SainSmart Magnetic Helping Hands, Third Hand Tool with 5X LED Magnifying Lamp, 4 PCB Circuit Board Holder & 4 Flexible Arms, 11.1 x 7.1 Inch Extra Larger Base, Soldering Station for Electronic Repair

This is a very well-built and solid set of helping hands. The baseplate is substantial and heavy, and the magnetic ends of each arm/accessory stick firmly to it. The gooseneck arms are fairly stiff, but in a good way. The alligator clips have good grip to them, and they have rubber sleeves for both grip and protection of the items they are gripping. The magnifying glass is a welcome addition, too. My only complaint is that it was a bit cloudy looking - I cleaned it with a cloth without success, but after using some lens cleaner on the cloth and doing a more careful job, I got it looking much better. There seemed to be some haze/residue on it that needed to be cleaned off. It will still get the job done, so this isnt a huge deal to me, but wanted to mention it. I took a photo through it looking at an empty breadboard for reference, showing it BEFORE I cleaned it (cloudy state). The above-mentioned photo through the magnifier is illuminated by the magnifier LED light - USB powered (charger brick not included). This LED light is another nice touch, but I would have liked to see a bit more light output from it. It allows you to select through three settings for color temp, warm, cool, and what I think is a combination of both. I choose the combination because to my eye it seems to be the brightest. My soldering/electronics workbench has another light installed, so that one will provide most of the light I need, but for detail soldering, I will definitely be using the magnifier light too (since the magnifier will cast a shadow on the workpiece). Finally, the kit also included a set of magnetic pins for supporting a PCBA at its mounting holes (assuming that it has some). These work well as well (I included the same empty breadboard resting on these pins). This is an overally very good setup for soldering. My only complaint is that it is a bit on the pricey side at $50. I am still giving the item itself a 5 star rating, but I think the value for money is 4 stars. I suppost this could just be a case of you get what you pay for, and you are getting good product here for that $50.

Well made and highly versatile set of helping hands. The magnetic base is a great size, and provides a hefty, very sturdy base for the hands. This set comes with four alligator clip terminated helping hands, which have magnetic bases - 2 short lengths, 2 long. The length of the hands is bendable but maintains the shape you leave them in, even when holding something a little heavier, like a well populated circuit board. The alligator clips have rubber on the tips to prevent damage to things like thin wires. There is also a ring light which has a longer length, all bendable, and with a magnetic base just like the helping hands. The light is usb powered and features a magnifying glass in the center if you need it. All in all a fantastic set.

I have used various helping hands over the years, most of them being some form of the heavy cast iron base with two alligator clips on the ends of hinged metal arms...very limiting to say the least. But oh my! what a treat this set from Sainsmart is!!! Not only are the arms fully articulating, but they attach magnetically, via neodymium magnets to the substantial steel base (powder coated for durability) so you can position each arm exactly where you want it. The set includes two long arms and two short arms, along with four stand offs to rest a PCB while soldering so no shorting occurs on the steel base. Lastly, the set includes an LED lit small magnifier that is stated to be around 3x magnification, and this appears to be accurate. As a long-time electronics hobbyist, I have to say...you NEED this set of helping hands. Your soldering life will become so much easier.

The base is surprisingly stable. The magnetic bases of the arms and the light are very strong! The finish of the base is great. The 4 little magnetic stands - don’t know what they are called - are very handy to place and support a PCB at its mounting holes Cons are that the light on the magnifier isn’t bright enough for me and it gets hot. The crocodile clips are average but get the job done It’s a bit pricey but saves a lot of time and trouble with cheap alternatives

I am so thrilled with this purchase. First, the quality of this item is fantastic. The base is a legit solid piece of metal, so it is fantastic to keep everything VERY sturdy. I think if I had only one word to describe this device, it would be sturdy. Next, each articulating arm is excellent build quality and moves perfectly well. Each of the magnets is quite powerful such that there is no accidental dislodgment of any arms. They take just the right amount of force to remove if that makes sense. The light is great though I wish the switch were a little closer to the light itself as opposed to several inches down the power chord. This just means that I either have to have a little extra cable looped up onto my desk so that I can get to the switch, or I have to dangle it behind my desk and pull it up when needed. No big deal, though. Each of the alligator clips is of nice quality and, so far, holds my circuit boards firmly. Magnification is also excellent. It is actually better than I expected. Overall I would recommend it to anyone looking for such a device.

I use this for small soldering projects and find it to be quite great for those tasks

Great value compare to other brands the price is great.

This 3rd hand device does the job, but has a few quirks. As others stated, the retaining screws used to secure the alligator clips to the flexible support arms do not provide a positive lock. In other words, the retaining screws require frequent tightening. Unlike other reviewers, after approximately a dozen uses, I have not experienced problems with the LED. The base of the unit has sufficient mass and provides a stable platform, especially with the rubber foot pads installed. The magnetic base of each support arm clings to the base with enough force to support workpieces weighing several ounces; and the rigidity of the arms supports this functionality. Used in combination, the arms can support substantial workpieces. The pillar supports perform flawlessly.

I am very pleased with this item and the sellers service. This will do everything I need. It is a great upgrade from my 1980s vintage Radio Shack helping Hands! This has a lot more flexibility.

The base and magnetic arms seem to be of good quality. The only complaint is the magnifer lamp. The lens has aberrations and a small field of view. The ring lamp is alright. The lamps power switch is in the middle of the power cord instead of being close to the lamp. This puts the switch off of the desktop and out of reach. Buy the one without this worthless maginifer lamp.