And i was wondering if you guys who are already modding can get me a list of all the tools and crap that i might need....i dont want to start and find out that i needed a (place common tool that i was stupid enough not to have here).....thanks!!!
Starting to mod....
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- Soldering Iron (around 40 watts) or a variable temperature controlled soldering station (Xytronic 379 soldering station- $50 from howardelectronics.com)
- Helping hands (Radio Shack has these)
- Hands-Free Magnifier if you are sight challenged (like this one - GarrettWade Woodworking Tools & Supplies, Shop Tools, Hand Tools, Measuring Tools, Knives & Drills)
- Solder Sucker
- De-soldering Braid
- Digital Multi-Meter (picked up a decent one at Wal-Mart for $20)
- Wire strippers
- Wire cutters (regular size and miniature)
- Needle nosed pliers (miniature, variety of shapes)
- Tweezers
- Forceps
- X-Acto knife
- Dental pics
- Screwdrivers, wrenches, etc. (stuff you probably have on hand)
- Test leads with alligator clips on each end
- Rulers (6" works fine)
- Drill and bits (drill press can come in very handy, too)
- Small files
- Light source on articulated arm
- -Nut drivers
Supplies
- Solder (most any lead solder with flux core should be fine)
- Flux
- Small brushes (dusting, flux application)
- Cable ties
- Heatshrink tubing (selection of various diameters)
- Heat Gun (to shrink the heatshrink tubing)
- Containers to hold parts
- Helping hands (Radio Shack has these)
- Hands-Free Magnifier if you are sight challenged (like this one - GarrettWade Woodworking Tools & Supplies, Shop Tools, Hand Tools, Measuring Tools, Knives & Drills)
- Solder Sucker
- De-soldering Braid
- Digital Multi-Meter (picked up a decent one at Wal-Mart for $20)
- Wire strippers
- Wire cutters (regular size and miniature)
- Needle nosed pliers (miniature, variety of shapes)
- Tweezers
- Forceps
- X-Acto knife
- Dental pics
- Screwdrivers, wrenches, etc. (stuff you probably have on hand)
- Test leads with alligator clips on each end
- Rulers (6" works fine)
- Drill and bits (drill press can come in very handy, too)
- Small files
- Light source on articulated arm
- -Nut drivers
Supplies
- Solder (most any lead solder with flux core should be fine)
- Flux
- Small brushes (dusting, flux application)
- Cable ties
- Heatshrink tubing (selection of various diameters)
- Heat Gun (to shrink the heatshrink tubing)
- Containers to hold parts
What is De-soldering braid? I never heard of this. I used a lighter to shrink the tubing.
A braid of fine copper wires used to desolder parts. Lay the braid across the solder joint, heat with an iron and the solder is wicked into the braid.
Desoldering braid is useful for removing solder from some joints. When the braid is heated over a solder joint, it sort of acts like a sponge and wicks up the flowing solder. I have used it for some electronic projects I completed last year.
For modding PV's, a lighter or a soldering iron tip is adequate for small pieces of shrink tubing.
I just never heard of that before. I just learned how to solder. When I was a kid my Daddy had an iron he put on a burner to heat. He made it look so easy. I can do it not but not as easy as it was for my Daddy with the iron he put in the fire.
A couple others that I find really handy:
Dremel rotary tool, mainly shaping, cutting, enlarging holes, and deburring.
Nibbler, haven't seen this mentioned, but great for cutting metal/plastic for projects. Works with sheet metal, goes right thru copper pipe and plastic.
GO! MOD Nibbler 29524 Metal Cutting Tool - RadioShack.com
Neither of these things are necessary, but come in handy.
Dremel rotary tool, mainly shaping, cutting, enlarging holes, and deburring.
Nibbler, haven't seen this mentioned, but great for cutting metal/plastic for projects. Works with sheet metal, goes right thru copper pipe and plastic.
GO! MOD Nibbler 29524 Metal Cutting Tool - RadioShack.com
Neither of these things are necessary, but come in handy.
I use a Black&Decker RTX rotary tool. It is cheaper and more powerful than a Dremel. All the attachments are interchangable. I love it.
Talk about scaring people off!
The truth is for anyone that wants to get started into the world of mods, you don't need most of that crap.
The easiest way to go is making a nicostick so you understand the "workings" of a mod clearly.
