To cut the leads before or after soldering?

[z-adamson]

I am in the habit of cutting the leads after soldering.

It occured to me that cutting a soldered lead has to stress the pad at least a little and that maybe cutting before soldering would be better.

What do you think?

 

[MKG]

I’ve always cut the leads after and never had a problem. Unless your clippers are dull and you’re pulling or twisting the lead to cut it, it shouldn’t be stressing anything.

 

[sKiZo]

Depends on what you're cutting them with. I like these lil guys for close and quick clips.

 

[Oerets]

When I loaded and soldered boards years ago for a job, had a special tool that would cut and bent the lead at the same time. So the board could be loaded up waiting soldering. That is the only time I have ever have done this. I load, bend leads then solder, clipping the whole board once all the soldering is done.

 

[maxhifi]

If you're soldering a PC board, after. If you're soldering a solder lug terminal, before.

Nothing worse than re-work on a board where all the leads were cut short and bent down flat before soldering (I'm talking to you, Sansui!).

 

[sKiZo]

I'm sorry, the Sansui you have reached is not in service at this time. Please leave your name and number, and they'll get back to you never.

(beep!)

 

[dB happy]

Unless there was a reason for it, I was taught to solder first, then clip.

 

[Watthour]

Cutting after soldering is safer. If you do not use a bypass type cutter, shock can be transmitted along the lead, into the plastic case, and potentially damage the connections to the junction or actual device in the plastic or ceramic encasement. Cutting after soldering minimized this mechanical shock, but it is still advisable to use only bypass cutters, and not anvil type or diagonal cutters.

Diamond MS54-2 and Xcellite 170MN are examples.

 

[mroboto]

I only cut prior to solder a part when I solder on the rear of another part on a PCB or on a lug terminal, and in this case, I add solder to the parts leads before to apply and solder them where they should go.

I try to bent the leads as little as possible when I solder in PCB holes, only what's needed to hang the part.

I do my best to not add tension when cutting, handling the cutter with white gloves.

 

[OMGCat!]

If you watch those excellent Pace soldering videos on YouTube you'll see that they always clip and then solder. I guess that is the way they recommend to do it.

I solder and then clip with my Xeron wire clippers (like the ones skizo posted above). I've never had issues pop up from doing it this way and it's how I was taught back in school a million years ago.

 

[Watthour]

I was only going on what I was taught 45 years ago, and periodically several times since then.

 

[petehall347]

i do both ways . if leads come long i cut after . if they come short i dont have to cut . never had a problem .