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From: jpexg@rice-chex.ai.mit.edu (John Purbrick)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Wire-wrap tools
Message-ID: <13248@life.ai.mit.edu>
Date: 8 Feb 91 05:44:37 GMT
References: <21041@hydra.gatech.EDU> <1991Feb7.221900.16101@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
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Organization: MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
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I've used the Gardner-Denver tools a lot, and they're good. I wouldn't be too
dogmatic about battery versus plug-in; the tradeoff is a trailing cord versus
a heavy tool (2 D cells in the handle). The AC models are a lot lighter. I 
agree that pre-stripped wire ends up being a nuisance more than a benefit.

The Vector "Slit-n-Wrap" tool has some merits but not enough, IMHO, to beat
a more conventional tool. It can do daisy chaining, and it's good for a whole
row of grounds on adjacent pins for example, but the wire it uses has a thick
soft insulation and ends up looking (and being) crowded. It also breaks wires
occasionally and recovering from this is a major pain. To trim off the end of
a run requires reaching down between the pins with clippers or leaving a flying
end, both undesirable results. 


John Purbrick
jpexg@ai.mit.edu