Electrical tools question:

[Chuey]

Two tools I'd like to know about: First, I'm trying to take the female spade connectors out of one of those plastic blocks that turns a bunch of wires into a plug in situation. Specifically, they are the type where you need to disengage the built in prong that's on the backside of the connector. The reason I'm trying to remove them is that I want to shorten the cord. It has six wires and there is another that uses the same connectors but has three or four wires.

I filed a thin piece of metal down in an attempt to make my own tool for the job but it's not working.

Second tool: My soldering gun was taken away from me by the government even though it's an inanimate object and I am a law abiding citizen. My main use of a soldering gun is for wiring such as we have on our airheads. Is there a certain brand or level of gun or iron I should look for? I don't mind registering it. I am very liberal that way.

Thanks,

Chuey

[wookie]

Chuey

Look for a Snap-on truck and describe tool # one to the operator; he'll probably have it. It looks like a hollow ice pick.
Or try an electrical supply house.

Wookie

[Chuey]

Thanks. I got one of those. It's for a connector with round pins, right?

This one uses 1/4" spade connectors inserted into a plastic housing with female and male halves. Each spade connector has a small prong that catches on a little shelf inside the plastic housing.

I've had some luck with home made tools in the past but not with this set of connectors.

Chuey

[jagarra]

Chuey,

I would go to an electronic supply house to get the pin removing tool. Molex, Amp are some names of connector manufacturers. Problem is that the locking tabs are different for manufacturers, I have a bunch of removal tools and still have problems finding just the right one.
Soldering irons we used as general purpose was the Weller W60 series, good irons, replaceable tips in different sizes, not on the ban list.
Since you are in the bike business, I would also try grinding a spoke to create two flats to slip in between the housing and the lock tab.

[Major Softie]

For heavier stuff, a Weller solder gun is better, but it has a pistol grip, so they're probably illegal now here in California.

[Ken in Oklahoma]

For heavier stuff, a Weller solder gun is better, but it has a pistol grip, so they're probably illegal now here in California.

Back in the day, somebody somewhere had the poor judgment to call the "soldering device" a "gunl". Perhaps that's because of our "merican heritage and the fact that at one time guns were thought of as useful handy "tools".

Well, a person could get a nasty burn from one of those diabolical devices. How many people now wear a permanent scar dimple somewhere on their body? Such a tool is an accident waiting to happen. At the very least the skin burner ought to have some kind of safety shroud that pulling the trigger retracts just prior to the soldering event.

And I'm not even going to talk about the cancer inducing lead laced fumes from the soldering process.

If I were in charge I would write a law prohibiting soldering. All connections must heretofore be made by OSHA approved crimping tools and safe-enough-to-eat pins.


Rant over. I'm returning to my regular programming.


Ken

[chasbmw]

Butane fuelled soldering irons. (remember we don't have guns in the UK!) are really good, lots of heat when you need it and you don't need electricity.

[enigmaT120]

C'mon Ken, fix your typo.

I don't like soldering either.

[Steve in Golden]

When soldering guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have soldering guns.

[Dave Backmarker]

Chuey,
I use a Sears, "Craftsman Professional Dual Heat Soldering Gun". This soldering gun heats up very quickly and must be used with caution on delicate jobs as it will cook a printed circuit board quickly. I also have a few Weller soldering pencils which I use for very delicate jobs when I don't mind waiting for the soldering pencil to heat up.

DaveM
1975 R90S
2000 R1100RT