Would these tools be decent enough for this hobby?

[daveindelaware]

I receive a Harbor Freight "deals" email every few days. They have a few really good deals on some tools that would come in handy for this hobby (some of which I already bought and use), but wanted to run it past the membership here to get a definite opinion on two particular items.

Would these items be "good enough" to use in this laser hobby? Maybe as a first-time hobbyist's tools, for now, until I can afford higher quality stuff? Or are they cheap junk?

Please let me know your opinion. Thank you!

Digital Caliper $9.99

Digital Multimeter $2.49

 

[3zuli]

they look good, should be enough for a newbie. In fact, you don't need a xx$ (or more) DMM, cheap ones are simple and easy to use, and when you destroy a $3 DMM, it's still better than to destroy a $80 one

 

[jwc]

On the multimeter, you should pay attention to the maximum current that you can read with the ammeter. For reference, a 250mW LOC red diode needs about 400-420mA of current through it.

The multimeter you linked is a little strange. The website says that it can measure up to 200mA, but on the multimeter, there seems to be a 10A setting in the picture that would allow you to theoretically measure up to 10A (this setting is usually on a separate line with a separate fuse because of the high current through the meter), but the specs on the website don't seem to list that option.

 

[hakzaw1]

I saw the same ad- considered making the 30 min drive to their store but feared the ole 'bait and switch' and they would be out of them when I got there. Saw very similar ones shipped from USA(on FeeBay) for about the same-Bid- did not win but the seller sent me a 'second chance offer' so I now have a pretty good caliper shipped to me for 11.11$- and no drive to HF--some bidders got them for even less- but I did not want to wait--got here in 6 days (Tx) from Calf.---HZ

 

[mdjd07]

Im a machinist, and when I first started out I didnt have 200 bux for nice brown and sharps, so I got these and they worked fine

 

[Greenmechanic]

Would these items be "good enough" to use in this laser hobby? Maybe as a first-time hobbyist's tools, for now, until I can afford higher quality stuff? Or are they cheap junk?

These DMM's tend to be funky when it comes to measurement deviation.
I've noticed a +- 1V deviation in the one I got as a free gift.
Compared to my Snap-On and Fluke, it's off (slightly) on all functions. Not by enough to matter in most applications.
But if you plan on using it to adjust driver current using a dummy load, I'd spend $10 more and get the small one made by Craftsman. It's dead on with my good meters.
Don't trust a big $$$ diode with a $2.99 meter.
Just an opinion, it might work fine!

 

[ossumguywill]

You'll probably want a vice(vise?) too. You need them for pressing diodes into modules and modules into heatsinks, and more. also, spend decent money on a good soldering iron. I have an adjustable weller soldering station that cost like 40 bucks and is literally hundreds of times easier to use than those $7 wands at the stores. I HATED soldering with those, now it's a breeze and it starts up quickly too.

will

 

[mdjd07]

You'll probably want a vice(vise?) too. You need them for pressing diodes into modules and modules into heatsinks, and more. also, spend decent money on a good soldering iron. I have an adjustable weller soldering station that cost like 40 bucks and is literally hundreds of times easier to use than those $7 wands at the stores. I HATED soldering with those, now it's a breeze and it starts up quickly too.

will

Could you post a pic of your soldering iron?

 

[daveindelaware]

Thanks for the input everyone. By the posts I got, it sounds like I'd probably be fine w/ the calipers, but I should invest a little more $ into a better DMM (at least one that'll measure the currents we deal with).

I already have a little vise, and it worked just fine with pressing the LD into the Housing.

 

[LarryDFW]

Dave;

I personally use a $40 LG meter for accuracy, but i have bought some of the low-cost meters for gifts to customers.

They do have a 10 amp setting, which is the one you want to measure current with, since that range has very little resistance to affect the reading.

LarryDFW

 

[ossumguywill]

My soldering station:

weller wlc100
will

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

A note on calipers. Some cheap ones are not steel but fiberglass stuff. Make sure you get the steel ones.

HMike

 

[mdjd07]

My soldering station:

weller wlc100
will

Thats nice!

 

[mdjd07]

A note on calipers. Some cheap ones are not steel but fiberglass stuff. Make sure you get the steel ones.

HMike

Yeah whats up with those carbon fiber ones?:wtf:
He'll be good with the harbor frieght ones...They were my first pair...The part with the digital readout is plastic and the rest is steel.

 

[ossumguywill]

Thats nice!

I put it on my amazon wish list, and my friend got it for my birthday! I couldn't for the life of me figure out who sent it until he called me and asked how I liked it. It comes with the sponge and a flat tip, the flat tip is really good for electronics. I usually put the temperature down to 1.5 or lower for semiconductors.

I had to get my friend a nice leatherman juice in return so I wouldn't feel bad about getting such a nice present!

will

 

[mdjd07]

Haha thats whats up dude! I need to get me one of those:beer: