Rubber Nubs on Helping Hand?

[obsidianspider]

In the mintyPi guide, I see that wermy's helping hand has little rubber nubs on the end of the alligator clips. Does anyone know what those are called, or where to buy them? I've seen them other places, but without knowing what they are called, I can't buy some for my own setup.

[MrDralixx]

HAHAHA!!!

I did a quick google for this as I was just looking at a similar item that you're looking for recently and came across this link:

viewtopic.php?t=132

[obsidianspider]

Thanks! I guess that means my searching skills weren't quite good enough to find the post here, but at least I'm on a path toward the "nameless part"

*someone* has to have those things for sale separately

[obsidianspider]

Thanks to /r/whatiisthisthing I think we have an answer: Look up "vinyl bolt caps" or "vinyl thread protector"

[djbriane]

Good to know! I've got the Hobby Creek helping hands and they sell these caps for the alligator clips:

https://www.hobbycreek.com/collections/ ... lip-covers

My only gripe is they can be a bit difficult for small parts... might give the bolt caps a try sometime.

[abrugsch]

Heat-shrink works too

[obsidianspider]

I had been using the sheath from ethernet cable in the past, but tonight I stopped by Lowe's and picked up these screw protectors. They fit pretty well on my cheap Harbor Freight helping hand. Not super snug, but they look close to what wermy's setup has, and the rubber is thicker than the ethernet cable sheath or the heat shrink tubing I tried. At 92¢ for a 4-pack I think they're worth trying out. If they end up being too floppy I can try out the next size smaller.

[wermy]

I had been using the sheath from ethernet cable in the past, but tonight I stopped by Lowe's and picked up these screw protectors. They fit pretty well on my cheap Harbor Freight helping hand. Not super snug, but they look close to what wermy's setup has, and the rubber is thicker than the ethernet cable sheath or the heat shrink tubing I tried. At 92¢ for a 4-pack I think they're worth trying out. If they end up being too floppy I can try out the next size smaller.

I also put a small 2.5lb weight over the base of mine. Super helpful, it holds it in place nicely:

[obsidianspider]

I also put a small 2.5lb weight over the base of mine. Super helpful, it holds it in place nicely:

Great idea! I think I'm going to pick one of those up. That helping hand flops over all the time.