Essential Tools?

moonchilddave

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I've been out of the collection/restoration community for quite a few years but am just now picking it back up.

My question is, for working on the vids, what tools do you find ESSENTIAL in your toolkit that you find yourself using all the time or that you couldn't live without?

I've already got a GC Supertemp temperature controlled soldering station, a Fluke 87 DVM (with freq), one of the cheap Radio Shack desoldering tools (iron with the bulb for suction).

Basically, I have a little extra cash and am looking to beef up my tool collection...
 
I addition to what you already have I would say, wire stripper and crimper. A tester/rejuvenator should also be a must have.
 
Yep, already have the stripper/crimper. When you say a tester/rejuivinator, are you talking about one for picture tubes? If so, can you recommend a good brand/model? I do have a deguassing coil as well.
 
If you are doing any board repair that requires replacing sockets and the like, I cant say enough good things about the Hakko 808 desolderer. It's close to a couple hundred, but you will be de-soldering faster than you can solder.
 
When you say a tester/rejuivinator, are you talking about one for picture tubes? If so, can you recommend a good brand/model? I do have a deguassing coil as well.
Yes a CRT tester/rejuvenator. I have a B&K 470 and would recommend that or a B&K 490.
 
I've been out of the collection/restoration community for quite a few years but am just now picking it back up.

My question is, for working on the vids, what tools do you find ESSENTIAL in your toolkit that you find yourself using all the time or that you couldn't live without?

I've already got a GC Supertemp temperature controlled soldering station, a Fluke 87 DVM (with freq), one of the cheap Radio Shack desoldering tools (iron with the bulb for suction).

Basically, I have a little extra cash and am looking to beef up my tool collection...

While the desoldering tool with the bulb is good for cap kits and larger stuff... for removing IC's I just find it's a little too hot, it just run full out and get wayyyyyy too hot. The soldering iron you have, with a little flux and one of the cheapo ($9.99) RadioShack solder suckers (blue pen with a plunger) works so much better for me. It takes a little longer to get used to, but with the flux and that sucker, I can clean an IC 90% of the time in one shot without marring the PCB or worrying about lifting traces.

Also, they're packs of soldering tools (the plastic packing with the double ended yellow handled tools) comes in handy... I use the brush end for applying flux, and the pointed ends for scraping around solder joints to make sure there's no bridges. The flux is usually good enough to make sure that happens. But, for example, on Pac PCBs you have some bare traces running really close to some IC pins... I'm always paranoid with them. The chisel tip one is great for cutting traces if need be.

While you have the spare cash, I'd agree on a rejuvenator. I'd also add in a decent EPROM burner (NO WILLEMS!). I have an EMP-20, and while I can't do some PROMs, I can do pretty much any EPROM that I'll ever need to.

A good loop will help you out as well. I have a set that just clamps onto my glasses... gives a 5X glass, and a 2X glass IIRC... you can use either one solo or put them together and get 10X. Great for checking any traces you're thinking might be open somewhere. Harbor Freight has them for like $4 or so.

A cheap logic probe and a decent o-scope are also nice to have... even though I RARELY use my o-scope as intended, it's still nice to have and was only $40 or so on eBay. ... you can pass on the o-scope for now, I'm sure... but the logic probe is something I'd say is a must.

Regardless of anything else... I'll have to say if you get ANYTHING... a good flux pen or even the cheap flux paste that I use will save you sooooooooooooo many headaches. If you've never used it, and this goes for anyone reading... get it. Get it and love it.

And for freebies... get some flat rate boxes from the USPS for storing PCBs. They're free and they'll actually deliver them right to your door by the case.
 
Cheaper tools I use quite a bit are .093, .084, and .063 extractors. I reuse most of the connectors and wires from various harnesses that I get. Get plenty of pins and connectors.

I couldn't live without a 1/4" nut driver. I would recommend a couple of these. I also have a cheap tool that is a magnetic telescope with light that also has a 1/4" socket. The telescoping part goes beneath the socket and I can use it as a screwdriver or nut driver. I use this a lot when working on chassis that are upside down.

I made a test monitor out of a PS1 LCD screen ($50 on ebay). It's great for troubleshooting. Can narrow down right away if the monitor is working or not. It's nice to use on the bench, too.

Theron
 
Get a good logic probe. One that has both visible and audible signalling. An oscilliscope can be a useful tool also, but I find the logic probe is just way easier to use.

I also find that I use one of these fairly often: http://www.harborfreight.com/helping-hands-319.html

image_181.jpg


It won't hold anything heavy like a circuit board, but when soldering small things it is indispensible.

These are also quite useful when cleaning boards and general poking around (pun intended): http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-pick-and-hook-set-66836.html

image_1941.jpg


ken
 
Get a good logic probe. One that has both visible and audible signalling. An oscilliscope can be a useful tool also, but I find the logic probe is just way easier to use.

I also find that I use one of these fairly often: http://www.harborfreight.com/helping-hands-319.html

image_181.jpg


It won't hold anything heavy like a circuit board, but when soldering small things it is indispensible.

Good call, I forgot about the Helping Hands as I haven't done any wire work in a while. But I'll be rebuilding a harness here soon and even though you can do it without them, it's a nightmare.
 
I've also always used contact cleaner - usually whatever brand I can find... but I saw someone else on these forums mention DeOxit... Sounds pretty good if it works as advertised.

I am curious though since several have mentioned the rejuvinator/tester - do they usually bring good results? I used one once back in electronics school years ago and thought they weren't all they were cracked up to be... that they maybe only bought you another year or two at best... And of course they aren't gonna do anything about burn-in.
 
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I've got a Radio Shack logic probe with TTL/CMOS and TONE/PLUSE switches and the audio... comes in real handy. I think it may have even been a kit that I built it from back in school. Along with that though, I'm suprised no one mentioned a healthy supply of cables with clip leads on the ends...
 
I have a 490 rejuvenator and I've done 2 of my tubes. It made a world of difference on them. If you have some monitors that you can't seem to make look good no matter how much you adjust the pots (assuming you've done a cap kit and maybe fly), it might very well need a rejuve.
 
I am curious though since several have mentioned the rejuvinator/tester - do they usually bring good results? I used one once back in electronics school years ago and thought they weren't all they were cracked up to be... that they maybe only bought you another year or two at best... And of course they aren't gonna do anything about burn-in.


A rejuvenator will not do anything for burn. It is a tool used to diagnose the health of a picture tube. This can be a very useful troubleshooting tool when you are having problems with color balance, focus, or picture brightness. If the rejuvenator shows a problem it can usually be used to fix the problem as well. It can save you time since it is easy/fast to use.
 
The tools I use most often when troubleshooting/repairing vids are:

Multimeter
Crimper
Soldering Iron
Desoldering gun
Rejuvenator
Ring tester
Logic probe



I also find it useful to have a bench tester with a switching power supply and a known good isolation transformer.
 
I used one once back in electronics school years ago and thought they weren't all they were cracked up to be... that they maybe only bought you another year or two at best... And of course they aren't gonna do anything about burn-in.
Most of the monitors that I have fixed didn't even need to be rejuved. The clean/balance function can clear up a lot of issues. Keep in mind you only need to rejuve a monitor when no other fix will work.

I'm suprised no one mentioned a healthy supply of cables with clip leads on the ends...
These aren't really tools and more like accessories since they're things you need to keep stocked like heat shrink tubing, wire and cable ties.
 
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