What matters - what doesn't

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

After you build something on stripboard, use a meter to check whether any trace is connected to the next trace, and whether every cut in the track is in fact a cut, BEFORE powering up.

Because, you can see the meter easier without smoke in the way :wink:

[ejbasses]

A nice second (or first) build is a power supply. Your going to need one and it has tons of uses aside from powering effects.

Use spare parts to build jigs and other useful bits, I built a continuity tester so i dont have to use my meter for this purpose. Check out www.diyguitarist.com for other cool ideas

take your time

[Fp-www.Tonepad.com]

Use a battery for your first power up.

[Dirk_Hendrik]

Before putting IC's (opamps and other) it their sockets put the project on power and verify the supply voltage is correct and not accidently reversed.

(SME testing is annoying and expensive ) (SME??? ....Smoke Means Error)

[Joe Kramer]

Unless it's a very, very simple project, don't sit down today and try to build something you want for tonight's rehearsal or gig.  You'll be in a hurry and that will only add more mistakes to the number of mistakes you inevitably make when you're not in a hurry.  You lived without that Super Murder-Face Fuzz this long; you can wait another day or week until you have plenty of time to enjoy building it right.

[guitarmonky55]

When you drill a box, use goggles. It looks and feels stupid, but it works and protects you.

protective cups are very nice too.  i learned this the hard way when i first drilled a raco box on teh back porch table without a clamp :oops:

[robotboy]

Still just a n00b, but...

Make sure you have transistors and IC's in your sockets before you start desoldering  

If you think there's something flakey about your build, there probably is.

Some cheap multimeters come with a simple transistor tester useful for determining NPN and PNP pinouts.

There's a lot of value in enjoying the effect you just built before rushing onto the next one.

It's nice to make the enclosure before you start soldering to make sure everything will fit.

Most wires don't have to be nearly as long as it seems they would.

A continuity tester can be extremely helpful when debugging.

Sometimes taking a break is a necessary step in problem solving.

Solid core wire seems great until it breaks.

What sounds great at home rarely sounds the same at band practice.

P-90's sound great as long as you're not playing near flourescent lights or a computer monitor.

[Rick]

The true masochist solders dressed in a bathing suit.

[wampcat1]

The true masochist solders dressed in a bathing suit.

*or* a birthday suit...
:lol:

[JFX09]

The white dot on a schematic denotes a gap wheras a black one denotes a solder junction.

MIND THE GAP !!

[kvb]

Using a toothpick to open up a filled solder pad is one of the best tips I ever used.

Heat up the solder blob and then stick the toothpick in where you want the hole to be.

[ConanB]

Great thread, I should really spend some time reading over some of the older posts on this forum.

[Filament]

The support of your family while you're in the garage/lab not spending time with them.  Remember that....MarkM can back me up on that one.

[petemoore]

  A great time to test for non-continuity between PS +/_ is just before applying voltage for the first time.

[newfish]

Build an Audio Probe ('Debugging' thread).

It's the smartest 5 minutes I ever spent with a soldering iron.

[axg20202]

Measure twice, cut once.

[axg20202]

If you're a beginner, build using stock values first THEN apply mods. If you are certain you will want to try mods, socket the relevant components then get the circuit working with stock values installed. It's a good idea to research mods before you order your parts for the build.

[axg20202]

Buy some lead-based solder while you still can.

[petemoore]

Measure twice, cut once.
  Yupp...the other side is: Measure long, cut twice !
  I use this second method on 'inside fit' wood pieces, and perfboard projects.
  On perf I also, sometimes, measure long, cut once, then add that 'other little circuit' instead of cutting the second time.

[studiostud]

Buy a Dremel.  You will not find more uses out of a single tool in anything else you will ever buy.  Period.  And buy a corded one.  You will be glad you did once you've been working on a something with it on for a long time without the worry of a dying battery.  Plus, corded power tools are usually more powerful than cordless ones.  So the benefits far exceed the drawback of not going cordless. 

Jeff