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PostPosted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:58 am 
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Enjoyed reading this thread, great to see not only an idealised tool list but one that is built from peoples direct experiences and real uses.
This is about to directly inform my equipment purchases today.
Many thanks to all.


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 1:42 pm 
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A magnetic dish/bowl! I always here people losing parts (screws.. etc.) Though I wouldn't recommend it for little electronic parts... when working on guitars, pedals, and amps you have lots of different size screws.. it's the best lace to put them... I never lose screws anymore. And I second the DREMEL! They rock!

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:08 am 
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Dont know if this has been mentioned...

My ultimate unnamed tool?

The humble toothpick.
Perfect for re-holeing soldered over pads.

Use them every time.


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:35 pm 
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For those of us who work way too hard on our graphics, get 'yerself a handy-dandy 3M Spot Sanding Pen. These are great for getting at those stubborn little areas that are so damn illusive with a big 'ole clumsy sanding block :)

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PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2009 5:19 am 
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mantas68 wrote:
For those of us who work way too hard on our graphics, get 'yerself a handy-dandy 3M Spot Sanding Pen. These are great for getting at those stubborn little areas that are so damn illusive with a big 'ole clumsy sanding block :)

Image

Nice! Now I need one!


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PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 5:43 pm 
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My submission.

Small suction spring clamps from Sears for holding PCB, wires, components, etc while soldering. Not as cool as a swiveling PCB clamp setup but I think more usable becasue you can move and clamp them wherever you want. The suction cups work great and the plastic jaws don't melt under normal use. Best part is that they are $1.99 each.

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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:54 pm 
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I didn't see a solder sucker on the list. Also, it's nice to have 1/4" low tack drafting tape to hold multiple resistors in place when you flip the board over for soldering.


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:11 pm 
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kregg wrote:
I didn't see a solder sucker on the list. Also, it's nice to have 1/4" low tack drafting tape to hold multiple resistors in place when you flip the board over for soldering.


Yes. Get one. And get a good one. Not that Radio Shack crap. I actually thought I dead-ass sucked at using a pump when I had a Radio Shack one. I broke down and got a Soldapult and I now de-solder like a pro. Even on double-sided, plated through holes. :)

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PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:03 am 
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mantas68 wrote:

Yes. Get one. And get a good one. Not that Radio Shack crap. I actually thought I dead-ass sucked at using a pump when I had a Radio Shack one. I broke down and got a Soldapult and I now de-solder like a pro. Even on double-sided, plated through holes. :)


Do tell - where does one procure said Sodapult?

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PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:43 am 
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tonedeaf wrote:
mantas68 wrote:

Yes. Get one. And get a good one. Not that Radio Shack crap. I actually thought I dead-ass sucked at using a pump when I had a Radio Shack one. I broke down and got a Soldapult and I now de-solder like a pro. Even on double-sided, plated through holes. :)


Do tell - where does one procure said Sodapult?


I got mine at Fry's for about $12. You should be able to find one online pretty easily. :)

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PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:57 pm 
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It's also a good idea to pick up a spare tip.


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PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:32 am 
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OK I've found a tool that is worth of this list.
I bought this to use on guitar repairs but its never out my hand.

Its a mulit wrench from stew mac. I dont have a pic but have posted the link.
if this is wrong in any way just delet the link. and I'll take a pic maby.
if I dont procrastinate. wait I just did. :|
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Wrenc ... anner.html

this can used on allllll of the nuts on a pedal. you dont need any other wrench.

I am not in any way involved with stew mac. this is just a great little tool.


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PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:43 am 
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lochy wrote:
OK I've found a tool that is worth of this list.
I bought this to use on guitar repairs but its never out my hand.

Its a mulit wrench from stew mac. I dont have a pic but have posted the link.
if this is wrong in any way just delet the link. and I'll take a pic maby.
if I dont procrastinate. wait I just did. :|
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Wrenc ... anner.html

this can used on allllll of the nuts on a pedal. you dont need any other wrench.

I am not in any way involved with stew mac. this is just a great little tool.


So this must be what I need to tighten up the toggle switch on my Les Paul without scratching up the control plate, right? LOL. I'm going to have to invest in one of these. :)

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PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:57 am 
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Yea its great for tighting up that groved nut. but it also works on any nut.
you can tighten alot of nut with out removing the knob.


