Putting together a bench stock list

Ubergeek

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So, as I sit here in a room full of Nuns working on a Sunday, I am trying to get some ideas for parts and what not for my shop. I just built a workbench and moved an old desk in for a soldering station, but I need to start adding those odds and ends that everyone needs to get your basic repairs done.

So my ask is... what are the odds and ends that you seem to need when you are making your repairs?

For example:

What kind of fuses are commonly used?
What size castors work best?
What odd tools do you use?
What are the different molex connector sizes used?
What common power supplies are used?

So on and so on.

In other words, if you had $100 and needed to stock/restock, what would you buy??????

Thanks!!!!
 
Duckbill pliers with a smooth jaw.

http://www.csosborne.com/no98_S.htm is similar to what you are looking for. The S version is smooth jawed even though the picture shows ridges.

These pliers are awesome for straightening pins on IC chips. With patience and practice you can straighten out even some of the most twisted and bent pins.

Now, there's no need to spend massive $$$ on this brand. Just go to your local Chinese tool shop and find 'em. Be sure to check how the jaws mate and are thin enough to get in between the pins. If not you might end up with a set that just doesn't work well for straightening pins.

RJ
 
Are you talking about capacitors? You can blow through $100 pretty fast to stock up on parts/hardware/connectors, not to mention tools. I suppose it really depends on what stuff you plan to repair.

I'd suggest buying a few basic necessities and then add as you go along. No need to go crazy until you figure out what you really need.
 
Stocking up.

Caps I would buy specific to whatever monitor I may be working on. With Bob's quick turn around that isn't an issue.

I was thinking of the common stuff you go through when working on a cab - fuses, connectors, etc. I would like to stock up on some common stuff all at once and not have to make 50 orders to Bob or a dozen runs to Home Depot to get what I need.

For example - Fuses. I have an Atari cab I just cracked open and it has several fuses in the fuse block. I would love to swap things like this out when I work on a cab but I just wasn't sure what kind(s) I would need or if there are several common types that are used. I know some use "slow-blow" fuses, and there was a thread about finding them at the local car parts store. Things like this are good to have on hand.
 
2, 3, 4, 7 amp fast and slow blow 20A 32V is good to have. Bob is great for fast part delivery, but if you're going to buy a bunch at one time, order from jameco or mouser, etc.

I'd get pins and connectors for a variety of sizes while you're at it.
 
Tell me about it!

power cords, many of them have had their ground pin cut off.

No Kidding!!!!

I think every one of my games is missing the ground. Most came off of routes.... dirty ground pullin' route guys.

Good suggestions everyone. Keep 'em comming in!!!!!
 
If you don't have a good security bit set - get one.

You will find all kinds of odd screws/etc. Harbor Freight has a great red set that's cheap. They aren't good quality - but they have about everything you will see.
 
I use 1A & 5A fuses the most but keep an assortment of a wide range of them.
I have a couple pair of the duckbill pliers that were mentioned. I also have a couple pair of some really thin needle nose that are about 1/8" thick at the tips and taper back. I use these all the time. Another must have is flush cutters. As far as components it all depends on what you will be working on the most.
I keep a general assortment of caps around but when it comes to monitors I just order in a cap kit. I try to keep a few G07, 4600 & 4900 kits on hand since they are the most common. Caps are very expensive to stock up on.
 
Obvously a good solder station.

A couple of bottles of rubbing alcohol (for washing grime/flux/dirt/crud off boards)(you can have a couple bottles of drinking alcohol too, just don't drink and solder ;)) and some shop rags.

A good set of screwdrivers, a wrench set and a big hammer (for putting cabinets out of their misery).

A set of extractors for the common Molex connectors.

A set of dental picks for cleaning crud in hard to get to places on boards.

A good DMM for the bench and a cheap spare to carry around when you go looking at buying projects.

A logic probe, if you are going to try board repairs.

A spare monitor so you can bench test boards.

Lots of wire of varying colors (for rebuilding wiring harnesses).

Plastic parts drawers. Pick one style and stick with it. Otherwise you end up with a hodge podge of drawer units.

Eprom burner and eprom eraser.

The list goes on and on. Will your money?

The best thing to do is to pick a project and get the things you need for that project. Then do the same with the next one. After a few projects, your nice clean empty workbench will look like all of ours...:D

ken
 
yellowdog said:
A spare monitor so you can bench test boards.

Don't forget an iso transformer for testing monitors on the bench, as well as a switching power supply, full JAMMA harness, various JAMMA adapters (build your own most likely), a small box with a joystick and some buttons for "testing", and a power switch to turn everything on and off while you're making repairs.

A magnifying glass.

Probably the most important thing: A good light! Perhaps a small desk lamp with an flexible neck and the brightest bulb you can get (I use those "bright light" bulbs) so you can get some nice focused light on your work other than the overhead light that's normally there.

A small flashlight.

A small trash can for next to the bench for throwing old caps, wire strippings, component leads, etc into. But save some component lead trimmings for when you need to bridge a cut trace.

Shelves! Get things off the desk and up on the wall. You'll find desk space disappears more often than anything else....
 
"Plastic parts drawers. Pick one style and stick with it. Otherwise you end up with a hodge podge of drawer units."

Words of wisdom here. I have about 15+ sets of bins and only about three that are alike. I only actually bought three of them and those are the three that are the same :)
 
"Plastic parts drawers. Pick one style and stick with it. Otherwise you end up with a hodge podge of drawer units."

Words of wisdom here. I have about 15+ sets of bins and only about three that are alike. I only actually bought three of them and those are the three that are the same :)

The problem is, is you start out with 2 or 3, then you go to buy the next set of 3, and you can't find the ones you originally purchased, so now you have 2 different sets... then a little later, you need 2 or 3 more.... rinse and repeat. :D
 
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