Tool Review: PanaVise Jr Speed Control Handle

Workshop
Tool Review: PanaVise Jr Speed Control Handle

I use my PanaVise Jr for all kinds of small holding tasks, particularly for holding circuit boards while soldering. One complaint I’ve always had is how darn long it takes to crank the vise’s jaws open from a closed position, or vice versa. The tiny knob takes many, many turns to do much work.

One handy maker build his own crank improvement, which we posted here. PanaVise president Gary Richter was paying attention to all of this, and decided they should make an add-on to improve cranking speed and control. Thus was born the Model 239 Speed Control Handle.

The Speed Control Handle fits the 201, 203, and 209 PanaVise Jr cranks. There’s nothing to installing it, just slide it on to the existing crank knob. It fits snugly; no wobble or danger of it slipping off by accident.

Once you’ve attached the Speed Control Handle, there are a couple of ways to use it: turn the outer edge for fine control, or use the finger hole to rapidly change the jaw setting. Both methods are easy to use, and I found the Speed Control Handle to be a huge improvement over the stock product.

We’re very excited to see PanaVise listening to its customers. Their rapid response helped earn them a Makey Award nomination in the “Most Repair Friendly” category.

The Speed Control Handle should be available soon anywhere PanaVise products are sold. In the meantime, the Maker Shed is offering them for free with new orders of the PanaVise Jr. Model 201.

4 thoughts on “Tool Review: PanaVise Jr Speed Control Handle

  1. Anonymous says:

    Just got mine and used it over the weekend.  It does attach solidly, no worries there.  I did note that to really use it, it’s best if the panavise is bolted/clamped to the table.  Otherwise I tended to make things bounce around too much with overenthusiastic cranking.  That said, glad I have it!  (Oh, yeah, and I have a bare panavise 201, so with the bigger based ones it’d probably be fine even unmounted).

    1. John Edgar Park says:

      Thanks for sharing your experience with it, that makes sense that with the bare 201 it could bounce around a bit. I have mine on a tray base (which weighs about 1-1/2 lbs.) and don’t have that problem. Believe me, my cranking is nothing if not enthusiastic!

Comments are closed.

Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!
Tagged

John Edgar Park likes to make things and tell people about it. He builds project for Adafruit Industries. You can find him at jpixl.net and twitter/IG @johnedgarpark

View more articles by John Edgar Park

ADVERTISEMENT

Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 - Mare Island, CA

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 15th iteration!

Buy Tickets today! SAVE 15% and lock-in your preferred date(s).

FEEDBACK