Useful tools

[Mick Bailey]

I like the look of the HF powder coat setup. Super-cheap and along with a toaster-oven would make a good setup for stompboxes and small parts.Sadly, not available in the UK. At least, not at that price.

Powder Coating Gun with 10-30 PSI Powder Coating System

[Richard]

I've had a couple die unexpectedly, the $20 Maglite is worth it. I'm sure there's something cheaper but sudden flashlight death is not good. I actually prefer the incandescent ones camping, I just want enough light to see but not lose night vision.

[Steve A.]

14 or 15 piece Craftsmen SAE/metric set of nutdrivers

One of the most useful tools I have is the 14 or 15 piece Craftsmen SAE/metric set of nutdrivers. Although the two standards are often interchangeable the metric drivers have a wider hollow opening in shaft to accommodate pot shafts, etc. (8mm, 10mm & 1/2" are the drivers I seem to use the most.)



Craftsman.com

Steve Ahola

P.S. I have the set with the zippered case which I consider to be indispensable. I also have a larger metric driver - 12 or 13mm - that I use a lot.

[Steve A.]

These things:
3-1/2 in. 9 LED Mini Flashlight

HF has them on "sale" for $2, but they are also on the coupon rotation as a free item several times a year.

I've had at least a dozen of them, all free, and several have stopped working. I really like their $3.99 27 LED magnetic work lights that used to be a coupon freebie quite often a year or two ago.



http://www.harborfreight.com/27-led-...ght-62532.html

For LED flashlights my favorites are among the ones that Fry's sells for a few bucks with their daily promo codes. They offer free shipping for orders over $34 in the lower 48 states which is great if you don't have a local store. They mail you an email every day with a link to their promo ad which often has some incredible clearance specials (75%+ off). Most of the time you will find many prices lower than anywhere else on the internet (assuming you don't pay shipping.)

http://www.frys.com/workflow/AcctMai...mocom/subc.jsp

Steve Ahola

[Steve A.]

Me and my memory... I'm looking all over for a magnifying glass to inspect an FX pedal pcb more closely and then remember that I have an OptiVisor with an OptiLOUPE and a Quasar Lighting System Model 6010, with my choice of an L2 or L4 lens.

Here are links for a real OptiVisor with 4 lensplates for $56 and a Chinese knockoff for $25. (The knockoff looks more comfortable because it has a cushion on the headband. I don't know if it will accommodate the OptiLOUPE or Quasar Lighting System.)



https://jet.com/product/detail/d68ae...ca27ea6ab1bf8d

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http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Lens-Head-...-/201264049232

It looks like the Chinese knockoff uses plastic rivets to secure the lensplate. A local hardware store might have small nuts and bolts which would make changing the lensplate much easier.

Steve Ahola

[Steve A.]

Fry's had the Hakko FX-650 15W pencil soldering iron on sale for $18 today so I went ahead and bought it specifically for working on tightly packed FX pedal pcb's. I was removing two small electrolytic caps earlier today and it was tricky desoldering the pads without bumping the barrel of the iron into the LED!





https://www.hakko.com/english/products/hakko_dash.html

These usually sell for around $35 including tax and at that price I would have passed on it.

I already have the cheapie Weller WLC100 "soldering station" and the Hakko FX-650 could plug right into it, with a sponge and soldering iron holder...



https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100.../dp/B000AS28UC

Steve Ahola

P.S. Those are just my "toy" soldering devices. I have a Weller WP-60 iron, a Hakko 936 solder station and an 80W iron intended for stained glass but great for soldering to chassises.

[big_teee]

One of the most useful tools I have is the 14 or 15 piece Craftsmen SAE/metric set of nutdrivers. Although the two standards are often interchangeable the metric drivers have a wider hollow opening in shaft to accommodate pot shafts, etc. (8mm, 10mm & 1/2" are the drivers I seem to use the most.)



Craftsman.com

Steve Ahola

P.S. I have the set with the zippered case which I consider to be indispensable. I also have a larger metric driver - 12 or 13mm - that I use a lot.

I have that set of nut drivers, and they are very handy.
I have mine in a drawer of my craftsman tool chest, no zippered case.
I used them a lot on the new amp I just built.
I have a set of these cordless drill to socket adapters, and they are real handy.
1/4, 3/8, 1/2 inch adapters.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cord...tyOhYIMpI9M%3A
T

[Richard]

A pair of reading glasses can be useful as well.

[big_teee]

A pair of reading glasses can be useful as well.

I have real strong reading glasses that magnify, that has a short focal length, that I can see over.
I keep a pair in each work area.
Like a Magnifying glass, but hands free.
I wear my regular glasses the rest of the time.
T

[dmartn149]

I have that set of nut drivers, and they are very handy.
I have mine in a drawer of my craftsman tool chest, no zippered case.
I used them a lot on the new amp I just built.
I have a set of these cordless drill to socket adapters, and they are real handy.
1/4, 3/8, 1/2 inch adapters.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cord...tyOhYIMpI9M%3A
T

I bought a set of those cordless drill adapters for spinning lug nuts off and on.

[dmartn149]

I already have the cheapie Weller WLC100 "soldering station" and the Hakko FX-650 could plug right into it, with a sponge and soldering iron holder...

I have that same Weller, but for me it's my "good" soldering iron. It is a joy to use compared to my old $3 Radio Shack iron.

[Jazz P Bass]

A small pair of sharp point bent tweezers.

A telescoping magnet.

A Kill-O-Watt meter.

And my favorite: a rag that is used to catch overspray of DeOxit. I use the rag to wipe connector pins.

[52 Bill]

I've always used nut drivers for volume controls, jacks, power transformers and everywhere you can use one. They make life so much easier and you don't risk slipping with a pair of pliers.

My favorite new tool is a 14mm tall socket with a bicycle handgrip pressed on it that I use for all of those Fender input jack nuts. It also works on the plastic jack nuts as well.

[Leo_Gnardo]

My favorite new tool is a 14mm tall socket with a bicycle handgrip pressed on it that I use for all of those Fender input jack nuts. It also works on the plastic jack nuts as well.

Along those lines, my collection of spark plug sockets sometimes come in handy for plastic jack nuts & some of the larger metal nuts on switches & such. Plus the bigger ones make great guitar slides for instance Sears Craftsman 13/16, as mentioned by Lowell George.

[Enzo]

I use the Craftsman metric set of nut drivers, my set of SAE nut drivers is from Xcelite. I have the 9mm, 10mm, 11mm drivers in a peanut can, handles up next to me, those for metric pot nuts. My SAE 1/2" nut driver for basic 3/8" bushing US pots and Switchcraft jacks nuts. And an Xcelite 9/16" driver (HS-18) that fits the slightly larger nuts on toggle switches and stomp switches as well as those Fender jacks.

I have a 15mm deep socket I use as a hand wrench for plastic Cliff style jack nuts.