Tools to make the job easier?

[stringsthings]

What are you using for IC extracting?

i use one like this

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=K547-ND

if the chip is really flush with the socket, a miniature flat-tip screwdriver also comes in handy ... i have a plethora of them 

[PRR]

> What are you using for IC extracting?

Flat blade (screwdriver or orange-peeler), or the 1980's PC DIP RAM tool:


http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts-popular-kws/indexb103.html
http://www.specialized.net/Specialized/OK-Industries-DIP-Extraction-Tool-824-Pin-EX1-1405.aspx

[smallbearelec]

A rack for your most used implements:

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=400

Ice-cream sticks and graduated cups for mixing paints, adhesives, resin, etc.

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=974

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=999

and, so that you are not raiding Significant Other's supply, Q-Tips:

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=977

I did say that we would do our best to have Everything, remember?

SD

[digthisbigcrux]

also having a tap tool handy is a good idea.  sometimes you just dont have that metric screw laying around but you have a bunch of #6's...

i particularly like the klein 6 in 1 (being an electrician im fond of kleins tools)

also also:

the venerable klein 10 in 1.  they make an 11 in one now but i find it to be a bit bulky for pedal/amp work.
http://www.service.kleintools.com/Tool/PRD/Category/10-in-1%20Screwdriver/Nut%20Driver%20SCREWDRIV-SCREWDRV-10IN1SCRNT

and if your like me and always loosing your jewelers screwdrivers:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100074336&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=100074336&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D25X-_-100074336&locStoreNum=2011

6 bucks AND lifetime guarantee.  i have broken tips on these and just taken them back to get replacements for free.

[Beo]

Just got these cleaning brushes off amazon. They worked perfect for cleaning out some 1/4" jacks I removed from an old mixer and cleaned with Deoxit.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006BAJN6

[newfish]

Decent pozi / cross-head screwdriver.

Temp. controlled soldering station (found mine in Maplin for £10 in a sale a couple of years ago.  It's never let me down)

Needle-nosed combination pliers.

Swiss Army Knife.
I've lost count of the number of things I've fixed with mine both on-the-bench, and side-of-stage (dare I say, "Plethora").
Can cut wires, strip wires (carefully), has at least two flat-blade screwdrivers (and a tiny one in the corkscrew for those knob-screws).  Also has tweezers (not as good as a decent pair, but handy in a pinch (no pun intended), and the toothpick has a myriad of uses.
It's been used so many times, you could almost say it was ubiquitous... 

A solder sucker / decent (fluxed) braid.

A de-soldering iron has saved the day when doing PCB de-soldering on a friend's Fender amp.

Oh - and decent, rosin-core solder.

...and practice.

<here endeth my 0.02>

[Ronsonic]

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100074336&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=100074336&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D25X-_-100074336&locStoreNum=2011

6 bucks AND lifetime guarantee.  i have broken tips on these and just taken them back to get replacements for free.

That little Husky is great. It also has a star-bit mate for my smashed Sennheiser power switch jobs.

[davent]

Made a little breakout box last night with bits on hand, to measure current draw of my pedals. Measure voltage drop across the 1Ω resistor and you have a direct read of the Amps.

Audio Tester, trouble shooting my screwups- uses a ZDS100 chip as a signal generator then a LM386 as the audio probe amplifier. From the book  SMD Electronics Projects  by Homer L. Davidson. In an old Shuffle box, pretty flimsy, reinforced the jack plate with 1/16" aluminum.

 

dave

[Skruffyhound]

I like it. Good looking, self made test equipment. Kudos.
If you run out of your own screw-ups I can send you some of mine 

[artifus]

blu-tack! always a blob on the bench and never fails to come in handy. it's gotta be up there with gaffa tape as a universally useful item.

ps what's the difference between gaffa tape and the force? not a lot. they are both dark on one side, light on the other and both hold the universe together...

...i'll get me coat...

[jimmybjj]

blu-tack! always a blob on the bench and never fails to come in handy. it's gotta be up there with gaffa tape as a universally useful item.

ps what's the difference between gaffa tape and the force? not a lot. they are both dark on one side, light on the other and both hold the universe together...

...i'll get me coat..

what do you use it for? examples? thanks

[bluesman1218]

Leather punch for fast, accurate holes in insulating materials such as thin plastic, rubber, cork, etc.

Tv Dinner and meal containers from the deli for holding parts and assemblies on the bench. Really like the multi-section ones with lid from Wal-Mart Deli. It lets me stash and move a project out of the way and has a tight fitting lid. Don't forget clear small pudding containers, great for holding small parts.




Lots of free insulating material from tennis ball cans, tops of Deli containers like the one from Wal-Mart Fried Chicken. Don't forget the lids from the tennis ball cans for thicker, and flexible material. Plastic soda and bottled water bottles work, too. You will have to use a heat gun or hair dryer to flatten them. Hey, better than cheap, they're free!

[ayayay!]

blu-tack! always a blob on the bench and never fails to come in handy. it's gotta be up there with gaffa tape as a universally useful item.

ps what's the difference between gaffa tape and the force? not a lot. they are both dark on one side, light on the other and both hold the universe together...

...i'll get me coat..

what do you use it for? examples? thanks

Tons of stuff!  Hold sockets in place while soldering.  Keep wires in/out of the way.  Try some and you'll think of all kinds of uses. 

[bluesman1218]

Glue Sticks for paper - great for holding screws to the screwdriver for tight spots. Just put a small blob on the screwdriver tip and stick the screw on. No worries about magnetic bits and magnetizing the screw. Also good for holding nuts in a driver.

I'm partial to the big blue ones from Office Depot since they are more gummy than gluey. I'm sure you'll come up with other uses, too. Glue Sticks.... not just for kids anymore!

[bluesman1218]

Oh, and it's cool to use the word "plethora" in a sentence 

"Pepe, do you know what a 'plethora' is?" Love that line from The 3 Amigos! Not having to do with anything else, I also get a kick out of "El Guapo" which translates to "the handsome". There.... I feel much better now!.

[deadastronaut]

this is a great tool, it helps me to shout, and swear, and fall over the cat, and become generally abusive whilst doing stuff...

try it, it works for me...

[mathewglenn]

This file set has come in handy on multiple occasions:

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-piece-needle-file-set-468.html

[jasperoosthoek]

This file set has come in handy on multiple occasions:

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-piece-needle-file-set-468.html

Cool, I just thought about posting the set of diamond files I bought a few months ago: http://cgi.ebay.com/10PC-Diamond-Needle-File-Jewelers-Repair-Metal-Glass-/190521733356?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item2c5bfaf0ec

As the link suggests, they work well for metal and glass. I used them on very tough stainless steel and they work fine.

[jasperoosthoek]

Oh, and of course a good old pranfeuri: Here's a guy buying one in the pranfeuri shop:



Pranfeuri will fix almost anything. But don't forget to wind them up!

[jefe]

this is a great tool, it helps me to shout, and swear, and fall over the cat, and become generally abusive whilst doing stuff...

try it, it works for me...

Here's to alcohol : The cause of - and answer to - all of life's problems. Homer Simpson