Hacking your Digg Button with a Removable Interface Cable

Step 4 (Optional) Solder the Socket Connectors to One End of the Wires

If you're going to solder your wires directly to the D-Sub connector, you can skip this step. But, you might want to read through it anyway. It's a handy technique I use often to make removable wires.

This is a fiddly procedure, but basically you place the wire in the connector and crimp it with some small pliers to hold it in place while you solder it. Then you finish the crimping job to make it more solid.

Look at the pictures. They're probably more clear than anything I could write.

Until you solder the wire in the connector, the assembly is pretty fragile. I use an alligator clip epoxied to a small wood square to help hold things when I need a third hand. There are other ways to do it (like using a friend). But, it's best to hold the *connector* rather than the wire. Otherwise, it's not stable enough to solder.

When you solder, you should make it pretty swift, or you can melt the insulation and then sometimes the wire will fall out. But, you'll get the hang of it.

After the solder has cooled, complete the crimp with pliers to hold the wire in place.