Beginner's General Items

Which are actually called "third hands"

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9317

 

Lol

 

But do not bother getting a "third hand" with a magnifying glass on it, Get a magnifying glass lamp. Something like this:
It is one of my favourite tool. I do not recommend buying a cheap one online as some have crappy or too small distorting glass.
I went to a store and ended up buying a cheap one but it had a decent glass. It was not holding well but i put stronger tension springs on it and it works great.

 

Screwdrivers

You HAVE to get a cordless screwdriver! They look like hand-size cordless drills and come with around 30 different heads. When I was opening up and screwing together PS3s, it was much better than anything else I've ever used. Also, get some screwdrivers with large handles (i.e. 60p B&Q Blue phillips and flat ones), rather than multi-tool ones. I also recommend buying a DS torx screw for £1, the Wii equivalent and the plastic iPhone opening tools all from eBay.

Hope this helps!

 

There were those cheap ones with the fat handle that splayed out, too. I'd take Antex over them any day. God, they were horrible!

For a beginner, yes - if they don't mind issues with the temperature control and the things breaking down. For me, I like stability. And accuracy. There's no accuracy in a dial control with no readout. "Yeah, I'd like my iron at approximately 300 degrees-ish.. and I'll just guess when it's up to temperature!" Hmm.

Lol, don't be silly - I'm not insulting your skill - the right hands obviously are the hands of a beginner!! Who the hell else would use a mains powered iron in their right mind!?

Oh, I've always called them helping hands, not third hand... because that's what it says on the box. And it makes more sense when there's two of them - one either end This third hand thing is a newer term, but it doesn't make as much sense.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/helping-hands-with-magnifier-4017

http://uk.farnell.com/duratool/608-391a-w/helping-hand/dp/3125350

And RS use third hand systems as a category, but still call it helping hands

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/multipurpose-third-hand-systems/6142217/