Reccomendations on PC tools?

[Turnip12]

Looking to get a nice tool kit, not specifically for pc, but that's mainly what it would be used for. Any reccomendations on sites, or just kits in general? Just ended up breaking 2 small cross tip screw drivers while trying to unscrew the fan off my cpu heat sink, so I figure'd I'd ask around before grabbing some replacements. Main needs would be small screw drivers and socket sets. Thanks!

[Richard_Cranium72]

Go to Sears.

Buy a Craftsman #1,#2 Phillips Screwdriver(Cross Point) $5.00

A 3/16", 1/4" Flat Blade Screwdriver $5.00

1 set of Ignition Slip Joint Pliers 4" , possibly p/n 4522, can't read for the welding flash burns on them. $15.00

A 6" or so set of HemoStats, for putting on jumpers. $1-3.00

A set of 8" Knipex Slip Joint Pliers, these are MEGA-STRONG $15-28.00 These will have an orange handle and a strange looking lock device.

A 4" Crescent Wrench(Adjustable Wrench) $4.00

A Set of Magnifying Glasses(Drug Store)$15.00

A cheap set of Jewelers Screwdrivers, $4.00

A 15 watt soldering Iron, $10.00 @ Radio Shack

A small spool of 5% Silver Solder $6.00

A Bernz-o-matic Propane Torch, NOT THE AUTO IGNITIION, those are not as hot. $15.00

A set of "Helping Hands" this is a little 2" chunk of steel with a couple of alligator clips on ball joints with a small magnifying glass. $2-5.00

Some small "Heat Shrink" Insulation for wire sizes #24-30, 16-18, 12-14. Cost can vary wildly from $0.10 to $1.00 per stick, sizes vary from 3" to a foot per stick too.

For the sockets & Ratchets, go to K-Mart.
They have the same brand as Craftsman but cheaper. Lifetime warranty too.
The ratchet is the one with the rounded looking grip, bright chrome finish, price ,, I forget.

uhhh, that's a start..

cya
DrVette



[This message has been edited by Richard_Cranium72 (edited 07-08-2001).]

[solo-pc-tech]

I'm a pro and have a toolbox that I built up over a period of time. The case is a Plano tacklebox with a flip-up top compartment and four pull out drawers behind a locking panel on bottom.

#1 tool - magnetic tip screwdriver Philips reduced No 2 with bit storage in the handle for Philips No 1, Torx 15, and 3/16 slotted which I seldom use. #2 tool- needle nose pliers.

Then two surgical forceps- one straight, one curved, diagonal wire cutter, straight wire cutter, 6mm socket, 5/32", 3/16" and 1/4" sockets. Almost never use any other sockets.
AA cell Mag lite flashlight, chip puller, AC circuit checker, volt-ohm meter, phone line checker, boot floppies, DOS diagnostic floppies, right-angle screw driver, CO2 blaster, long blade 1/4" slotted screwdriver, long blade #2 Philips screwdriver, set of Jewelers screwdrivers- Philips and slotted, 1/4" nutdriver, various screws, brackets, cables, and jumpers, a couple of CR2032 CMOS batteries, a static discharge wrist band, twisties, cable ties, a small mirror and a screw holder.

Had to look to see what else: slot covers, knife, allen wrenches, small adjustable wrench, tweezers, magnifying lens, adapter to turn ordinary printer cable into Laplink cable, small notebook, awl.

I work on site and this collection of tools has served me well.

[Philip1952]

If you start to look at volt meters buy the Fluke brand only from Sears. The Sears or Craftsmen brand meters aren't very accurate. Not on the lower voltages in a computer. They also have a problem of melting in your hands on high voltage. I'm talking 240 volts and above. If your lucky it melts. I have seen 3 explode. (Not mine eather. I use fluke or Wave tech brands myself).

[surrealchereal]

I love tools, so any excuse to buy a tool is a good excuse for me. But if I just wanted something to start with, after all I'm not going pro. (*yet). I was in Fry's electronics the first time I saw a set of "precision tools" that were very well made. I sometimes don't buy the best when it's for my computer because I always break or strip tools using force. I don't think I will ever need to exert that much pressure on a computer part. But it must have good weight and balance. I started with and still use a little boxed wrench set by Boxer. They are really well priced, and pretty sturdy. I have a little kit with.
7 Allen wrench tips,
6 stars
4 squares
4 slots
4 Phillips (o, 1,2,3),
15 sockets
2 socket adapters
A handle with a comfortable grip
The cost was about 10 bucks.
For 20, I also have a set that has a zillion of everything, and a driver handle and a ratchet handle.
If you've got the small set I mentioned first and a pickle you can fix everything. (I've found pickles work better than marshmallows and toothpicks over the long run.)
Oh and a pair of tweasers. (now that's where the marshmellow works better than the pickle)


[This message has been edited by surrealchereal (edited 07-07-2001).]

