Wiring Masters, need some advice...

[peAk]

Yeah, might try that too

In conclusion, this is why I haven't actually built my test rig yet. I want to have a system where I can fully test a populated circuit (pots and all) before wiring anything. Maybe this is all wishful thinking but it's definitely what I am after right now because I don't think I can ever design a pedal layout at the same time I am working on the circuit. I build them a lot faster than I box them.

[davent]

There's mini/micro pincers (claw) as opposed to the mini/micro hooks but i'm having no luck tracking them down.

Further looking would indicate mini grabbers for SMD is getting some positive feedback.




http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-50-PCS-Test-Clip-Mini-Grabber-SMD-IC-Hook-Probe-Jumper-5-Color-P07-/160983812971?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257b620b6b&_uhb=1

I have some like the ones someone earlier linked from Amazon, work well but very light fragile wires, have had to repair a couple along the way.

[Leevibe]

There's mini/micro pincers (claw) as opposed to the mini/micro hooks but i'm having no luck tracking them down.

Further looking would indicate mini grabbers for SMD is getting some positive feedback.




http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-50-PCS-Test-Clip-Mini-Grabber-SMD-IC-Hook-Probe-Jumper-5-Color-P07-/160983812971?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257b620b6b&_uhb=1

I have some like the ones someone earlier linked from Amazon, work well but very light fragile wires, have had to repair a couple along the way.

Check out my link earlier in the thread

[davent]

Great... found it, thanks!
dave

[Leevibe]

Sorry davent. The pics didn't load on my phone before I replied. I think those are the same thing I found.

[davent]

No problem, i missed your link first time through and yes we are pointing to the same type of device.

Take care!
dave

[Jefe]

Just butt splice in some more wire, and cover it with heat shrink tubing. If anyone tells you it looks ugly, then tell them  to shove it.

Also, don't waste your money on a dedicated desoldering iron, just get a decent solder sucker & some desoldering braid. It's not like you're going to be making tons of repeat mistakes, right? I mean, i'll bet you never cut your wires too short ever again ;-)

the problem is, I never EVER think about the enclosure layout until my circuit is finished and working. So I always have these damn pots (I don't use pcb mount pots) hanging off with wire and it's never the right length. It's always too short or too long.

Too long by and inch or three is no big deal, just stuff it all in there. Think of the extra wire as "service loops". If you ever need to get in there to make repairs, you'll have room to spare. If you ever need to replace a pot, you'll have a little extra wire to play with already.

Seriously, I think some people pay waaaaaay too much attention to how the insides of their builds look. I've never understood that. Just box it up and rock it. The pretty girls dancing in front of the stage could care less about how the inside of your pedals look, or the fact that you built your own pedals for that matter. 

[jimilee]

I bought desolder braid just for kicks, now by the time my desoldering iron heats up I don't need it.
Also, I bought tons of wire from chromesphere and it ally wires longer than I need. You can usually use the short bits you cut off for pots and things.

[peAk]

There's mini/micro pincers (claw) as opposed to the mini/micro hooks but i'm having no luck tracking them down.

Further looking would indicate mini grabbers for SMD is getting some positive feedback.




http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-50-PCS-Test-Clip-Mini-Grabber-SMD-IC-Hook-Probe-Jumper-5-Color-P07-/160983812971?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257b620b6b&_uhb=1

I have some like the ones someone earlier linked from Amazon, work well but very light fragile wires, have had to repair a couple along the way.

Check out my link earlier in the thread

Ordered some from Ebay, will see how it goes.

[Leevibe]

Ordered some from Ebay, will see how it goes.

Give an update when you get 'em

[peAk]

I am a little worried cause they were cheap....like 12 for around 6 bucks after shipping. It's coming locally so I should have soon.

[Leevibe]

No need to worry. There's not much to them and it's not like they're going to live in your pedal.

[upthepunxxx]

Man, this is one of those things that keeps me up at night. I go green with envy and become completley mystified when I see gut shots from pros like Juansolo and others. It really boggles my mind how you guys can keep everything so clean, with wires bent in all the right places and the lengths just long enough. Its goddamn pedal porn I tell you! Seriously though, whenever I get ready to box something I tell myself that this is the pedal that will look beautiful and clean under the hood. Then something happens, I black out and wake up with a box filled with wires that are too long or too short, sloppy soldering, boards that are crooked, LEDs hanging on for dear life. Its a mess man. So, I tell myself I'll get em next time kid. And thats what I strive for, a little cleaner, a little tighter, and just overall a little prettier than the last. Yea maybe it sounds the same, but I want it to look RAD! Is it the wire? Should I use solid core? Is that how dudes get those sweet ass bends to stay in their wire that is cut to the perfect length? Well, back to looking at gut shots for this punk...

Go slow and be super patient. If each build is a little cleaner than the last, you're already doing the right thing!

Solid core wire gives perfect bends and strips easy. Downside is that it breaks easy.

Stranded wire is nice and flexible but doesn't like to hold its shape and the strands can fray and be annoying.

Pre-bonded is perfection. Flexible but hold its shape. No need to tin the wire ends since it's pre-tinned. Try the 24ga bonded from Smallbear. You'll probably never use anything else after that.

Thanks brotha! I have some of the prebonded 24ga stuff from small bear. The only thing is that when I order the samples the wire is great, but when I ordered some 50 foot spools of a couple different colors, the wire was noticeably thinner. Probably just a random unrelated event as it seems like everyone else swears by the stuff. And like I said the sampler stuff and the red and black spools I ordered were perfecto, it was just the colored (blue, white, green) that were thinner.  Not sure if that happened to anyone else? Anyways might try and take some solid core stuff for a spin, and try not to break it!

[peAk]

Thanks brotha! I have some of the prebonded 24ga stuff from small bear. The only thing is that when I order the samples the wire is great, but when I ordered some 50 foot spools of a couple different colors, the wire was noticeably thinner. Probably just a random unrelated event as it seems like everyone else swears by the stuff. And like I said the sampler stuff and the red and black spools I ordered were perfecto, it was just the colored (blue, white, green) that were thinner.  Not sure if that happened to anyone else? Anyways might try and take some solid core stuff for a spin, and try not to break it!

I had some of the sample stuff from Smallbear and just recently got a couple of spools of green and orange. I just checked and compared and it looks the same. So maybe that was random?

I like Smallbears as well as GPCBs. GPCBs is a lot thinner though.

[Leevibe]

They have it in different gauges. For my taste, thinner is better. Gives you more room to work. There's no benefit to thicker wire unless you like the chunkier look. No wire is going to be as thin as the traces on your PCB or your component leads, or the windings in your pickups for that matter.