Toolkit for newbies?

nimsu

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Looking to buy some of the wiring to start troubleshooting. Sounds like I need a multimeter, crimper, wiring and some connectors. Does anyone sell a good little set to start with? Also trying to stay away from soldering for now.
 
There are plenty of old threads on tools/equipment etc...

Trying to stay away from soldering? OK, let me know how that goes.

Other than soldering equipment (and what has already been mentioned)...

pin extractors, automatic wire stripper, good quality cutters (e.g. X-cellite), lighted magnifier (for PCB examination), head-mounted flashlight (for working inside a cabinet), heat shrink tubing & heat gun (never use electrical tape), degaussing coil, EPROM programmer, CRT rejuvinator... and the telephone number of someone local who knows how to solder and has equipment.
 
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+1 for Harbor Freight

Not to be a dick but, -1000000000 for Harbor Freight. That place sells nothing but junk! Not once have I bought a tool there thats lasted more then one use.

Some of you guys may have a different story but not me. I will NOT go there even if its right next door and HD or Lowes is 10 miles away. Eff that place.
 
This is a hobby, but it does not mean it is cheap. Actually, collecting and maintaining 30+ year old custom computers is going to be anything *but* cheap. The cheap route is MAME, collecting cabinets is not.

Also, having crap tools is only going to frustrate you when you try to do any work. For me, there are some things I will skimp on and some I won't. A soldering iron / rework station are *NOT* an area to skimp on, IMO. It does not matter where you buy you equipment, as long as you know what you want before you go to the store. Meaning, it does not matter where you buy a Fluke meter, as long as you buy a Fluke.

Staying away from soldering, I don't have anything to add that has not been mentioned, other than you probably won't fix more than half the games you work on without knowing how to solder (and desolder, which is twice as hard as soldering) on a PCB.

The key to good soldering or rework is having clean parts and contacts (just like welding actually). A good iron at the proper temperature, a hot air bath, no-clean flux, chip-quik, 99.9% alcohol (the isopropyl available at the local store is not good enough, it will leave a residue), cotton swabs (Q-tips), and a clean work space.
 
HF has a place: Tools you need for one use, tools you need NOW, or if you can't afford better.

Like all things in life, save your money and buy better, or use those tools and replace them as you can afford to.

RJ
 
If you are going to buy some security bits, buy a good set and be done with it. I bought these:

http://www.wihatools.com/700seri/719collect.htm

You can get them cheaper via amazon or Ebay, but I have had this set close to 10 years now and use them almost daily and its a great set.

Brian

I would greatly suggest this bit set as well. You will constantly come across situations where you will need it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/100-piece-security-bit-set-68457.html
 
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