fixing Transistors

[Kipper4]

i've taken to socketing most transistors. Exceptions are single trannys in a booster or buffer.
Is it a good bad idea to want to hot glue transistors in to the sockets so they dont rattle or shake out during transport etc?
would it harm the transistor. What if its a germanium?
advise me please

[digi2t]

I've always used hot glue to secure anything socketed in my builds. Generally this means I.C.'s and/or transistors. Never had a problem to date.

[Paul Marossy]

I've had transistors/opamps in sockets for years with no hot glue or anything for years and have never had a problem, ever. Maybe if I knew my stuff was going on a world tour I might think differently, but for normal day to day stuff it's never been a problem for me.

[pinkjimiphoton]

if using SIP's cut down for sockets, yah, hot glue rules. OR, you can take oldschoolanalog's trick, and "squeeze" them with some pliers to break off the plastic, then carefully solder the transistor to the (now) metal sockets.

i do NOT like sip's... they get loose after a couple swaps, and make lousy contact. if i have to use them, i end up soldering the transistors/ic's into them before i ship them.

i've found the "flea clip" 6 pin dip sockets work better than the 3 in line "sip" sockets that are machined. i buy 'em in bulk and dremel them in half, each one gives me two solid transistor sockets.

the sip's are convenient, but i will never trust 'em on anything i need to ship. i used them in the first pedal i built for dick wagner, and the pedal arrived doa... i'm assuming that was the problem.

[Kipper4]

Thanks for the help guys. great stuff.

[deadastronaut]

concrete!..

2 bags of sharp sand to 1 shovel of concrete does it for me....there may be a bit left over though..

[digi2t]

concrete!..

2 bags of sharp sand to 1 shovel of concrete does it for me....there may be a bit left over though..

[CodeMonk]

Problem solved


Nah..I use hot glue.
No problems so far.

[Arcane Analog]

I have had to 'fix' several boutique pedals that use transistor sockets. I always solder transistors in as the chances of them working their way lose are good if the player does any amount of giging or moving their rig. ICs seem to stay far better and sockets are fine for them.

[EATyourGuitar]

not all sip sockets are bad. the tayda sip sockets are pretty bad though. I have used the jimiphoton trick but I just leave the dip6 socket in one piece.

[Jdansti]

When I hot glue a component to keep it from rattling around, I try to bend the component over to another more secure one like an electrolytic cap and put a small dab of glue between them. That way if you aver need to remove it, you can cut or pop the glue off. It just makes it easier than if I were to glue the leads.

[Kipper4]

All good to know thanks guys.