Really bugging me because I can handle almost anything else (apart from small surface mounted components), but I can't find a sure-fire way of holding these right-angle pin headers steady while soldering.
Often there is not enough space to get a crocodile clip on the edge, and even if there is, it's a bit wobbly, so I normally try to use sticky tape to keep it aligned while I solder the pins. However, it seems that 9 out of 10 times I end up with something like the attached pics.
The straight pin headers are easy because I can up-end them in a breadboard, but how do people normally hold these damn things steady?
I have made a number of toolmakers clamps in various sizes for holding such things. Solder one end first then the other end. You can then easily solder the rest.
Hold the connector by any means, then solder only 1 pin. Use less solder than normal, and 'tack' the connector in place
Check the alignment.
If it is not correctly aligned, reheat the solder and move the connector until it is correctly positioned.
As you have only soldered one pin at this time, you can have several attempts to get the alignment correct.
Once you are fully satisfied that the position is correct you can solder the remaining pins. The first pin will hold the connector steady, no other holding method should be needed.
When the remaining pins have been soldered, go back to the first pin , re-flow the joint, and add additional solder as necessary.
What I do is to solder just one connector. Then while pressing down on the other end of the connector I melt that joint again and get it to click level.
Then with one joint holding the connector level I make the other joints. Works for straight connectors as well.
EDIT - Beat me to it John, but yes that is the way to do it.
Whatever shape connector I am soldering I too tack just one pin in place first as has been suggested and I also put the pins in a socket to keep them straight should a little too much heat be applied. When doing the final soldering I solder alternate pins for the same reason.
Note that this version does not have the plastic "snub". The thin edge of the jaws allow me to clamp the plastic keeper flat against the PCB while I solder the end pins. If the clamp is wider than the number of pins, I can possibly solder one end, move the clamp and solder the other.
I use kneaded eraser while soldering. It works for everything. Holding connectors, holding resistors flat of just stop any PCB from moving while soldering no matter what's already on the board. It's sticky but easy to remove when you're done.
I'm with the "solder one pin and check the perpindicularity" gang. Can use another header as a square - turn it upside down and hold flat against the board and the just-soldered connector to make sure it's straight.
Have done many a Screwshield that way.
Male pins, can use a fewer-pin female header to hold the pins, soldering a pin that the female header is not plugged onto (and acting like a heat sink). Also, don't start with a ground pin, the ground plane can act like a heat sink also.
Any means necessary. Sometimes I just balance the board on top of SOMETHING so that the part is held in place by being sandwiched into the correct position. Just the other day I was soldering a component in place and used a rubber band carefully wrapped around the board.
Like others have said, all you need is ONE pin soldered in place to hold the part, the rest is simple.
