Modder's Toolkit

[Sarl K]

Checked through the threads and they all have excellent parts lists but could not see suggestions for a toolkit required for making these mods. I need to collect them over a few weeks due to money pressures, so can't start modding and find out I am short something rather essential.

I plan to make a couple of simple 3.7v battery boxes and, if I have not blown myself up, try a 5v, then VV, then dna/Nivel. Just for the challenge of it.

So what will I need to collect tools wise? Essentials AND nice-to-haves that make things easier. I am all about making things easier.

Thanks in advance!

 

[LucentShadow]

It really depends upon what you want to build. My ideal box mod will require a CNC machining center, using a few endmill, drill, and tap bits. That's just to machine the box.

For a simple plastic box mod, I guess the bare minimum would be:

A good utility knife to cut with. A drill with a decent drill bit set is nice to have. One small drill bit and a good reamer also works. A file set is often handy, if you have one.

Soldering iron and (silver) solder. Wire nuts or other mechanical connections may work for some connections. Electrical tape is often prudent, especially with wire nuts. Heat-shrink tubing and a hot hairdryer can be quite nice to have, too.

Something to cut and strip wires with. That can be a knife or scissors, but wire cutters and strippers are better.

A decent screwdriver set may be necessary, depending upon the materials used, but are often handy for other reasons.

Epoxy and/or some type of hot glue. Epoxy is good for durable bonding, where hot glue is good for things that you want to be able to remove easily.

Keeping in mind what tools that you'll need to make the parts work together, when you are deciding upon the parts to use, will make your build easier.

 

[bapgood]

Lucent gave a good starting list.

I highly recommend a Dremel Stylus. I use mine all the time for all sorts of stuff.

Get a good/decent soldering station if you plan on soldering more than very little.

 

[Sarl K]

Thanks, much appreciated. I buy my quality custom mods from the experts, so I am not worried so much about pretty as about function. I just want to do this to prove to myself I can, and learn a whole host along the way. I am certainly not going to be milling parts or 3D printing them. Way out of my league!

So thanks for the awesome feedback, I will start collecting the missing pieces. I have a toolset containing most of the non electrical necessities listed due to DIY and motorcycle maintenance, just need the solder, hot glue and Dremel Stylus. I have done a bit, but never electronics or electrical as they make me nervous. Part of the challenge for me.

Any specifics on the soldering iron/gun and glue gun? That would be very helpful to a electrical novice.

 

[bapgood]

This is a great choice for solder station Hakko FX888D-23BY Digital Soldering Station FX-888D FX-888:Amazon:Home Improvement

Hot glue gun just about any of them do the job

 

[LucentShadow]

I'm not much into hot glue, but many use it. I assume that it does not hold up to heat well. I guess that I'd make sure that it's electrically non-conductive. Double-sided foam might also work in some situations that one might use the glue. Mainly, if there is a component that you think that you may need to remove later for any reason, it can be difficult or impossible if you use epoxy on it.

For instance, the DNA20D screen may not survive that, if you wanted to migrate it to another box at some point. For that specific instance, there are a couple of screen protectors mentioned in this forum that might work better for that.

As for soldering stations, that Hakko above looks really nice. At a minimum, I'd recommend a lower-end Weller like this:

Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station - Amazon.com

I've had a nice Weller station for decades. Not sure how good they are these days, though.

A soldering gun would not be useful, IMO, unless you want to solder metal decals onto a metal case, or some other task that requires a blunt tip and high heat.

Some copper desoldering wick/braid is handy if you may want to desolder something.

 

[Lowlife]

I am working on my tools also, my "list".

Soldering "station", the sky is the limit. I bought a "hakko 936 clone" relatively cheap.

Solder, 63/37 leaded solder
Flux, flux pen
Desolder braid, name brand (old stuff/cheap stuff the flux can dry out or not have enough flux to work well)

Chisel tip for soldering iron

Flush cutters

Small needle nose pliers

I plan to start with plastic "boxes". I have a drill and bits. Need needle file set, screw drivers (precision set), and whatever else you need to work with the box.

When/if I start working with metal enclosures will require more tools.

Epoxy

Multimeter



Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

 

[Sarl K]

Once again, thanks everyone. It's gonna a take a little while to get them together but now I can start picking them up as and when I have the spare cash.

 

[WillyB]

I always use the easier to work with leaded solder.

A good rosin or RMA (Rosin Mildly Activated) based flux makes things easier too.

 

[Scubabatdan]

My two cents on the list....

Box - Plano Molding 1363 Stow N Go Toolbox, Graphite Gray and Sandstone - Amazon.com
Solder Iron - Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station - Amazon.com
Silver Solder - Alpha Metals #AM23945 8OZ .125 GP Silver Solder - Amazon.com
RubyFluid - Amazon.com: The Ruby Chemical Co. Rubyfluid Flux Soldering Paste soldering paste: Home & Kitchen
Mini Tool Kit - Allied 49032 25-Piece Tri-Fold Mini Tool Set - Amazon.com
Dykes - Fuller Tool 405-2905 Pro 5-Inch Diagonal Cutting Plier with Comfort Grips - Amazon.com
Pin Vise - Pit Bull CHIDB003 Mini Drill Bit Set Tools Precision Tool Model Car, 21-Piece - Amazon.com
Butane Torch - Trademark Tools 75-TZ6915 Hawk Self Igniting Refillable Butane Micro Torch with Ceramic Tip - Amazon.com
Multimeter - Mastech MS8268 Digital AC/DC Auto/Manual Range Digital Multimeter Meter: Amazon.com: Home Improvement
Xacto Knife Kit - Xacto X5282 Basic Knife Set - Amazon.com
Dremel 4000 - Dremel 4000-2/30 120-Volt Variable Speed Rotary Tool Kit - Amazon.com
Dremel Multi pro Chuck - Dremel 4486 MultiPro Keyless Chuck - Amazon.com
Helping Hands - TEKTON 7521 Helping Hand with Magnifier - Amazon.com
Epoxy - Gorilla Glue 4200101 Epoxy 25 ml Syringe - Amazon.com



Hope this helps.
Dan

 

[Sarl K]

Mini Tool Kit - Alpha Metals #AM23945 8OZ .125 GP Silver Solder - Amazon.com

Odd tool kit, but defo mini.

 

[Scubabatdan]

Odd tool kit, but defo mini.

LOL sorry bout that:
Corrected:
Allied 49032 25-Piece Tri-Fold Mini Tool Set - Amazon.com

Dan

 

[d9mel]

cant forget the band aids and coffee

 

[wabbit]

Which Dremmel heads for shaping/smoothing plastic?