Even better than PC board pliers is a stand for dunking them. Lions always used surface tension to float the boards on the acid, but this should eliminate air bubbles. Helas, the pliers now need a place to put a rubber band & a place to clamp onto the stand.

Also, it's become clear that PLA being stressed eventually conforms to whatever shape it's being forced into, so the ratchet spring eventually loses its tension.  The locked position needs to be without any tension.  Some prototype ratchets are needed, with a variety of sawtooth depths.  Maybe 2mm x 2mm teeth with only 1.5mm overlapping.