EDAC Tools - do they suck (or do I)???

[Matt Syson]

Hi
You used to be able to get blue EDAC tools made of plastic with SPRING STEEL tips and plunger.
If you drop or stand on them the plastic bit eventually broke but until then they were great.
Then someone 'designed' the version which is turned from solid metal with the lousy, easy break / bend tips.
I lost my plastic version and now suffer the latter type which 'anoys' me too.
I am not sure which of either tools is made by EDAC and which is ELCO (Varelco).
Matt S

[nadumr]

Mine are EDAC. Is there an ELCO alternative, anyone?

[WTMNMF]

The trick is to release the tab on the pin, which has embedded itself into the connector plastic. Push the pin from the wire side deeper into the connector to dislodge it. Then gently insert the tool and push the plunger. You can wiggle the tool a little as you use it, if needed. I pull on the wire as I depress the plunger. If any resistance is encountered then start again!

I never break either of the tools, and can clear a 90 pin in under a minute.

Good luck!

[Stitch333]

Originally Posted by WTMNMF

Then gently insert the tool

If I wasn't here to mention that, also to the above mentioned gentle hand you must have, you should be able to feel a slight 'thunk' as the tip fits correctly in the pin socket, I could make a very vulgar comment at the above quote...

"If any resistance is encountered then start again!" this is really good advice too. If used correctly, it should be very effortless....

[Matt Syson]

Hi
The 'tips' of the newer melal tool unscrew far too easily so that while you may be gently inserting and whatever, the darn thing unscrews itself so that you never know the orientation of the 'prongs'. The old plastic version was just 'the thing correctly made' and I miss her.
Matt S

[nid]

emmmm... so can this depin tool be used to remove pins with the soldered/crimped wire still on? Or you first need to cut/remove the wire and then remove the bare pin? In other words, if the wire is attached to the pin, can this depin tool fit to do the job?

Is there any youtube video or anything that shows the EDAC pinning/depinning process?...

[crosscutred]

The extractor will work on pins with wires still on.

Once you get one and a connector together it will be obvious, no video tutorial needed.

[analogtodd]

I'll just parrot that my old blue plastic one is a joy to use, the cruddy metal one, sucks.