This $60 tool basically gives you another pair of hands

I’ve always said that good tools make the job easier. This is why I highly recommend get decent stuff wherever possible.

Buying the best you can afford at the time is rarely false savings.

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But sometimes having a tool changes the way you work so completely that you wonder why it took you so long to get one.

Here’s my take on my new Stanley Maxsteel multi-angle soleplate.

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Stanley MaxSteel Multi Angle Deputy

This compact clip helps you securely hold components, electronic parts, etc.

Stanley Maxsteel multi-angle work clamp features:

• Fully adjustable and lockable positioning achieved with full 360 degree rotatable ball design
• Easily attaches to most work surfaces with the integrated screw clamp
• Durable cast aluminum and steel construction
• Removable jaw pads protect surface from damage and damage
• Ideal for arts and crafts, model building and electronics
• Jaw width: 2.5 inches/63mm
• Maximum jaw opening: 3 inches/75mm
• Weight: 3.65 pounds/1.56 kg

I have been using “Help” for years for jobs like welding or other odd jobs, but I’ve never bought a clamp before because I thought I didn’t need it.

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In my mind, they were large, bulky, industrial-looking steel objects attached to a couch. My grandfather has one, and I don’t think it’s right for the kind of work I do.

I was very wrong.

The Stanley Maxsteel multi-angle soleplate tick all the boxes for me.

It’s small, but really tough, can take on big jobs. Don’t let those little jaws fool you — you can actually clamp them down when you need to.

It is also highly portable, but can be clamped to a bench, the back of a truck or even a table thanks to the soft jaws on the clamp.

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You can rotate it to any position or angle to suit where you are and what you’re doing.

Versatile jaws — hard metal when you need to bite down, but there’s the option of a soft rubber coating when you want to protect what’s being held.

For $60, this is a great grip, perfect for my needs. It can hold a variety of items, from circuit boards to car components to the logs I need to work with.

So why is it a game changer?

Because it’s so versatile.

Back to my grandfather’s bench. This thing is big, bulky and attached to a bench, suitable for heavy jobs.

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You can’t move it, it doesn’t have a great swivel mechanism, it doesn’t have a soft rubber jaw and you certainly can’t use it for delicate work (I can’t imagine clamping a circuit board with It).

This vise does it all.

It’s small enough to be portable (it fits easily in a medium-sized tool bag), sturdy enough for heavy-duty jobs, and delicate enough to hold perishables. Plus, it’s portable so I can take it with me to work and can store it away when not in use, thus saving valuable bench space.

It also replaces some of the other clamping tools I’ve used — from Help ARRIVE clip.

It makes my life a lot easier.

It’s a complete game changer.