Beginner's General Items

So I'm looking at starting fixing up stuff myself and would like to know what parts and stuff would be good to get a little station setup. Other than a soldering iron what do you recommend, such as wires and so on?

 

Here's some stuff I use:
Screw driver set (it's got changeable heads, including some game bits so I can open up Nintendo consoles and games)
Long Philips head screwdriver with magnetic tip (handy for consoles that have their screws hidden deep inside)
De-soldering pump
Assorted lengths of wires, er, I mean wires of various colors and sizes. Old network cables and phone cables are a great source to harvest these
Wire-stripper (much easier than trying to do it by hand, you cut off far fewer wires and it's faster to boot)
Kynar wire (useful for small mods, due to their extreme thinness)
Micro side cutter pliers (handy for snipping tiny components)
Isopropyl alcohol (really good at cleaning both electronics and plastics)
Cotton buds (handy for applying isopropyl to small areas, like the contacts on carts)
Make-up removal pads (handy for applying isopropyl to larger areas)
Rotary tool (for cutting and grinding various things)
Tweezers
Hot glue gun (for mods)
Multimeter (for checking boards and testing your wiring)
Magic eraser (for removing stubborn marks like marker)

 

what fireaza said, and maybe a good drill tool can come in handy
magnifying glass
and a solder station grabby thing (cant think of what they're called just woke up)

 

My rotary tool doubles as a drill

 

Thanks for these infos!
For a soldering iron (for starter), what would be the best to look at ?

 

A vice can be useful for holding stuff whilst soldering it, as are pliers.

 

anything with a decent wattage and a fine tip, avoid solder guns.

 

Good to know! Thanks

 

Depends what you're repairing. The best tool in your kit is knowledge, though

To be honest, if you don't know what you need, you probably don't need it yet. Start off with a beginner's soldering kit if you don't know what you're doing, practice on some Velleman kits or something. If there's a radio parts shop with a catalogue (e.g. Maplin) take a look through to get acquainted with what's out there. Only YOU can know what tools are right for the job in hand, really.

Yes, though - basic toolset (screwdrivers, pliers, cutters), basic soldering kit (e.g. from local DIY store or if you have a catalogue shop like Argos where the store is just laminated catalogues and a warehouse out back) and a multimeter are your bare minimum. And if you didn't know that much, I'd suggest grabbing some beginner's books or a DVD on basic electronics. Not being patronizing there - they will contain very handy information.

*EDIT* Apparently Argos don't do them any more, but this was the sort of kit they'd sell:

http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/soldering-kits/challenge-17-piece-soldering-kit.asp

The gun is a horrible thing, as is that folding stand. Can't see them there, but they used to come with a set of helping hands.

Your local radio shop, or large electronics distributor, will do a basic kit - probably an Antex iron, stand, a little solder, maybe a desolder pump and perhaps some scraping tools. Definitely watch some videos on how to solder first - tip the bit, keep it clean (on the wet sponge) and heat the lead, pad and then apply solder.

 

I seriously hate Antex irons - they are useless.

I threw a bunch of them away. I have a bunch of tips if anyone wants them - was going to bin those too.

 

They're good for beginners, though.... and far better than most of the horrible Chinese rubbish that you get nowadays!

Let's face it, noone's going to spend hundreds on a temperature controlled station just to learn the basics. I haven't picked up my Antex in years - probably over a decade. Still, it was a great iron when I was starting out, and did the job just fine. For 15 quid in Maplin, it's a fine start. Then again, any iron that comes in a beginner's kit should do the job - just upgrade as and when you outgrow your iron.

 

I disagree that its a good iron for any level. They are terrible IMO and will just make a beginners life much more difficult for no good reason.

For £30 you can get a good temp controlled iron that is a hakko clone (just like what most of us are using), id spend the extra and save your sanity.

(my personal experience/opinion - YMMV)

 

That's why people still buy them after 50 years then, is it? If they were no good, they wouldn't still be in business.

A soldering iron has one requirement - get hot. Well that, and retain a decent tinned bit. There's nothing wrong with an Antex in the right hands... although I'd agree that ANY non-temperature controlled iron isn't great for intricate desoldering work.

I don't like the clones, personally. Hakko are OK, but I prefer Weller and Metcal. Most service engineers I know swear by Metcal. I love my Weller - it's been a fantastic product and the repair department are very friendly, helpful and cheap!

I would quite like to try one of the newer Hakko digital read-out irons, though! And their hot air stations are fairly decent.

 

Not a fan of weller either (although thats not them being crap -just personal preference), Metcal are good - but I cant afford them. The clones work well for the price.

You know as well as I do - a being a good product isnt a requirement for something to still sell. People still buy lots of rubbish that has a better alternatives. Maplin is about the only high street electronics retailer and they sell mostly only those irons - thats why people still use them (that and people still recommend them, even though there are better ones for only a tiny bit more money).

Back in the day, before there were loads of clones - if you wanted a cheap iron that was "ok" - antex was about your only option from a walk in store (before the days of the internet shopping). Times have changed however.

By your logic, that the only requirement is it gets hot and stays tinned - why are you saying the chinese ones are crap? why are you saying you dont like the clones? surely they are all as good as each other by your logic? =/


Also, "in the right hands" part. I hand solder TQFP100+ - the antex are still crap. Trying to insult my skill level isnt appreciated.


I dont see the point in recommending the op a soldering iron that while might do the job, doesnt make your life any easier. You will also end up replacing it in the future. Spend the extra £10-15 and get one thats decent in the first place imo

 

im currently using an antex soldering iron and its ok, could be better but for a cheap iron its not bad. does the job, just gotta be patient with it. @Bad_Ad84 do you have a like to the £30 temp controlled iron you mentioned? might be helpful to others reading and the thread starter

i used weller irons when i worked for an it company we done component level repair on most equipment the weller irons i liked especially the fine tip temp controlled ones.

some people just starting out are maybe students or still at school and possibly cant afford the extra cash it could mean their travel to school / college for a few days or their food / alcohol money(essential!)

oh and if its not been mentioned(probably has) a nice hotglue gun which i still need to get keep putting it off lol

 

Which Antex are you using? I can unload all these (most of which are new) tips onto you - would feel better than throwing them away.

Temp controller iron that uses hakko (and its clones) iron and tips:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Atten-AT9...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item416ab32d8c

I use a different base station, but the same irons and tips this takes. Served me very well for the last 4 years or so.

 

antex ER-30 with the power lead extended, i'll probably be changing it soon (another reason i asked for the link ) its good to know these irons are recommended by people making use of them as theres so much cheap chinese ones all over ebay.

 

Well, I cant say I have personally used that base station - but all its there to do is power the iron.

The irons themselves and the tips - as I said, I use exactly those and I hand solder some really tiny parts with no issues at all. For the price, you seriously cant beat them.

I have bought a bunch of new tools/equipment recently - including a £300 scope. I could technically afford the money for a proper metcal or similar - but when the clones do such a good job, its hard to justify the expense. Where as the scope was a bargain for the price and easy to justify the expense.

Tips I have:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/replacement-tips-for-antex-xs-type-soldering-irons-220779
and
http://www.maplin.co.uk/replacement-tips-for-antex-type-cs-tcs-and-tc50-soldering-irons-220776

Dont know if those are compatible with your iron - but if they are, you are welcome to them.

 

Fireaza you forgot to mention he should get a 3rd hand.

 

While they would be useful, I've had multiple warnings from the government about grafting third hands to people. No, what's probably better is one of those little weighted things with the two aligator clips attached to them. The idea is you use the clips to hold the board in place, while you solder away with your free hands.