Cardboard Circuit Prototyping

If you are like me, you usually don't have access to prototyping boards. If you need to make something quickly, or you are traveling, a quick hack I use is to build directly on cardboard.

Cardboard, circuit components.

I used a pin to punch out small holes in the cardboard, then inserted the pieces. Some types of cardboard are easier to puncture than others, so you may not need a pin. It helps to bend the leads down to hold it onto the board as well.

As long as you take care to not burn the board, you can solder the components together directly or with jumper wires. I have not soldered the components in this instructable, as I am going to reuse these pieces.

Cardboard may not be the best material for permanent projects, but when you only need to try something out, it can be a very good material to use. Thicker types of cardboard are easier to use and more resilient, but may require longer leads.