Stickvise

[atferrari]

Currently I use something dead simple but that only works for single sided SMD boards. An antistatic plate with a recessed metal (paper) clip which holds the PCB flat on the plate. It works but your design is much better.

Picture please 

You will have to wait until July 1. Just packed all my electronics stuff into boxes and the movers will come on Thursday to pack them into a 40ft container. If I would know in which box it is I would open it for you 

It is simply a metal board clip as you see sometimes to hold papers on a board when you have to fill out some forms. I cut grooves into the plastic so it is completely flat on top of it. Nothing special but works well for me since 20 years.

Similar to this but my clip is a bit smaller and easy to get down flat:

but that's a standard writing board with clip....... On mine the "lower lip" of the clip is recessed into the anti-static plastic board which means that the PCB is absolutely flat on the board.
You can actually power up the board if the metal clip doesn't short anything at the corner it grabs. The resistivity of the plastic is that high that it doesn't upset most circuits and with solder stop on the bottom side there isn't much it could connect.

OK until July 1. Good luck with the change.

[kjs]

OK until July 1. Good luck with the change.

Thanks! It's a big move, 8000km....
Unfortunately you will be deeply disappointed by the looks. Same as the picture I posted just a different shape of the board. I will try to show the recess for the clip (made with a Dremel). I have several of them and most are made with a conductive plate which looks like MDF. I think it is MDF with something conductive pressed into it. That's a lot cheaper than a real conductive plastic.

[zapta]

If not, can you please post a picture with only the stuff that is included?

And here is the picture of exactly what you will get as requested (minus the sip  header being held)

Thanks. I just ordered one. Shipping was free, that's nice. Will report here how it works for me. Will order the sip header separately.

I plan to chop the long rail. My boards are small. 5cm x 6cm at most, typically much smaller.  Would be nice to have a smaller version off the shelf.

[alexrich82]

If not, can you please post a picture with only the stuff that is included?

And here is the picture of exactly what you will get as requested (minus the sip  header being held)

Thanks. I just ordered one. Shipping was free, that's nice. Will report here how it works for me. Will order the sip header separately.

I plan to chop the long rail. My boards are small. 5cm x 6cm at most, typically much smaller.  Would be nice to have a smaller version off the shelf.

Cool, thanks for being an early adopter!  Chopping the shaft is a great idea if you don't need that much length.  I wanted to emphasize hacking the vise rather than offering a lot of different versions, this way I can produce one version bulk and bring price down.

[zapta]

What thread is the wing nut?

I may look for a fancy one on McMaster. 

[alexrich82]

What thread is the wing nut?

I may look for a fancy one on McMaster.

Cool idea, the thread is M5 x .8mm.  Keep in mind the clamping screw protrudes about 7mm give or take, so I would spec something with a female thread that's at least 10mm deep.

If you're already ordering you should consider some M3 male-female standoffs so you have the option to raise the jaws up.
mcmaster# 93655A502

[zapta]

The StickVise arrived this morning. It works very well and screams quality. I am very happy. 

The round rod is too long for me (my board are small, some only 2-3cm in width) so plan to chop 6cm of so. The stock wing nut works well so I will stay with it. I rotated the plastic jaws 180 degrees to use the L shape side rather than the V shape side. This provides better access to components and pads near the edge of the board (have the L side as the factory default?).  The plastic jaws have good surface finish, not 3D printed, would be nice to ship with a spare or allow to buy extra when ordering the StickVise (especially if they are not solder temperature resistant). The spring action is a little bit notchy, may get smoother after some usage, but works well anyway and not a major issue. I put a thin layer of silicon grease on the thumb screws and main rod and it helps a little bit.  The stock plastic jaws are very good, I don't think I will need the other kinds (downloadable 3D models).  Comparing it to the miniature Micro Mark vise, the StickVise works better in two respects, the print action compensates for not perfectly rectangular boards and the single rod design allows the vise to adapt to the surface (better stability).

[alexrich82]

The StickVise arrived this morning. It works very well and screams quality. I am very happy. 

The round rod is too long for me (my board are small, some only 2-3cm in width) so plan to chop 6cm of so. The stock wing nut works well so I will stay with it. I rotated the plastic jaws 180 degrees to use the L shape side rather than the V shape side. This provides better access to components and pads near the edge of the board (have the L side as the factory default?).  The plastic jaws have good surface finish, not 3D printed, would be nice to ship with a spare or allow to buy extra when ordering the StickVise (especially if they are not solder temperature resistant). The spring action is a little bit notchy, may get smoother after some usage, but works well anyway and not a major issue. I put a thin layer of silicon grease on the thumb screws and main rod and it helps a little bit.  The stock plastic jaws are very good, I don't think I will need the other kinds (downloadable 3D models).  Comparing it to the miniature Micro Mark vise, the StickVise works better in two respects, the print action compensates for not perfectly rectangular boards and the single rod design allows the vise to adapt to the surface (better stability).

Thanks for the review, I will hopefully have spare jaws and other accessories available eventually, if you ruin your jaws let me know and I will figure out a way to get you some new ones since you're one of my first users.

[dadler]

I received my stickvise as well and concur with the above - high quality. The design is beautifully simple. It's also small and easy to store if you are short on space.

With the board held so close to the table, it's much easier to perform intricate soldering work--especially if you have shaky hands.

 

[alexrich82]

I received my stickvise as well and concur with the above - high quality. The design is beautifully simple. It's also small and easy to store if you are short on space.

With the board held so close to the table, it's much easier to perform intricate soldering work--especially if you have shaky hands.

 

Thanks for the nice review!

[alexrich82]

Hackaday is giving away 65 Stickvise this week if you sumbit a good entry for the Hackaday Prize:

http://hackaday.com/2015/05/28/50k-in-play-awarding-65-stickvise-this-week/