All you really need is:
1-soldering gun and solder.
Parts-Express.com:Stahl Tools STSSVT Variable Temperature Soldering Station | soldering soldering tools soldering station solder station stahl tools stssvt variable temperature soldering station soldering iron solder pcb circuit board gift ideas npa
and
Parts-Express.com:Kester Kwik-Draw Solder 60/40 0.050" 1.3 oz. Tube | kester solder pocket solder pocket pack kwik-draw quick draw pocket pack solder 60/40 solder 60 40 solder 60/40
2-step drill (you don't even need a drill with this you can manually make holes on plastic boxes)
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
3-A pair of pliers and a couple of screwdrivers that you most likely already have.
4-super glue, epoxy glue.
IF you want to start out by making a magnum or an even more elaborate mod, then you need to research extensively on what you will be needing for that specific, unless you want to just go out and spend $300 in stuff you might end up hardly ever using.
The lists posted here are just plain silly and have tons of specialized things that you may be buying as you go along your experience, and only if you keep modding for a good amount of time from now.
Look through the posts in the modders forum and you will find also where to purchase the boxed for your mod, and all other parts needed.
Have fun.
The truth is for anyone that wants to get started into the world of mods, you don't need most of that crap.
The easiest way to go is making a nicostick so you understand the "workings" of a mod clearly.
All you really need is:
1-soldering gun and solder.
Parts-Express.com:Stahl Tools STSSVT Variable Temperature Soldering Station | soldering soldering tools soldering station solder station stahl tools stssvt variable temperature soldering station soldering iron solder pcb circuit board gift ideas npa
and
Parts-Express.com:Kester Kwik-Draw Solder 60/40 0.050" 1.3 oz. Tube | kester solder pocket solder pocket pack kwik-draw quick draw pocket pack solder 60/40 solder 60 40 solder 60/40
2-step drill (you don't even need a drill with this you can manually make holes on plastic boxes)
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
3-A pair of pliers and a couple of screwdrivers that you most likely already have.
4-super glue, epoxy glue.
IF you want to start out by making a magnum or an even more elaborate mod, then you need to research extensively on what you will be needing for that specific, unless you want to just go out and spend $300 in stuff you might end up hardly ever using.
The lists posted here are just plain silly and have tons of specialized things that you may be buying as you go along your experience, and only if you keep modding for a good amount of time from now.
Look through the posts in the modders forum and you will find also where to purchase the boxed for your mod, and all other parts needed.
Have fun.
Thanks for bringing us back down to earth. It is easy to get carried away.
GOOOOOD to hear, i was adding it al up and was like....maybe i will just purchase a mod...might be cheaper...haha....thanks...
This is so true. If you like to tinker then buy some tools. If you only want to make one then go buy one. Beware though this is habit forming. Look at Warp. I am trying to get all the information out of him that I can before he goes into Mod rehab. 8-o8-o8-o
id really love to get into modding, but it SEEMED too exspensive, but with what i was just told itll only be like 30 bucks to get what i need.....im in!....i just dont have the imagination that most of you guys have and so i cruise the forumns for ideas...it loooks like so much fun!
It *IS* fun, DNC...oh, it can be aggravating (ask stormy about her magnum flashlight mod 
), but it's also very satisfying to 'make it yourself', sometimes.
), but it's also very satisfying to 'make it yourself', sometimes.
Check out the nicostick. It is easy and cheap. Nicowolf gave us very simple instructions. It is a great starting place. We all owe her a lot.
Agreed - definite kudos to Nicowolf!
The nice thing about the nicostick mod is that they're easily changed if you want something different. You can take a 3xAA box and make a long-lasting, parallel battery nicostick (what I did) or you can make a hard-hitting, series battery powerhouse like the magnum box mod that you did (which will be my next mod, I think).
The nice thing about the nicostick mod is that they're easily changed if you want something different. You can take a 3xAA box and make a long-lasting, parallel battery nicostick (what I did) or you can make a hard-hitting, series battery powerhouse like the magnum box mod that you did (which will be my next mod, I think).
I would like to make one with 2 Trustfire 14500 3.7 batteries but I don't know how to lower the volts to 6. I know there must be a way. That would be a great project for you. These batteries are protected and fit the box perfectly.
We also need to add Warps connectors to this. This would be the Ultimate box mod. Work on this for me Please.
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