[sdiy] understanding headers/connectors?

[Dan Snazelle]

so i am wiring up an asm2

it has lots of holes for headers (which i havent really used before)

if i just buy generic headers (like these:

http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G16268


then what do i need to buy for the female portion? (in the past i have only used the MTA connectors...are these the same?)

and does anyone have any good advice on how to make the darn cables?

for the MTA cables i usually just do a very ghetto job...i take 24 or 22 gauge stranded wire. stick it into the hole, push it in with a screwdriver and then drop solder on it till it seems strong enough. they do break sometimes and the worst part is trying to solder the wire in without getting solder on the other holes...not easy.. but the crimp tools are SO expensive.


is there a BRAND Out there that uses headers and has female connectors that has a CHEAP tool for building the cables? i would switch to it in an instant. so far i
have tried AMP MTA and MOLEX (?) (from radio shack) the molex connectors, i could NEVER get the wires to stay in the connector (once again, crimping issues)


there must be a better way or there must be a way for me to finally learn this without a 300 dollar tool.


thanks so much
and i appreciate you all dealing with my questions

:)