So, we all know and hate those cheap Aliexpress female headers that have stamped contacts. They never seem to make good electrical and mechanical contact. They are dirt cheap though, so I have an embarrassing amount of them in my parts drawers (yes, multiple drawers with just them).
However, when I try to build something I'd like to have a bit more prolonged life I opt to use those nice machined ones. This is what they look like:
They have round pins and round sockets, are gold plated (inside the socket), make a good firm contact with square male pins (notice how deep the socket is?), they are easy to cut, solder just fine, and are available in the electronics store I pass by every day on my way to work. Unfortunately, there is a catch. They cost around $1.80 per 20 pin header, which means that whatever I plug into them is usually cheaper than the damn headers.
I am well aware that good quality stuff costs money, but the amount of them I go through is making a dent in my wallet. I tried searching online for them, but have found only one source:
https://www.peconnectors.com/female-headers-machined-.100/The cost is pretty much the same, even with volume discount, but I assume shipping half way around the Earth would probably change that and make little financial sense.
Perhaps I just need a good smack over my head, a reality check and realize that I'm just a cheap bastard expecting good quality product for cheap, but that aside, what headers do you guys use?
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