A Soldering Helper Build 2014 Sweepstakes Entry

[ashok baijal]

Today I was planning to solder new Deans plugs on the battery and Esc for my Fokker DR7 and saw that my soldering "helping hands" jig had a btoken hand, damage sustained during shifting. So thought of making one. Will try to complete before 15th.

I have picked up the idea from Hobbyking "Mr Jig" and designed my own.

I have startred with some scrap pieces of mdf lying with me (I had saved after the carpenter left for such a day) and two clothes pins. So here are the opening mandatory picture

[Swapnil]

I was thinking about building one too. Now I'll just wait for yours to finish and copy it!

[arun.sreelakam]

Use crocodile clips rather than this plastic ones...
Also suggest you to go for a heavy base plate like scrap cd drive case or something like that..

[flyingboxcar]

Or use the wooden ones as they not only won't melt but would also not act as heat sinks 

[ashok baijal]

The objective of this build is to make a jig to help in soldering the various types of plugs used in aero-modelling, like holding the Deans plug and the wire while using your hands to hold the soldering iron and the solder.

The first step was to cut the 18mm mdf piece that I had (5in x 5.5in) into four pieces as shown in the picture. The side pieces are about 2in wide whereas the inner pieces are 1.5 in wide.

[ashok baijal]

The next step was to take a 6mm sheet of mdf and cut a piece of 5in X 5.5in. This piece would serve as the base plate over which the thicker pieces will go. Two more pieces of 6mm mdf of 5in x 2.25in were cut which would go on the top.

The two side pieces are glued to the base plate, followed by the two pieces on the top. This would result in a channel in which the two inner pieces can slide.

[ashok baijal]

Next step was to glue (with Araldite) pieces of L shaped aluminium channel on the inner faces of the two pieces which slide in the channel. This would serve as the faces of the mini vice that we are creating. I then attached two clothes clips on either side of the channels which would grab the wires.

Next I attached one piece of the vice by screwing it from the bottom so that it remains fixed. I then searched for a small compression spring in my junk box and hammered a piece of thin wood on the top side to prevent the movable piece from falling out. I then made a hole in the thin wooden piece in the centre which is large enough to allow a two in screw to pass through easily. After putting the spring between the movable piece and the thin wooden edge piece I screwed the 2in screw into the movable piece. So now, just by pulling the screw we can open or close the vice which will easily hold connectors like the Deans plugs while the wires are held by the clothes pins.

[ashok baijal]

As and when I need to solder bullet connectors, I will drill holes on the top surface just like in the Hobbyking "Mr Jigs". Further, since the jig is made od mdf, it will not conduct the heat and keep the bullet connectors hot while soldering. I have not drilled the holes as of now because I need to determine the correct depth required for different bullet connectors. (I have none in stock!!! ).

So this completes the "Soldering Helper" build.

I have had nice suggestions, but I just went ahead with what I had. Going to the market really scares me because searching for parking space and lots and lots of traffic ... so waiting for weather to cool down before going by bus.

Please keep the suggestions flowing in.

[RumblePirate]

I'm planin to build my soldering jig as well.
Good concept friend

[K K Iyer]

Another desi jugaad.
Cheep and besht. Needs only one rubber band!
It works. Itis what i use.

[v2 eagle]

Good build Ashok sir.

I use a Micrometer, AKA Screw gauge, much suitable for small connectors, wires, and good up to size of XT60, only drawback is the small size and cannot hold bigger objects, otherwise its good and does the job pretty well.

Ashok.P

[RumblePirate]

For the time being I've drilled some holes in a thick wooden plank, serves good for even battery soldering. No chance for short circuits, just used various sized drill bits 0.8-5mm

[utkarshg13]

Iyer sir even i use the same jugaad...

[anwar]

Interesting build  

But we cannot consider this for the sweepstakes as per rules laid down.

[ashok baijal]

 @Anwar
That's OK. I built one because I felt I should have one. My mistake for not having remembered the sweepstakes rules. Maybe failing grey cells 

[girishsarwal]

I was never able to solder bullet connectors in a vise or in pliers... after some consideration I realized these connectors are very good conductors of heat and would transfer the heat to whatever metal objects held them barring crocodile clips which have a minimal contact section with the connector... I now use sized drill holes in 12 mm ply piece.. works... takes about 30s with a 30w soldering iron to attain correct temperature for melting solder wire right onto the connector...the way soldering should be done.

Great attempt Mr. Baijal


P.S. did I just sound like a foreign model selling Ab cruncher on a home shopping channel?... "mujhe pehle soldering nahin hoti thi...pair Maine ply try karaa..."  

[AnjanBabu]

Nice to see you're building rather than buying.
Use a heavier base like a HDD chassis or something. 

Cost me under 100/- to build this one-- http://www.rcindia.org/tools-materials-and-building-techniques/diy-helping-hand-tool-for-soldering/

[ashok baijal]

@AnjanBabu
Remember having seen the Instructable a few months back. Will incorporate the ideas once I build the "Helper" for my electronics soldering.