Cheap and effective Third-hand tool.
 

I just thought I'd share this 3rd hand tool detail with you: It's the best third hand tool I have seen - with the exception of the VAR, which is infinitely more expensive.

The clamp cost me $7.98, and a couple bucks more for the eye bolts and lock-nuts at Lowes.

- All you need to do is knock off the red pads, drill a hole, and mount the eye bolts.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...3rdhand002.jpg

It has a very positive locking feature, and can even be fished through the spokes to adjust a Mixte brake caliper. (The ultimate test for a third hand tool, IMO).

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...3rdhand003.jpg

Excellent!

Ok, so where'd you get the nice clamp?

An old toe-strap is even cheaper.

That's awesome, Auchen!

I don't learn real good from tellin'. Can you show me some more pitchers?

Lowe's

Here's another shot on a front caliper, showing more clearly how the eye bolts cup the brake shoes. . .

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...3rdhand006.jpg

Thanks, great idea

Thanks, Auchen. I see now how the eyebolts are to be used.

Nice! I always had a toe strap when I worked at a bike shop and used it as a 3rd hand tool, chain holder, pant cincher.

If you happen to have a Harbor Freight close by, they have a similar clamp for $1.99. No locking feature, though:

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...amp-67082.html

I've been using zip ties strung together, but this is much nicer!

niiiiiiiice!

Haha so simple it should be obvious! I've been using various friends. The literal third hand!

katezila - I don't know what crowd you hang with, but all my friends just have two hands.;)

I use a Quick-Grip. Finally, someone makes a general purpose tool that we can use on a bike!

http://www.irwin.com/tools/brands/quick-grip

Actually, real mechanics don't use third hands. I got by without one for years and didn't understand why people craved them. So I guess I'm a fake mechanic now.

I just went ahead and grew a third hand.

With photoShop, all things are possible. :lol:

Sweet! I generally use a spare brake cable I have laying around, wrap it in a loop going through the brake shoe holes, pull it tight, and clamp it with a pair of vice grips. This is Much better! Thanks.

I really like this, though I don't know if I'm ready to abandon my length of twine just quite yet. Tie shoes tight to the rim, grip excess cable with lineman pliers, pull saddle nut toward handlbar with 10mm wrench on the nut, tighten while under tension. Works every time and works fast. I can get a new cable and housing installed on anything, even a mixte, in well under 5 minutes. Getting the stretch out of the cable and the compression out of the housing takes a little while longer, though.



Still and all, I have one of those clamps and am going to modify it, per your Instructable, tomorrow. Tusind takk!!

Heck, I just use a pedal strap. Works great. Learned it from Bill Walton.

Haha! Art school man. It's a weird place.

I've been using a piece of orange plastic twine I found on the barn floor. I think it used to hold together one of those mesh orange bags. Lately I seem to have misplaced it, ... oh can't we have nice things?

I thought this is why I had kids, 2 little half hands = third hand.

Let's see, please. I have no photoshop skills.