Build Your Own Clone Message Board

Flush-cut wire cutters. The ones I use don't look like this, but this pair is my next purchase when I come across them in a hardware store.

They're flattened out at the tip for real close-in work. You can use them to bend leads, then clip. Really useful.



--chiba

a stand for pcbs, I've got one with crocodile clips which is crap, but this one designed for pcbs at maplins is better


and also from maplins this soldering iron cleaner and tinner is the best thing ever, its cleans of all the gunk and resin off the tip and coats it with a layer of solder better than just using a piece of solder wire, it lasts ages too

That PCB stand looks SWEET!
I'm in the US so ordering one from Maplin UK isn't going to happen.
It looks like it would be easy enough to DIY one of those though.
Pretty simple design and no board clamping to screw up traces.
I like it.

Cheers!

Back in my school days we made PCB stands out of a block of wood and a couple of wooden clothes pins.

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"It’s your soldering."

my patent pending rickety-o-matic general purpose wire dispenser



edit: (it was supposed to look like this)

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high on solder fumes

Brilliant!! Is that a coat hanger and a screwdriver? I've been trying to come up with a wire dispenser using a paper towel holder and other assorted items around and failed.

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µ

its about 2mm diameter wire that I found lying around, but anything should work as long as its thick enough, it took ages to bend everything to the right length, and thats just a cheap screwdriver that came in a set of 20 for about £3, they've been useful for just about everything apart from screwing

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high on solder fumes

I've recently discovered the joy of using a center punch when drilling an enclosure.

Mark off the center points of your holes, give a couple taps on the center punch with a hammer, then drill. I now use a 9/64" bit to drill pilot holes and then hit them with the old Unibit. With the marks punched, the bit just gets pulled in to the center as you drill. It's awesome, and helps make all the holes line up perfectly.

one word:

wow.



three more words:

i want one!

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safe? who said anything about safe? of course He isn't safe! but He's good. He's the king i tell you!

Here's one for 8 pin IC sockets: I use them for transistor sockets. It's come in handy for projects with one or two transistors.

As for tools, my set of small screwdrivers came from a dollar store and work fine. Point being you can find decent tools, especially for the hobbyist, that don't cost a lot.

If anyone else out there likes to build their own PCBs, get a Dremel AND get the drill press for it.

When working on a project and trying various values for a component like a capacitor or diode, I have wire leads with alligator clips. I solder them in place and I can change parts quickly.

What is Harbor Frieght

Cheap tool store: http://www.harborfreight.com/

Did anyone mention a magnifying glass? I have a huge lighted one attached to the workbench so you can easily examine boards, solder joints and markings on teeny components.
+1 on the huge lighted one. I have it, my 3rd hand and the soldering stand all together. Really usefull stuff.

Red

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If you plant ice
you're gonna harvest wind

Ok, where can I order a soldering jig and a PCB stand in the US?

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So make one.
1 2x6 ; 2 pieces of MDF and 2 3/8" dowels. Dowels are NOT glued in.





Wire from Small Bear and Ratshak.
It stays on my cpu until I need it.

Red

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If you plant ice
you're gonna harvest wind

LIQUID TAPE

Electrical Insulation
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The 4 oz. brush-in-cap container colors come in Black, Red, and White.
The 6 oz. aerosol container comes in Black and Clear only.
The 8 oz. brush-in-cap container comes in Black only.




Has anyone ever used this with good results? Maybe once a pedal is finished and working, you could use it where heat shrink would go, or maybe cover a switch contacts, etc. ... dont know how messy this is though...I see it around, but its like 7 bucks a can, havent had the guts to pick some up and try it yet.

If you happen to get to a sewing/fabric store, you'll find some great magnifiers. I got mine at Hancocks fabrics (Athens GA) . A 10" dia. lens with lights, in a big sturdy stand....$17.

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Jimi made me do it!

Thanks for the liquid tape!

I would add these:

Panavise (+1 for magnifying attachment for us older rockers). They also make a head with a sweet pcb clip.


Solder Vacuum/Desoldering pump


Desoldering braid


A chip puller for swapping all of those Tubescreamer chips!

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Joe Popp
Electronic Projects and Music

Lead forming tools!

http://www.mtechnologies.com/tools/index.htm#bender



Ryan

Yep..I use mine for every build !

Another NECESSITY...

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/21-7960

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Noelle Hampton.....Mike Farmer and the Bandoleros....Ray Wylie Hubbard

I must really be old school. I just use my breath to blow away the fumes as I solder.

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"It’s your soldering."

Me too ... showing our age, or just hooked on fumes?

Thats not "old school"...Thats "low tech" !!!

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Noelle Hampton.....Mike Farmer and the Bandoleros....Ray Wylie Hubbard

If im soldering for a good while, I crack open a window, turn on a fan, AND wear a white mask. I know its not "cool" but Ill have no solder-induced migraines lasting 2 days...

if i plan to be soldering for longer than 6 minutes (or so), i turn on a fan.

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safe? who said anything about safe? of course He isn't safe! but He's good. He's the king i tell you!