Poll: who snips before soldering?

[Philthy]

Further to this thread: https://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=30749.msg296563#msg296563

When populating a pcb, when do you snip your long component leads - before or after soldering? 

Please reply with "Before" of "After".

[EBK]

After (but there exist some fancy snippers that cut and crimp the components, and if I had one, I would probably change my mind)

[Caedarn]

After

[somnif]

Usually After, but there have been some tight boards (with annoyingly tiny pads) where I've snipped bits Before to avoid accidental shorts and messes.

[jimilee]

After


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[Aentons]

Bend, snip, then solder

[Stomptown]

After.  Lately, I populate all resistors w/ PCB clamped in vice, top solder, flip, bottom solder, then snip.

[alanp]

I think that NASA spec is snip before solder (and crimp the lead, so you can rattle the PCB before soldering, and the parts will all stay in place.)

I'm not NASA compliant

[pickdropper]

I think that NASA spec is snip before solder (and crimp the lead, so you can rattle the PCB before soldering, and the parts will all stay in place.)

I'm not NASA compliant

Before is definitely safer as there is no risk of trauma to the solder joint when clipping it.  Clipping after the fact isn't usually all that risky as long as it is clipped above the joint.  The main mistake folks usually make after the fact is cutting through the solder joint.

[gordo]

Bend, solder, snip.

[madbean]

Load all resistors and diodes, snip.
Load all electrolytics, snip.
Load all film caps snip.
Load all transistors and sockets, whatever is left, snip.
Solder everything in one go.

Meh, it works for me.

[jimilee]

Load all resistors and diodes, snip.
Load all electrolytics, snip.
Load all film caps snip.
Load all transistors and sockets, whatever is left, snip.
Solder everything in one go.

Meh, it works for me.

How do you keep everything in place before turning it over to solder?


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[EBK]

Ok.  I'm going to add one of these to my Amazon cart soon.

They seem to be called cut-and-bend or cut-and-clinch tools.  Anyone own one?

[Aentons]

Bend, snip, then solder

Load all resistors and diodes, snip.
Load all electrolytics, snip.
Load all film caps snip.
Load all transistors and sockets, whatever is left, snip.
Solder everything in one go.

Meh, it works for me.

How do you keep everything in place before turning it over to solder?


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For me, it usually goes something like this..

[WormBoy]

After. Soldering is the Zen moment for me, so I like to go slow and methodically, one by one, and enjoy the process  .