I found a new way to cut female pin headers  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 24, 2017, 11:32:44 pm
content: With a woodworking chisel and a hammer ! It may seem a little brutal but it works like a charm.I wrap a small piece of masking tape on the header. I mark in between pins with a pencil, a little off to the waste side. Then to the garage bench, a couple of wacks on each side over a wood block and it either just breaks or some bending will do it. Then a bit of cleanup with the utility knife. As always there is one pin wasted, but it is quick.My previous method was using a small, very fine toothed, X-ACTO saw. It works great but takes a little longer.Tony

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2017, 11:45:29 pm
content: You simply need to score with your craft/stanley/boxcutter knife (down the midline of the lost pin) and snap like a chocolate bar, clean up the end with knife.

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 25, 2017, 12:09:14 am
content: When I do that, my knife has a tendency to end in some unwanted place after making the score. I probably don't have the best control with my hands.

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2017, 12:49:49 am
content: I just use diagonal cutters placed in the middle of the 'waste pin', then clean up with a small file. Takes maybe 10 seconds total.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2017, 02:07:06 am
content: I've given up on trying to cleanly cut female headers from as trip (thought sized ones or breakaway female headers do exist), so I just figure I'm losing the pin I'm cutting at and then go back and whittle the remainder of the lost pin housing down for a nice edge on either side.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2017, 02:08:23 am
content: Quote from: evb149 on June 25, 2017, 02:02:31 amWe know that, but we buy ultracheap header strips from China, and they don't seem to make the female snappable ones (odd, since the male snappables are common). It's not really worth it to buy the female snappable strips from Samtec.example:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-10PCS-2-54mm-40-Pin-Stright-Female-Single-Row-Pin-Header-Strip-PCB-Connector/32807004983.html

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2017, 02:45:12 am
content: Quote from: evb149 on June 25, 2017, 02:28:46 amA price multiple of 4-6X would be OK, but the China generic female strips actually cost 40X less than Samtec. So, it's worth buying a few dollars worth to keep in stock.

author: mathsquid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2017, 02:51:09 am
content: I use a jeweler's saw for cutting headers, circuitboards, and anything else that is small and needs to be cut precisely. It's incredibly useful, and pretty cheap.https://www.amazon.com/NIUPIKA-Jewelers-Adjustable-Professional-Jewelry/dp/B01L1JXFDC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498358944&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=jeweler%27s+saw&psc=1

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 25, 2017, 04:28:45 am
content: Quote from: mathsquid on June 25, 2017, 02:51:09 amIf you like to use a saw, you may want to try this one. It is a new model of the one I have, which I have also used to cut headershttps://www.amazon.com/Xacto-X75320-Small-Mitre-Box/dp/B0000DD1O4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1498364049&sr=8-3&keywords=x-acto+sawYou can get it without the mitre box. Mine is an older model I have had it for 20-30 years and is still working. It makes very fine, straight cuts. I have never used it for FR4.

author: MLXXXp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2017, 12:21:16 am
content: If it's the standard cheap female headers designed to accept square male pins, you can easily pull out the metal connector of the "sacrificial" position by grabbing the solder pin with a pair of needle nose pliers and pulling. This makes cutting the remaining empty plastic shell easy with just a utility knife.