Basic Tools Required

A few basic tools are required to build our kits.

 
1. Soldering iron – adjustable temperature recommended, but not necessary. Your soldering iron must have a sharp
conical tip.  I do not recommend a “flat-head, screwdriver-type” soldering iron. DO NOT USE A SOLDERING GUN. They
are usually rated at 100Watts and are overkill for this project.

2. Mini Pliers Cutter – to cut component leads, wires, strip insulation off wires (if you don’t have a wire-stripper tool).

3. Mini Long Nose Pliers – to bend component leads, use as a heatsink, hold components, tighten bolts.

4. Manual Solder sucker pump or desoldering gun– sucks up solder when you made a mistake soldering components on
the PCB. Pictured below is a Hakko model.

5. Multitester – A simple meter/tester to measure resistance, and voltages. A digital read-out is a big help.

6. Soldering Lead – 60/40 lead or lead-free solder

7. Magnifying glass – to see what you’re doing! Especially when soldering IC pins and the Grayhill selector switch.

8. Clean and well-lighted work area – Lots of good lighting, clean work area. You want to be able to leave your work-in-
progress without packing everything away.

Extra Tools (Nice to have, but not required)

1. Vacuum desoldering pump – if you make a mistake, you need to pull out the component from the PCB

2. Component lead bender – bend component leads like resistors uniformly and evenly

3. PanaVise – to hold PCB while you’re working on it

4. Tweezers – to pick tiny things

5. Masking tape – to hold components on the PCB while working

6. Wire-stripper – for cutting wires and stripping its insulation