Minimum tooling requirements
A Soldering Iron is the obvious first pick when it comes to install electronics.
It must be ESD safe to prevent damage to your soundboard.
Hakko brand is highly recommended, for example this FX-888D model.
A Rotary Tool such as Dremel is a must have when it come to building props.
When space is limited and won’t allow access to larger tools, a Dremel will cover many needs.
From drilling, cutting metal tubes, deburring metal chassis parts, polishing… etc,
here are the most common bit we use:
– Metal cutting wheels
– Sand drums
– Flat wheels
– Polishing wheels
– Deburring bits
– Drill bits
Other basic tools will be required, such as:
– Hand drill (or drill press if you have the space for it), with drill and tap sets.
Most common sizes used are 4-40, 6-32, 8-32, M2, M3 and M4.
This will allow to drill screw holes in your hilt or chassis where needed.
– Screwdriver Kit, including a large choice of bits.
– Tweezers, including self plying ones.
– Electrical Scissors and cutting pliers.
– Pliers.
– Helping Hands will be almost mandatory when soldering electronic components.
– Hand Files Set are most often required for small filling on hilt or chassis parts.
– Markers.
– Calipers, while not strictly mandatory, will be very handy when it comes to cutting rods and tubes at the right length.
Finally, basic consumables for electronic installs are:
– Thin Rosin Core solder wire.
– Heatshrink tubing to protect solder joint.
– PTFE Wires in various AWG size (most common 22, 24, 28 and 30).
– PVC Electrical tape (we use the brand Nitto).
– Loctite Glue (E6000) is used to attach components on the chassis or other chassis parts together.
– Loctite Glue Remover will be a good association in case unwanted glue mark occurred.
– Other Glues such as Epoxy will be needed (to build blades for example)
– Double sided foam tape could be of use as well (in rare cases).
