The Best Third Hand Tools For Jewelry Soldering: Our 2023 Reviews Of Top Options

Whether you're soldering or simply looking for a way to secure a workpiece while you make some adjustments, you need a third hand tool - it's our best friend when things get tricky. The good news is, there are loads on the market right now. However, with such a vast choice out there, choosing the best third hand tool can be a daunting task.

That's why we've put this guide together. We've rounded up all the best soldering tools on the market right now, and reviewed them below. In this guide, you'll find your perfect setup and be well on your way to finishing your next fiddly project.

Without further ado, let's start!

Comparison Chart

Eurotool Third Hand With Tweezers - HOL-165.00

Budget

Best For

Best on a Budget

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QuadHands Workbench | Helping Hands Soldering Stations | Soldering Iron Helping Hand Tool with 2 Magnetic Arms | Designed for Soldering Tools | Steel Base for Welding Table Top with Locking Grips

Budget

Best For

Most Versatile

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GRS - Double Hand Soldering Station

Budget

Best For

Best Quality

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Best Third Hand Tools: Our 2020 Reviews

Best on a Budget

1.) Eurotool Third Hand: Best on a Budget

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"It's more than likely it will become one of your most jewelry-making favorite tools"

Whether you're looking for your first third hand tool for soldering, or just looking for a cheap way to fasten your necklace and keep beads from falling on the floor, we've got an affordable winner for you here.

The Eurotool Third Hand does its job well, and it's dirt cheap. If you're just getting into using third hand tools, it's a great entry point. You'll find it more than adequate for all your basic soldering and securing needs.

Pros:

This third hand tool is refreshingly easy on the wallet. If you're on a tight budget,but you also want to have your basic jewelry needs met, we'd recommend the Eurotool Third Hand. We think it's the least you can pay for something that gets the job done.

Unlike a lot of wimpy budget options, the Eurotool Third Hand is firm and stable. It holds your workpiece securely in position while you're soldering or making modifications. Like any good third hand tool, it allows you to have your hands free without worrying about things slipping out of place.

"holds your workpiece securely in position while you're soldering"

The Eurotool Third Hand is well-made, compared with other cheap options. The tweezer and base are metal, and on the whole, the tool is quite sturdy.

Cons:

Although this helping hand is suitable for many different purposes, it works best with small jewelry items only, as that's what its size and features allow. It's not big or heavy enough to work well with larger pieces.

You might find the tool base, which is actually made of clay but resembles metal, a deal-breaker because ultimately a clay base can't offer the same quality as a metal one can. This won't last as long as our more expensive recommendations. While it's a great first third hand, it probably won't be your last.

Most Versatile

2.) QuadHands Helping Hands Soldering Third Hand Tool: Most Versatile

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"the most versatilee third hand tool we've found on the market"

This is by far the most versatile third hand tool we've found on the market. The QuadHands soldering helping hand is an absolute must for any jewelry pro on the lookout for a multipurpose third hand tool capable of adjusting to all sorts activities without any difficulty.

Pros:

The QuadHands Helping Hands Soldering Third Hand Tool is feature-packed. It comes with the following: four flexible metal arms that are very easy to adjust and position; rotating stainless steel clamps; as well as rubber feet for greater firmness. It also includes removable silicone coverings for extra protection - this is especially useful while working on delicate jewelry items.

It's much more adjustable than other third hands, and having so many little grips is even handier than you'd think. It gives you pretty much infinite options for positioning your workpiece, and the arms stay in place very well.

This third hand tool is very stable. It might look like plastic in pictures, but its powder-coated steel base is both very sturdy and steady, ensuring your workstation doesn't tip over. The rubber feet are a nice addition as they provide greater stability and make sure your working surface doesn't get scratched too.

"allows you to work on larger jewelry pieces without tipping over, or everything falling apart"

The best thing about the QuadHands is its precision. Even the most ambitious jewelry artists can fully rely on it. This tool allows you to work on larger jewelry pieces without getting worried about everything falling out of alignment. This is mostly due to its robust build, but the rubber grips are a lifesaver as well.

Cons:

If you're new to using soldering helping hands, you might find this tool, in particular, a bit overwhelming at first. Since it's multi-purpose it's much more complex than other more basic models. However, it can grow on you in the long run - if you give it time you'll see that using the QuadHands isn't actually that difficult.

The QuadHands Helping Hands Soldering Third Hand Tool isn't the right choice if you're working on smaller pieces. The alligator clips are pretty long and although they can be adjusted in whichever way you please, they're ideal for longer jewelry bits.

If you use the rubber grips, you'll have to make sure they're clear of the area you're soldering (for obvious reasons).

