Handy soldering jig for 9mm pots

Spruce_Moose · Post by **Spruce_Moose** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:38 am

Hiya. I made this up after the growing frustration of trying to solder these tiny things. It took about 5 mins and has already saved me a lot of hassle. All you'd need is a scrap piece of wood, a small drill press or dremel and a drill bit .5mm bigger than the wire you use. If the holes have about 1mm of space between them that's about all there is to know. Hope this helps some peeps

alanp · Post by **alanp** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:52 am

That's pretty cunning. Do you pre-load the iron with solder?

Spruce_Moose · Post by **Spruce_Moose** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 5:07 am

If the iron is continuously tinned with new solder and the terminals and wires are pre tinned, it only requires a wee touch of heat to make a solid connection. I've certainly melted my fair share of plastic with these things in the past.. It doesn't take much

rocklander · Post by **rocklander** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 6:57 am

very clever. I have a mini vice on my bench so put the pot in there and solder the wires one at a time. lately though, I've also been looping the wire.. I never feel 100% comfortable with just the 'wire on lug'. if I loop them, and put the outside loops as close to the block as possible and the middle further down the lug they don't short out... but it looks like you're using a much larger gauge wire than I am.

jeremyb · Post by **jeremyb** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 7:04 am

I do the vice trick like rocky, or mount them in the enclosure

Cdog · Post by **Cdog** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 7:35 am

Nice idea! I use a pcb holder alligator clip thingy, but it can be a real PITA. I just bought some 10ply ribbon cable, tear it off in strips of 3... makes things a bit easier for pot wiring

TmcB · Post by **TmcB** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 7:44 am

Cdog wrote:Nice idea! I use a pcb holder alligator clip thingy, but it can be a real PITA. I just bought some 10ply ribbon cable, tear it off in strips of 3... makes things a bit easier for pot wiring

Hmm, that's not a bad idea, might need to get myself some ribbon cable.

handlefras · Post by **handlefras** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 9:31 am

Nice idea.
As an aside, I'm loving how many forumites are making their own pedals at the moment.

mr_sooty · Post by **mr_sooty** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 9:41 am

I don't get it. I think I must be missing some of the picture. I just see a big hand.

TmcB · Post by **TmcB** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 9:45 am

Right click, view image

mr_sooty · Post by **mr_sooty** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 10:04 am

Oh yep.

Anyway, my question is, how do you take it out of the jig once you've soldered it to the blue wires? Or is that not what we're doing here?

rocklander · Post by **rocklander** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 10:06 am

the wires are soldered (via the jig) to the pot first.. then to the board (after pulling them through the jig)

Cdog · Post by **Cdog** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 10:41 am

handlefras wrote:Nice idea.
As an aside, I'm loving how many forumites are making their own pedals at the moment.

+1
So many great builds and cool ideas

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Handy soldering jig for 9mm pots

Handy soldering jig for 9mm pots

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Re: Handy soldering jig for 9mm pots

Re: Handy soldering jig for 9mm pots

Re: Handy soldering jig for 9mm pots

Re: Handy soldering jig for 9mm pots

Re: Handy soldering jig for 9mm pots

Re: Handy soldering jig for 9mm pots

Re: Handy soldering jig for 9mm pots

Re: Handy soldering jig for 9mm pots

Re: Handy soldering jig for 9mm pots

Re: Handy soldering jig for 9mm pots

Re: Handy soldering jig for 9mm pots