Hello there.
I am a beginner in electronics, though i spent a considerable amount of my childhood looking into this, along with all things DIY (namely feeding the VCR Legos). Recently i came across Makezine, which woke the bug up again. Now i have the time, motivation and ability to actually learn about these subjects, and make stuff.
I already have books ("Electronics, a first course", by Owen Bishop) and a few online resources, like www.allaboutcircuits.com or the Electronics Club, www.kpsec.freeuk.com.
I am currently stocking my to-be electronics work bench with all the necessary tools. However, i have some serious questions on what type of gear to get. Please note that, while i am a noob (although an highly motivated/excited one), i prefer to buy quality off the bat, as this will save me money in the long run.
So, here's to the list:
BENCH: i was thinking of having someone at an hardware store build me a wood tabletop to cover my desk (for protection), though i am not sure about its thickness (1cm or 0.5cm?). However i have no idea what type of wood it should be made of (are there any proper types of wood), or if it should be covered with something, like formica.
I am thinking of getting either an antistatic mat or a bracelet too. A "large" bench vise and "smaller" pivoting vise (or something in between ?) is going to be very helpful (besides the "helping hand"/"third hand tool").
SANDPAPER: i was told that the best i could get to polish component leads was black sandpaper, with a 200-300 grit. Is this right?
PLIERS: long nose plier, curved long nose plier, side cutters plier, wire stripper plier (those that look like "vampire pliers"). Do the pliers need to be ESD? or are regular pliers enough (while using a conductive/ESD bench mat or a conductive wristwrap)?
Also, do i get them the long type (200 milimeters / ~8 inches), or shorter (140-160 mm / ~6 inches); which is more practical? The long ones have a more reach, but i imagine they can also become cumbersome in tight spaces?
SCREWDRIVERS: 1 set of slotted screwdrivers and one set of philips screwdrivers (4-6 sizes). Again, do these need to be ESD tools?
MULTIMETER: Velleman DVM890 (with capacitance but no inductance measuring capability): http://www.velleman.be/ot/en/product/view/?id=18686
There is no way i'm buying a professional, +200 EUR one (this one cost me 35), at least not at this stage. Oscilloscopes are for much later.
VARIABLE PSU: i have absolutely no idea what to get, or what it might cost me.I could use batteries, but they are not particularly practical, and neither are their cases (i know i have some).
I *think* i need a 1-output (2?) psu, with an output ground plug (besides live and neutral), but on Voltage and Amps i'm at a loss. 0V-30V and 0A-3/5A? I'm considering all voltages, but i don't have a clue on what we actually use, but i will be using this for all those normal DIY projects.
I *could* build one (and probably will sometime in the somewhat distant future), but still i'd like to have a reliable, variable power source on which to fall back on.
SOLDERING STATION: after much debating and googling and all that i decided that when the times comes, i will get a Weller W1000 soldering station. It has temperature control, the brand's quality is assured and is compatible with lead-free solder.
HAND MINIDRILL: the most famous of them all is the Dremel, but i've been reading all sorts of negative critics about them on the net, especially the latest models. In the Makezine fora they advise we get either the Dremel 3956-02 or a Proxxon or a Foredom (steer clear of knock-offs and B&Decker). There is also another brand, Einhell (german); opinions on it?
I will be using mostly to cut and shape holes in project boxes, to work stripboards, mold and drill Polymorph and all sorts of essentially light work. What is your take on this?
---
Other tools (to be acquired as need arises) will include an hot air/heat gun (pref. with temp control) for heatshrink (there is someone selling tons of it on ebay), a glue gun, a brass shavings replacement for the soldering iron sponge cleaner (look for Xytronic 460 or 460A). Other resources i already got include 22 SWG wire reels, a vast amount of Lego parts and some Polymorph.
I have posted in other fora a post that is somewhat like this one, but while they are fairly active (though as i found out, not as much as AAC), in over a week nobody as answered. Since my components are almost to be delivered (i got some LEDs from abcTronics, and grab bags along with some other assorted stuff from Futurlec), i need to know which tools to get.
Many thanks for your help.
Cheers;
Bruno
I am a beginner in electronics, though i spent a considerable amount of my childhood looking into this, along with all things DIY (namely feeding the VCR Legos). Recently i came across Makezine, which woke the bug up again. Now i have the time, motivation and ability to actually learn about these subjects, and make stuff.
I already have books ("Electronics, a first course", by Owen Bishop) and a few online resources, like www.allaboutcircuits.com or the Electronics Club, www.kpsec.freeuk.com.
I am currently stocking my to-be electronics work bench with all the necessary tools. However, i have some serious questions on what type of gear to get. Please note that, while i am a noob (although an highly motivated/excited one), i prefer to buy quality off the bat, as this will save me money in the long run.
So, here's to the list:
BENCH: i was thinking of having someone at an hardware store build me a wood tabletop to cover my desk (for protection), though i am not sure about its thickness (1cm or 0.5cm?). However i have no idea what type of wood it should be made of (are there any proper types of wood), or if it should be covered with something, like formica.
I am thinking of getting either an antistatic mat or a bracelet too. A "large" bench vise and "smaller" pivoting vise (or something in between ?) is going to be very helpful (besides the "helping hand"/"third hand tool").
SANDPAPER: i was told that the best i could get to polish component leads was black sandpaper, with a 200-300 grit. Is this right?
PLIERS: long nose plier, curved long nose plier, side cutters plier, wire stripper plier (those that look like "vampire pliers"). Do the pliers need to be ESD? or are regular pliers enough (while using a conductive/ESD bench mat or a conductive wristwrap)?
Also, do i get them the long type (200 milimeters / ~8 inches), or shorter (140-160 mm / ~6 inches); which is more practical? The long ones have a more reach, but i imagine they can also become cumbersome in tight spaces?
SCREWDRIVERS: 1 set of slotted screwdrivers and one set of philips screwdrivers (4-6 sizes). Again, do these need to be ESD tools?
MULTIMETER: Velleman DVM890 (with capacitance but no inductance measuring capability): http://www.velleman.be/ot/en/product/view/?id=18686
There is no way i'm buying a professional, +200 EUR one (this one cost me 35), at least not at this stage. Oscilloscopes are for much later.
VARIABLE PSU: i have absolutely no idea what to get, or what it might cost me.I could use batteries, but they are not particularly practical, and neither are their cases (i know i have some).
I *think* i need a 1-output (2?) psu, with an output ground plug (besides live and neutral), but on Voltage and Amps i'm at a loss. 0V-30V and 0A-3/5A? I'm considering all voltages, but i don't have a clue on what we actually use, but i will be using this for all those normal DIY projects.
I *could* build one (and probably will sometime in the somewhat distant future), but still i'd like to have a reliable, variable power source on which to fall back on.
SOLDERING STATION: after much debating and googling and all that i decided that when the times comes, i will get a Weller W1000 soldering station. It has temperature control, the brand's quality is assured and is compatible with lead-free solder.
HAND MINIDRILL: the most famous of them all is the Dremel, but i've been reading all sorts of negative critics about them on the net, especially the latest models. In the Makezine fora they advise we get either the Dremel 3956-02 or a Proxxon or a Foredom (steer clear of knock-offs and B&Decker). There is also another brand, Einhell (german); opinions on it?
I will be using mostly to cut and shape holes in project boxes, to work stripboards, mold and drill Polymorph and all sorts of essentially light work. What is your take on this?
---
Other tools (to be acquired as need arises) will include an hot air/heat gun (pref. with temp control) for heatshrink (there is someone selling tons of it on ebay), a glue gun, a brass shavings replacement for the soldering iron sponge cleaner (look for Xytronic 460 or 460A). Other resources i already got include 22 SWG wire reels, a vast amount of Lego parts and some Polymorph.
I have posted in other fora a post that is somewhat like this one, but while they are fairly active (though as i found out, not as much as AAC), in over a week nobody as answered. Since my components are almost to be delivered (i got some LEDs from abcTronics, and grab bags along with some other assorted stuff from Futurlec), i need to know which tools to get.
Many thanks for your help.
Cheers;
Bruno