Cool Tools To Giveaway for a Blog Review

Ah tools!!! And the search for the right tools has been going on since the first human smashed 2 stones together.  We all have our “special” implements of construction or, in some cases, destruction.  For those in the western United States, there is the California screwdriver (i.e. a hammer). For myself, I always carry with me a Leatherman and a Swiss Army knife, except when I fly or entering a federal building.  And I have the holes in the back pockets of my jeans to prove it.  Nothing fancy (my tools, not the holes), but enough to get the job done.

Many of the tools mentioned are great and I even have some of them, but here’s a few I have found useful.

1. Wearable magnifying lens – Not just because I’m getting older, but in part as circuit components get smaller, I find having a pair of wearable magnifying glasses/lens is very helpful.  The glasses free up your hands for working on your project.  The magnifying lens helps in identifying components and defects, as well acts as a safety shield.  You can find glasses with various options (i.e. glass vs plastic lens, lights, varying magnification, etc.) and price ranges.  I bought my current pair at a local discount store for under $10 US.  They offers multiple power plastic lens and has some clarify issues, but still worth it.  A former coworker has the older glass lens version.

2. Mountable magnifying len – In comparison to the wearable glasses, a single mountable len may offer a larger view of your work area, but normally only available in a single power.

Both tools are individually worthy of a blog article, but a comparison blog would be better.

Regards, Gordon

Next on my useful tool list would have to be PC board vise (PanaVise makes a number of varieties) 

Or a “3^rd Hand” vise,

Or maybe a combination vise (AdaFruit),

For holding things in place while you “operating” of your circuit, maybe a set of surgical of dental clamps.  I found mine at a yard sale.

Regards, Gordon

Now for everyone who have nicked a wire while stripping the insulation, then re-cutting the wire only to come up a 1/4 inch (or 6.35 mm) too short, next on my useful tool list, a good wire stripper (WS) is important.   My 1st WS was similar to the one shown below.  I was a poor student and these were the least expensive.  Ironically they also doubled as my wire cutter, sometimes unintentionally.

Frustration drove me to my next pair, but one downside is that you had to have 2 or more sets to cover the range of wire sizes.

The next pair I found at a yard sale (aren’t yard sales great) and included a little weight screw cutter and climper.  One downside is making sure you don’t smash your fingers try to cut larger screws.

All the before mentioned wire strippers I have used for my personal projects, but are work I have had occasional opportunities to borrow more reliable (and repeatable) WS like the ones below.

or

Now if someone could make a manual combination wire cutter and stripper for a reasonable price, that would be great (and blog-able)

Regards, Gordon

Gordon,

The last picture, Klein Catapults do have a wire cutter in them. It is the hole in the center of the silver rectangle. It works well, but you have to pass the wire through the hole. This works well for prepping the wire to crimp a lug onto, not so much to cut a wire like with side cutters.

Scmclain,

I'm sorry for the confusion.  What I meant to say was I would like to see an inexpensive automatic wire cutter & stripper.  One that I could say I wanted 10 pieces of 10 inch stripped wire and it would measure, cut and strip each wire automatically.

Regards, Gordon

Scmclain,

I'm sorry for the confusion.  What I meant to say was I would like to see an inexpensive automatic wire cutter & stripper.  One that I could say I wanted 10 pieces of 10 inch stripped wire and it would measure, cut and strip each wire automatically.

Regards, Gordon