How to remove Arduino Due and Mega shields without bending pins?

Question

What's your suggested technique for reliably removing Arduino Due and Mega shields while minimizing the chance of bending the strip header pins?

For example, there's a similar discussion here where the asker ended up building a jig to keep everything parallel, but the main PCB was screwed down into the jig (a disadvantage). There is a heap of PCB Pullers/Extractors on the web, but they all seem to relate to edge connected cards.

I'm hoping for multiple answers / techniques. Interested to hear how you do it, or for you to upvote an answer you like. Maybe everybody is just doing the best they can with finger wriggling and manual pin straightening?

Answer 1

You could modify a couple of wooden clothes pegs to act as reverse pliers.

_{(source: niceshops.com)}

Answer 2

Here's the easiest solution. Spend $10 on Amazon and buy one of these "hose pliers". Put the tips on the double pin end. Gently squeeze. Simple!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G5QSQFQ?ref_=cm_sw_r_apan_dp_Q2FM8GDW6EPGVSNA5XDZ_1

Answer 3

It's an indirect answer to my original question, but having made a number of Due/Mega shields over the year or so since then, I've started making the side pins ~3mm longer than the double row end pins. This helps.

Answer 4

@Majenko's comment suggesting using a toothbrush handle as a lever reminded me of auto trim levers. I remembered I had some, and have done some quick testing. They give a little more strength I would say, but not much (if any) more control than using fingers.

Answer 5

I think I've found a nearly perfect tool in Knipex 45 10 170 reverse pliers. The only downside I can currently see is that they're conductive. The (unmodified) wooden clothes peg idea I found did not have enough grip or leverage.