*UPDATE* HELLA GOOD DEAL ALERT! $7 "Helping Hands" from Maker Shed!--and Even Cheaper at Harbor Freight!?! #diy

UPDATE: My lifelong compadre Adam Stein points out that Harbor Freight has basically the same Helping Hands for $3.50! *Yikes!* BUY NOW!

I don't normally post stuff like this, but Maker Shed has a couple really good deals right now for folks new to soldering.

These helping hands are a *steal* at $6.99, and make life *so much easier.* There is now almost *no* soldering task I do without using my helping hands (although I have pulled off the magnifier, which was never very useful to me). Also, this variable-temp soldering iron also looks promising. The reviews are mixed, but at $25, it's probably worth taking a chance.