Where to find durable multimeter probe clips with strong flat metal hooks and springs?

Hi - I remember the actual clipping part of probe clips as being flat metal, with a sort of hole pressed out on one edge to make a strong hook, with a decent spring holding it tight.

The only ones I can find now use hopelessly weak pieces of bent flat wire which as often as not fall off under their own weight!

Can anyone recommend a source of (much!) better ones?
Thanks.

Hi Graham.  I remember those probes from AVO multimeters.  As you say they were very positive,  they were great for hooking onto a wire on a valve socket.  but try hooking onto an IC pin now without shorting to the pins next to it!!   I don't know if you'd still get anything like that.  I've seen the bent wire ones you describe, also some stronger ones which have two springy wires come out of them and come together to grab a wire.  Those are probably more like what you want.  But I don't know if those are available either, I'll look around.
Can I ask - what do you want to use them for in this day and age?Cheers // David

Hi - yes. See the pic. (Oops! How do you put a pic on here?) Probe clips that don't fall off are invaluable in the early 'playing' stages of design!

Hi Graham-Are alligator clips too big? Digi-Key still carries a number of probe sets that come with alligator clips that can be screwed to the probe tips.  As an example, look at TPI probe setIf you need something small enough to connect to test points or DIP pins, would the Pomona Grabbers work?
-Rick

Thanks. I think the Pomona grabbers are only one step up from what I'm moaning about! Imhe, the not-very-springy wire that's bent into a hook still doesn't stay on very well.I'm only trying to attach to wires, resistor leads  etc.
I've just found the croc clip attachments myself. I'll give them a try, as they should be better than the bent wires, but I doubt they'll really grip well... sorry!(We don't have to ask why the bent wire versions are now ubiquitous - they're cheap, and the fact that they don't do the job properly is naturally irrelevant!

Graham - found these made by fluke, and they don't make rubbish.The things I was thinking about are shown here - two spring wires that grab the wire you're testing - but it's only a wikipedia phonto and no indication of who makes them.These are like them - might be the same thing - but made by Hirschmann (Germany) - I have some of these and they are good quality and don't easily come off.Hope this helps // David

 

Thanks for all that... I'll have to break open the piggy bank, but it's good to know that ones that work are available. And it would be worth it, blood pressure wise!

Graham... yes they are not cheap...but actually not as expensive as I thought.  I too have tried the bent wire ones and though they are cheap they are generally pretty useless.  A qucik look revealed that the Hirschmann ones are actually cheaper at RS than on Ebay!

Hi, ok thanks, I'll take a look.RS are actually quite good. I wanted some 4.3 ohm 1% resistors, and after looking all over found them at RS, at 50 for £2.35 inc postage, next day delivery.  Can't say fairer than that!

Graham purely as an aside, and I don't know if it will help you, but if you are doing IC work then get one of these clips:https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/3m/923700/923700-ND/3852
They are available in a wide range of sizes from 8 pins to 24 pins and more I think.They make it very easy to access the pins for test purposes, you can get small purpose designed probes to clip onto the top pins.