How to bend IC leads

We have a fancy block of aluminium at work with a raised centre section to suit the width of the 0.3" IC.
Close on each side of the raised section is a ball bearing which will press the pins inwards as the IC is pushed past along the raised section.

If you flip it over, the other side has a wider ridge to suit 0.6" spaced IC's with another pair of bearings.

It really works well, quick and easy to use, the beauty being it just sits on the desk, no fumbling about picking up a handtool for each IC.

Can't recall where we got it from, it was many years ago when we used to use a hell of a lot of EPROMs.

Ray

Frequently I would insert one row of the IC into the board, then push sideways on it till the other pins lined up. Sometimes the pins were too stiff and it was back to the needle nose and swearing.

Using the original part configuration meant they always stayed in the board.