I can't believe I have been watching this channel for over 5 years now, started watching in highschool now in my second year of university studying electronic engineering. Keep inspiring 💯
- Ultrasonic bath - Silicone mat (heat resistant) - Fume fan - Third hand I also quite often use a glass from an old induction heater as a mat for anything sharp and pointy. I cut on it too, although it damages the knife.
Yeah especially the fume fan is ncessary if you're into a lot of soldering. A third hand is always super helpful and makes soldering way more convenient. A silicone mat is nice to have, but a piece of wood is sufficient imho.
Quick PSA, most cheap fume extractors that you find online don't actually do any proper filtering. It just removes the fumes from in front of your face and sends them whizzing around your room, where, if you work in an unventilated environment, it will build up over time and could cause you harm. The cheapest way to deal with this is to either do your soldering outside or in a well-ventilated environment. The other, more expensive alternative is to get a proper HEPA grade fume extractor. Here is a really good video by EEVBlog on this topic: th-cam.com/video/ffaiKZMU0Lw/w-d-xo.html.
If that's what you wanted, then get the absolute cheapest one from China, @@brabbrabmotovlog702. They're the only one who don't have overcurrent protection. The PSU may as well double as magic smoke generator in the process though..
true, but its really time as well. if you want everything now, yea, you need money. ive only been into electronics for maybe 5 years now. ive been using general homeowner shed tools my family owns for most of my tools. for the specialised tools, i've had to gather cheap and useful tools over time. until yesterday i used a cheap £10 multimeter that was accurate enough to be useful in repairs, now i have a UT210D. considering i do a lot of automotive stuff, the inductive 200A DC measurement feature is a dream come true. the temperature probes amazing too, but now im gushing. my point is if you love this stuff, you'll still have that little bug in you that gets you to spend a little bit on some nice stuff and you'll slowly see your collection of specialised tools grow. don't let money limit you.
Not really true, I managed during Corona lock down to strike pretty good deals at all my lab (used in most cases, for the oscilloscope, function generator and what not) equipment and for $220 got almost all what it's needed including benchtop multimeter, analog function generator, tektronix digital scope, lcr benchtop meter and a logic analyzer
I tried going to landfills to get tools and parts that i could fix so i didn'tt have to spend money. And some things still worked and didn't need fixing at all. Thrown out because they bought the new model i guess. Anyways, turns out it's illegal where i live to pick up someone else's trash even if it still works. So never doing that again and for now i've given up on making things and repairing things. Can't afford the parts and tools, i clearly can't afford a fine or prison. Good luck man, hope you get around money at some point so you can make your brain work :) Cheers!
Just buy them as you need them in my opinion. First off you'll need a soldering station (or just an iron), some spare wire, few crimps... etc.. then buy more as you get more money to spend :)
@to G I've got an osciloscope from hantek for around 300€. Search on banggood hantek dso5202p. You will find a couple of videos abut the osciloscope...It measures a lot of things but don't expect I2C data reader or fancy graphs(except for XY) it does it's job really well
Getting it all at once would be jaw-dropping. I've been collecting tools for about 50 years now (since grade school) and it's not too bad spread over time. The only tools I can think of off the top of my head that cost more than $500 are the oscilloscope and 3D printer. Most of the rest are sub $100.
One of the tools you missed, might be the usb power meter. I find myself using it a lot, and, at least in my opinion, is essential :) And thanks for the great video. Very useful as usual!
Had one, ended up replacing the USB-Ports with Pins and using it as some kind of low voltage and current meter🤷🏼♂️ Didn't stay with USB for too long since I started strolling around with electonics
I was going to say the same thing! He has a pile of expensive tools but still uses masking tape to label everything ! Just got a Dymo Rhino and i can now label wires with the heatshrink they sell or use the tags setting to make labels for wires
+1 for label maker! An analog/manual one or a dedicated label printer (great for weatherproof and durable labels) or at least pre-cut self-adhesive paper for normal a4 printers.
I was lucky and got the Brother PT-E110 on sale for 20€. The label material is kind of expensive but it's a very easy to use handheld device that has a dedicated menu for electronics symbols and can print flags for cables.
You know, I've got several label makers and never used them. My sister tried to give me yet another one with labels for my birthday and I told her keep it. I've never used it because it just takes too long to punch things in, and the dang label tape for them is insanely expensive. Once your tape runs out it's useless. A roll of paper tape and a sharpie however require no batteries and always works. Not pretty but....
Masking tape still works better and is a few pennies. A labelling gun is pointless for 99% of people. Like how many things do you actually label? and what does it do that some masking tape and a marker or some paper with clear tape over it cannot do?
This are definitely not "essential" tools. The only really essential tools of them for me are the screw drivers, soldering iron, a multimeter and maybe the lab power supply (but for starting you could use there also some different power bricks). At least these are the things I started with
You probably also want wire cutters and strippers. Needlenose pliers are probably my most used tool and the built in cutters are great for cutting small wire and usable for stripping.
I am going to put in my opinion as well: The tools I use regularely and I think are the minimum you are going to need are as follows (listed in order how often I use them): a lab bench power supply, a multimeter, an oscilloscope, a soldering iron. Also I think it doesn't have to be the most expensive or the newest equipment my Power supply (0-30V, 0-5A) did just cost around 35€, the soldering iron is my dad's old one, it has a safety transformer so it kind of looks like a soldering station but the temperature is regulated by changing the tips, for a multimeter I have a new one and one from the 80s and they preform equally so to me it comes down to if you prefer an analog meter or a digital display none of that equipment has failed me to this day and I didn't come across any limitations yet the oscilloscope on the other hand is also an old model, I got it from ebay for 80€ and it actually did blow up at one point it was easy to fix but that always might happen to old equipment. You might notice that I didn't bring up a function generator, that's becaue I made one myself simply by connecting an operational amplifier to the headphone output of my computer and using audacity to create a waveform. Worked for me but when you do that always put a 10nF capacitor in line with the signal wire with a 100kOhm resistor between the used input of the amplifier and ground and another 100k resistor between the signal and shield wires of the audio jack, that way you get rid of any ground connection of the computer and protect it from shorting it without loosing the audio cable's shield. and always test on breadboard first but keep the capacitance between the breadboards traces in mind ; ) for basic parts you should always have in stock I recommend a set of resistors, at least 100Ohm, 1k, 10k, 100k and 1M, different capacitors (the ones I need most frequently are ceramic 10nF and electrolytic 2,2uF, I recommend getting sets with those included), LEDs of different colors, a couple of 10kOhm potentiometers, any silicon Diodes, BC547 and BC557 transistors, any operational amplifyers and at least one micro controller if you read so far I hope this might help someone happy tinkering to everyone
I use old phone-type chargers instead of a proper bench supply (but I would like to get one.) The one I use all the time is 5 volts but it has nice current limiting of around 1.1 amps instead of the more common 'hiccup' mode.
@@janami-dharmam who speaks of compromising my dad almost regrets having given it to me now and whenever he does bigger soldering jobs he borrows it back from me it has a much nicer handle and performs better than his new one, the only downside is it needs 2-3 minutes to heat up and about 10 minutes to cool down enouh to touch it even replacing the tips for different temperatures isn't that bad just because it's old doesn't mean its not good anymore ; ) if anyone is interested here is how the temperature regulation works: in the soldering iron is a switsch controlling the heater and on top of it is a magnet so whenever there is something magnetic in front of it it turns on and when you remove it it turns back off, in the tip is a piece of a magnetic alloy that looses it's magnetic properties at a certain temperature so it switches off the iron when it's up to that temperature and back on when it's cooled back down thus holding the iron at that temperature rather precisely.
@@fdsmaster8098 If my memory serves me right, this is a Weller soldering machine and it costs a fortune - even a single tip is expensive. It is still available in the magnastat model and costs more than 100USD or 100Euro. They are almost topline models.
@@janami-dharmam It is made by Weller indeed, I don't know how much it had cost since It has bin passed on from my grandfather who got it from his workplace when they decided they had more than they needed and wanted to throw them out to free space so his boss said he could have it. the tips for this particular model cost between 5 and 10 euros wich I find reasonable considering the Tip it currently has is about 30 Years old, used a lot and still perfectly fine
I'd add, from my own lab: a fumes extractor (nobody likes lungs diseases, right?), a powerful LED magnifying lamp, a good xacto knife and a cutting mat to protect the table you're working on.
One of the first things I bought for my humble little lab is a fume extracter. I live in a small basement apartment and I'm already a smoker haha. One thing I think is missing from this list is a handheld magnifying glass, I keep mine stuck to my desk with a big magnet and use it constantly.
Quick PSA, most cheap fume extractors that you find online don't actually do any proper filtering. It just removes the fumes from in front of your face and sends them whizzing around your room, where, if you work in an unventilated environment, it will build up over time and could cause you harm. The cheapest way to deal with this is to either do your soldering outside or in a well-ventilated environment. The other, more expensive alternative is to get a proper HEPA grade fume extractor. Here is a really good video by EEVBlog on this topic: th-cam.com/video/ffaiKZMU0Lw/w-d-xo.html.
I'm a noob, but I'd say Label Maker. I've watched all the amazing detail with your meticulous writing and drawing of circuits, yet you use masking tape and a pencil or bad marker to label your cabinets and supplies. It's just humerous. I've learned so much just watching a few videos so far. Obvious you really know your stuff. Keep up the great work. And get a label maker...
There are tiny, simple oscilloscopes that you can fit 5 of in your pocket for ~$20-40 each. I've used some of those and they are definitely good enough for most beginner-to-intermediate users.
Keysight makes expensive products, but they are also great quality. If you can afford it, I'd look into the Rigol DSO1054Z. For around $375 it's very good for the price.
For a decent oscilloscope with great functionality that is actually pretty affordable... I wish there was a great scope for 200 bucks, but unfortunately there isn't. So I can't afford one either.
I use a cheap (maybe 40 €)handheld Scope. Its not perfect and pretty crappy but it works for detecting if there is a signal at all and thats what i need most.
That is nothing if you compare to most other hobbies. Radio systems easily go up to 10k. So do drones. But a 2000usd oscilloscope will usually serve you good enough anything other than RF. Not that there aren't super expensive scopes out there but no hobbies will own one. Which is not the case for other hobbyists like machining, ham radio, drones, photography. Their collection usually go above 10k.
I only paid a little over half that for my better 'scope, which is a dual-channel 100MHz unit, and less than $200 for my 10MHz USB 'scope (Pico Technologies) that does over 90% of what I can do with the more expensive 'scope.
Hey, for my personal experience i recommend having a smaller oscilloscope. I use the DSO203 or DSO quad. Of course, it is less powerful than 1000$ beast but it is suitable for 95% of my work. Another really important tools is logic analyzer. You can get the DSLogic from banggood for 100/150$ and it can help you a lot with all signal you can have to debug. And the last step for me is small utility knife and tweezer for small electronic. To summarize : - DSO 203 as oscilloscope - DSlogic for logic analyzer - Good pair of tweezer - Good utility knife - Wire stripper - TS80 or TS100 as soldering iron - Small fan to extract the fume - Small tube of soldering flux + soldering wick + solder pump - A good lamp and magnifier - A thrid hand or small vise to hold a pcb (some people use patafix or other sticky paste) - Multimeter, Uni-T is a nice brand but you can get used Fluke for 100$ on ebay - 3D printer (ender 3 for me) - a set of file to rework your print - A dremel or any cheapo small rotary tool - A leatherman Wave of Charge (personal taste since i use it a lot). Can become a must have on the road. - A decent kit of screwdriver and general purpose tools P.S : It's my vision of required tools. Maybe i've missed something or the tools i use seem unusable for you but please bear in mind the idea of "small budget beginner friendly" stuff.
I fully agree here! Depending on the project, a logic analyzer can be a very helpful tool. Also havin a DSO is important, but a cheap 20 MHz 2 Channel scope is more than enough for 99% of all hobbyist projects... You rareley ever need several GS/s and 100s of MHz
Had to pause @2:08 The Tears the Tears of missing my tools .I have not been able to afford the tools or pieces to go back to electronic repairs ;until now sorta .By 2022 I should be able to start my home repair business again .Oh Yeah I love your videos; so until 2022 I get to live thru your wonderous videos :) You make this 40yr OLDMAN excited about electronics again!
I fully agree with most of your suggestions. I would also add: Wire cutter It's a bit brutal sometimes but always works A magnifying glass. Even if you have perfect vision, it always helps to zoom in to see better. Plus the LEDs help even in bright environments Soldering flux. It makes soldering soooo much easier, put it in a small syringe so that you don't make a mess or use more than it's needed (it stinks but only when burned and is not good to breathe) Acetone and an old toothbrush. They help a lot with cleaning the mess that comes with soldering especially while using flux. If you don't have a heat gun, use a lighter to shrink heat shrink tubing. It needs a bit of practice to learn not to burn it. A jet lighter works very well. Too well, even with a normal one I'm now fine with not having a heat gun Solder pump (this thing that sucks melted solder with the press of a button). It has saved me tons of time and it was less than two bucks there's no reason not to have it when you need it If you can't afford a lab bench power supply, get a variable voltage transformer. It looks like a normal transformer but at the bottom it was a knob to choose between 3, 4.5, 5, 6, 9, and 12 volts. It's dead cheap (around 12€) and works flawlessly Helping clamps (they hold the circuit in place while you're soldering). I can't live without them after I got them for less than 10€ A ruler is also handy to have around along with a marker.
Add these: You missed heat shrink tubing and an accompanying Bic or Jet lighter (in lieu of a heat shrink gun) and Scissors, which I use a lot. I use heat shrink tubing on just about every project. Hot glue gun is handy. So is super glue. Zip ties in many different sizes. Black electrical tape. Screw on butt connectors for joining bigger wires like house wires. A kit of eyeglass sized screw drivers. A metal oxide cut off wheel on a hand grinder and a grinder disc. Some helping hands to hold things while soldering or tape to tape it down. A black sharpie (or different colors) for labeling things. Paper labels that can be cut to size. Plastic packing tape. RJ-45 connectors with crimp tool. XT60 connectors. Electrical light switches (great where you need any easy to wire up heavy duty switch in a project. A soldering stand (if you have a TS100) and non-flammable soldering surface/mat. Drill press... much better than a hand drill. Bandsaw or scroll saw is much better than a jig saw. Box of random recycled wire in all sorts of sizes. Box of random power bricks / wall worts and their end connectors - you will raid this often. A 12vdc car battery charger with 2/6/50amp settings. To clean up your cable mess, slider zip lock baggies are excellent. They are great for for sorting almost all other parts as well. Put one cable inside a ziplock bag, and it will keep it from getting tangled up with the rest... and going through all your cables is also a snap, esp. if you label the bags with tape or a sharpie. They are clear and you can see through them and you can file them in a drawer in a column life file folders with the label at the top. I recently discovered their utility by accident while sorting my quadcopter parts. They are also great for keeping very small parts from getting lost (or wet). Choppergirl / air-war.org
Great video, great scott! However, I've been missing a vacuum pump desoldering for years and all the ones I see for sale are very expensive compared to normal soldering irons. Diy or buy? Also, diy or buy the solderex automatic soldering iron?
Pen and Paper are among the most important tools. Also, a computer or smartphone (with internet connection) and (I hate to admit it), even a printer. Sketching something up on paper, having datasheets on paper and being able to research stuff online are absolute must-haves.
Nice video! I'd definitely rank digital calipers higher on the list, especially if 3d printing - but even if not, they're very handy to have around the house.
And to those complaining about the price of getting all things set up - you probably don't need all of the things at once, just keep a tab on what things exist and buy them when needed, saves a lot of money and space! :-)
No shit, losing your vision sucks. Fvcking carb cleaner in a can blow back got me in one eye. Fucked it up for good. Any sparks or solvents in a can are dangerous.
Some of these tools are pretty expensive and, while they're worth their price when you can use all their features and specs ranges, a beginner/intermediate hobbyist can get away with a few cheap substitues. Things that I have tested and can recommend: - LCR T4 as diode and transistor tester with LRC measurements as well (get it with the probes, you don't want to desolder every element to measure!), 5-10 $ - DSO 138 or DSO 150, small and portable digital oscilloscopes, 15-25$ (kit or assembled) - adjustable power supply with LCD display, from 3-15 $ (depends on complexity, precision and principle of work, the cheap ones are LM317 with a potentiometer), usually as kits - 858D hot air rework station, 936 soldering iron station (with changeable tips of course), both with temperature regulation and display, both really inexpensive at around 30-40$ each - XR2206-based function generator kit, usually as kit for as low as 3$ Now of course these are amateur-grade tools, but they can go surprisingly far, given their price. And let's admit it, most hobbyists build DC circuits anyway, and when it comes to AC, we're usually dealing with audio frequencies (that includes PWM of our microcontrollers). I have a Keysight DSOX1102G oscilloscope on my bench and I haven't even used it in quite a while, as the cheap ones are enough for the job.
Keysight is still on the rather expensive side. I guess you still dont get decoding with your 1k scope. Look rather at the Siglent SDS-1202XE or similar.
I'm so brand conscious and brand loyal. That said, none of them has ever failed me, although none were the cheapest. Scope: Lacroy Waverunner. Meter: Fluke 87VMAX. Desktop meter: HP/Agilent. Soldering Station: Weller. Screwdrivers: Wiha. The best of the best.
I've got the smaller version of your Würth Box and I have to say Würth tools are such a delight. I use them almost daily and they never failed me.. definitely a good recommendation.
I'd add: *good lamp, *set of electronic and mechanical parts of all shapes and sizes (screws, nuts, resistors, capacitors etc). *3rd hand *air cleaner (with photocatytic system for fumes from soldering and 3D printers) * processing station for resin printer (Prusa CW1 is VERY good) * ultrasonic wash
Thanks for this great video! I don't quite agree with you on crimping; I find myself crimping more and more for creating custom lengths of wires, various adapters, and so on. Also, a pair of reading glasses (+3.50) are now part of my essential tools set. As I get older it gets harder to see details when soldering etc. And they're cheaper than a microscope, and don't need any setup or table space. And let me add that your videos are great and I always enjoy watching them. Thanks again for making TH-cam a greater place for makers!
I'm a bit late but you forgot one very essential tool, a fume extractor or at least a fan, because you shouldn't be breathing flux and you probably don't want to take all your projects outside to solder them in uncomfortable weather, also not sure if you'd call it a tool but clamps/alligator clips/probes are by far some of the most useful items I own.
Pros/advanced already know what do they need, so I assume this video is directed at beginners. 9:55 "Those were all the tools I have laying around my lab along with recommendations what to get first" Oscilloscope? Lolwhat, If you're beginner you will be working only on DC circuits, no need to blow over 1k USD on something like that. Function generator? Same thing Lab power supply? Beefy step up and step down converters + DA-2 power supply are enough for me. Soldering stations are fine but expensive and sometimes cumbersome to use (thick cable which often gets very stiff in winter). I found simple 100w transformer soldering iron to work great with laptop cooling pad. The fact that tip on transformer soldering iron has small heat capacity and is only hot when you hold the trigger often proved to be extremely helpful. Microscope? Lol again, if you're a beginner you wont be working with SMDs for a long time. Forget about it. Rest is more like housing making related instead of electronics so kinda unrelated. To me in this video you either boast about your collection of tools or you try to make your part of the deal to advertise your sponsored items you received from sellers on aliexpress. Probably both, lol. "You will definitely need an oscilloscope like I do, but dont get this one I have because it will make you go broke lol, get this cheap trash you pleb".
No third hand recommendation No silicone heat resistant mat recommendation No fume filter/extractor recommendation No anything that you can make yourself recommendation Yep this is 100% advertisement video
chill. first of all you need an oscilloscope, so you can really see what you learnt in theory, i dont need one that costs 1k, the 200e hantek that i have is pretty good. and a good linear lab PSU is going to do worders, you can even make one yourself and trust me it s super fk instructive, i m building one and i learnt a lot of things, there are a lot of good quality PSU schematics on the web. soldering station? you dont need that? man... you can get a T12 one on ali for 40e and it will outperform that ersa , the tips have a lot of thermal mass and the restistor is embedded in the cartidge , the wire is silicon so it wont get stiff, handle is small and light , good for precise work but it can do the heavy lifting if needed. Then you can always keep an eye open for deals on ebay/ local fair, i snatched an industrial PSU for 20e repaired and its on my bench now (70V 20A adj). And if he makes some money with this video whats the problem?
@@fabiofoltran4361 I have no problem with videos that advertise as long as theyre useful and this one isnt, its even misleading sometimes. Its pure, 100% advertisement and 0 useful info. Just take a look at video description, he even left link for chinese tweezers, box cutters and other mundne stuff like that. Its really not much different than what you can get locally, so why ship them over thousands of kilometers? Makes no sense.
Great equipment and decent lab! What I missed from your toolset is: - An isolation (1:1) trafo especially when troubleshooting switched mode power supplies - A cheap but very useful component tester
You can also build a isoltion transformer with 2 transformers with the same sec. voltages. So 230-12-12-230 and you can get isolated mains without spending more money for a transformer thats 230-230
0) Fume extraction, and a good (activated carbon) filter if you do not vent directly to the outside (avoids causing your room to become quite cold during winther) 1) Bench Vice - with soft grip jaws - and a rubber hammer 2) Logic analyzer - 8 ch, 24 MHz (Saleae or clone) 3) Programmers and debuggers - for the stuff you're developing on (TL866/CH341A, Atmel/Microchip/STM/TI/etc, logic level converters and USB-Serial) 4) Fibreglass brush and conformal coating 5) Stereo Microscope - get that 3D view 6) Extra PC for multi-tasking (viewing schematics/datasheets/data-logging/etc) 7) Proxxon/Dremel - various tools (Saw, Rotary, Milling, etc) 8) FLIR camera or IR thermometer - to see how hot stuff gets and find shorts. 9) Face shield/Safety goggles - you'll know why once you've looked closely into something that went kabloom and shot dust/debris/crap towards your face and eyes 10) Fire extinguisher for electrical fires/fire blanket - you'll want this if your project starts on fire, and your emergency off switch hasn't been installed (yet) 11) Magnetic mat and video camera to document the tear-down/taking apart - in order to put back things correctly together, in the correct order using the correct screws/etc. 12) ESD mat and grounding strap - to avoid giving yourself a headache and blowing up sensitive electronics, debugging esd damage/periodic errors/out-of-spec isn't a beginners job 13) High quality air gun, soldering station - Controlled airflow without vortices, tips which stays right-on temperature and heats up fast 14) PCB holder and clamps - capton tape + various sized heat sinks to shield sensitive components when using air gun 15) Leaded, un-leaded and low melt solder AND NOT TO FORGET .... plenty of FLUX - as paste (solid and liquid flux) and rosin solder wire in various thicknesses (0.3, 0.6, 1.0 to 1.2 mm) 16) Someone watching over you, especially if you work with lethal voltages
Your setup is OP!, im jealious. The only suggestion I would have is a basic DIY carbon filter fan made from a 140mm PC fan for soldering fumes. Super important!
Got a microscope from your list. The only one I missed in my mancave. Got it in the Netherlands in Just 3 days and its great. Keep up the vids. I love them
I am a woodworker as well as a hobby electronics enthusiast, those woodworking tools are handy as hell when building enclosures and such. I don't have a 3D printer as they are too expensive as well as being environmentally unfriendly when it comes to plastics that are mistakes and not biodegradable. When you can make enclosures from wood or builders board then you don't need a 3D printer.
I recommend getting a couple of cheap vises. A small drill press vise for holding things so they don't slide around, and it can be used instead of dedicated PCB holder if you don't have one. A vise with a ball joint for holding various items you are working on at an angle. A big cast iron vise for holding things when violence is the only option. These can all be found for cheap in you local hardware store.
If you are working with batteries, a general purpose battery charger is great to have. Something like IMAX B6. I use if for all the batteries quite often.
im actually amazed at how much you do with so few tools as my bench i think at last count(insurance) i had 97 screw drivers not including sockets in metric,imperial then some impact vartions well done good sir
I’d recommend the Ender 3 Pro over the Prusa Mini. Bigger build volume, bigger community, and it’s still really straightforward to use even though it’s cheaper. Also I know that oscilloscopes are really useful but for beginners it’s not really necessary. A good soldering iron, a multimeter, a variable powers supply, and the 3D printer are probably the most useful tools.
I’ve owned both. If you want to do 3D printing as a hobby, Enders are fantastic machines. If you want a 3D printer as a tool, and only a tool, A Prusa or something like the the BambuLabs P1P is the route you want to go. Creality and similar printers can be made into absolutely fantastic machines, but that takes a lot of time in my experience, more than some would want to put Into a tool.
I started with soldering iron , solder wire,. Scissor ( not cutter) , multimeter, usb cable for 5v supply which i prefer most. Even over 12v. 1A. . I prefer for 5v 3A. I don't know why but i like to work with 5v
Great video! Other than the SMD stuff (I'm thinking of learning SMD, I've been doing through-hole stuff for about 50 years, it's time I catch up with the modern world) and nice microscope, I have everything else --except a clamp-on ammeter. Now I know what to get with my birthday money! I've been wanting one for years, but keep putting it off, now that my thinking has been started, I'm getting one! Thanks for the idea!
Solder wick or one of those sucky thingys really help for removing components from a pcb, especially with a cheap soldering iron and a flux pen helps too
I would add: - Silicone mat (may be ESD) - it should be resistant to heat - Some breadboards/universal boards - Magnifier glass/Microscope - Plastic tools for opening stuff - Big and Small vice - Set of tweezers Other thoughts (mostly for beginners): - Some kind of power supply (there are plenty of them on ebay, analogue linear power supply, with adjustable current limit would be enough for start) - You probably won't need oscilloscope/function generator right away (if you are beginner) - Consider getting some cheap component tester (there was pretty cheap tester based on avr mcus, ... ) - Some kind of soldering iron - it doesn't have to be most expensive stuff - Some component storage boxes
Station: I can vouch for the KSGER T12, those run around $35 (and you get a huge selection of either genuine or imitation Hakko T12/T15 cartridges). I've also heard of the Bakon 950D (also T12 compatible) which runs around $25 (never seen one in person) Meter: Uni-Ts are badly designed from all the teardowns I've seen. From what I've heard, Anengs are respectable enough, although I trust my good old Fluke Cheap calipers usually don't use absolute encoders and thus are suspectble to skipping, their jaws are also usually not precisely ground within tolerance. I can confirm that my friend's pair of IGaging calipers ($40 on Amazon) are more or less on par with my Mitutoyos that retail for about 4x price (doesn't feel as smooth though) Box cutters: I prefer the trapzoidal utility knives, it's easier to find high quality blades for those Wire cutters: A Hakko micro cutter costs the same delivered Drill bits: Just go to your local industral supply store or hardware store, it's ironically cheaper Additionally, a center punch is nice if you're drilling plastic or metal, drill-point countersinks also work Wire brush for the files, they get gunked up over time I'd take a secured mini-vice over a bunch of clamps Assortment of heat shrink is always nice Jet lighter for heat shrink Anti-static wristband Alligator cables Heat sink clamps A sharpie Electrical and krypton tape
Great video, Great Scott! as usual my friend. It’s a great video for young ones starting in electronics..You covered about everything for general electronics. Yes there are a bunch of things for particular types of electronics, but you covered everything required to get started. I would maybe add one of those TC-1 component identifiers. They are only a basic identifier, but i have found it handy from time to time. I also might add a cap tester/ESR tester. I also things such as power/watt meter, distortion analyzer for audio electronics, but you covered all the basics very well. I do a lot of vintage electronics as well, so i have a curve tracer and transistor testers, tube testers, tube matcher and other vintage electronic stuff. For a modern electronics lab you have covered everything. Great Stuff! Thank you.
You can also print out a table from Word or something with the labels in it. For these drawers I find that to be a much cleaner solution than from a label printer (I have the exact same drawers at home)
For smaller jobs, especially ones that a hobbyist like myself do, I don’t think a lot of thee things are essential. Some good wire strippers and needle nose pliers are nice to have, the soldering iron is a must, the miltimeter for sure, and for screwdrivers I definitely recommend the IFixIt kit that comes with the 64 or so bits. Other than that the only thing I’ve ever needed was a good bright lamp and Heat shrink which you can find a box that will last you for years for like $5. The power supply might also be nice, but I don’t think it’s TOO necessary for hobbyists.
Everyone's going to have their opinion on what tools we should have, and what those tools need to be. I'm only going to share one opinion--3D printer. If you're starting out and you're looking to get a 3D printer, a few things you should look for. First, your first printer should be a filament based printer, not a resin printer. Just for ease of use and comfort of getting into the arena of 3D printing. Second, two features I consider a must have are a removable, flexible bed, and auto-leveling. The removable, flexible bed makes it SOOOOO much easier to remove prints. If you have a fixed bad, or a removable one that isn't flexible, you have to pry the print off. And the bigger the print, the more effort it takes to pry it off. If it's removable and flexible, you pop it off, give it a bend, and your print comes right off (thin or small prints are another story...). If you don't get auto bed leveling, you have to manually level the bed and that is difficult to say the least. I can't tell you how many times I had to unclog my print head because I failed to level it right and the painters tape got jammed up in there (older print beds had to be covered in painters tape to get the print to stick). Finally, as you get started, plan on printing almost exclusively in PLA. You'll want to expand to ABS, PETG and Flexible in the future, but you're going to start with PLA. It's the easiest to print with, and is the most common out there. I never printed in anything other than PLA until I got my second printer, but that's my experience. Having said all that, I would the best printer to get is either the Prusa MK3s (I have an MK3 I upgraded to the MK3s), or maybe the Prusa Mini. They cost a little more, but they are worth it. Prusa makes amazing printers and there's a great commuity around them, too, which makes it easy to get help when you need it. Good luck!
Breadboards, you need breadboards, and jumper wires to prototype electronivs, this way you can try your circuit before ordering pcbs or soldering to stripboards or perfboards.
I have: 0-200MHz Oscilloscope 2ch, color lcd, internal mem Digital Microscope with helping hands 3 Soldering stations Variable DC power supply (0-30V, 5Amp) 12 Volt 35Amp DC PS A bottle of Crown Royal ( ESSENTIAL !! ) Drawer cabinet full of about any IC, resistors, capacitors, LEDs, jumpers, breadboards, sensors, etc etc Toolbox with everything from automotive tools to electronic tools Fluke 87 Snap-On tap & die set Centech LCR Bench vise Spools of different gauge wire (solid and stranded) Lots of solder in many different sizes and types Lots of note pads every where 3 computers a TV Beer for the cat, so he will leave me alone lol a Stereo system But most importantly we all need a brain!! I think I really have too much stuff or so says the wife ;-) BTW, GreatScott, keep up the great videos!!!!
The big hammer is the most vital of all tools especially when you are working on that ultra frustrating project that just won't let you win - it's Hammer time !
Oh my god, your workshop tools made me drool! I'm hoping one day ill have enough money and experience to buy what you have and also build awesome stuff like you!
I can't believe I have been watching this channel for over 5 years now, started watching in highschool now in my second year of university studying electronic engineering. Keep inspiring 💯
What a journey👍 Glad I could help you.
@@greatscottlab laptop missing
Laptop missing
How??
?
- Ultrasonic bath
- Silicone mat (heat resistant)
- Fume fan
- Third hand
I also quite often use a glass from an old induction heater as a mat for anything sharp and pointy. I cut on it too, although it damages the knife.
Yeah especially the fume fan is ncessary if you're into a lot of soldering.
A third hand is always super helpful and makes soldering way more convenient.
A silicone mat is nice to have, but a piece of wood is sufficient imho.
@@Hellass47 na the fume fan is the bottem of my list ,
Also an interferometer!
DJ Scottdog and the unicorn in the corner tells you to keep breathing in the fumes ;)
Quick PSA, most cheap fume extractors that you find online don't actually do any proper filtering. It just removes the fumes from in front of your face and sends them whizzing around your room, where, if you work in an unventilated environment, it will build up over time and could cause you harm.
The cheapest way to deal with this is to either do your soldering outside or in a well-ventilated environment. The other, more expensive alternative is to get a proper HEPA grade fume extractor. Here is a really good video by EEVBlog on this topic: th-cam.com/video/ffaiKZMU0Lw/w-d-xo.html.
3A for a lab bench power supply ain't gonna cut it my man, need at least 20A for extra fun with magic smoke extraction.
Remember, the minus terminal of a capacitor is the red wire!
@@joshm264 LMAO😂😂
Why you didn't use rtx 500w power supply?
Wth😂😂
If that's what you wanted, then get the absolute cheapest one from China, @@brabbrabmotovlog702. They're the only one who don't have overcurrent protection. The PSU may as well double as magic smoke generator in the process though..
"Essential Tools that you will need for creating electronics projects"
*THE MONEY*
true, but its really time as well. if you want everything now, yea, you need money. ive only been into electronics for maybe 5 years now. ive been using general homeowner shed tools my family owns for most of my tools. for the specialised tools, i've had to gather cheap and useful tools over time. until yesterday i used a cheap £10 multimeter that was accurate enough to be useful in repairs, now i have a UT210D. considering i do a lot of automotive stuff, the inductive 200A DC measurement feature is a dream come true. the temperature probes amazing too, but now im gushing. my point is if you love this stuff, you'll still have that little bug in you that gets you to spend a little bit on some nice stuff and you'll slowly see your collection of specialised tools grow. don't let money limit you.
Not really true, I managed during Corona lock down to strike pretty good deals at all my lab (used in most cases, for the oscilloscope, function generator and what not) equipment and for $220 got almost all what it's needed including benchtop multimeter, analog function generator, tektronix digital scope, lcr benchtop meter and a logic analyzer
I tried going to landfills to get tools and parts that i could fix so i didn'tt have to spend money. And some things still worked and didn't need fixing at all. Thrown out because they bought the new model i guess.
Anyways, turns out it's illegal where i live to pick up someone else's trash even if it still works. So never doing that again and for now i've given up on making things and repairing things.
Can't afford the parts and tools, i clearly can't afford a fine or prison.
Good luck man, hope you get around money at some point so you can make your brain work :)
Cheers!
Just buy them as you need them in my opinion. First off you'll need a soldering station (or just an iron), some spare wire, few crimps... etc.. then buy more as you get more money to spend :)
@to G I've got an osciloscope from hantek for around 300€. Search on banggood hantek dso5202p. You will find a couple of videos abut the osciloscope...It measures a lot of things but don't expect I2C data reader or fancy graphs(except for XY) it does it's job really well
When he started counting my wallet ran away
Getting it all at once would be jaw-dropping. I've been collecting tools for about 50 years now (since grade school) and it's not too bad spread over time. The only tools I can think of off the top of my head that cost more than $500 are the oscilloscope and 3D printer. Most of the rest are sub $100.
You should have had some clamps on it to stop it escaping ... DUH !! 🙄😂😂
just buy decent enough but cheapest ones you can find, and then gradually replace the tools you use most often.
One of the tools you missed, might be the usb power meter. I find myself using it a lot, and, at least in my opinion, is essential :) And thanks for the great video. Very useful as usual!
Depends on what you do, if you never work with USB its useless.
Had one, ended up replacing the USB-Ports with Pins and using it as some kind of low voltage and current meter🤷🏼♂️
Didn't stay with USB for too long since I started strolling around with electonics
USB power meter is really nice :)
@@tobimai4843 No it isn't. Everybody has devices that charge over USB. It is essential to know wich one are bad cables/power bricks and wich are not.
Janus Kobain a 3d printer is essential IMO, I unlocked so many new projects for me
You forgot my favourite tool: The label maker.
I hate unlabeled switches and connectors. And it's good for organising your workshop as well.
I was going to say the same thing! He has a pile of expensive tools but still uses masking tape to label everything !
Just got a Dymo Rhino and i can now label wires with the heatshrink they sell or use the tags setting to make labels for wires
+1 for label maker! An analog/manual one or a dedicated label printer (great for weatherproof and durable labels) or at least pre-cut self-adhesive paper for normal a4 printers.
I was lucky and got the Brother PT-E110 on sale for 20€.
The label material is kind of expensive but it's a very easy to use handheld device that has a dedicated menu for electronics symbols and can print flags for cables.
You know, I've got several label makers and never used them. My sister tried to give me yet another one with labels for my birthday and I told her keep it. I've never used it because it just takes too long to punch things in, and the dang label tape for them is insanely expensive. Once your tape runs out it's useless. A roll of paper tape and a sharpie however require no batteries and always works. Not pretty but....
Masking tape still works better and is a few pennies. A labelling gun is pointless for 99% of people. Like how many things do you actually label? and what does it do that some masking tape and a marker or some paper with clear tape over it cannot do?
This are definitely not "essential" tools. The only really essential tools of them for me are the screw drivers, soldering iron, a multimeter and maybe the lab power supply (but for starting you could use there also some different power bricks). At least these are the things I started with
You probably also want wire cutters and strippers. Needlenose pliers are probably my most used tool and the built in cutters are great for cutting small wire and usable for stripping.
You said it. Going for the real basics as well soon and has nothing to do with most of this video xD
@@eDoc2020 wire cutters? Nah, I'm using scissors.
Wire strippers? Hold on, lemme grab my nail clippers for that
@@bitelaserkhalif I'd go the other way; nail clippers for cutting wire and scissors for wire stripping.
tbh he did call it "important tools" and they obviously are important as soon as you diversify your skills and interests.
I am going to put in my opinion as well:
The tools I use regularely and I think are the minimum you are going to need are as follows (listed in order how often I use them):
a lab bench power supply, a multimeter, an oscilloscope, a soldering iron.
Also I think it doesn't have to be the most expensive or the newest equipment
my Power supply (0-30V, 0-5A) did just cost around 35€, the soldering iron is my dad's old one, it has a safety transformer so it kind of looks like a soldering station but the temperature is regulated by changing the tips, for a multimeter I have a new one and one from the 80s and they preform equally so to me it comes down to if you prefer an analog meter or a digital display
none of that equipment has failed me to this day and I didn't come across any limitations yet
the oscilloscope on the other hand is also an old model, I got it from ebay for 80€ and it actually did blow up at one point it was easy to fix but that always might happen to old equipment.
You might notice that I didn't bring up a function generator, that's becaue I made one myself simply by connecting an operational amplifier to the headphone output of my computer and using audacity to create a waveform. Worked for me but when you do that always put a 10nF capacitor in line with the signal wire with a 100kOhm resistor between the used input of the amplifier and ground and another 100k resistor between the signal and shield wires of the audio jack, that way you get rid of any ground connection of the computer and protect it from shorting it without loosing the audio cable's shield.
and always test on breadboard first but keep the capacitance between the breadboards traces in mind ; )
for basic parts you should always have in stock I recommend a set of resistors, at least 100Ohm, 1k, 10k, 100k and 1M, different capacitors (the ones I need most frequently are ceramic 10nF and electrolytic 2,2uF, I recommend getting sets with those included), LEDs of different colors, a couple of 10kOhm potentiometers, any silicon Diodes, BC547 and BC557 transistors, any operational amplifyers and at least one micro controller
if you read so far I hope this might help someone
happy tinkering to everyone
I use old phone-type chargers instead of a proper bench supply (but I would like to get one.) The one I use all the time is 5 volts but it has nice current limiting of around 1.1 amps instead of the more common 'hiccup' mode.
You must not compromise on the soldering iron; a temp regulated and nicely grounded or isolated tip is needed.
@@janami-dharmam who speaks of compromising my dad almost regrets having given it to me now and whenever he does bigger soldering jobs he borrows it back from me
it has a much nicer handle and performs better than his new one, the only downside is it needs 2-3 minutes to heat up and about 10 minutes to cool down enouh to touch it
even replacing the tips for different temperatures isn't that bad
just because it's old doesn't mean its not good anymore ; )
if anyone is interested here is how the temperature regulation works:
in the soldering iron is a switsch controlling the heater and on top of it is a magnet so whenever there is something magnetic in front of it it turns on and when you remove it it turns back off, in the tip is a piece of a magnetic alloy that looses it's magnetic properties at a certain temperature so it switches off the iron when it's up to that temperature and back on when it's cooled back down thus holding the iron at that temperature rather precisely.
@@fdsmaster8098 If my memory serves me right, this is a Weller soldering machine and it costs a fortune - even a single tip is expensive. It is still available in the magnastat model and costs more than 100USD or 100Euro. They are almost topline models.
@@janami-dharmam It is made by Weller indeed, I don't know how much it had cost since It has bin passed on from my grandfather who got it from his workplace when they decided they had more than they needed and wanted to throw them out to free space so his boss said he could have it.
the tips for this particular model cost between 5 and 10 euros wich I find reasonable considering the Tip it currently has is about 30 Years old, used a lot and still perfectly fine
I'd add, from my own lab: a fumes extractor (nobody likes lungs diseases, right?), a powerful LED magnifying lamp, a good xacto knife and a cutting mat to protect the table you're working on.
How did you comment 2 weeks ago?
@@lankog777 Patreons see videos before non-patreons? No idea, just guessing..
One of the first things I bought for my humble little lab is a fume extracter. I live in a small basement apartment and I'm already a smoker haha. One thing I think is missing from this list is a handheld magnifying glass, I keep mine stuck to my desk with a big magnet and use it constantly.
Quick PSA, most cheap fume extractors that you find online don't actually do any proper filtering. It just removes the fumes from in front of your face and sends them whizzing around your room, where, if you work in an unventilated environment, it will build up over time and could cause you harm.
The cheapest way to deal with this is to either do your soldering outside or in a well-ventilated environment. The other, more expensive alternative is to get a proper HEPA grade fume extractor. Here is a really good video by EEVBlog on this topic: th-cam.com/video/ffaiKZMU0Lw/w-d-xo.html.
7:08 saw&LED strip in same drawer. Weird 🤨
Makes sense of course too put also wrenches with wires. How else?
@@glmnet At least wrenches and wires both start with W.
I'm a noob, but I'd say Label Maker. I've watched all the amazing detail with your meticulous writing and drawing of circuits, yet you use masking tape and a pencil or bad marker to label your cabinets and supplies. It's just humerous. I've learned so much just watching a few videos so far. Obvious you really know your stuff. Keep up the great work. And get a label maker...
What about part 2 of the greenhouse? I wanna see the motorised windows!!
Not done yet
@@greatscottlab *sir you are my motivation and I learnt so many things from you! sir keep supporting us like this* 🤠
Search for univent on Amazon. You don't need electronics for that
Next video
Please recreate the ts100 portable soldering iron , that would be interesting
And create long range metal detector
>"Essential Tools"
>$1000+ oscilloscope
GreatScott, I hate to break it to you, but I'm _broke_
haha same
Never used oscilloscope, hobbyist for 20+ years :D
@@PexiTheBuilder wow! I use mine all the time, its an old crt one, 25mhz. I got it at a decent price, $100 (it was like new)!
There are tiny, simple oscilloscopes that you can fit 5 of in your pocket for ~$20-40 each. I've used some of those and they are definitely good enough for most beginner-to-intermediate users.
Keysight makes expensive products, but they are also great quality. If you can afford it, I'd look into the Rigol DSO1054Z. For around $375 it's very good for the price.
"Because it costs a lot less" he said, "essential tools" he said.
*1100$ Oscilloscope*
With 200Mhz and the function generator it's even $2000 ;)
For a decent oscilloscope with great functionality that is actually pretty affordable...
I wish there was a great scope for 200 bucks, but unfortunately there isn't. So I can't afford one either.
I use a cheap (maybe 40 €)handheld Scope. Its not perfect and pretty crappy but it works for detecting if there is a signal at all and thats what i need most.
That is nothing if you compare to most other hobbies. Radio systems easily go up to 10k. So do drones. But a 2000usd oscilloscope will usually serve you good enough anything other than RF. Not that there aren't super expensive scopes out there but no hobbies will own one. Which is not the case for other hobbyists like machining, ham radio, drones, photography. Their collection usually go above 10k.
I only paid a little over half that for my better 'scope, which is a dual-channel 100MHz unit, and less than $200 for my 10MHz USB 'scope (Pico Technologies) that does over 90% of what I can do with the more expensive 'scope.
I recommend updating the firmware of the TS100 to the open source variant, it improves the soldering iron quite a lot.
agree. Initially I was disappointed, but after installing the OSS firmware I love it!
Do you have a link for it?
@@akhurash I'm not him, but Ralim is (i think) the one most people talk about: github.com/Ralim/ts100
Yeah I also love the Tetris version.
Holey moley! You can upgrade the firmware? This iron is now on my wishlist!
Hey, for my personal experience i recommend having a smaller oscilloscope. I use the DSO203 or DSO quad. Of course, it is less powerful than 1000$ beast but it is suitable for 95% of my work.
Another really important tools is logic analyzer. You can get the DSLogic from banggood for 100/150$ and it can help you a lot with all signal you can have to debug.
And the last step for me is small utility knife and tweezer for small electronic.
To summarize :
- DSO 203 as oscilloscope
- DSlogic for logic analyzer
- Good pair of tweezer
- Good utility knife
- Wire stripper
- TS80 or TS100 as soldering iron
- Small fan to extract the fume
- Small tube of soldering flux + soldering wick + solder pump
- A good lamp and magnifier
- A thrid hand or small vise to hold a pcb (some people use patafix or other sticky paste)
- Multimeter, Uni-T is a nice brand but you can get used Fluke for 100$ on ebay
- 3D printer (ender 3 for me)
- a set of file to rework your print
- A dremel or any cheapo small rotary tool
- A leatherman Wave of Charge (personal taste since i use it a lot). Can become a must have on the road.
- A decent kit of screwdriver and general purpose tools
P.S : It's my vision of required tools. Maybe i've missed something or the tools i use seem unusable for you but please bear in mind the idea of "small budget beginner friendly" stuff.
How to friendship with you 😉 I am ...
You really impress me...
I fully agree here! Depending on the project, a logic analyzer can be a very helpful tool. Also havin a DSO is important, but a cheap 20 MHz 2 Channel scope is more than enough for 99% of all hobbyist projects... You rareley ever need several GS/s and 100s of MHz
Had to pause @2:08 The Tears the Tears of missing my tools .I have not been able to afford the tools or pieces to go back to electronic repairs ;until now sorta .By 2022 I should be able to start my home repair business again .Oh Yeah I love your videos; so until 2022 I get to live thru your wonderous videos :) You make this 40yr OLDMAN excited about electronics again!
Those are not the essential tools, they are all the tool you would ever need.
I fully agree with most of your suggestions. I would also add:
Wire cutter It's a bit brutal sometimes but always works
A magnifying glass. Even if you have perfect vision, it always helps to zoom in to see better. Plus the LEDs help even in bright environments
Soldering flux. It makes soldering soooo much easier, put it in a small syringe so that you don't make a mess or use more than it's needed (it stinks but only when burned and is not good to breathe)
Acetone and an old toothbrush. They help a lot with cleaning the mess that comes with soldering especially while using flux.
If you don't have a heat gun, use a lighter to shrink heat shrink tubing. It needs a bit of practice to learn not to burn it. A jet lighter works very well. Too well, even with a normal one I'm now fine with not having a heat gun
Solder pump (this thing that sucks melted solder with the press of a button). It has saved me tons of time and it was less than two bucks there's no reason not to have it when you need it
If you can't afford a lab bench power supply, get a variable voltage transformer. It looks like a normal transformer but at the bottom it was a knob to choose between 3, 4.5, 5, 6, 9, and 12 volts. It's dead cheap (around 12€) and works flawlessly
Helping clamps (they hold the circuit in place while you're soldering). I can't live without them after I got them for less than 10€
A ruler is also handy to have around along with a marker.
*Recommend a €240 / €43 soldering iron
*me
Iam still good with this €3 soldering iron
Also me😌
Even most engineers use them
Same man..., same....
I remembered using a halogen lamp to solder back then
@@leozendo3500 I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS !
Your presentations are outstanding and your lettering is unequalled. I am a dedicated viewer and never neglect any updates from your channel.
For hobbyists;
3$ soldering iron
2$ multimeter
Wire strippers
Trust me, that's all you need.
YesMan...
Yayyyy thank youuuu!
You forgot one essential thing, the solder... And you need some kind of power supply, a phone charger or even better a laptop charger can work
Add these: You missed heat shrink tubing and an accompanying Bic or Jet lighter (in lieu of a heat shrink gun) and Scissors, which I use a lot. I use heat shrink tubing on just about every project. Hot glue gun is handy. So is super glue. Zip ties in many different sizes. Black electrical tape. Screw on butt connectors for joining bigger wires like house wires. A kit of eyeglass sized screw drivers. A metal oxide cut off wheel on a hand grinder and a grinder disc. Some helping hands to hold things while soldering or tape to tape it down. A black sharpie (or different colors) for labeling things. Paper labels that can be cut to size. Plastic packing tape. RJ-45 connectors with crimp tool. XT60 connectors. Electrical light switches (great where you need any easy to wire up heavy duty switch in a project. A soldering stand (if you have a TS100) and non-flammable soldering surface/mat. Drill press... much better than a hand drill. Bandsaw or scroll saw is much better than a jig saw. Box of random recycled wire in all sorts of sizes. Box of random power bricks / wall worts and their end connectors - you will raid this often. A 12vdc car battery charger with 2/6/50amp settings.
To clean up your cable mess, slider zip lock baggies are excellent. They are great for for sorting almost all other parts as well. Put one cable inside a ziplock bag, and it will keep it from getting tangled up with the rest... and going through all your cables is also a snap, esp. if you label the bags with tape or a sharpie. They are clear and you can see through them and you can file them in a drawer in a column life file folders with the label at the top. I recently discovered their utility by accident while sorting my quadcopter parts. They are also great for keeping very small parts from getting lost (or wet).
Choppergirl / air-war.org
Great video, great scott! However, I've been missing a vacuum pump desoldering for years and all the ones I see for sale are very expensive compared to normal soldering irons. Diy or buy?
Also, diy or buy the solderex automatic soldering iron?
jhsevs my haako desoldering iron has saved me days worth of time versus braid. They’re worth it.
S-993A is quite decent for the price
Desoldering vacuum is something that I almost use every time I do something.
Really handy tool..
Pen and Paper are among the most important tools.
Also, a computer or smartphone (with internet connection) and (I hate to admit it), even a printer.
Sketching something up on paper, having datasheets on paper and being able to research stuff online are absolute must-haves.
Nice video! I'd definitely rank digital calipers higher on the list, especially if 3d printing - but even if not, they're very handy to have around the house.
I LIKE THE WAY YOU SPEAK LETS GET STARTED IT IS VERY CREATIVE
Everybody: Wants to know what he uses
Me: "When's the quadcopter vid coming?"
2022
@@greatscottlab Looking forward to it :)
And to those complaining about the price of getting all things set up - you probably don't need all of the things at once, just keep a tab on what things exist and buy them when needed, saves a lot of money and space! :-)
Safety eyeglasses. That protected me when I really thought the current task is harmless.
A cheap one from a bicycle shop is fair enough.
No shit, losing your vision sucks. Fvcking carb cleaner in a can blow back got me in one eye. Fucked it up for good. Any sparks or solvents in a can are dangerous.
I use safety glasses all the time when soldering ever since I had a speck of hot solder flung at my eyelid.
I think that in your case the most important tool you have is your brains. Keep up the good work!
Super informative as always - thanks heaps for the updated set of Essential Tools :D
Some of these tools are pretty expensive and, while they're worth their price when you can use all their features and specs ranges, a beginner/intermediate hobbyist can get away with a few cheap substitues. Things that I have tested and can recommend:
- LCR T4 as diode and transistor tester with LRC measurements as well (get it with the probes, you don't want to desolder every element to measure!), 5-10 $
- DSO 138 or DSO 150, small and portable digital oscilloscopes, 15-25$ (kit or assembled)
- adjustable power supply with LCD display, from 3-15 $ (depends on complexity, precision and principle of work, the cheap ones are LM317 with a potentiometer), usually as kits
- 858D hot air rework station, 936 soldering iron station (with changeable tips of course), both with temperature regulation and display, both really inexpensive at around 30-40$ each
- XR2206-based function generator kit, usually as kit for as low as 3$
Now of course these are amateur-grade tools, but they can go surprisingly far, given their price. And let's admit it, most hobbyists build DC circuits anyway, and when it comes to AC, we're usually dealing with audio frequencies (that includes PWM of our microcontrollers). I have a Keysight DSOX1102G oscilloscope on my bench and I haven't even used it in quite a while, as the cheap ones are enough for the job.
Keysight is still on the rather expensive side. I guess you still dont get decoding with your 1k scope. Look rather at the Siglent SDS-1202XE or similar.
I'm so brand conscious and brand loyal. That said, none of them has ever failed me, although none were the cheapest. Scope: Lacroy Waverunner. Meter: Fluke 87VMAX. Desktop meter: HP/Agilent. Soldering Station: Weller. Screwdrivers: Wiha. The best of the best.
you missed flux and soldering wick :D
Those aren't tools
Not tools though🤷♂️
It's a tool to me lmao
Haha :D, even though flux is only a reagent. It would be worth a mention whenever talking about soldering. Essential stuff! :)
I've got the smaller version of your Würth Box and I have to say Würth tools are such a delight. I use them almost daily and they never failed me.. definitely a good recommendation.
2:40 Those tips look horrible, in particular the first one from the right. Great video nonetheless.
Let's appreciate the fact that his tools are super duper clean.
U missed a thermal camera.
I wish I had a fraction of the things you have.
in ancient times we used "freeze spray" to diagnose overheating ICs. thermal cameras are getting so cheap though...
@@Douglas.Kennedy Cheap? were is that? Still a couple of hundreds bugs. Nothing to justify as a hobbyist.
I'd add:
*good lamp,
*set of electronic and mechanical parts of all shapes and sizes (screws, nuts, resistors, capacitors etc).
*3rd hand
*air cleaner (with photocatytic system for fumes from soldering and 3D printers)
* processing station for resin printer (Prusa CW1 is VERY good)
* ultrasonic wash
Oh cool let me just grab the spare 5 grand I've got laying about
Mini CNC medicine for cutting, drilling, making pcb and many more...
I love watching your channel. I keep learning something new from your video😀
"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."
--Thomas A. Edison
🎵🎶 Look it up, Edison was a Dick! 🎶🎵
So I guess Edison didn't have pile of junk
@@realdragon Edison WAS a pile of junk
A good imagination, and someone else's invention. :D
I love this filming style, the way the camera rotates and zooms, it's great
3:23 my drawer just fell
Thanks for this great video!
I don't quite agree with you on crimping; I find myself crimping more and more for creating custom lengths of wires, various adapters, and so on.
Also, a pair of reading glasses (+3.50) are now part of my essential tools set. As I get older it gets harder to see details when soldering etc. And they're cheaper than a microscope, and don't need any setup or table space.
And let me add that your videos are great and I always enjoy watching them. Thanks again for making TH-cam a greater place for makers!
Thank you for recommending budget alternatives to your expensive ones. The soldering iron looks nice.
I'm a bit late but you forgot one very essential tool, a fume extractor or at least a fan, because you shouldn't be breathing flux and you probably don't want to take all your projects outside to solder them in uncomfortable weather, also not sure if you'd call it a tool but clamps/alligator clips/probes are by far some of the most useful items I own.
Pros/advanced already know what do they need, so I assume this video is directed at beginners.
9:55 "Those were all the tools I have laying around my lab along with recommendations what to get first"
Oscilloscope? Lolwhat, If you're beginner you will be working only on DC circuits, no need to blow over 1k USD on something like that.
Function generator? Same thing
Lab power supply? Beefy step up and step down converters + DA-2 power supply are enough for me.
Soldering stations are fine but expensive and sometimes cumbersome to use (thick cable which often gets very stiff in winter). I found simple 100w transformer soldering iron to work great with laptop cooling pad. The fact that tip on transformer soldering iron has small heat capacity and is only hot when you hold the trigger often proved to be extremely helpful.
Microscope? Lol again, if you're a beginner you wont be working with SMDs for a long time. Forget about it.
Rest is more like housing making related instead of electronics so kinda unrelated.
To me in this video you either boast about your collection of tools or you try to make your part of the deal to advertise your sponsored items you received from sellers on aliexpress. Probably both, lol.
"You will definitely need an oscilloscope like I do, but dont get this one I have because it will make you go broke lol, get this cheap trash you pleb".
No third hand recommendation
No silicone heat resistant mat recommendation
No fume filter/extractor recommendation
No anything that you can make yourself recommendation
Yep this is 100% advertisement video
I mean, just look at the description of the video how flooded it is with aliexpress links, lol
I hope they paid Scott well for this video
chill. first of all you need an oscilloscope, so you can really see what you learnt in theory, i dont need one that costs 1k, the 200e hantek that i have is pretty good.
and a good linear lab PSU is going to do worders, you can even make one yourself and trust me it s super fk instructive, i m building one and i learnt a lot of things, there are a lot of good quality PSU schematics on the web.
soldering station? you dont need that? man... you can get a T12 one on ali for 40e and it will outperform that ersa , the tips have a lot of thermal mass and the restistor is embedded in the cartidge , the wire is silicon so it wont get stiff, handle is small and light , good for precise work but it can do the heavy lifting if needed.
Then you can always keep an eye open for deals on ebay/ local fair, i snatched an industrial PSU for 20e repaired and its on my bench now (70V 20A adj).
And if he makes some money with this video whats the problem?
@@fabiofoltran4361 I have no problem with videos that advertise as long as theyre useful and this one isnt, its even misleading sometimes. Its pure, 100% advertisement and 0 useful info. Just take a look at video description, he even left link for chinese tweezers, box cutters and other mundne stuff like that. Its really not much different than what you can get locally, so why ship them over thousands of kilometers? Makes no sense.
Great equipment and decent lab!
What I missed from your toolset is:
- An isolation (1:1) trafo especially when troubleshooting switched mode power supplies
- A cheap but very useful component tester
- and a hat with different set of glasses for older people like me :)
You can also build a isoltion transformer with 2 transformers with the same sec. voltages. So 230-12-12-230 and you can get isolated mains without spending more money for a transformer thats 230-230
0) Fume extraction, and a good (activated carbon) filter if you do not vent directly to the outside (avoids causing your room to become quite cold during winther)
1) Bench Vice - with soft grip jaws - and a rubber hammer
2) Logic analyzer - 8 ch, 24 MHz (Saleae or clone)
3) Programmers and debuggers - for the stuff you're developing on (TL866/CH341A, Atmel/Microchip/STM/TI/etc, logic level converters and USB-Serial)
4) Fibreglass brush and conformal coating
5) Stereo Microscope - get that 3D view
6) Extra PC for multi-tasking (viewing schematics/datasheets/data-logging/etc)
7) Proxxon/Dremel - various tools (Saw, Rotary, Milling, etc)
8) FLIR camera or IR thermometer - to see how hot stuff gets and find shorts.
9) Face shield/Safety goggles - you'll know why once you've looked closely into something that went kabloom and shot dust/debris/crap towards your face and eyes
10) Fire extinguisher for electrical fires/fire blanket - you'll want this if your project starts on fire, and your emergency off switch hasn't been installed (yet)
11) Magnetic mat and video camera to document the tear-down/taking apart - in order to put back things correctly together, in the correct order using the correct screws/etc.
12) ESD mat and grounding strap - to avoid giving yourself a headache and blowing up sensitive electronics, debugging esd damage/periodic errors/out-of-spec isn't a beginners job
13) High quality air gun, soldering station - Controlled airflow without vortices, tips which stays right-on temperature and heats up fast
14) PCB holder and clamps - capton tape + various sized heat sinks to shield sensitive components when using air gun
15) Leaded, un-leaded and low melt solder AND NOT TO FORGET .... plenty of FLUX - as paste (solid and liquid flux) and rosin solder wire in various thicknesses (0.3, 0.6, 1.0 to 1.2 mm)
16) Someone watching over you, especially if you work with lethal voltages
Your setup is OP!, im jealious. The only suggestion I would have is a basic DIY carbon filter fan made from a 140mm PC fan for soldering fumes. Super important!
Got a microscope from your list. The only one I missed in my mancave.
Got it in the Netherlands in Just 3 days and its great.
Keep up the vids. I love them
Alt title: Great German Engineer flexing on his subscribers.
I am a woodworker as well as a hobby electronics enthusiast, those woodworking tools are handy as hell when building enclosures and such. I don't have a 3D printer as they are too expensive as well as being environmentally unfriendly when it comes to plastics that are mistakes and not biodegradable. When you can make enclosures from wood or builders board then you don't need a 3D printer.
i learn electronics from this channel when i start making and selling electronic devices thanks, you helped me a lot
God bless you!!
I recommend getting a couple of cheap vises.
A small drill press vise for holding things so they don't slide around, and it can be used instead of dedicated PCB holder if you don't have one.
A vise with a ball joint for holding various items you are working on at an angle.
A big cast iron vise for holding things when violence is the only option.
These can all be found for cheap in you local hardware store.
I can totally recommend the TS100 I got it for my fpv drone to be able to repair „in field“. Now it is my main soldering iron.
$12k oscilloscope above a tool chest labelled with...masking tape and sharpie lol. Love it.
If you are working with batteries, a general purpose battery charger is great to have. Something like IMAX B6. I use if for all the batteries quite often.
The 1000X is also very expensive... if you can’t afford it, you can get a Siglent or a Rigol, or an analog scope.
im actually amazed at how much you do with so few tools as my bench i think at last count(insurance) i had 97 screw drivers not including sockets in metric,imperial then some impact vartions
well done good sir
I usually cut stuff over a high tech wood piece. My desk has a fan for fume extractor a 3D printed vice to support boards it’s great.
I’d recommend the Ender 3 Pro over the Prusa Mini. Bigger build volume, bigger community, and it’s still really straightforward to use even though it’s cheaper. Also I know that oscilloscopes are really useful but for beginners it’s not really necessary. A good soldering iron, a multimeter, a variable powers supply, and the 3D printer are probably the most useful tools.
I’ve owned both. If you want to do 3D printing as a hobby, Enders are fantastic machines. If you want a 3D printer as a tool, and only a tool, A Prusa or something like the the BambuLabs P1P is the route you want to go. Creality and similar printers can be made into absolutely fantastic machines, but that takes a lot of time in my experience, more than some would want to put Into a tool.
I tend to use my heat gun a lot. Mostly for heat shrink tubing but occasionally for reheating hot glue or bending plastic conduits.
I started with soldering iron , solder wire,. Scissor ( not cutter) , multimeter, usb cable for 5v supply which i prefer most. Even over 12v. 1A. . I prefer for 5v 3A. I don't know why but i like to work with 5v
Awesome video!!! Btw, a hack for the cable drawer is to use empty toilet paper rolls to store them. Easy access, never tangled, small footprint.
Great video! Other than the SMD stuff (I'm thinking of learning SMD, I've been doing through-hole stuff for about 50 years, it's time I catch up with the modern world) and nice microscope, I have everything else --except a clamp-on ammeter. Now I know what to get with my birthday money! I've been wanting one for years, but keep putting it off, now that my thinking has been started, I'm getting one! Thanks for the idea!
I got a chuckle out of seeing the cheap 858D+ hot air station next to your high-end keysight gear!
Solder wick or one of those sucky thingys really help for removing components from a pcb, especially with a cheap soldering iron and a flux pen helps too
I would add:
- Silicone mat (may be ESD) - it should be resistant to heat
- Some breadboards/universal boards
- Magnifier glass/Microscope
- Plastic tools for opening stuff
- Big and Small vice
- Set of tweezers
Other thoughts (mostly for beginners):
- Some kind of power supply (there are plenty of them on ebay, analogue linear power supply, with adjustable current limit would be enough for start)
- You probably won't need oscilloscope/function generator right away (if you are beginner)
- Consider getting some cheap component tester (there was pretty cheap tester based on avr mcus, ... )
- Some kind of soldering iron - it doesn't have to be most expensive stuff
- Some component storage boxes
you ARE THE PERSON that got me into electronics thank you so much
Wow... This video is a visual treat for every hobbyist
I like to see your videos because you are a "positive" guy. U talk only about good things!
Station: I can vouch for the KSGER T12, those run around $35 (and you get a huge selection of either genuine or imitation Hakko T12/T15 cartridges). I've also heard of the Bakon 950D (also T12 compatible) which runs around $25 (never seen one in person)
Meter: Uni-Ts are badly designed from all the teardowns I've seen. From what I've heard, Anengs are respectable enough, although I trust my good old Fluke
Cheap calipers usually don't use absolute encoders and thus are suspectble to skipping, their jaws are also usually not precisely ground within tolerance. I can confirm that my friend's pair of IGaging calipers ($40 on Amazon) are more or less on par with my Mitutoyos that retail for about 4x price (doesn't feel as smooth though)
Box cutters: I prefer the trapzoidal utility knives, it's easier to find high quality blades for those
Wire cutters: A Hakko micro cutter costs the same delivered
Drill bits: Just go to your local industral supply store or hardware store, it's ironically cheaper
Additionally, a center punch is nice if you're drilling plastic or metal, drill-point countersinks also work
Wire brush for the files, they get gunked up over time
I'd take a secured mini-vice over a bunch of clamps
Assortment of heat shrink is always nice
Jet lighter for heat shrink
Anti-static wristband
Alligator cables
Heat sink clamps
A sharpie
Electrical and krypton tape
You just described my dream lab in a video.. Amazing Amazing Amazing.. No words to describe 😍😍😍
A vise or multiple. I can recommend stickvise. A microscope. Tweezers. Parts storage (aidetek box-all). Pliers (needle nose, flat).
I will also recommend ground wrist strap and some kind of fan to prevent inhaling the fumes of soldering
Great video, Great Scott! as usual my friend. It’s a great video for young ones starting in electronics..You covered about everything for general electronics. Yes there are a bunch of things for particular types of electronics, but you covered everything required to get started. I would maybe add one of those TC-1 component identifiers. They are only a basic identifier, but i have found it handy from time to time. I also might add a cap tester/ESR tester. I also things such as power/watt meter, distortion analyzer for audio electronics, but you covered all the basics very well. I do a lot of vintage electronics as well, so i have a curve tracer and transistor testers, tube testers, tube matcher and other vintage electronic stuff. For a modern electronics lab you have covered everything. Great Stuff! Thank you.
Honestly one of the best things to see on a Sunday morning
Stay creative!
Your one of the reasons I discovered that I love electronics
Evidently by the labels on your drawers, you are missing a label printer! Amazingly useful for everyone keeping components in small drawers.
You can also print out a table from Word or something with the labels in it. For these drawers I find that to be a much cleaner solution than from a label printer (I have the exact same drawers at home)
For smaller jobs, especially ones that a hobbyist like myself do, I don’t think a lot of thee things are essential. Some good wire strippers and needle nose pliers are nice to have, the soldering iron is a must, the miltimeter for sure, and for screwdrivers I definitely recommend the IFixIt kit that comes with the 64 or so bits. Other than that the only thing I’ve ever needed was a good bright lamp and Heat shrink which you can find a box that will last you for years for like $5. The power supply might also be nice, but I don’t think it’s TOO necessary for hobbyists.
It amazing how english isnt your first language and you still are extremely clear
I have the same Ersa soldering station and it is a nice piece of equipment, high quality and reliable, made in Germany of course!
Everyone's going to have their opinion on what tools we should have, and what those tools need to be. I'm only going to share one opinion--3D printer. If you're starting out and you're looking to get a 3D printer, a few things you should look for. First, your first printer should be a filament based printer, not a resin printer. Just for ease of use and comfort of getting into the arena of 3D printing. Second, two features I consider a must have are a removable, flexible bed, and auto-leveling. The removable, flexible bed makes it SOOOOO much easier to remove prints. If you have a fixed bad, or a removable one that isn't flexible, you have to pry the print off. And the bigger the print, the more effort it takes to pry it off. If it's removable and flexible, you pop it off, give it a bend, and your print comes right off (thin or small prints are another story...). If you don't get auto bed leveling, you have to manually level the bed and that is difficult to say the least. I can't tell you how many times I had to unclog my print head because I failed to level it right and the painters tape got jammed up in there (older print beds had to be covered in painters tape to get the print to stick). Finally, as you get started, plan on printing almost exclusively in PLA. You'll want to expand to ABS, PETG and Flexible in the future, but you're going to start with PLA. It's the easiest to print with, and is the most common out there. I never printed in anything other than PLA until I got my second printer, but that's my experience.
Having said all that, I would the best printer to get is either the Prusa MK3s (I have an MK3 I upgraded to the MK3s), or maybe the Prusa Mini. They cost a little more, but they are worth it. Prusa makes amazing printers and there's a great commuity around them, too, which makes it easy to get help when you need it.
Good luck!
Breadboards, you need breadboards, and jumper wires to prototype electronivs, this way you can try your circuit before ordering pcbs or soldering to stripboards or perfboards.
I have:
0-200MHz Oscilloscope 2ch, color lcd, internal mem
Digital Microscope with helping hands
3 Soldering stations
Variable DC power supply (0-30V, 5Amp)
12 Volt 35Amp DC PS
A bottle of Crown Royal ( ESSENTIAL !! )
Drawer cabinet full of about any IC, resistors, capacitors, LEDs, jumpers, breadboards, sensors, etc etc
Toolbox with everything from automotive tools to electronic tools
Fluke 87
Snap-On tap & die set
Centech LCR
Bench vise
Spools of different gauge wire (solid and stranded)
Lots of solder in many different sizes and types
Lots of note pads every where
3 computers
a TV
Beer for the cat, so he will leave me alone lol
a Stereo system
But most importantly we all need a brain!!
I think I really have too much stuff or so says the wife ;-)
BTW, GreatScott, keep up the great videos!!!!
That power cord and wrench drawer 😂 I love it! I definitely have a power cord drawer too 😁
Yesterday I got my first scope and today i saw your video
Thanks for the video. It has inspired me to sort out all my tools and clean up my garage!
9:30 Covering your solder joints with hot glue is a sign of weakness, according to Voultar's re-mod series.
(Edit 1: Corrected time-stamp)
Third hand is the only thing I would add, not 100% necessary but I do find my projects are cleaner with one.
The big hammer is the most vital of all tools especially when you are working on that ultra frustrating project that just won't let you win - it's Hammer time !
Oh my god, your workshop tools made me drool! I'm hoping one day ill have enough money and experience to buy what you have and also build awesome stuff like you!
Good lights are also very important and quiet underrated imo
I thought you are some 60 year old guy
So much knowledge man 👍
I got interested in electronics just recently, thanks for the recommendations.