SparkFun Third Hand Tools(Genuine Sparkfun Third Hand)

This is a solderer’s best helper, the third hand. Comes with a heavy base, two alligator clips, a soldering iron holder, and a good magnifying glass. Note that we don’t normally need a third hand. It’s nice, but soldering flat on a table works just fine. Then again, the desk is starting to look like a mine field of burn marks and melted pot holes.

What we’ve found with many of these cheaper third hand is the lack of stability. The small base on this unit does not make the problem any better. However, with some creativity, you can make it more stable. We also really enjoyed the fact that this unit has a iron holder. Cheap fire-starting soldering irons often do not include a holding stand – this third hand can help prevent accidents and melt marks in the dining room table.