Guides/Recommended Tools

Basic Tools

Tools categorized as 'Basic Tools' are essential for a wide range of general tasks and foundational to most projects. They are versatile, commonly used, and often required for basic maintenance, repair, or assembly tasks.

Screwdrivers and Bits

• 4mm Loose Bits: Avoid purchasing their PH or Gamebits. A 4mm driver handle is also required.
• 4mm Driver Handle: A durable handle designed for use with 4mm bits.
• Xiaomi Electric Driver Set: Electric screwdriver set, does not contain JIS bits however.
• SOONAN 150 in 1 Electronics Tool Kit Comprehensive toolset with long-lasting components. This version is an updated kit.

Shims

• Plastic Guitar Picks: Useful for opening devices without causing damage.

Tweezers

• MECHANIC Aax-17: High-quality precision tweezers.
• MECHANIC King Series: Ultra Fine point tweezers. Good for cover removal.

Soldering

Solder

• MECHANIC HX-T100: Reliable solder available in various sizes. The 1mm size is recommended for general electronic repairs due to its balance between precision and ease of use. Larger sizes are better suited for tasks involving heavier gauge wires or larger components, while smaller sizes are ideal for delicate or intricate soldering work.

Soldering Irons

• Pinecil v2 (budget pick): Affordable portable soldering iron for use with TS-100 style tips. Note that shipping costs are typically around $25, and that the Pinecil requires a suitable USB-C PD charger. Supports custom firmware. Does not come with a stand.
• KSGER T12 (budget pick): Affordable stationary soldering station for use with T12 tips. Recommended is a T12-JL02 tip, which is versatile due to it being a bent, yet small tip. Supports custom firmware. Does not come with a stand.
• KSGER C210 Soldering Station (mid-tier pick): A robust soldering station. Choose "set 5" for the best configuration (includes C210-I+K+IS, a sleep wire, and a solder iron stand).

Tips and Tip Cleaning

• MECHANIC S One Tip Refresher: Effective tool for maintaining clean soldering tips. See an example here.

Flux and Paste

• MECHANIC SD360 Flux Paste: High-quality and cost-effective flux.
• MG Chemicals 8341: Reliable for addressing corrosion issues.
• Kaisi K-2208 Extruder: Trigger-activated dispenser for flux, paste, or solder mask.

Desoldering

• MG Chemicals SuperWick: High-quality desoldering wick with a generous length.
• MECHANIC R350 Desoldering Braid: Avoid smaller sizes (e.g., 1mm–1.5mm) as they are prone to breaking.
• MECHANIC SR20 Desoldering Braid: Packaged in a reusable dispenser.
• ENGINEER SS-03 Desoldering Pump: Reliable manual pump for desoldering tasks.

Wire

Recommended wire sizes for various applications:

• BNTECHGO 28awg Magnet Wire
• BNTECHGO 32awg Magnet Wire
• BNTECHGO 36awg Magnet Wire

Solder Mask

• MECHANIC Solder Mask: Affordable and available in multiple colors.
• RELIFE 10ML 3S Quick Dry Solder Mask: Quick-drying and effective.

UV Light

• MECHANIC L1 Pro UV Light: Rechargeable UV light. Note that USB PD compatibility can be achieved by adding two 5.1kΩ resistors from CC1 and CC2 to GND.

PCB Heater

• MECHANIC IX5 Preheating Platform: Compact and efficient for its price. This heater is particularly useful for preheating printed circuit boards (PCBs) during repair tasks, such as reflow soldering or desoldering components, ensuring even heat distribution and reducing the risk of thermal shock to delicate components.

Hot Air

• MECHANIC 957DW (budget pick): Reliable hot air station.
• Atten ST-862D (high-end pick) A higher-end, higher quality hot air station, which homages the Quick 861DW.

Testing Equipment

• Hantek 2D72 Handheld Oscilloscope (budget pick: Affordable portable oscilloscope and signal generator. Its bandwidth and functionality is more limited in comparison to a stationary, higher-end oscilloscope.
• Siglent SDS1202X-E or similar (high-end pick)

Miscellaneous Tools

Microscopes

When working with fine-pitch components, magnification is often essential. While magnifying loupes can provide some assistance, their short working distance often leads to neck strain and limited tool maneuverability. Microscopes address these issues and come in two main types: digital and analog.

• 4K Digital Microscope Kit: A cost-effective option for magnified viewing on a screen, offering comfort by reducing neck strain. However, these microscopes lack depth perception (stereo vision) and may exhibit lag, which can make precise soldering difficult. Avoid cheaper models, as their image quality is typically inadequate for microsoldering tasks.

• Analog Eakins Microscope (AmScope white-label): Using optical lenses for real-time magnification, analog microscopes provide better image quality and depth perception (stereo vision). Trinocular models offer the additional benefit of connecting a camera for digital image capture. While analog microscopes are ideal for precision work, prolonged use may cause eye- and neck strain, and their higher cost can be a consideration.

Fume Extractors

• SK-102 Fume Extractor: Essential for soldering to avoid inhaling harmful flux fumes. If you solder regularly or are sensitive to fumes, use a three-layer fume extractor with a cotton pre-filter, HEPA filter, and carbon filter. Avoid carbon-only extractors, as they are less effective and comparable to a standard fan.
• Vevor XF180U 100W Fume Extractor: A floor model fume extractor with better suction compared to desktop models.

Mats

• RF4 Insulated Silicone Soldering Mat: Durable and heat-resistant.
• RELIFE RL-170: A simple, thick silicone mat for soldering work.
• Anti-ESD mat: Starter kit containing a heat- and chemical resistant mat for soldering and a high-resistance plug to ground. Note that you should ALWAYS use a high-resistance grounding plug with these types of mats and NEVER connect the mat directly to ground, or you risk getting electrocuted!

Tapes

• Device Marking Tape: Easy to use, leaves no residue.
• Mechanic High-Temp Resistant Polyimide (Kapton) Tape: Excellent heat resistance. Choose "400 35M" for optimal performance.

Manual Tools

• Exacto Knife: Cheap generic exacto knife, suitable for scraping traces and precision cutting.
• PA-14 Engineer wire stripper: High-quality wire strippers from Engineer. Comes in various sizes for various gauge wires (PA-06/PA-07/PA-14). PA-14 can strip 22 to 34 gauge wire.
• Maant D2 Grinding Pen: Useful for grinding away PCB layers or solder mask.
• Wiha 56818 Precision Flush Cutters: igh-quality diagonal cutters designed for precise trimming of wires, leads, and PCB components.

Additional Information

The links provided direct you to reputable sources and products known for their quality and performance. Mechanic-brand tools are frequently recommended due to their reliability and transparency in manufacturing. Ensure you choose items tailored to your specific requirements for best results. Additionally, verify the availability of tools and confirm their compatibility with your projects before purchase to avoid potential issues.