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The Tools And Test Equipment I Use And Favor The Most!

🕑 Added 2024-03-02 16:23:16 +0000 UTC

Comments

uhf music

Thank you Paul

420 honolulu

hello Mr. Carlson I am a new member . I have been trying to learn about electronics. but still haven't got it . I have been trying to fix a cb radio. with no results. any information would be greatly appreciated. it powers on but no receive or transmit. thank you

Guy St-Pierre

the same Mastercraft toolkit on sale this week at Canadian Tire half price... 25 CAD. Hard to beat for value :-)

hcn3D

I thought so to at first

Daniel

Its hard to find good measurement equipment here in Europe :'(

Steve Wedge

Pleasantly surprised at the signal generator. I just picked up a Rohde & Schwartz version of this at a hamfest for $150. It works great, except for the mechanically-latching power switch. This one goes to 2.7 GHz, which is much higher than I will ever use...

Mr Carlson's Lab

I haven't tried it, But I don't think it would.

Richard Hansen

Does that Irwin stripper work with Teflon wire?

Bill Frovik

Nice

Michael Carey

I've got a Hakko 936 iron. Bought new in 2000 and it is amazing. I still use the original tip for general soldering work.

Kenny Manchester

You made me chuckle with the sliver comment. My wife also has discovered that my stereo microscope excels for sliver removal work.

Aram Baloyan

try Jet Blaster by Cowrc

Michael

What's the best way to clean out the inside of an old stereo? Lots of dust in there. Vacuum can create static and those air cans seem to be too cold. I use a leaf blower for my desktop PC haha, but the stereo is a lot more fragile than the PC...plus I don't care if the PC is damaged, the stereo is much harder to deal with.

Jim Nugent

That is one of my all-time favorite tips from Mr. Carlson (no pun intended): replace the tip of a 200/260W D550 Weller soldering gun with a few inches of #10 copper wire (or #14 wire for a Weller 8200 100/140W gun) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79uD6XwBg5E&ab_channel=MrCarlson%27sLab

Jim H

I've taken to writing the maximum AWG for clippers on the handles so I don't mis-remember and dull them unnecessarily.

Jason Doerr

Hey Paul, I think maybe it was mentioned, but you forgot your hot-rodded Weller for the chassis soldering :) I did that mod myself and works fantastic. Thanks for sharing your tools and tips!

Robert Calk Jr.

Thanks, Paul. I don't know what is wrong, but the new forum will not let me log in. When I try to set a new password, the email that I receive claims that my name is my email address. I'm not sure how that happened.

Steve Foudray

I just traded my Sencore SG80 for some Keithley power supplies. It was a great unit, but I don’t do much consumer electronics any more. Seems around $1000 on eBay last time I looked.

Kenneth Graham

I also have a set of needle nose with teeth I use all the time. Even though I probably have 20 sets. I love the hakko flush cut. I have 8 different ones. They work very well for me and are priced fair. I love them. I have one of the multi tool holders attached to the edge of my bench. I keep everything in it from screwdrivers to cutters, needle nose. All different hemostats. Pliers, scribes, vise grips, strippers, electronics scissors, plus many more. Holds probably 50 pieces.

Sam J. Breidt

How about a HP 8640 signal generator

Dan Barker

My Hakko soldering station is about 2 years old. It has 5 presets. I set them once, and have never used anything other that P1, P2 and P5. yymv. The UI is definitely different now. I'm sure I could look up how to change the presets and C/F setting, but I just push on button 1 to 4 times, and "Enter". Done!

Chip

Amazon has the equivalent of the Mastercraft long reach pliers with the serrated jaws for $8.69 by Leontool. Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BWY3DSB6/

technoman9000

I prefer the screw driver set from Home Hardware, it has better grips and a stubby Roberston for the same price, although it is missing the allen keys.

