Pin headers cutting

Posted by: @pugwash

Does anybody know a clean and effective method of cutting this type of pin header, when I have done it before it always looks a total mess?

I cut as close to the pin next to the last one needed, then sand it flat. If I am using that length a lot, I try and order some from Tayda or eBay, etc of that length is possible.  I cut with flat side cutters like these: 

Hope this helps. Thay can be a pain in the rear to cut right!.

Scott

I found 3 ways to deal with those wee beasties...

Option A is a razor blade like this one (don't use the trapazoidal ones that the carpenters use, they're too fat and won't cut right)

You have to go at them at an angle and just kind of push real slow. If you do it right they won't fly away and land in the cats food dish where you have to fish them out with a magnifying glass so that the cat doesn't end up making funny noises after he eats them. A bit of electric tape occasionally helps here

Option 2, which I found to be more expensive, but, ultimately more effective, is to get a couple of boxes of these

Which I got from Amazon for about $12 each. Comes with the pins, and you can get the extra long ones that go all the way thru so that you can plug something in either at the bottom, or on top. Very handy

And option C, which is a pain, but, also effective, is to use a dremel with a thin cutting wheel. It helps if you have the dremel mounted in a dremel press, and you also need to wear eye protection with magnifiers built in, especially if you plan on cutting in between a row of two of them

Each one of those options is a pain, but, each one has its own special case use. For instance, as handy as the brand new ones are, crimping them on a wire that small can be challenging. Sometimes I don't even try, and just go straight for the solder. I just did one last night for an esp32cam that I bought, and I crimped one and soldered the other 3