Component Lead Bender Caliper

myminifactory

I saw this idea in a vintage 1960s electronic enthusiast magazine and gave it a few tweaks. Component lead bending tools have been around for ages, but this takes precision to a whole new level. Simply position the caliper's points into the holes where your component will go, place the part smack in the middle of the gap on top, and bend the leads around the edges. For even more precision, you can install a screw in the hole at the top of the slide. Then, tighten down the slide so it doesn't budge while you're bending those leads. No more guessing how far apart to bend the legs of your resistors or any other axial leaded component - it's all crystal clear now!