Chip

lol

Andrew Cockburn

I just ordered the 3 pack of the Hakkos - thanks for the tip!

don mielke

Hi Paul. I want to do a FM alignment on a stereo. It calls for the use of a stereo signal generator. I do not have one is there an alternative method to preform one? what kind do you use and can you recommend a reasonable priced one, thank you

Val Donazzolo

Could agree more. Two hands are never enough.

Keri Szafir

Whoa, these Erem cutters sure do cost... My to-go brand now is Knipex for pliers/cutters, and Wiha for screwdrivers. And as for the iron, I'll stick with my good old Weller TCP-S and Solomon SL-20; Hakko is almost unobtainium here, and the real deal pro stuff like JBC, Metcal or Quick is out of my price range for the moment. I might consider KSGER or the like T12 tip irons, I love how quickly they heat up. Haven't tried that with tube electronics or other large heat capacity work.

Dipl. Ing. Rolf-Dieter Klein

this irwine wise grip looks fantastic, just bought one today. I havetools from knipex the classic ones, but this looks very solid.

Chris Handley

I've been working in the repair industry too long. I thought the blue handled screw drivers were capacitors

darren bird

I recently received a $50 voucher from our local auto shop, they have this same set for $69. I'll add $20 and grab a set tomorrow. They also look very tidy! Obviously they're sold "Worldwide" as I'm on the opposite side of the world from you guys! Cheers

Mr Carlson's Lab

Will do in an upcoming video.

Mr Carlson's Lab

That looks like the green version, yes!

Dara Korra'ti

I have one of those Irwins, and they're nice, but for large enough wires, the Weicon nr. 5 has completely replaced it. Particularly when working in tight spaces where you've got pre-installed short lead wires you can't remove without taking apart a huge chunk of something else. The Weicon fits in spaces an Irwin never can and works beautifully.

Circuitmike

I have a pair of smooth-jaw round needle-nose jewelry pliers (possibly the same thing you're describing) that I got from my mom years ago when she lost interest in crafting stuff. They're incredibly useful for bending wire leads or even grabbing on to tiny things.

Andrew Cockburn

This would appear to be the Harbor Freight version - https://www.harborfreight.com/comfort-grip-screwdriver-set-70-piece-56103.html

Circuitmike

Yeah, I've been really happy with the Hakko flush cutters with the red and black handles. You can find them for under $10 each in single quantities and Amazon currently has a 3-pack listed for $21. They're cheap enough to treat them as consumables but they seem to hold up really well regardless.

Circuitmike

I also have various sizes of hemostats and they're pretty indispensable for me these days.

Circuitmike

I have one of those screwdriver sets, I think the Costco variant, and I use it CONSTANTLY. They're absolutely my go-to tools on my workbench. The stubby #2 Philips is used so much that the markings are wearing off the back of it. I also have a wire stripper very similar to the Vice-Grip one you showed, and it's the best wire stripper ever! It'll even pull the outer sheath off of Ethernet cable with minimal or no damage to the insulation on the individual conductors. And just for fun I decided to see if I could push its limits and dial it in to strip 30-gauge wire, and I could! I have another wire stripper I tend to use just for 30-gauge Kynar-style wire but this one will actually do the job if you want it to!

Richard Goebel

I have a selection of them, too. They are a good to use when the long nose pliers can't reach or a pair of tweezers are not rugged enough.

Richard Goebel

Will you show us your favorite VTVM, oscilloscope, and hand held multimeter?

Tom Harris

I would add: Thomas & Betts WT2000 Sta-Kon tool. Crimper, stripper, and screw thread cutter. I have a few and they are very strong, stay sharp, work really well.

Michael L Dunn

Excellent video,as usual, Paul. I was surprised that you didn’t include hemostats as a highly used hand tool. That’s been a go-to for me for many years. I use several different sizes and styles. Everyone has their own “style”, I suppose, lol.

Chris Bennett

I have some vampire smooth needle nose that I use for making turns in the leads of wires and components. I use silicone insulation wires for that. I save the stripped off insulation to cover component leads. So I always have that without buying another product. Plus the silicone can handle high heat.