Straight Leads

[bradicusmaximus]

I've been hanging around here for a while now, lurking, and watching and I've noticed that some of you guys have amazingly straight leads on your components. Mine always seem to have a natural curl. I usually fight and get them adequately straight, but it always seems less then perfect.

What's the secret? How do you straighten the leads on your components? Is there a special hidden technique, a tool, or do you just have a collection of saucy schematics that lets nature take its course?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[cbass]

They are probably using a lead bender. If I was smart I would get one

[xtian]

I'm just Virgo, and like orderly shit.

But in practical matters, 1-watt resistors have heavier leads than 1/4 watt, making it easier to get the wires straight.

[bradicusmaximus]

Generally, the resistors aren't too bad. Since I tend to buy them in quantity, they tend to be pretty straight right off the spool. It's the various caps that always make it challenging. Bigger electrolytics especially. They usually come with the leads wrapped around themselves, tied in knots, intertwined in some form of electronic kama sutra... Even small mallorys can be a challenge.

I look at some of the pictures of board layout - especially some of the marshall-style builds - and begin to get a complex.

[drew]

Lead benders like the two shown here.

[NickC]

Solid core hookup wire helps too.

[LeftyStrat]

They are probably using a lead bender. If I was smart I would get one

I've never been able to comprehend their usefulness, though many swear by them.

I just never post pictures of my builds. They only have to float my boat. I probably haven't impressed anyone since high school.

[ToneMerc]

Knead them by hand

TM

[deeder]

For straightening and aligning leads I use a flat plier.

[menger66]

When using turrets just wrap one end and pull tightly as you wrap the other side with needlenose or better yet hymostates , I also take a rag and clean the leads before hand puling from the center outwards until the leads are nice and clean and strait. I've found it best to wrap everything and only use the hole in the top of the turret if I #uck up, I also have a little tool its pointed on one end and the other end is also pointed but has a slot that grabs the parts leads or wire so you can guide it around I don't know what it's called but it's a godsend, the pointed end works good too make a little extra room in the holes in the pins of a tube socket or a pot. mark

[ampgeek]

Mark,
Is the "godsend" slot kind of like the eye of a needle?

I would LOVE to see a picture of that (and hopefully a name if someone knows) as I have often thought that kind of tool would be a ...well....godsend!!

Thanks mate,
Dave O.

[bradicusmaximus]

Great tips everyone!

I would also love to see a picture of the mystery tool.

[menger66]

Well here it is, its kina cool I can grab a wire and feed it through a tube socket pin hole then grab it from the inside and neatly turn it around the pin for a nice connection, I use the pointy end if I need to feed a wire or lead into a hole but there's no room I just poke in the hole and twist back and forth till I get a big enough gap, I have no idea what it is called I got it from a estate sale the guy was a repair man and had a 50 yr collection of stuff I go all kinds of kool stuff mark

[Cantplay]

I put components into the ends of turrets, and leads on the outside.

I'll admit to rebending some items a few times to get the look I want, and tweaking the leads afterwards.

Straigjten leads with relay pliers, and roll on flat surface to straighten.

[Gibsonman63]

I hold them over the turrets and mark the bend points with a sharpie, then bend with needle nose pliers to fit.