G+_Francisco Nogueira Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Anyone knows of a wiki (or something similar) with a selection of tools and parts (with links for shopping sites) that someone new to this stuff can refer to to start doing something without going blindly through it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Benjamin Webb Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Well the first thing to decide is level of use. If just to tinker then probably anything with a good Amazon rating will work. There are professional brands and higher quality stuff but it costs. I am a tool snob about tools for working on cars that I use often but no so much about my soldering iron I use 2-3 times a year. My father is an electronic tech so he only likes Fluke meters. Some people also like certain kits for portability as well. It's hard to recommend anything without context. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Reese Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 I tend to rely on Amazon reviews over one person's recommendation - unless I know that individual and trust their opinion. I typically look for items with hundreds of reviews and still look at the negative reviews to see what their complaints were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Dustin Dade Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 I am constantly on instructables.com for tutorials. You can try their classes http://www.instructables.com/class/Electronics-Class/ for electronics to learn how different parts work. Just dig through their site for a project that interests you and they usually have a parts list to help you out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_David Wiggins Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Also remember that, as with anything else, you get what you pay for. Low cost tools and components are fine to start it with in many cases, but frequently don't last as long. I tend to start with a lower cost item to learn and see how it affects my workflow and what I can do, and upgrade as needed. I started soldering with a no-name iron I got at the Ham Radio Association festival in Charlotte years ago, but now use a mid range Weller as I am tackling tougher projects. I'll eventually upgrade to a more comprehensive station if I find myself doing things like reflowing, surface mount, and the like. Tl;dr: it's OK to start small, but don't be terribly surprised if something breaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Damien Wessling Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 As Benjamin said, decide what you're type of projects you're tooling up for. Once you have, the scope for selection narrows up somewhat, making the choice a little easier. That said, one item I can recommend no matter which path you take. The ifixit pro tool kit will prove an invaluable and essential part of your tool arsenal. Well designed, quality built and guaranteed for life. With respect to other tools, buy the best version you can afford. I've stood by that philosophy throughout my working career and it's paid off more times than I can count. You don't have to go nuts and buy everything SnapOn (their ratchet screwdrivers are incredible, always in my bag) but there will be some items you use more often than others therefore a quality purchase will ensure a reliable and consistent tool. ifixit.com - Pro Tech Toolkit - New Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_David Wiggins Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Yeah, I have the first generation pro tech toolkit, and love it. I'm trying to gin up a justification to get the new one. It's too bad my nephew is more interested in YouTube and twitch than tinkering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Francisco Nogueira Posted January 9, 2017 Author Share Posted January 9, 2017 Thank you all for your time and answers. My best way to describe myself as shortly as I can is that I'm a Nexus type of guy, I guess. I love my money, hence I always take my time to make wise choices in everything I buy, although I like to get the most I can from my spent money. Searching for information to support that decision is a big part of the fun. :-) That kit, although quite tempting, seems perfect to fix smartphones, not so much for doing some arduino based projects which usually seem to involve soldering. I already have a multimeter (bought it many years ago for who knows what?), some cheap screw drivers and that's basically it. So, I think I need the whole package. A reasonable soldering tool (how's it called?), some electronic plugging/testing boards (again, don't know how they're called), electric wires (multiple colors), clamps (correct name?), magnifying lens, etc... Advices? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_David Wiggins Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 In that case, both spark fun and sunfounder sell kits with solderless breadboards, buttons, switches, resistors and whatnot, along with protects to start with. As for soldering, a decent soldering iron isn't too tough to find. The ability to adjust the heat is useful, too. I got my Weller iron for about $40, but you can go lower or much higher amazon.com - Amazon.com: Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station: Home Improvement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mark Quinn Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 I just started playing with Arduino and bought a kit on Amazon from elegoo. It comes with a lot of stuff and includes a CD of projects which I've been going through. Since I bought the kit I've expanded it by buying more jumper wires, bread boards, better sensors, didn't LCD screens, resistors, capacitors and additional Arduino along with strips if LEDs. Some of these items I bought off Banggood and others of Amazon and adafruit. I suggest just start playing and buy as you go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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