Best Quality

3.) GRS Tools 004-570 Regular Third Hand: Best Quality

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"It's absolutely a must-have third hand tool if you're serious about your work, and you want nothing but the best quality"

The GRS Tools 044-570 Regular Third Hand is hands-down the best-quality third hand tool on this list. It's absolutely a must-have third hand tool if you're serious about your work and you want nothing but the best quality.

Pros:

The GRS Tools 044-570 Regular Third Hand is very user-friendly. It makes soldering quite easy, and allows you to hold your jewelry parts in the precise position you need. Plus, the hands can twist, bend, as well as rotate in every position you can imagine. Indeed, while we said that the QuadHands Helping Hands Soldering Third Hand Tool is adjustable and precise, but the GRS Tools 044-570 Regular Third Hand takes precision to a whole new level.

"the hands can twist, bend, as well as rotate in every position you can imagine"

This third hand tool is of much better quality than the competition. For instance, its board is capable of being used at up to 600°F without getting damaged (something you won't be able to do with Eurotool Third Hand, for example, as it has a weaker material in the base).

Cons:

 This is a rather costly third hand tool that you can find for around $180. While we realize that it may be a lot, keep in mind that it's  the best high-quality third hand tool out there. Still, it's overkill for some users. This one's a good choice for the dedicated pro rather than the beginning jewelry maker.

Conclusion

Let's choose the most suitable third hand tool for your jewelry workshop:

First of all, if you're a jewelry newbie, or you're simply looking for an extra third hand tool for your workspace, the most logical thing to do is to go with the Eurotool Third Hand. Not only is it most suitable for beginners or those looking for a simple and basic third hand tool, but it's very affordable as well.

However, if you're a pro that has been working with jewelry for a while and you need a third hand tool for many different purposes, then you can't skip the QuadHands Helping Hands Soldering Third Hand Tool. Its versatility makes it a worthwhile investment, and while a jewelry beginner may not make use of everything this third hand tool has to offer, a jewelry professional will surely appreciate every aspect of it.

And finally, if you're looking to invest in the best of what the market has to offer, then we'd definitely urge you to consider the GRS Tools 044-570 Regular Third Hand - it's the sturdiest third hand tool currently available and it offers a level of precision that other helping hands are far from achieving.

How To Choose the Best Third Hand Tool?

Decide on your Budget

Choosing the highest price you're willing to pay and sticking with it will make this decision a whole lot easier - if you're looking for a cheaper option, it immediately eliminates the more expensive ones. Or if you're ready to make a long-term investment, and you have some cash to spend, then your list of options increases with a focus on more expensive alternatives.

"Deciding on your budget will solve a lot of things for you"

So, if you're not willing to spend a lot, we'd advise you to go with the Eurotool Third Hand - it's around $15 which definitely makes it our most affordable pick. However, if you're interested in spending more for a superior product, then you can opt for the GRS Tools 044-570 Regular Third Hand. It may be the priciest option (it's approximately $180), but it's also multipurpose and offers the best quality.

Third Hand Tool Expectations

What do you expect from your third hand tool? Is it supposed to have a couple of hands? Are you going to use it to work with larger jewelry items or smaller ones? Maybe both? Being clear about what you want brings you closer to finding the third hand tool that fits your needs best.

"What do you expect from your third hand tool?"

If you have basic needs only, then you may very well buy the Eurotool Third Hand. If you want a tool that comes with a few arms able to adjust to suit any of your jewelry purposes, then you need a versatile third hand tool such as the QuadHands. However, if you can't put your needs into exact words, yet you know you simply want the best, then a third hand tool such as the GRS Tools 044-570 Regular Third Hand will do the trick.

Are You Looking for a Specific Feature?

Although almost all third hand tools have the same purpose, at the end of the day, they each have their particular strengths, so think about what's the most important thing you want your third hand tool to have.

So, if it's important that you use your tool at a variety of temperatures without damaging it, the GRS Tools 044-570 Regular Third Hand is here to support you (it's capable of handling work all the way up to 600°F).

"Although almost all third hand tools have the same purpose, at the end of the day, they each have their particular strengths"

If you're trying to avoid scratching your work surface while working with your jewelry items, or you'd appreciate having helping hands that can be twisted, curved, and/or moved in literally any direction you can think of, then investing in the QuadHands is the right decision for you.

And if you're not looking for much, and an elementary performance is enough for your current jewelry needs, then starting out with a tool such as the Eurotool Third Hand would be best.

What's Next?

We hope you enjoyed our guide on third hand tools and how to choose the best one. By now you should be able to identify the helping hand that suits you best.

If you're looking to read more about different jewelry-making tools, feel free to check out our other buying guides on our website.

In the meantime, which third hand tool do you like the most? As always, let us know in the comments below!