Mini-toggle vs Sub-mini Toggle for Phase 90 Mods

[buck1234]

I'm just starting out in the pedal modding world and I'm looking to do some of the common mods out there for a phase 90. Given that space is a little bit of an issue is there any downside/concern of using a sub-mini toggle instead of a mini-toggle?

Thanks!

[GGBB]

I find the lugs on the sub-minis very tedious to work with because they are so small and close together. I suppose you can get used to that if you use them enough. They are also a little more fragile and can have a shorter life expectancy (depends on brand).

[Mark Hammer]

Make sure the lugs on the sub-mini are shiny and clean.  Put some flux on them, and tin them...quickly.  Make sure the wires are tinned.  Make sure the solder on the wire gets heated up quickly so that it flows easily and does not require sustained heat to do so.

The thing is that sub-minis are more susceptible to heat damage than regular minis.  The damage can take the form of wiggley lugs that don't sit still.  Obviously, no one would sell them at all if it was not possible to have a decent solder joint without compromising the switch.  The trick is to arrange things so you can get in and out quick.

[Groovenut]

I use them on my mini builds. As Mark noted, make sure the lugs are clean and put flux on them prior to soldering. Tin your wires ahead of time and only use enough time and heat to flow the solder. I haven't had a switch fail yet, but I did kill the first one I tried with too much heat. A quick lesson learned.

[bluebunny]

I haven't had a switch fail yet

I have.   

A quick lesson learned.

Yup.   

Prep, then in and out quickly - as my learned friends suggest.

[Mark Hammer]

Just one amendment to the accumulated suggestions: don't let heat build up in the switch from successive solder joints.  One can sink off the heat with needle nose pliers applied to the lug you just soldered, or you can simply wait a bit for things to cool down between the first lug you soldered and the next one.

The threat/risk is not to the lugs themselves - certainly they're impervious to damage - but rather to the plastic housing that holds the lugs and internal contacts.  Heat gets transferred from the lugs to that chassis during the soldering process.  Give it a chance NOT to build up heat, and you'll be fine.

[buck1234]

Thanks for all the tips! I went with the mini toggles and everything worked out well. I'll wait on the sub-mini toggles until I get a little more comfortable and experienced.