Tools required for DIY

Going DIY can offer the Christmas enthusiast cost savings, potential customisation and the satisfaction that you made it yourself!

Try to buy good quality tools wherever you can. You don't have to go top of the range, but really cheap and nasty tools will invariably perform poorly, break prematurely and cost you more in the long run.

If you plan to assemble circuit boards with through hole components, a good pair of flush cutters is essential. The pair pictured below-left are ideal for trimming off component legs.

For heavier duty jobs, such as cutting power cables, a larger pair of side cutters (pictured below-right) are the right tool for the job. They are not as precise as the flush cutters, but won't be damaged as easily either.

Like cutters, you'll need more than one set of pliers. A small, precise set (below-left) for fine work such as bending component legs, as well as larger ones for heavier duty jobs will serve you well. For the larger ones, a set of combination pliers (pictured blow-right) can serve double duty as heavy wire cutters.

For SMD work, a couple of pairs of tweezers is also handy. One pair of fine point and one pair of self closing type will help hold small parts in place.

The crimper picture below is designed to crimp 4, 6 and 8 way modular connectors. It has a simple ratchet action for reliable crimping and a cable cutter/stripper.



If you're going to crimp a lot of QC terminals, a good quality crimper (below-left) will last you a lifetime. The cheap ones (below-right) are usually flimsy and seldom produce a reliable connection.

There are a myriad of soldering irons and stations on the market. For electronics work, something in the 20W to 50W range is ideal. For occasional work, a 240V temperature controlled 20W iron (below-left) may be all you can justify. A higher powered soldering station (below-right) with low voltage iron will work better and have a larger range of tips available.

A digital multimeter is an essential piece of test equipment. I recommend an auto ranging meter. This removes the uncertainty and confusion of selecting the correct range. You will still need to select Volts (AC or DC), resistance (Ohms), etc though.

One example of an inexpensive auto ranging meter is QM1323 at Jaycar. Do not bother with the cheap nasty $20 types. Buy one with a "CAT III" marking as this indicates that it is suitable for 240Vac use.
https://www.jaycar.com.au/cat-iii-multimeter-with-temperature/p/QM1323

Another type is the UNI-T UT61E. It's available on eBay for about $65 upwards.

A power supply with a variable output (or several fixed outputs) can be very handy. There are a few articles on the 'net that show how to convert a PC power supply for bench use.

For holding board, wires and plugs steady, sometimes a "helping hands" and mini vice can be useful. A pin vice in conjunction with very small drill bits is handy for clearing clogged holes in PCBs. A component leg forming tool makes bending resistor legs a snap. Lastly, if your DIY project goes horribly wrong, a sledge hammer will may give you some satisfaction!

See Electronic components and tools suppliers