Homebrew PCBs

I do a similar thing, but with 30 gauge wire. To save yourself having to clip on the backside, add a few layers of tape to the corners of the backside of the board to elevate it a little bit. That way the wires poke through just above the height of the board.

Adding the spacer also helps when you have to place a via under an SMD with very little clearance. 

Another variation, when I am reflow soldering, is to solder the via on one side and use solder paste on the other size.


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, DJ Delorie <dj@...> wrote:
>
> 
> In my hunt for easier vias, I picked up some 28 gauge brass wire at
> the local hardware store.  This wire is 13 mil diameter, just a bit
> smaller than my usual 13.5 mil holes.
> 
> Turns out it's not *that* hard to get the wire into the hole, but it
> does tend to stay put once there.  The brass is easily soldered too.
> So, I push the wire through until "just enough" sticks out of the
> board, and flux and solder that end.  Flip the board, cut as close to
> the PCB as my cutters allow, and flux and solder that side.  Unlike
> thinner copper wire, the brass stays put when you solder it.
> 
> Brass is harder to bend than copper, but it doesn't need to be bent so
> that's not only not a problem, but saves time too :-)
>