[jad1097]

If you buy a pair of Klien sidecutters (as doc suggested) get the D2000 series, these are the best and will cut bolts without any damage to the pliers. Screwdrivers, Klien again of course, only the best will do. Klien sells a 10-in-1 type screwdriver now, good the non-pro I guess, too many parts for me. Klien even make these twisty screwdrivers (http://klein.sgsnet.com/products/product.cfm?ProductId=670-6) that are just plain awesome. www.klein-tools.com (http://www.klein-tools.com)

Hmm just re-read docs post and he said slip-joint pliers, would that be as in channel locks? If so then the Channel-locks brand is what you want not Klien.

Fluke meters are the best, (Fluke, Sears?) you can get them anywhere.

[RobRich]

People think I'm crazy when I do onsite repairs, as I simply drop my automotive tool set (somewhere around 1000-1100 pieces) in the trunk of my car. My first job was in Sears' hardware department (later handled customer relations and light management), so I've now got more tools then I'll ever actually need.

BTW, Fluke is definitely the route to go for a good ohm's meter. And Philip is not kidding about the Sears/Craftsmen meters. I've actually had their mid-range digital model to EXPLODE during high-voltage/amperage use. The probes and lead wires completely melted, the housing instantaneously seperated in multiple places, and the display completely fussed to the charred PCB. Glad I actually wasn't holding the meter when it happened!

Robert Richmond

[This message has been edited by RobRich (edited 07-08-2001).]

[Richard_Cranium72]

Here's the pliers I was trying to think of.

They are NOT Klien, but Knipex, made in Germany..

Not cheap, but lifetime warranty and great tools..

They will grip when nothing else will, make Channel-Lok pliers look bad, no offense Jad.


http://www.knipex.com/katalog-e/rohr/rohr12.htm

The larger ones linked here, are really industrial strength pliers.

Usually available only at Bearings & Drives or Mill Supply stores
http://www.knipex.com/katalog-e/rohr/rohr13.htm

[Philip1952]

RobRich brought up a point I forgot. Never hold a meter when working on high voltage. If it explodes you don't want it in your
hand. Most of the better brand of meters have longer leads on them. Set it down when you work.
I have seen 7 of them explode or melt over the years. Three were owned buy the same person. They were all the models. From cheap to expensive. If you can call Craftsmen brand expensive. It took a long time for him to learn.
Also over time the Craftsmen models tend to get real bad on readings. I have seen some as far as 50 volts off on AC and 6 or 7 volts on DC.

[jad1097]

Even with a Fluke meter it should be recalibrated once every year or two. Being an Electrican for almost 20 years I have never seen a meter blow up but I have never seen anyone use a crapsmen one either. Of course we do use pro tools and my meter of choice for A/C (480v and under) is an Ideal (http://www.idealindustries.com/products/index.htm) Vol-Con Tester (http://www.testersandmeters.com/IDEAL-EZ/products.nsf/ItemMasterLookup/p61-076?) .

My idea of high voltage is not quite the same as most peoples since I have worked at power plants, 7kv's+ is high voltage to me. I work 480v hot more often than I care to.

Phil and Rob, thanks for the warning. I imagine it is not a good feeling having a tool blow up on you. I have blown up/melted tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, hacksaws, etc but never a tester.

[This message has been edited by jad1097 (edited 07-08-2001).]

[RayH]

EVerybody has some serious tool kits. I have a phillips head screw driver and a pair of tweezers!

[solo-pc-tech]

RayH,

Actually that's a good toolkit.

The best tool of all is one I forgot to list-- the grey stuff between our ears!

[Goldwingnut]

Regarding screwdrivers: Eyeball the grinding on a cheap screwdriver and a good Proto or Craftsman. I'm referring to the grinding on the "business end" of the screwdriver; the 1/2" that does the work.

The cheap one will have prominent grind marks across the blade - in line with the stress to be applied. They will break across the stress line.

Now eyeball the Proto. Very fine grinding lines, runing up and down the shaft. That screwdriver will last.

Add to Richard Craniums list: Desoldering wick. A little spool of fine copper braid. Don't putz around with solder suckers.

If you buy crimping tools, get the kind where a small post on one side inserts into a small socket on the other side. Arrange the solderless connector so the seam is centered on the socket side. Do not waste your money on the crimpers where the jaws look like a pair of parenthesese. They don't crimp, they just crush.

And Kleins are fine pliers. A lesser plier will give a pro electrician blisters by the end of the day.