Pliers & Crimp Tools
Pliers for cutting wires, holding components or crimp connections are important tools for building DIY Synths and other electronic projects. Small precision pliers (ESD-safe, with good grips) are way superior to classic big household ones, because you want to access very tight spaces, without damaging PCBs or components.
Cutting Pliers
Cutting pliers are, as the name suggests, made for cutting wires and component leads. A good, sharp pair will make your workflow much faster and cleaner. If you work with through-hole technology, you’ll constantly need to trim the excess leads of resistors, capacitors, etc. The pliers should be able to cut very close to the PCB surface without leaving sharp edges. Be careful – clipped leads can fly off and damage your eyes.
Don’t use electronics cutters on steel wire – they blunt quickly.
Needle-nose Pliers
Because of their long, narrow jaws, needle-nose pliers are excellent for bending component leads into shape before soldering. They also let you guide or pull wires through holes and adjust parts in places your fingers can’t reach, without having to clamp down as firmly as with holding pliers.
Flat-nose Pliers
Flat-nose pliers are all about shaping. Their wide, flat jaws allow you to make clean right-angle bends in resistor or capacitor legs, or straighten wires without leaving marks. They’re a great tool if you want your builds to look neat and well-organized.
Pliers & Crimp Tools
Pliers for cutting wires, holding components or crimp connections are important tools for building DIY Synths and other electronic projects. Small precision pliers (ESD-safe, with good grips) are way superior to classic big household ones, because you want to access very tight spaces, without damaging PCBs or components.
Cutting Pliers
Cutting pliers are, as the name suggests, made for cutting wires and component leads. A good, sharp pair will make your workflow much faster and cleaner. If you work with through-hole technology, you’ll constantly need to trim the excess leads of resistors, capacitors, etc. The pliers should be able to cut very close to the PCB surface without leaving sharp edges. Be careful – clipped leads can fly off and damage your eyes.
Don’t use electronics cutters on steel wire – they blunt quickly.
Needle-nose Pliers
Because of their long, narrow jaws, needle-nose pliers are excellent for bending component leads into shape before soldering. They also let you guide or pull wires through holes and adjust parts in places your fingers can’t reach, without having to clamp down as firmly as with holding pliers.
Flat-nose Pliers
Flat-nose pliers are all about shaping. Their wide, flat jaws allow you to make clean right-angle bends in resistor or capacitor legs, or straighten wires without leaving marks. They’re a great tool if you want your builds to look neat and well-organized.
These guides are part of our effort to share practical knowledge about DIY synth building, tools, and Eurorack standards. We want them to be as clear and useful as possible, and we know there’s always room for improvement.
If you spot an error, think something could be explained better, or want to share your own DIY tips, please let us know. You can reach us at shop@exploding-shed.com or through our contact page .
These guides are part of our effort to share practical knowledge about DIY synth building, tools, and Eurorack standards. We want them to be as clear and useful as possible, and we know there’s always room for improvement.
If you spot an error, think something could be explained better, or want to share your own DIY tips, please let us know. You can reach us at shop@exploding-shed.com or through our contact page .