What is needed

[godmonkey]

Hey guys n gals

I've been pondering for a while on what i need to buy to make this hobby work. I've accounted for the usual diodes,soldering iron, misc electronics kit etc.

Now i'd need to know from more experienced builders what they can recommend getting. I bet dremels are popular and electrictape, but i'd like to know if there is a few of those duuh items i'd need.

incase someone doesn't know what a duuh item is i'll give you an example. Something quite obvious and inexpensive but hinders you from building completely. Say like missing a vice to squeeze in the diode into a housing.

thanks

 

[VillageIdiot]

How about a soldering iron and solder? Seems like a duuuuh thing to me.

 

[Murudai]

I've accounted for the usual diodes,soldering iron, misc electronics kit etc.

How about a soldering iron and solder? Seems like a duuuuh thing to me.

FAIL.

;D

 

[VillageIdiot]

OH NOES! You're right, I fail. But he didn't say he had solder...! ;D

 

[Murudai]

If he bought a soldering iron and totally forgot the solder...

MEGA FAIL

 

[VillageIdiot]

Quit posting about fail and find something this man needs to burn things dammit! ;D

 

[Murudai]

All I can think of that you don't have listed is a good soldering heat sink.

You clip it on to the electronics part you are soldering, and it sucks up the heat so it doesn't burn out the component. Very helpful, especially with delicate diodes.

 

[Switch]

Multimeter : But that should be included in the misc electronics kit anyway. And of course Powermeter But that's really not inexpensive

 

[freshert]

a battery holder!?!?!

 

[Zom-B]

• knowledge of building an troubleshooting electronics
• things that might not be in the misc electronics kit:
  1N400x diodes as dummy load
  1 ohm 1W resistor to measure current with when the multimeter has no mA setting
• knowing what you want to build
  for example, dvd burner, blu-ray or just modding exiting 5mW pointers? Your choice might imply more stuff like collimator modules (Aixiz/Meredith), 3 or 4.2 ohm 1W resistors, LM317, power regulator IC's and stuff

 

[godmonkey]

thanks zom-b first really constructive post. I'll add those things to my list. I got alot of electronic TS experince but i'm somewhat rusty on the building, been a good ten years since i was soldering actively

 

[styropyro]

godmonkey- Because you have had electronics experience, after building your first laser it should seem pretty easy to you.

I think a "Helping Hands" like the one Radioshack offers is nice to have when you are working with this type of stuff. It sure comes in handy when you are desperately needing that "third hand"!

 

[godmonkey]

dude! thanks i didn't even think about that one! I think a 3rd paw will come in handy more then once

 

[climbak]

I would also recommend a small table vise. They come is super handy when you need to press fit the diodes or just hold something more tightly than the helping hands can. I use one just about every single time I start messing with diodes.

 

[VillageIdiot]

I think a "Helping Hands" like the one Radioshack offers is nice to have when you are working with this type of stuff. It sure comes in handy when you are desperately needing that "third hand"!

Good Lord, I need that so badly.

 

[Murudai]

Huh, I actually have one of those 'helping hands' things, or at least a similar device. Certainly is very useful, not sure why I forgot to mention it :-[