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Rubber Nubs on Helping Hand?
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 11:09 am
by 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.

Re: Rubber Nubs on Helping Hand?
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 11:33 am
by 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
Re: Rubber Nubs on Helping Hand?
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 11:42 am
by 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
Re: Rubber Nubs on Helping Hand?
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 1:03 pm
by obsidianspider
Thanks to /r/whatiisthisthing I think we have an answer: Look up "vinyl bolt caps" or "vinyl thread protector"
Re: Rubber Nubs on Helping Hand?
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 2:55 pm
by 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.
Re: Rubber Nubs on Helping Hand?
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 5:44 pm
by abrugsch
Heat-shrink works too
Re: Rubber Nubs on Helping Hand?
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 8:35 pm
by 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.

Re: Rubber Nubs on Helping Hand?
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 8:48 pm
by wermy
obsidianspider wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2017 8:35 pm
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:

Re: Rubber Nubs on Helping Hand?
Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2017 6:29 am
by obsidianspider
wermy wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2017 8:48 pm
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.