Handy Tools to Have.

When you young people get a bit older, your best tool will be your glasses. I really miss the good eyesight I used to have.

Besides the soldering iron (I need a proper soldering station but I get by with my old Radio Shack iron pretty well), probably the helping hands get the most use.

Also jeweler's glasses (see my avatar). My eyes aren't really that bad but for smaller things and checking for solder gaps/bridges they are very useful.


Torben

Mikebits said:

When you young people get a bit older, your best tool will be your glasses. I really miss the good eyesight I used to have.

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Yes I agree, but now I also use a lighted magnifier.

Get a temperature controlled soldering station. The MPJA units are only $50 or so and work well.

I got tired of having to aim the swing arm lamps and installed a 2 x 4 foot 3 bulb florescent light fixture over the workbench. It is a nice commercial unit with a 6 inch tall grid to diffuse the light and prevent glare.

The bulb nearest the edge of the workbench was removed to reduce the light level to where I could my computer on the next table without going blind.

Hi,

I agree with Jpanhalt.

hemostats, shoud not be used often as they become easily magnetized.