Fitting Loose Leads Into Sockets

[Cybercow]

Pretty sure that we all use sockets for chips, transistors, caps, diodes and sometime resistors from time to time. And one of the primary issues with socket use is that the legs of whatever device we’re plugging into those sockets often don’t fit snuggly.

Chips excluded, (because they usually fit quite snuggly), transistors, caps, diodes and resistors often fail to fit well into those little milled sockets. And when there is a loose connection, a circuit won’t work, has intermittent issues and can just be a hassle.

And solder-tac-ing them into place kinda defeats the purpose of using the socket. After all, isn’t the purpose of sockets to ease the practice of swapping values of those components?

For decades I’ve practiced the art of “wrinkling” the ends of the legs of components when using sockets. And I thought it might serve the community by sharing a good close up image of “wrinkled” leads that will fit snuggly into a socket.</div>
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[Big O]

What do you use for wrinkling the ends of the component leads?  Needle nose pliers, hemostat (surgical clamp), etc?

[Anonymous]

I have seen several different tools for lead bending but have been hesitant to purchase any lest they go the same way as the plastic resistor lead benders I have…sitting in a drawer somewhere.  But, it would be nice to have something to use for socketed components and the rare occasions where I have standing resistors on perfboard / stripboard builds.

 

I have a couple boards that I built up for experimenting with different components that are nearly all sockets (FF, BMP, etc.).  The idea was that this would be a better solution to testing / experimenting than a breadboard but I was plagued by the same issues.  So, I would be interested in the process to get consistent and reliable bends for socketing components…

[Cybercow]

I simply use needle-nosed pliers; bending about 1mm at a time. It takes an extra minute to do the bends, but it really helps keep the parts snuggly fit. Consistency is merely a matter of practice.

[Barry]

Yes this is a brilliant suggestion when socketing components as it only takes a moment.

[Author]

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