippers, sakura 005 black pens, metallic sharpies, masking tape and foam finger nail sanders. It wasn't until I joined this community that I learned more about aspects like adding a top coat and custom painting.

Gunpla isn't about making your model look like everybody elses, its about making yourself happy and enjoying the process.

With regards to RG kits, as they do have tiny tiny pieces, if you're really worried about your hands shaking I would look into acquiring a work stand similar to what people use while soldering electronics and making miniature figurines.
http://www.amazon.com/SE-MZ101B-Helping-Magnifying-Glass/dp/B000RB38X8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1453307699&sr=8-3&keywords=solder+stand

EDIT: http://ragnaroc05.imgur.com/all/ In case you wanted to look around.

I'm not sure I'm understanding "instrument to sit on a table to hook a string to" but there would be lots of ways to allow them to string by themselves. (Clasps would be more difficult but many types could still be done.)

First, there are lots of ideas on this page to wade through:
http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/tools-for-a-person-with-difficulty-using-hand (read the Comments there too)

You don't mention the size and shape of the "beads" they're stringing, the size of their holes, or the cording you're having them use. Those things could all be important in which method you'd choose, or you might want to choose different beads and/or threads/cordings, etc, to make things easier.

If the beads are small, lots of people already put those beads on a piece of velour, short terrycloth, etc. on their work surface to use as a bead mat, then scoop up one bead at a time (one-handed) with a "beading needle" (long, sometimes flexible, with long eye for cording) or even various regular needles. The pile or uneven surface "holds" the beads in place pretty well while scooping and keeps them from rolling around and off the work surface too.
Each scoop picks up one bead on the needle, then then needle is held vertical so the bead can slide down it (sometimes a few beads can be picked up before the upright motion). The cording has a knot at the final end or it's tied around something heavy** or it's held with a clamp of some kind***. At some point a bunch of the scooped beads on the needle are pushed down onto the thread/cording.
Some examples:
http://myworldofbeads.com/beading-mat-options
And there are various kinds of beading "boards" you can buy (or make) that have long (straight or curved) troughs where beads can be lined up in the desired order for stringing with their holes all aligned in the same directions, so a needle can more easily be passed through multiple beads at a time, or just one:
https://www.google.com/images?q=beading+boards

Here's a video that shows other tips for picking up beads (her surface is fuzzy but not toweling, etc):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG_7_PHdbP4 (especially the second half)

*anything you can find or make that's reasonably heavy and has a loop, groove, etc, for the thread/cording to get tied around/through
** or a tight-gripping clamp of some kinds that could be taped to the table, etc; or in the case of binder clips, you could clamp one to table edge or clothing, etc, then tie the cording around one of the clamp's loops
...the "extra hand" tools can work too; here's one example at Amazon but they come with more "things" on them or less, and one cheapie version I have has a suction base (to grip smooth surfaces):
http://www.amazon.com/SE-MZ101B-Helping-Magnifying-Glass/dp/B000RB38X8
http://www.electronix.com/dual-clip-helping-hands-parts-holder-p-9208.html?osCsid=59kqbpfjj2p8shkscslstnps94

You could also have the "needle" be sticking up through a few pieces of corrugated cardboard, wad of clay, etc, so the beads could be placed onto over the top of the needle while the needle is held firm. Or the helping hand tool above could hold onto a needle to hold it in an upright position, etc.

You could also have them use other parts of their bodies to hold the cordings or beads, or to push against while threading, etc (see the safety pin on clothing idea in that link above as just one example).

You might also want to check out some of the ideas for assistive tools on this page at my site (it's primarily about polymer clay but this page also deals with doing many things with hand/arm problems, stroke, etc): http://glassattic.com/polymer/disabilities.htm

And btw, they could also make some of their own beads (or larger bead/pendants) from polymer clay (or various ones from air-dry clay too). They'd also be able to control the size of the holes that way (for air-dry clays make holes larger since those clays will shrink while drying...not necessary for polymer clay).
My site will have ideas for simpler beads to make (and loads of variations), as well as ways to connect beads/pendants to various cordings/chains/etc, if you're interested:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/beads.htm
http://glassattic.com/polymer/beads-holes.htm
http://glassattic.com/polymer/jewelry.htm (necklaces,bracelets,earrings,hair,etc)
http://glassattic.com/polymer/pendants_cording.htm

And there are lots of other polymer or air-dry clay things they could make one-handed too (see the Table of Contents page for those and scroll all the way down, or check out the Kids-Beginners page for some suggested ideas as well as suggestions on the Disabilities page linked to above):
http://glassattic.com/polymer/contents.htm
http://glassattic.com/polymer/kids_beginners.htm (click on Adult Beginners suggestions)

more:
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20121117150851AAeUHiI

Haha. My best guess is that they designed it to act like a third hand. Which is really useful for home soldering projects, especially when paired with this.

I've got one of those at the office, a big swing arm lamp with a built in magnifier, it's very handy if you're doing close-up work.

I didn't bother getting one for my home bench though, depends how good you are at seeing small details by the naked eye.

You could grab one of these pretty cheaply, I've got one for holding parts while I do fine-touches.

[edit] Here's my setup

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RB38X8/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Yx3.ub1YQ5C8R

Decent hand tools: screwdrivers, socket sets, needle nose pliers and wire cutters. Hemostats and small tweezers are also good to keep around as well. I keep needle files in my workbench for roughing up tabs on connectors or I use a little engraver tool for the same thing. Hamfests and gun shows are great for finding all manner of oddball hand tools that can be used for electronic work and general stuff too. I have a vise mounted to my bench too and wouldn't have a workstation without one. It took me forever to get one, but a Helping Hands set is good for PCB work.

I have a few multimeters around the house. All of them have continuity testers on them and I'd never buy one without that function. Each one has its own set of these which have proven to be invaluable.

It's not essential (and not necessarily a tool), but I use a lot of heatshrink tubing and try to keep various diameters around. I use either a cheap heatgun or this Bernzomatic butane soldering iron that can be used as a heat gun if you take the soldering tip off. It's also a pretty good portable iron. I also think it's a good idea to have a few soldering irons. I do a lot more than pedal building (mostly RF stuff) so I usually need heat that my fine tip soldering station can't provide. For larger jobs, I use a Weller 8200 that in my experience works well for soldering ground wires to metal parts in guitars themselves.

Get a soldering helping hands. Makes things so much easier.

http://www.amazon.com/SE-MZ101B-Helping-Hand-Magnifier/dp/B000RB38X8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425052915&sr=8-1&keywords=helping+hands

http://www.amazon.com/PENIS/dp/B000RB38X8/