thunter0512
Veteran Member
WARNING - Stackpole Electronics CF and CFM resistors (and possibly others) have steel leads which damage your side cutters.
Recently I have been using lots of these resistors while building replacement boards for my Lab-8/e not realising that they have copper plated steel leads which are then tinned.
I found out when mysteriously my second quality German made side cutter (made by Knipex) developed "nicks" in the cutting edge.
I had these two side cutters for about 40 years and never cut anything but component leads with them.
They have been in pristine condition until recently.
While ordering more components from Digikey I stumbled across the Stackpole datasheet for their CF and CFM resistors and discovered that they use steel leads.
If you use a magnet these resistors stick to it.
Now it is clear why my two side cutters developed those annoying "nicks".
These side cutters were never meant to be used to cut steel wire.
I now bought two new Knipex side cutters and will test component leads with magnets before ruining the cutters again (these cutters are expensive but very good quality).
Check through hole component datasheets and avoid those with steel leads if you value your side cutters.
I also wonder what copper plated steel leads means for corrosion of the assembled board if there is any exposure to humidity.
Please don't use cheap Chinese resistors.
Best regards
Tom Hunter
Recently I have been using lots of these resistors while building replacement boards for my Lab-8/e not realising that they have copper plated steel leads which are then tinned.
I found out when mysteriously my second quality German made side cutter (made by Knipex) developed "nicks" in the cutting edge.
I had these two side cutters for about 40 years and never cut anything but component leads with them.
They have been in pristine condition until recently.
While ordering more components from Digikey I stumbled across the Stackpole datasheet for their CF and CFM resistors and discovered that they use steel leads.
If you use a magnet these resistors stick to it.
Now it is clear why my two side cutters developed those annoying "nicks".
These side cutters were never meant to be used to cut steel wire.
I now bought two new Knipex side cutters and will test component leads with magnets before ruining the cutters again (these cutters are expensive but very good quality).
Check through hole component datasheets and avoid those with steel leads if you value your side cutters.
I also wonder what copper plated steel leads means for corrosion of the assembled board if there is any exposure to humidity.
Please don't use cheap Chinese resistors.
Best regards
Tom Hunter