Random question ... anyone got any experience with Panavise? I have just cleaned up my CC from amateur radio crap sales and have itchy spendy fingers and it's likely to fix a number of problems I've got with the number of hands I have when working on SMD boards and deadbug stuff. But there are two options ...
... standard good for everything... ... and board holder... Any thoughts welcome Edit: or option 3 - this will make my life harder
I
have have had both (and the mini shop vise as well); bought all new from catalog 30 years ago. I've never once regretted the money spent. (The PCB holder assembly and its swivel base are lost somewhere in a move.)
The universal clamp is universal, but you have to screw it all the way in & out, which is time-consuming. The PCB clamp is made so you can "quick-change" boards; it is primarily for production work, but it makes life so much easier having it right there under your magnifier and worklight when troubleshooting a PCB. I consider it essential equipment for anyone who spends ANY appreciable amount of time working on PCBs for any reason.
You only NEED one swivel assembly; they're designed to quick-change just by loosening the ball clamp that the big post goes into. But one for each is so much more handy, especially if soldering wires to a PCB. Get the big cast soldering base with the little catchall wells unless you plan to have a second swivel base screwed to your workbench somewhere; the swivel base WILL do for many tasks just by itself, but the weight and broader base makes all the difference in the world when soldering. It makes the work stable, not "wiggly", if you know what I mean. Even on large boards.
If you ONLY get one, get the universal with rubber grips. It works well on anything up to medium-size PCBs, and works well for soldering wires without damaging the insulation. Also quite effective for dead-bug down to approx DIP-6 packages. For small stuff you have to reverse one or both of the jaws, which is time consuming but not difficult. Or get the regular mini shop vise as well. 2nd more expensive choice: one base, both clamp assemblies. 1st, most expensive choice, one of each with base loaded to the gunwales as in your pics.
Shopping notes: Shop eBay CAREFULLY. You CAN get a good deal on there, but for some reason many sellers think they have Starrett or Brown & Sharpe machinist-grade equipment when they get their hands on these. They have ZERO collectible value; they're just used tools, and not terribly expensive ones at that. ALWAYS compare against new from Panavise's site before clicking [BUY]. Also check Amazon; they often come up on special around the "Gifts for Dad" holidays, just like Dremel does.mnem
*solder-ily*