How do you straighten component leads?

[Fizz]

I really don't care about doing this for pedal pcbs because it is not needed but Mojotone bends their amp capacitor and resistor leads to fit them in the cool partitioned plastic parts boxes they include with their kits. I want the wire leads to be perfectly straight to look good on the turret board.

What's the best way to straighten these wire leads?

 

[ThePanda]

I use my index, thumb and try to get right at the bend point. Bend it slightly past 180 the opposite way, then pinch and slide your fingers out to try and straighten it.

Redo until happy.

 

[Harry Klippton]

Needle nose pliers worked for me

 

[HamishR]

Apparently I do it the same way as a panda does. Who knew? And I didn't even know that pandas had fingers. But that's how I do it.

 

[music6000]

Apparently I do it the same way as a panda does. Who knew? And I didn't even know that pandas had fingers. But that's how I do it.


View attachment 62291

Do you have a preference over Aluminium versus Steel Chassis.
My Amp builder will only use Aluminium & I think it has something to do with the magnets in the transformers???

 

[owlexifry]

+1 pliers. non-serated/flush style is best.

 

[finebyfine]

I use ceramic tweezers, if the lead is wild jacked up, I’ll use this: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5501501

 

[Fizz]

I use ceramic tweezers, if the lead is wild jacked up, I’ll use this: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5501501

That's cool.. I may have to figure out how to print this.

+1 pliers. non-serated/flush style is best.

I'm hearing some kind of smooth duck billed pliers can work.. I'm going to try and roll it under something flat too.

 

[finebyfine]

@Fizz LCSC’s on demand 3d printing is how I print everything. Cheapest option I’ve ever seen. That lead straightener will probably be under $3. I’ve probably printed enough stuff to cover the cost of an entry level 3d printer but I don’t have the space for one currently.

Edit: sorry, JLCPCB, not LCSC (their component store)

 

[Erik S]

+1 Fingers.

When I was a kid I used to enjoy obsessively straightening paper clips into straight wires.

 

[Fizz]

+1 Fingers.

When I was a kid I used to enjoy obsessively straightening paper clips into straight wires.

These days they just break way to easily.

 

[Fizz]

@Fizz LCSC’s on demand 3d printing is how I print everything. Cheapest option I’ve ever seen. That lead straightener will probably be under $3. I’ve probably printed enough stuff to cover the cost of an entry level 3d printer but I don’t have the space for one currently.

Edit: sorry, JLCPCB, not LCSC (their component store)

I had no idea this was even a thing. What else can I have printed by them cheaply that will help my building?

 

[Erik S]

This is a cool one if you don't already have a spool rig.

Solder Spool Holder Stand - up to 68mm spool length by dougk49

Based on "Solder Spool Stand" created by Bluegoldfish. Modified to accommodate a longer solder spool with 68mm of horizontal space. The inside walls were moved out to provide more inside space for the spool. The outside walls were moved in to make the side walls thinner and to reduce the overall...

www.thingiverse.com

 

[Erik S]

Also handy

Rocket Socket storage by sleep4ever

My first 3D design come to life! I'm putting this in music because rocket sockets are marketed to folks who build effects pedals. I was gifted a set in exchange for this build. https://lovemyswitches.com/rocket-sockets-pedal-building-socket-set/ I used PETG and 100% infill, but that seems to be...

www.thingiverse.com

 

[synthesiserror]

I use mayo-hegar needle holders, but I'm probably the only one here with a few pairs of those just laying around. Much more useful than needle-nosed pliers.

 

[finebyfine]

I had no idea this was even a thing. What else can I have printed by them cheaply that will help my building?

There’s some nice toggle dress nut drivers on the forum - I’m on my phone or I’d try to dig them up for ya.

There’s a to-92 lead spreader that I use a lot - that I also can’t find, LCSC gave me a warning about the hole sizes and I had to approve it over email. They are kind of bumped into eachother on top but it still works great.

I have a few resistor / diode benders but find them useless other than for small do-34 diodes that can be hard to shape exactly right

I’ll try to edit this when I’m at a computer for actual links

 

[benny_profane]

There’s some nice toggle dress nut drivers on the forum - I’m on my phone or I’d try to dig them up for ya.

Tool for tightening mini toggles with dress nuts?

Anyone know of a tool for tightening mini toggles that use dress nuts? Since the dress nuts don’t thread all the way thru, my normal method is to tighten the dress nut fully onto the switch with the internal nut backed off a bit, and then tighten the internal 8mm nut firmly to secure the switch...

forum.pedalpcb.com

EDIT: I've printed this through JLC and it works very well.

 

[jessenator]

There’s a to-92 lead spreader that I use a lot - that I also can’t find, LCSC gave me a warning about the hole sizes and I had to approve it over email. They are kind of bumped into eachother on top but it still works great.

I made a simple one for myself, probably because my brain goes to production before searching

edit: it's doable with a 0.4mm nozzle, but only just. Still worked on my Ender 3

 

[MBFX]

Needle nose pliers. Insert the lead longwise into the jaws, pinch, rotate, repeat. Works wonders.

 

[finebyfine]

There’s a to-92 lead spreader that I use a lot - that I also can’t find, LCSC gave me a warning about the hole sizes and I had to approve it over email. They are kind of bumped into eachother on top but it still works great.

Finally found it:

TO-92 transistor leg spreader by WaveformClairvoyance

Sometimes you have a load of straight legged to-92 transistors to install on a 2.54mm pitch board, this little tools makes spreading the legs very quick. Perhaps a niche tool, but might save someone some time. 100% infill, pla.

www.thingiverse.com

It was hard for me to grasp the scale of it when looking at the preview, it's about 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch