Favorite tools

[Fungi]

We have lots of info on good parts, but I can't seem to find good tools. I don't mean multimeters and soldering irons, I mean the guys that do the hard work but go unnoticed, like helping hands and wire strippers.

In my experience, the standard helping hands thing from PartsExpress is a little flimsier than I'd like, and I don't know how to determine a good wire stripper since I only have the one from a group buy with not enough sizes.

Feel free to throw in whatever cool tools you like too, because what is a man without his tools?

[JBLoudG20]

I like the tool between my legs.

[luvdunhill]

anything made by Panavise

[grawk]

I like the tool between my legs.

The T100 torx?

[JBLoudG20]

The T100 torx?

heh

Also, my favorite tool is MexicannDragon

[drp]

My favorite Tool is Sober.

For other tools, I'd have to say my big magnifier on an adjustable boom, as I have a hard time soldering chippies without it.

[Smeggy]

My favorite tool at the minute is Nenso.

Second is a head magnifier as my eyeballs aren't what they were.

[bhjazz]

Xcelite 170M nippers. Sharp as hell, nice clean cuts.

Tweezers: two sizes, could use more. One holds items vertically, one holds them horiz. In combination they are...well, they're still tweezers. But since they stay closed instead of opened, they can hold stuff while I wait for the iron to get hot, or while I get another glass of Merlot.

I don't know about my favorite wire stripper. I acquired one of these recently.

Not a bad tool. However, but the gripper portion can sometimes leave tooth marks on the wire casing and I think that looks tacky. I should get a different one.

[Fungi]

Thanks for all the replies and non replies, the Panavise circuit board holder and Xcelite nippers look especially good.

[Pars]

x2 on the Panavise. Check ebay.

Strippers (loaded ?)

Ideal T-strippers... great. Home Depot carries some of these... get the ones that go from 22-30ga. They also have a set from 14 or so up to 22 maybe. Teflon, no problem with these.

Drill press. Lowes used to have a 10" Delta for around $100 that is nice.

If you make PCBs, carbide indexed drill bits like these. Don't use them without the drill press above, however.

x2 on the head magnifier. Optivisors (like you see the jeweler's wearing) work really well.

[gtp]

I made my "helping hands" in my high school shop class, still better than anything I could buy. For wire strippers and cutters, nothing special - just some cheap craftsman stuff.

Fungi: In Goleta, check out Marvac Electronics. They have lots of good stuff (Xcelite, etc). Like a good DIY nerd, I spend a lot of lunch hours there just looking around.

[Fungi]

I made my "helping hands" in my high school shop class, still better than anything I could buy. For wire strippers and cutters, nothing special - just some cheap craftsman stuff.

Fungi: In Goleta, check out Marvac Electronics. They have lots of good stuff (Xcelite, etc). Like a good DIY nerd, I spend a lot of lunch hours there just looking around.

Nice, I will definitely be checking that place out.

[philodox]

[deepak]

My favorite tool at the minute is Nenso.

My favorite is my three hole puncher. The electric stapler at the office is also sweet.

[MexicanDragon]

heh

Also, my favorite tool is MexicannDragon

Two shea!

**BRENT**

[xand1x]

Cognac Snifter or Glencairn Whisky Glass