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Poll: who snips before soldering?

Started by Philthy, February 23, 2020, 11:07:33 PM

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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

#1
After (but there exist some fancy snippers that cut and crimp the components, and if I had one, I would probably change my mind)
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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


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 :(
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pickdropper

Quote from: alanp on February 24, 2020, 06:05:47 AM
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.
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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

Quote from: madbean on February 24, 2020, 01:38:28 PM
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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Pedal building is like the opposite of sex.  All the fun stuff happens before you get in the box.

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?
"There is a pestilence upon this land. Nothing is sacred. Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress in this period in history." --Roger the Shrubber

Aentons

Quote from: Aentons on February 24, 2020, 03:41:22 AM
Bend, snip, then solder


Quote from: jimilee on February 24, 2020, 02:40:32 PM
Quote from: madbean on February 24, 2020, 01:38:28 PM
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  8).