Tools and Tips

Just figured I would try and start a thread as a consolidated resource of YOUR favorite tools and techniques for your amp builds.

If there is a previous thread or sticky, I apologize for posting.

First time amp builder here.

But as far a tools go. One of my favs right now is my sparkfun.com solder station; it is a 40$ copy of a Hakko and is compatible with Hakko tips..
Their model may be a rebrand of the Aoyue..

Anyone care to chime in?

I have one of these automatic wire strippers and love it. It's fast and simple to use:
http://www.wiringproducts.com/contents/media/5008.jpg

I can't help but notice a lack of posting here... so here's my take on tools, and a pic or two to explain. I notice that some of the folks here are blessed with formidable tool resources, which kind of gives the idea that without a huge workshop you can't build an amp. Well, if you buy a pre-built cab and pre-drilled chassis, these in the first picture is about all you need. In fact, you can probably get by with less, with some ingenuity. Even a cab can be built (if you're handy) with a minimum of tools, or even get the shop to pre-cut the pieces for you.

Second picture are my favorites and/or necessities:

Top left is a gizmo I hate, because it's a serious cheapo, and hard to loosen those clamps without them falling off the ball joints. But it's great once you get it set, because you can solder just about anything together. At the same time, the metal jaws provide a heat sink.

Below that is an LED gooseneck lamp. Light inside the chassis!

Quality needlenose pliers. The thin ones with the release spring are great for grabbing little parts, or fishing out stuff you dropped. The larger pair for just about any nut, and the rubber band around it gives you that 'third hand' you need in a pinch (pun intended :wink:)

Aluminum heat sinks, they save your components. Also, one clamped to another makes a nice little stand. I have 4 or 5 of these.

Wire strippers. I have an automatic one, but if you have good quality (i.e. sharp!) ones, these will do the job.

Magnifying glass. Recent additions to my tool kit. :oops:

Soldering paste. I like this much better than liquid. I always have a passel of toothpicks around, which gets this stuff exactly where you need it.

Chopsticks. I use bamboo ones, becasue they stay straight. I'm pretty good with these, because that's how I eat every day! :grin:

Carbon fiber Vernier Caliper. Inner, Outer and Depth measurement. Not metal, for obvious reasons.

Not pictured (because it fell on the floor without my noticing it :roll:) is a mini hot glue gun. The adhesive is not that strong, so it can usually be easily peeled off, but it's great to hold something in place untill it's cinched down. Also makes a nice bead to keep bolts from loosening up.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7653700134_539ec5bcf4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/charisjapan/7653700134/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8026/7653701016_92088c0d90_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/charisjapan/7653701016/)

Charisjapan, thanks for chiming in.
The way you laid out those tools is just about as pretty as that 5e3 build you posted recently.

Thanks for the input.
The heatsink clamps are a good idea. I usually use "helping hands" or alligator clips to try and dissipate some heat. But I like that little set you have.

And solder paste. That is something that I need to experiment with. I usually just use the old school stuff. But I love the idea of super precise placement. i usually just think of paste as a necessity for surface mount components... I am now changing my thinking!

I have one of these automatic wire strippers and love it. It's fast and simple to use:


Thanks Keith. I need to refresh my strippers. I'm going to check these out.

I find my uncles old Weller soldering gun comes in real handy. If you find one at a garage sale or whatever grab it.
Thay may not be right for everything and as long as you know that your ok.

Ok I'll come clean since I got this thing I hardly used a soldering iron. Recapped some vintage Fenders, Ampegs and a Marshall and built a 5e3 with it.

I bought one of these in 1975 - haven't bought another since. I use it to sollder everything. It is my most frequently used tool.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/1275/weller_soldering.jpg

Flush cutters are nice.

http://www.widgetsupply.com/category/pliers-cut-flush.html?gclid=CK7VioDBvLECFcqe7Qoda0oAKA

I agree on the flush cutters. After almost every wire I solder I trim up any poking points. These are probably in the top 3 most used tools I use, which include my soldering iron, strippers and flush cutters.

On the other side of the aisle, there are the tools to be avoided.

I have made sure to secure all of my 4 pound hammers in a separate building from the bench. Just to safe guard my project during those frustrating moments!

Seriously though, 5/16" and 11/32" nut drivers are handy for dem keps nuts. Open end wrenches as well if you are using a grounding bolt in the ends of the chassis.

Mark

Step drill and remer come in handy for building or even on premade chassis. A chassis punch is the right way but I don't have one of those.

2 power auxiliary eye helpers with led's , really helpful when soldering inside the chasis

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz246/adirondak50/5F1%20build/IMAG25912.jpg?t=1343495518

This is a pretty good site for tips etc.It is a German site with translation,but the guy has great info and good pics to check out.

http://http://www.brieskorn.de/int/Guitar___Amps/Amp_Projects/amp_projects.html

I've been building amps since 2000 and don't have a shop. So it's less convenient but possible.

One helpful tool I use a lot is a chassis "U" rack made out of 2"x4"'s. I use this when I remove a chassis out of a cab and let the chassis rest on the "U" rack with the tubes usually pointed down and the exposed circuit on top. So you can then hook it up to an external speaker cab and do all live test in repair, mods or new builds. I have two racks, one long for larger chassis and one small for small chassis.
Like in the picture a Boogie Rocket 440. Had to add an extra piece of 2x6 to make the larger rack fit better for this amp. Platefire

Hi! New here, just adding my 2 cents, I use my lindstrom small side cutters and needle nose pliers constantly, they're pretty expensive but really nice to use, also the weller digital solder station and a good quality multimeter (considering that you rely a lot on a multimeter it pays to get a decent one)