AMZ FX ANALOG ALCHEMY GEOFX MEF ROG MEF DIY WIKI

Tools to make the job easier?

Started by chromesphere, March 10, 2011, 05:27:03 PM

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G. Hoffman

#100
May 18, 2011, 04:56:08 PM
I love my thermal wire stripers (the PTS-30, I think it is - the one for Teflon wire), and a good set of miniature screwdrivers is awfully useful.  I have a carbide scribe point that is very useful for marking circuit boards and the like.  A good soldering iron, of course, is very helpful. 

But my personal favorite tool, hands down, no doubt about it, is my workbench. 




click for a bigger version


The tool rest on the back is pretty well organized (believe it or not!), and holds everything I need.  The best thing about the rack on the back (over the freestanding tool rest I had before) is that it doesn't take up any space on the bench, and so I have a very large expanse of open space on which to work.  That, more than anything else, makes my life a LOT easier.  It also has a bunch of power strips in various places around the bench, a drawer for multi-meters and the like, and now it has a little test amp under one corner (one of Taylor's Tiny Giants), and an 8 ohm speaker cabinet under the bench so I can very quickly test new pedal type things, or if I'm working on an amp I can easily unplug the speaker cable from the test amp.  Having a well organized and thought out work space will go much farther to making a job easier than any individual tool. 


Gabriel

davent

#101
May 18, 2011, 07:17:08 PM
My little bits and pieces for projects in progress end up in various saved Altoid tins.
"If you always do what you always did- you always get what you always got." - Unknown
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/photobucket-hotlink-fix/kegnjbncdcliihbemealioapbifiaedg

dcjim

#102
May 18, 2011, 07:49:21 PM
Quote from: G. Hoffman on May 18, 2011, 04:56:08 PM
I love my thermal wire stripers (the PTS-30, I think it is - the one for Teflon wire), and a good set of miniature screwdrivers is awfully useful.  I have a carbide scribe point that is very useful for marking circuit boards and the like.  A good soldering iron, of course, is very helpful. 

But my personal favorite tool, hands down, no doubt about it, is my workbench. 




click for a bigger version


The tool rest on the back is pretty well organized (believe it or not!), and holds everything I need.  The best thing about the rack on the back (over the freestanding tool rest I had before) is that it doesn't take up any space on the bench, and so I have a very large expanse of open space on which to work.  That, more than anything else, makes my life a LOT easier.  It also has a bunch of power strips in various places around the bench, a drawer for multi-meters and the like, and now it has a little test amp under one corner (one of Taylor's Tiny Giants), and an 8 ohm speaker cabinet under the bench so I can very quickly test new pedal type things, or if I'm working on an amp I can easily unplug the speaker cable from the test amp.  Having a well organized and thought out work space will go much farther to making a job easier than any individual tool. 


Gabriel

Cool :icon_eek: I have workspace envy ... but what are the dice for?!

dcjim

#103
May 18, 2011, 07:56:51 PM
Lots of people mentioning Dremel's but I think the Proxxon stuff is way better quality. Check it out.

G. Hoffman

#104
May 18, 2011, 08:01:08 PM
Quote from: dcjim on May 18, 2011, 07:49:21 PM
Quote from: G. Hoffman on May 18, 2011, 04:56:08 PM
I love my thermal wire stripers (the PTS-30, I think it is - the one for Teflon wire), and a good set of miniature screwdrivers is awfully useful.  I have a carbide scribe point that is very useful for marking circuit boards and the like.  A good soldering iron, of course, is very helpful. 

But my personal favorite tool, hands down, no doubt about it, is my workbench. 


big image redacted

click for a bigger version


The tool rest on the back is pretty well organized (believe it or not!), and holds everything I need.  The best thing about the rack on the back (over the freestanding tool rest I had before) is that it doesn't take up any space on the bench, and so I have a very large expanse of open space on which to work.  That, more than anything else, makes my life a LOT easier.  It also has a bunch of power strips in various places around the bench, a drawer for multi-meters and the like, and now it has a little test amp under one corner (one of Taylor's Tiny Giants), and an 8 ohm speaker cabinet under the bench so I can very quickly test new pedal type things, or if I'm working on an amp I can easily unplug the speaker cable from the test amp.  Having a well organized and thought out work space will go much farther to making a job easier than any individual tool. 