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PostPosted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:15 pm 
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I am a beginner and ordering some parts. What size bit will I need for Switchcraft and similar 1/4" plugs?

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PostPosted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:25 pm 
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Location: Arizona
3/8 inch


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PostPosted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:12 pm 
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Thank you.

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Custom knob sets and effects. Free shipping in USA.

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PostPosted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:18 am 
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EffectsGuru wrote:
A magnetic dish/bowl! I always here people losing parts (screws.. etc.) Though I wouldn't recommend it for little electronic parts... when working on guitars, pedals, and amps you have lots of different size screws.. it's the best lace to put them... I never lose screws anymore. And I second the DREMEL! They rock!


http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80102919

I use those. I started using them on my car, first, since I could stick them to any part of the vehicle, and have since moved to using them any time I work on just about anything.


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PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:11 pm 
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+1 on the step-drill bit - you can't modify enclosures without one - but I always follow it up with a tapered reamer. it's a machinist's trick to sneaking up on the right sized hole, and it will make the hole perfectly round.

The hot glue gun is nice for capacitors on amplifier PCB's which can stress the leads from vibration if you don't glue them in place.

Flush nippers are invaluable. I got them in the super-geek tool aisle at the computer store.

Solder sucker. Because nobody's perfect.


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PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 11:54 am 
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Beginner question....... When populating the pcb, do you solder each
component at a time, or do you insert a couple of resistors, for
example, carefully bend the leads to keep them in place..... and then solder?
Any tips you can provide
on not getting solder into open holes and then having to spend a lot of
time removing it? I bought the de-soldering gun from Radio Shack and
it didn't seem to help much ...... I wish I had read the forum before buying
that one..........

Thanks for any advice.........


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PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:16 pm 
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^^^
Hi there :D . Welcome.

I personally solder one component at a time holding them in place with a piece of paper backed tape. Slow and steady...

'Not getting solder into open holes' - not sure what you mean here. With a nice fine point on your iron the solder should only go where you want it to. As for the de-soldering gun - you'll find it useful eventually, trust me. Like everything else it just takes practice to master. :wink:

Everything a beginner could need to know is probably covered somewhere on the forum so use that search function: nine times out of ten you'll find what you're looking for :) . This forum's a goldmine of advice.

Good luck with your build.


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PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:29 am 
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Location: London, UK
dcountry13 wrote:
2x6L6 wrote:
Styrofoam organizer:

I don't have a dedicated place to build - all my stuff is portable, and I don't keep massive amounts of parts on-hand. When it comes time to build, I whip out this organizer (can't remember where it came from - re-purposed from some electronics purchase I think) put a fresh strip of masking tape across the top, label all the resistor values. Then I measure each resistor with my DVM and poke each through the tape at the right spot. I rarely use the wrong resistor with this tool and method.

Then I organize all the caps and other stuff, sticking each into the styro as appropriate. With this, I can move around with it, bump into it, etc, and it rarely spills (much). Indispensible for my style and space. As I clip stuff and make all the bits of rubbish that come with pedal building, it goes into one of the wells of the unit for proper disposal later.

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This is brilliant. I gotta do this.


I'd advise against storing IC's on polystyrene foam.
If you want to store on foam it should be the black conductive foam


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:20 am 
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Location: Tucson, AZ
I posted this question in the DIY discussion forum and nobody replied, so maybe this is a better place to ask it. I'm looking for a decent DMM, either used or new. I'm not looking for the cheapest, but I don't need to have the best and most expensive one either. Just a DMM that's reliable and a good value. Any recommendations?


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:21 pm 
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A lot of people use the old radio shack one.


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:48 pm 
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koaman wrote:
I posted this question in the DIY discussion forum and nobody replied, so maybe this is a better place to ask it. I'm looking for a decent DMM, either used or new. I'm not looking for the cheapest, but I don't need to have the best and most expensive one either. Just a DMM that's reliable and a good value. Any recommendations?


So, tagging onto this question has anyone tried the meters from Futurlec?

http://futurlec.com/Multimeters.shtml

They have some for very little money that read transistors and capacitance. I have a decent DMM for everything but those two tests and am curious if they are any good?


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