DIY De-Pinning Tool - Tech, Tools and More - Project Car Magazine

By now, many of you might be wondering what a de-pinning tool is and why in the world you might need one. Well, if you’re anything like us, you’re probably wishing you could do an engine swap or a wire tuck sometime in the near future. If that’s the case, you’ll be happy that you read this article. A de-pinning tool is needed any time you wish to remove a wire from an electrical connector. In fact, in this issue alone we have found a need for this tool on at least three separate occasions.

If you’ve ever tried de-pinning a wire using a tiny screw driver or a needle, your experience was probably a frustrating one. The problem with most screwdrivers is that the shaft area is too big, making it clumsy and difficult to see your work. If you’ve tried a needle, often it’ll bend or the pointed tip may cause damage to the plastic connector. The ideal tool for the job should have a narrow tip and shaft, be rigid and strong, and hopefully, be inexpensive. In my years of experience, the stainless steel strips found in most wiper blades can be shaped to work as a de-pinning tool for most connectors, so I thought I’d share the information with the rest of you.