Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => AmpTools/Tech Tips => Topic started by: 72Blazer on April 28, 2023, 09:31:57 pm

Title: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: 72Blazer on April 28, 2023, 09:31:57 pm
I noticed a nice large circuit board vice on Sluckey's Revibe page.  I'm wondering what type that might be or a similar product?

http://sluckeyamps.com/revibe/revibe.htm
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: sluckey on April 29, 2023, 05:39:31 am
That old '70s vise (http://sluckeyamps.com/6v6plexi/P-6V6_02.jpg) was included with the Pace soldering station repair kit (http://sluckeyamps.com/warbler/w_110.jpg) that FAA bought for all their workbenches. Although my vise is branded as Pace, I suspect it was probably made for Pace by Panavise. Here's a modern Panavise ...

     PANAVISE 324 Electronic Work Center (https://www.amazon.com/PanaVise-324-Electronic-Work-Center/dp/B000SSPNBU/)
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: sluckey on April 29, 2023, 06:26:01 am
Here's a smaller vise that I sometimes use, although I prefer the bigger vise.

     http://sluckeyamps.com/tdr/tdr_06.jpg

     http://sluckeyamps.com/warbler/w_03.jpg

Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: 72Blazer on April 30, 2023, 10:39:39 am
Thanks,

I bought one on ebay very similar if not identical to one used in your "Warbler" photo. 

Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: PRR on April 30, 2023, 12:10:43 pm
OMG! That looks older than the Panavise board holder! It may even be the original.

And dig the "Culver City USA". All the address they needed then. (There's only one Culver City, and not much manufacturing then or now.) They have moved (a 1-car garage in Culver City is now worth a million bucks) and apparently don't do simple board holders, but a line of board washers and stuff.

Hmmm. Panavice says: "1974 - PanaVise develops a Circuit Board Holder as an interchangeable head for the 300 base, and becomes a "standard" in the electronics tool industry."
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: sluckey on April 30, 2023, 03:16:27 pm
A man can never have too many clamps (says the woodworker in me)! My big vise is stamped Matrix Eng Co. rather than Pace.  The next one is the same as yours (you may be missing a knob or thumbscrew). The little one has been used a lot for tinning wires and prepping coax cables (click for pic (http://sluckeyamps.com/VAC15/14.jpg)). I just bought the blue one a couple years ago. The base is heavy steel and all eight of the doodads have a powerful magnet that holds them securely in place. It has been very helpful for holding electronics stuff but my latest projects include rebuilding the air pump in a BB rifle and rebuilding the carburetor for my riding mower. Nothing like a third, fourth, fifth, or sixth hand that doesn't talk back.  :icon_biggrin:

I highly recommend the blue one from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086PJ29PF/).
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: 72Blazer on April 30, 2023, 07:10:57 pm
I'm thinking this will be interoperable (at least the bar that is 14") with the vice I purchased.  Thoughts Sluckey?
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: sluckey on April 30, 2023, 08:03:44 pm
I would need to have it in hand to make any comments.
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: sluckey on May 02, 2023, 09:15:12 am
I'm thinking this will be interoperable (at least the bar that is 14") with the vice I purchased.  Thoughts Sluckey?
I took mine apart yesterday to clean up rust and repaint. I even disassembled the horizontal cross bars. There's a lot more going on than a casual glance will reveal. There is a long screw that runs the entire length of the cross bars. The little knob on the right end of the crossbars is actually the head of that long screw. And a compression spring that runs half the length of the cross bars. And finally a square nut on the end of the screw that moves inside the hollow crossbars. Turning the head of the screw sets the tension on the spring, which in turn controls the clamping pressure applied to the edge of the circuit board.

All this to say, I don't think you can use that extra crossbar with that vise.
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: Lectroid on May 02, 2023, 10:43:07 am
A man can never have too many clamps...

Absolutely true. I believe that's in the U.S. Constitution somewhere...   :laugh:

But all this talk has got me looking over my aluminum bar stock and thinking about a homemade version.



Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: sluckey on May 02, 2023, 11:30:07 am
But all this talk has got me looking over my aluminum bar stock and thinking about a homemade version.
Yeah, this has got my homebrew wheels turning. Reminds me of my simple amp cradle. Looks like longer rods would be a good mod. Take a look...

     https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BHZCM216/
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: Lectroid on May 02, 2023, 03:29:57 pm
Speaking of amp cradles/amp caddies, have you see CrocMule's innovation?  At least I think it's his.  Look here and following:

https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=20007.msg326407#msg326407 (https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=20007.msg326407#msg326407)

He figured a way to tilt rather steeply toward the builder that I really like.  I immediately modified my own cradle with the drawer slides.  It is very useful in my book.

Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: 72Blazer on May 03, 2023, 10:44:10 pm
Thanks Sluckey-wow who would have thunk that?
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: Lectroid on May 04, 2023, 12:15:05 pm
Looks like longer rods would be a good mod. Take a look...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BHZCM216/

Or its baby brother, below. This version is too small for most amp work but look at the basic structure of it--very simple.  Could make most of it out of wood.

(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41dBWOUdvYS._AC_SL1000_.jpg)

https://www.amazon.com/MMOBIEL-Adjustable-Soldering-Desoldering-Rotation/dp/B098PBPX8W/ref=sr_1_2?crid=35VU97Y4EW46G&keywords=MMOBIEL+Adjustable+PCB+Holder&qid=1683220101&sprefix=mmobiel+adjustable+pcb+holder%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-2 (https://www.amazon.com/MMOBIEL-Adjustable-Soldering-Desoldering-Rotation/dp/B098PBPX8W/ref=sr_1_2?crid=35VU97Y4EW46G&keywords=MMOBIEL+Adjustable+PCB+Holder&qid=1683220101&sprefix=mmobiel+adjustable+pcb+holder%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-2)



Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: sluckey on May 04, 2023, 01:16:44 pm
Or its baby brother, below. This version is too small for most amp work but look at the basic structure of it--very simple.  Could make most of it out of wood.
Haha! I just bought that two days ago. All it needs is a 24" long 1x2 to handle every board I've ever made.
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: Lectroid on May 04, 2023, 02:43:11 pm
Oh that's too freaking easy.  I should have seen that.   Here I've been working for 2 hrs and got my version almost sketched out, probably wouldn't have cost me more than $60 in parts. :l2:

I think I'm doing it your way.

Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: sluckey on May 09, 2023, 07:19:21 pm
Little pcb vise arrived today. Pretty cheap but will work fine for loading boards and connecting wires. It's worth $18. The stock fixture can handle a 8-1/2" Hoffman board.
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: sluckey on May 09, 2023, 07:27:47 pm
Life is good! I was looking for a scrap piece of wood to make a longer crossbar. Grabbed my 30 year old mahogany push stick, paint stirrer, multi-task stick and couldn't believe it. It was the exact dimensions needed for the cross bar! I can handle a 14" long Hoffman board now. Stick measures 1-3/16 x 5/8 in case you are curious. I may even sand it and paint it!   :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: 72Blazer on May 09, 2023, 08:08:26 pm
I was waiting for you add a post on this (I bought one too).  $21 you can't beat it.  I haven't had time to put it together yet.  Thanks for the tip!
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: sluckey on May 10, 2023, 07:23:33 am
One more pic of itty bitty vise...
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: sluckey on May 10, 2023, 04:11:10 pm
One more tip... I was searching through my wood scraps looking for something to make a 24" x 1-3/16" x 5/8" stick for this vise. I was just about to drag out the planer and make a mess, when it occurred to me...  :think1:   the fence boards sold by Lowes are now 5/8" rather than the old 3/4" thickness. And I have a few. I grabbed a straight knot free board and promptly ripped a 1-3/16" wide stick. Another 5 minutes with the palm sander and I had a 6' extension cross bar that fits perfectly. Now to find that black rattle can.

BTW, do you have your old heavy duty pcb vise yet?
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: RadioComm on May 10, 2023, 06:13:15 pm
I'm sold. Just ordered mine too. Getting it tomorrow. Thanks a mille lectroid/sluckey for the pointer, review, and tips.  :worthy1:

Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: 72Blazer on May 10, 2023, 08:23:27 pm
Yes I do Sluckey-nice and sturdy that's for sure.  Got the main board from the noisy FDR I gutted on it now.
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: sluckey on May 11, 2023, 03:46:19 pm
Lil vise with fence board mod. Now I can do 20" turret boards. Fence board needs to be 4-1/4" longer than longest board you will work with.
Title: Re: Circuit board vice recommendation
Post by: Lectroid on January 09, 2024, 07:27:28 am
Just wanted to update here that this works.  I stole sluckey's idea of making a longer spine.  Much easier to populate boards now.  :icon_biggrin: