Recommended alligator clips for starting Estes (and other) Starters

[BABAR]

i have the PRatt Hobbies Go Box

https://www.pratt-hobbies.com/proddetail.asp?prod=GO-12 (And no, I don’t get a commission)
Which I really like. I have the cigar lighter version which plugs into a socket on a portable jumper battery.

I like the clips, they are stronger than the Estes electron beam,

Problem is they are toothed, rather than flat. Which is great for HOLDING the starter wires (I am trying to avoid the I-word), but they are getting sooty after a bunch of launches, and because of the teeth, Sandpaper isn’t working to clean them off.

Anybody got any replacement type recommendations, or other was to clean these off?

 

[tfish]

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/toothless-alligator-clips.127035/#post-1474785

Tony

 

[Nytrunner]

Wire brush helps clean them off

 

[mcderek]

Wire brush attachment on a battery powered Dremel.

 

[jimzcatz]

Yea you usually don't want alligator clips, you want micro-clips.

 

[jsdemar]

Mueller BU-34C micoclip, solid copper.
Around $1 each plus shipping.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LQR9AI4/

I still have dozens of these in sealed Milspec packs i got surplus 25 years ago.

 

[cwbullet]

I prefer those with teeth. The toothless ones bend too much.

 

[kuririn]

+1 on the toothed clips. Too many instances of the flat clips slipping off prior to ignition. Some don't even close completely straight out of the package. Clean with a small fine wire brush, emery board, or rotary wire wheel. What's an alligator without his teeth?

 

[jsdemar]

Teeth or flat, it still has to be a well-made clip. Mueller makes good ones.

If the spring is not aligned, or the hinge is loose, the teeth won't engage lined up. Also, the teeth will bite into and short AT crapperheads.

Pluses for good flat microclips: easy to clean with doubled-over sandpaper, easy to get into small places closer to the nozzle, less to get in the way for clipping to boost-gliders, and better contact with AT crapperheads (masking tap on alternate sides).
A minus: too small for fat fingers.

 

[DaveW6DPS]

I prefer the ones with teeth, so they hold better.
When I lunch I carry a small piece of sandpaper to clean the clips. I doesn't take much, just enough to remove the soot. Maybe three or four wipes.
I also clip the wires up a bit and twist the free end up around the alligator clip. The back is often cleaner and the greater contact area should give better contact.

 

[BEC]

Current Mueller BU-34C copper clips are only a shadow of those that used to come with Estes launch equipment "back in the day". Current ones are very thin and unsatisfactory. So both dsdemar's statement about them and cwbullet's are true in my experience.

I have started using the stainless ones flat-jawed clips on my personal GSE, though I do need to reread micromeister's "how-to" on soldering them as my attempts have been less than successful and I'm currently relying on crimping and heat shrink tubing.

If I could get copper clips like the ones on the old Estes GSE I have (Electro-Launch, Launch Control System), I'd be get a bunch in a cold minute.

 

[cwbullet]

Current Mueller BU-34C copper clips are only a shadow of those that used to come with Estes launch equipment "back in the day". Current ones are very thin and unsatisfactory. So both dsdemar's statement about them and cwbullet's are true in my experience.

I have started using the stainless ones flat-jawed clips on my personal GSE, though I do need to reread micromeister's "how-to" on soldering them as my attempts have been less than successful and I'm currently relying on crimping and heat shrink tubing.

If I could get copper clips like the ones on the old Estes GSE I have (Electro-Launch, Launch Control System), I'd be get a bunch in a cold minute.

I agree. The old ones are hard to find.

 

[BABAR]

Wire brush attachment on a battery powered Dremel.

I think this is likely my best shot. I agree, teeth are better for gripping, but sandpaper doesn’t do well cleaning between the teeth.

Also will try der MicroMeister’s soldering technique.

Thanks folks!

 

[shreadvector]

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/toothless-alligator-clips.127035/#post-1474785

Good to keep reposting his advice since he can no longer do so.

For stainless micro-clips, you can use a drop of pool acid along with regular solder. The pool acid will do the trick and you do not need to buy a bottle of specialty stainless steel liquid flux from a welding supply house.

You can buy them from NARTS: https://blastzone.org/nar/narts/store.asp?groupid=81620092133327