Gabriel

Cool :icon_eek: I have workspace envy ... but what are the dice for?!






You drill a 1/4" hole into the center pip of one of the odd numbers, then drill and tap a 4-40 hole in the side for a set screw, and presto.  Of course, you need to get the clear shaft pots if you want them to light up.  (Mind you, that pedal never did work, and most of it's parts have migrated to other projects, but it did look cool!)


Gabriel

deadastronaut

#105
May 19, 2011, 04:18:53 AM
@gabriel, yep! it did look cool.... :icon_cool:

@jasper: hmmm i'll watch out for that...

just a note, ive noticed that the eddystone enclosures say they are 120mm x 95mm....and yes they are...at the base!..

the actual useable top surface area is 115x90...bloody digital calipers...i'm measuring everything in sight now... :icon_mrgreen:
https://www.youtube.com/user/100roberthenry
https://deadastronaut.wixsite.com/effects

chasm reverb/tremshifter/faze filter/abductor II delay/timestream reverb/dreamtime delay/skinwalker hi gain dist/black triangle OD/ nano drums/space patrol fuzz//

Perrow

#106
May 19, 2011, 06:28:59 AM
Quote from: deadastronaut on May 19, 2011, 04:18:53 AM
@gabriel, yep! it did look cool.... :icon_cool:

@jasper: hmmm i'll watch out for that...

just a note, ive noticed that the eddystone enclosures say they are 120mm x 95mm....and yes they are...at the base!..

the actual useable top surface area is 115x90...bloody digital calipers...i'm measuring everything in sight now... :icon_mrgreen:

"When the only tool you have is a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail!"

But I can totally relate to the "new tool used for everything reasonably possible to apply it to" phenomenon  ;D
My stompbox wiki -> http://rumbust.net

Keep this site live and ad free, donate a dollar or twenty (and add this link to your sig)

deadastronaut

#107
May 19, 2011, 06:33:10 AM
new toys....whooohooo.... :icon_mrgreen:
https://www.youtube.com/user/100roberthenry
https://deadastronaut.wixsite.com/effects

chasm reverb/tremshifter/faze filter/abductor II delay/timestream reverb/dreamtime delay/skinwalker hi gain dist/black triangle OD/ nano drums/space patrol fuzz//

markeebee

#108
May 19, 2011, 06:34:40 AM
Quote from: deadastronaut on May 19, 2011, 04:18:53 AM
...bloody digital calipers...i'm measuring everything in sight now...

:icon_eek:

markeebee

#109
May 19, 2011, 06:36:35 AM
Digital calipers - good resolution for small measurements?

deadastronaut

#110
May 19, 2011, 06:48:12 AM
oi!..it only goes up to 6 inches... :icon_wink:
https://www.youtube.com/user/100roberthenry
https://deadastronaut.wixsite.com/effects

chasm reverb/tremshifter/faze filter/abductor II delay/timestream reverb/dreamtime delay/skinwalker hi gain dist/black triangle OD/ nano drums/space patrol fuzz//

Perrow

#111
May 19, 2011, 07:21:41 AM
Quote from: deadastronaut on May 19, 2011, 06:48:12 AM
oi!..it only goes up to 6 inches... :icon_wink:

I need a bigger model, you know if they got one?  ;D
My stompbox wiki -> http://rumbust.net

Keep this site live and ad free, donate a dollar or twenty (and add this link to your sig)

bluesman1218

#112
May 19, 2011, 09:29:41 AM
Quote from: deadastronaut on May 19, 2011, 04:18:53 AM

just a note, ive noticed that the eddystone enclosures say they are 120mm x 95mm....and yes they are...at the base!..

the actual useable top surface area is 115x90...bloody digital calipers...i'm measuring everything in sight now... :icon_mrgreen:

Careful Rob, we don't want any digital disappointments on the home front, eh? :icon_redface:
Sorry, couldn't resist  :icon_mrgreen: :icon_mrgreen:
It's all about the tone!
Steve

POPA - Plain Old Power Attenuator AVAILABLE for PURCHASE soon!
Silvertone 1482 rebuilt - switchable Tweed, tube reverb, Baxandall + / Little Angel Chorus build, tons of Modded pedals

A.Gillies

#113
May 20, 2011, 04:51:04 PM
Where do you buy lead benders? I know Tube Depot has them but is there anywhere else that sells them? Because their shipping rates for Canada aren't great and I just placed an order and forgot to get them so I'm a little pissed off at myself.
It Goes To Eleven

phector2004

#114
May 20, 2011, 05:01:55 PM
Watts Tube Audio has them

They seemed pricey to me so I didn't bother getting a pair, but their shipping for my order wasn't that much to Quebec IIRC

http://www.turretboards.com/

A.Gillies

#115
May 20, 2011, 05:05:32 PM
Quote from: phector2004 on May 20, 2011, 05:01:55 PM
Watts Tube Audio has them

They seemed pricey to me so I didn't bother getting a pair, but their shipping for my order wasn't that much to Quebec IIRC

http://www.turretboards.com/

Thanks. It is kind of a silly price for a piece of plastic, but it seems to be about the same everywhere.
It Goes To Eleven

bluesman1218

#116
May 20, 2011, 05:28:42 PM
Quote from: A.Gillies on May 20, 2011, 04:51:04 PM
Where do you buy lead benders? I know Tube Depot has them but is there anywhere else that sells them? Because their shipping rates for Canada aren't great and I just placed an order and forgot to get them so I'm a little pissed off at myself.

Doug always has them. Great guy! http://www.hoffmanamps.com/MyStore/perlshop.cgi?action=template&thispage=BoardBuilding&ORDER_ID=216757440
It's all about the tone!
Steve

POPA - Plain Old Power Attenuator AVAILABLE for PURCHASE soon!
Silvertone 1482 rebuilt - switchable Tweed, tube reverb, Baxandall + / Little Angel Chorus build, tons of Modded pedals

A.Gillies

#117
May 20, 2011, 05:52:13 PM
Quote from: bluesman1218 on May 20, 2011, 05:28:42 PM
Quote from: A.Gillies on May 20, 2011, 04:51:04 PM
Where do you buy lead benders? I know Tube Depot has them but is there anywhere else that sells them? Because their shipping rates for Canada aren't great and I just placed an order and forgot to get them so I'm a little pissed off at myself.

Doug always has them. Great guy! http://www.hoffmanamps.com/MyStore/perlshop.cgi?action=template&thispage=BoardBuilding&ORDER_ID=216757440

Thanks! That's a pretty cool site.
It Goes To Eleven

davent

#118
May 20, 2011, 10:10:04 PM
Quote from: A.Gillies on May 20, 2011, 05:05:32 PM
Quote from: phector2004 on May 20, 2011, 05:01:55 PM
Watts Tube Audio has them

They seemed pricey to me so I didn't bother getting a pair, but their shipping for my order wasn't that much to Quebec IIRC

http://www.turretboards.com/

Thanks. It is kind of a silly price for a piece of plastic, but it seems to be about the same everywhere.

If you're looking for a Canadian source, Electrosonic carry them,   may be an outlet close to you.

http://www.e-sonic.com/acc/products.aspx?command=detail&partID=PD801&partIDExt=279
"If you always do what you always did- you always get what you always got." - Unknown
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/photobucket-hotlink-fix/kegnjbncdcliihbemealioapbifiaedg

kvandekrol

#119
May 20, 2011, 11:22:37 PM
Mouser does a terrible job of naming it so it's easy to find, but this is a lead bender:

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Unspecified/5166-801/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtVoztFdqDXO%2fAb1wEJiCc7

I have one and it works really well. 1/4W resistors on the front side, 1/2W on the reverse.
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