I had been using the roll-of-solder-to-hold-a-circuit-board-down trick forever until I won this Stickvise from the Hackaday Store. The Hackaday Prize is fantastic!

Review conclusion:

A solid bench tool that exceeds expectations and will last for years.

Unpacking it, I quickly made the mistake of underestimating its small size. It firmly holds a board in place, nice and flat, with a solid metal feel. It flips over to so you can check your work. The grove in the jaws is perfect for holding boards, and I like the idea of jaw upgrades.

Here was the biggest surprise:

I took it out of the package and within 20 seconds, I had a Teensy in it adjusted to the perfect tension I wanted. Adjusting the exact tension and tightening the wing nut with one hand came naturally on the very first try because of its intuitive but simple design.

Adjusting it tight will be good for stubborn parts, odd shaped parts, or gluing and clamping. It will be interesting to see what other uses it will have.

This was also easy to set up in seconds:

This one held tight and is about 5.5” x 7.5” (140mm x 190mm). It needs a little support on the ends.

I want to find a wood base plate to attach it to, like Alex mentions at Stickvise.com/hacks/diy-upgrades, but would like a quick release system so that I can still peek underneath the board.

Bottom:

I like the idea of adding the Locking Ball and Socket Gooseneck System Alex also has, but prefer attaching it to the base plate rather than the Stickvise jaws.

Ultimately I will be looking for the parts for a setup where the Stickvise, the Gooseneck System with helping hands, and a magnifier can all snap together onto the base plate, or quick release out of the way without disturbing anything.

Stickvise: Mad Scientist Approved!