Solder wire reel holder for soldering third-hand helper
This is a solder wire reel holder I designed to fit onto my soldering third-hand helper.
The design is based on a 1/2 lb solder wire reel from MG Chemicals (with a 1" hole and 1.25" width) and a popular small third hand used for electronic work (typically less than 10$ at AliExpress, or Amazon, see reference below).
It consists of two parts:
- The holder that attaches to the top of the third hand.
- The "V" shaped roller that fits inside the reel.
I created grooves on each side of the roller to keep it stable within the holder arms. A friction tab is added on top of the roller to ensure that the solder reel isn't completely loose, providing just enough friction for smooth rolling. Additionally, I included an arm with a ring to dispense the solder wire from the center of the holder, preventing tangling.
Best of all, it fits perfectly on top of the holder! An added benefit is that the additional weight of the solder reel enhances the stability of the third hand, making it heavier and better balanced as the solder counterbalances the arms and grips of the third hand.
v1.1 Update
After using it for a while, I noticed I usually move the third hand by grabbing the solder holder, and it kept getting loose. So I added a hole in the back of the base and drilled a small one through it to put in a metal screw that holds everything tight.
Third hand references :
https://www.amazon.com/Neiko-01902-Adjustable-Magnifying-Alligator/dp/B000P42O3C/ref=sr_1_2
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804495988185.html
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/1005006565048451.html