Fungi Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 We have lots of info on good parts, but I can't seem to find good tools. I don't mean multimeters and soldering irons, I mean the guys that do the hard work but go unnoticed, like helping hands and wire strippers. In my experience, the standard helping hands thing from PartsExpress is a little flimsier than I'd like, and I don't know how to determine a good wire stripper since I only have the one from a group buy with not enough sizes. Feel free to throw in whatever cool tools you like too, because what is a man without his tools? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBLoudG20 Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 I like the tool between my legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvdunhill Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 anything made by Panavise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 I like the tool between my legs. The T100 torx? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBLoudG20 Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 The T100 torx? heh Also, my favorite tool is MexicannDragon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drp Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 My favorite Tool is Sober. For other tools, I'd have to say my big magnifier on an adjustable boom, as I have a hard time soldering chippies without it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smeggy Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 My favorite tool at the minute is Nenso. Second is a head magnifier as my eyeballs aren't what they were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhjazz Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 Xcelite 170M nippers. Sharp as hell, nice clean cuts. Tweezers: two sizes, could use more. One holds items vertically, one holds them horiz. In combination they are...well, they're still tweezers. But since they stay closed instead of opened, they can hold stuff while I wait for the iron to get hot, or while I get another glass of Merlot. I don't know about my favorite wire stripper. I acquired one of these recently. Not a bad tool. However, but the gripper portion can sometimes leave tooth marks on the wire casing and I think that looks tacky. I should get a different one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fungi Posted February 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 Thanks for all the replies and non replies, the Panavise circuit board holder and Xcelite nippers look especially good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pars Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 x2 on the Panavise. Check ebay. Strippers (loaded ?) Ideal T-strippers... great. Home Depot carries some of these... get the ones that go from 22-30ga. They also have a set from 14 or so up to 22 maybe. Teflon, no problem with these. Drill press. Lowes used to have a 10" Delta for around $100 that is nice. If you make PCBs, carbide indexed drill bits like these. Don't use them without the drill press above, however. x2 on the head magnifier. Optivisors (like you see the jeweler's wearing) work really well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtp Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 I made my "helping hands" in my high school shop class, still better than anything I could buy. For wire strippers and cutters, nothing special - just some cheap craftsman stuff. Fungi: In Goleta, check out Marvac Electronics. They have lots of good stuff (Xcelite, etc). Like a good DIY nerd, I spend a lot of lunch hours there just looking around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fungi Posted February 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 I made my "helping hands" in my high school shop class, still better than anything I could buy. For wire strippers and cutters, nothing special - just some cheap craftsman stuff. Fungi: In Goleta, check out Marvac Electronics. They have lots of good stuff (Xcelite, etc). Like a good DIY nerd, I spend a lot of lunch hours there just looking around. Nice, I will definitely be checking that place out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philodox Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepak Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 My favorite tool at the minute is Nenso. My favorite is my three hole puncher. The electric stapler at the office is also sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MexicanDragon Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 heh Also, my favorite tool is MexicannDragon Two shea! **BRENT** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xand1x Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Cognac Snifter or Glencairn Whisky Glass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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