DIY ARTICULATING HELPER ARM!!!

[orioncons36]

Making an articulating welding fixture jig/arm!

[Frank S]

I really like this build the arm IE 3rd hand assembly is robust enough for medium fabrication work. most articulating 3rd hand type builds are made just strong enough for electrical work, and there is nothing wrong with that I own a couple pair with alligator clips, I wouldn't be without them for soldering work,

[schuylergrace]

This is great! And I really like that you showed what it was for right off the bat, instead of just pointing to a pile of stuff that could end up being anything at the end of the video. When you were making up the articulating joint, I knew exactly what it was going to be, so I could pay attention to how you were getting there, rather than wondering what you were doing. The only thing I would change about the tool, other than using the materials I might happen to have on hand (not exactly what you had), would be to add some big, fat, glove-friendly knobs, or T-handles, so I wouldn't have to be chasing down a wrench every time I wanted to tighten something on it. Great job and nicely finished, too!

[DIYer]

Thanks orioncons36! We've added your Articulating Third Hand to our Metalworking category,
as well as to your builder page: orioncons36's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Articulating Third Hand by orioncons36

tags: third hand, fabrication

[mlochala]

Nice! So, what's the trick to welding hardened ball bearings like that?

I tried doing something like this years back and had issues welding steel rod to the ball bearings. They didn't like each other very much, apparently.

[mklotz]

This type of adjustable joint is often used on photographic equipment. The ones with smooth surface balls have an annoying tendency to slowly "wilt" if a heavy camera or flood is attached. The better ones have circumferential serrations on the balls and are much more rigid when clamped.

An example of what I'm on about can be seen here...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09C882D4M...roduct_details

[Jon]

Congratulations orioncons36 - your Articulating Third Hand is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

One of the nicest articulating arms we've seen, and a great use of ball bearings.

Some more good builds from this week:

Picture Frame Hanging Method by rgsparber
Lanyard by thehomeengineer
Shim Washer Boring Holder by Frank S
Drill Bit Shaping and Sharpening Method by RCTURKA
Lathe Chuck Adaptor Plate by theeddies
Magnetic Base Drill Press by Marsh
Silicone-based Mixtures by Kovanca Polock
Steel Infill Miter Plane by e_m_maker
Garage Heater by sams wood creations
Swedish Torch by Andrii Pysarenko
Lathe Headstock Gearbox by Vyacheslav.Nevolya
Power Tool Flip Cart by Marsh
Bottom Quill Nut Spacer by Frank S
Spring Compressor by Kwandotechnic


orioncons36 - you'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away.

This is your 2nd Homemade Tool of the Week win. Here are both of your Homemade Tool of the Week winning tools. Congrats again

Tack Weld Clips by orioncons36

tags: magnet, holding, welding

Articulating Third Hand by orioncons36

tags: third hand, fabrication

[Karl_H]

Thanks for the share - nice tool.

Did you do any research or trials regarding the ratio of the size of the balls to the size of the holes?
Likewise the location of the holes relative to the edge of the bracket?

I made a couple of small ones - alligator clip size - and just took a guess, but I wonder if they could have been better.

[old_toolmaker]

Wow! Nicely done!
I can definitely see the the value of this tool and it’s possible variations. I am not a welder so I would have to approach a build like this in another way.
Thanks for posting and congratulations on a well deserved win!
Dick

[Bony]

I made one of these about 12 months ago and used a female threaded plastic knob in place of the nut which squeezes the ball bearings together. This very conveniently allows the tightness to be hand adjusted.
Also if ball bearings are placed in a slow combustion wood heater for a few hours and the fire is allowed to die down to hot ashes overnight the bearings will become soft enough to drill and if drilled in a lathe the hole will be dead centre of the sphere. If the hole is just a whisker undersized the shaft can be press fit into place. This not only saves welding but allows a neater joint free of weld metal.
I found a hole size about 10% larger than ball bearing provided the best fit and level of grip whilst allowing maximum movement within the side brackets.
The addition of a large switchable magnet as the base also adds a very significant improvement in usability.
Hope this helps anyone intending to make one.