[Lester Perry]

I need some suggestions / ideas. My left arm and hand are kind of out of control due to a stroke. How can I replace my left hand on the work bench. I am using helping hand now (alligator clips on flexible mount) that does help but not a cure all. Suggestions please.:thumbsup:
Les

 

[T-Man]

How about something like a B&D workmate? New ones have holes that you can place plastic holddowns on, sort of like a wood bench. Also I would consider using a padded cradle to hold a train car or engine. It depends on the work you want to do. Plastic pinch clamps are great. They come in different sizes and only need one hand. If you design a wood cradle to go with a pinch clamp it can hold all sorts of things that you can design.
I hate working on small items. I keep a lighted magnifier on the table.
I have also seen magnetic wrist bands. On your left wrist you can hold the extra tool.
Gee I am on a roll here.
Just ideas.
Bob

 

[Lester Perry]

I am not sure what I am looking for. I have a foam cradle, helping hands, panavise and lighted magnifier. one of my problems is soldering. My left hand has seems to be always moving slightly no matter what I do. I have tried using helping hands to hold solder but need to feed solder also. It is possible that I have done all I can.
Les

 

[T-Man]

You just have to be inventive. An answer is somthing like an apple falling from a tree. You have to be searching, and eventually the solution presents itself. Today people like the cut and dry and quick. It isn't always so.

How about something to steady your arm, like a medical brace. May be worth a look. The only other thing you can do is preheat, then coat the iron and apply. I can do this with circuit boards because they don't require much. 16 gage wire connections are different.

After thinking about this last night I have to admire your tenacity. Many times I have been frustrated and needed a third hand.

Bob

To add a trick, when installing small screws attach a magnet to a shaft of the driver and hold the screw. Simple and it works.

 

[Lester Perry]

I thought I should show what I have now so I ran and took a pic, here it is.
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[shaygetz]

I find soldering with two good hands isn't enough most times, like Bob, I admire your tenacity. I think of Joni Erickson Tada, an artist who is a quadriplegic, she clenches pencils in her teeth to draw. I've pondered adding an alligator clip to the end of a stick and using it to hold the solder. It would be a snap to tilt or move side to side to feed the solder after some practice, maybe even mount it on a telescoping pointer like they use at seminars to vary the length of reach.

 

[rutlandville]

I know I'm involved in the right hobby. I did not expect to find Joni Erickson Tada mentioned in a train forum. My heart goes out to you Lester. I wish I had a brilliant idea for you to work at the bench. Someone here will come up with something helpful.

 

[Lester Perry]

Thanks to all. I have put this on a few boards and gotten good replies.The thing that is most helpful is patience. Shaygetz will understand this delima. I have a Riverossi 4-6-4 . I took the boiler off not knowing the plastic piece between the cylinders was broken. The engineer side fell off. now I needed to put the piston rod back into cylinder , the crosshead back onto the rails and the cylinder back onto the frame with no left hand. Shagetz I said you would because you like working with older steam models.
Les