I am asked all the time about the tools needed to rebuild audio gear. So I decided to but up a page with the tool I use most. Most of these are
not required for a simple recap or repair that one might do at home to keep his aged gear running. But if you are going to work on a lot of
audio gear, or want to do the extreme detailing and restoration to make it stand out, and want to have confidence that the work is going to
stand the test of time, you will need a lot of the gear noted here.
I have added some notes around tools that are odd or that get special use. Hope this help those who are dabbling in repair.
This does not cover the consumables that one might need, such as cable ties, heat sync compound, cleaning chemicals, swabs, wire (I have
miles of this), etc… I will leave that to your imagination.
not required for a simple recap or repair that one might do at home to keep his aged gear running. But if you are going to work on a lot of
audio gear, or want to do the extreme detailing and restoration to make it stand out, and want to have confidence that the work is going to
stand the test of time, you will need a lot of the gear noted here.
I have added some notes around tools that are odd or that get special use. Hope this help those who are dabbling in repair.
This does not cover the consumables that one might need, such as cable ties, heat sync compound, cleaning chemicals, swabs, wire (I have
miles of this), etc… I will leave that to your imagination.
1) needle nose pliers
(miniature)
2) diagonal wire cutters
(miniature)
3) tweezers
4) wire strippers/crimps
5) mirror
(miniature)
2) diagonal wire cutters
(miniature)
3) tweezers
4) wire strippers/crimps
5) mirror
6) Allen wrenches:
std. & metric - I user these to
remove the set screws from
knobs and such.
7) Brushes:
I have a slew of brushes that I
use for cleaning, dusting,
buffing, oils, solvents, waxes,
polishes, etc... I don't mix the
use of bushes. Once a brush is
used with a specific type of
product, it is not a good idea to
use it with another. You don't
want polishes or oils leaching
out onto you work unexpectedly.
8) Exacto
9) Miniature hand drill and bits:
This is a very handy item.
10) Assorted dental probes:
Really useful for cleaning
11) Vernier calipers
std. & metric - I user these to
remove the set screws from
knobs and such.
7) Brushes:
I have a slew of brushes that I
use for cleaning, dusting,
buffing, oils, solvents, waxes,
polishes, etc... I don't mix the
use of bushes. Once a brush is
used with a specific type of
product, it is not a good idea to
use it with another. You don't
want polishes or oils leaching
out onto you work unexpectedly.
8) Exacto
9) Miniature hand drill and bits:
This is a very handy item.
10) Assorted dental probes:
Really useful for cleaning
11) Vernier calipers
12) Choke/Core and pot
adjustment tools:
These are used for turner
alignment.
13) Spudgers:
(ya, this is not a typo. This is
what they are called) I use these
tools all the time... as a non
conductive probe, to aid in
chasing wires, cleaning, etc...
very handy tool.
14) more alignment tools
adjustment tools:
These are used for turner
alignment.
13) Spudgers:
(ya, this is not a typo. This is
what they are called) I use these
tools all the time... as a non
conductive probe, to aid in
chasing wires, cleaning, etc...
very handy tool.
14) more alignment tools
15) Miniature hammers
16) Handle with Scribe &
miniature screw driver bits
17) Scissors
18) Metric and std sockets and
driver (1/4 drive)
19) Jewelers visor:
I can't work without these. I ware
them all the time for soldering,
cleaning... you name it. These
are a "must have" for detail
work.
16) Handle with Scribe &
miniature screw driver bits
17) Scissors
18) Metric and std sockets and
driver (1/4 drive)
19) Jewelers visor:
I can't work without these. I ware
them all the time for soldering,
cleaning... you name it. These
are a "must have" for detail
work.
20) Wire wrap tools:
I have a power wrap tool also,
but I don't use it like I use these
hand tools. The large one is a
custom made unit for 18-20ga
wire. The smaller one is for
22-24ga wire. This will cover
most of the wire sizes you will
encounter in vintage gear.
21) Solder wick
22) Solder sucker
23) Unwrap tool:
These are made in two verities,
one for clock wise and one for
counter clock wise wrapped wire.
24) flash lights
I have a power wrap tool also,
but I don't use it like I use these
hand tools. The large one is a
custom made unit for 18-20ga
wire. The smaller one is for
22-24ga wire. This will cover
most of the wire sizes you will
encounter in vintage gear.
21) Solder wick
22) Solder sucker
23) Unwrap tool:
These are made in two verities,
one for clock wise and one for
counter clock wise wrapped wire.
24) flash lights
25) Paste flux and brush:
I only use this for hard to reach
location where there is little
room to work, or to re-flow
existing solder. Always clean
flux from the surface after
applying
26) Solder in "Zipfizz"
dispensers
27) Spools of solder
28) Spool of solder wick
The little yellow dispensers of
solder are home made from
"Zipfizz" tubes. I alway buy
spools of solder, but spools are
heavy and awkward to handle.
Poke a small hole in the bottom
of a Zipfizz tube with an exacto,
and coil about 10 feet of solder
around the shank of a sizable
screwdriver. Slide the coil of
solder into the zip fizz container
and... there you have it, a really
nice dispenser!!!
I only use this for hard to reach
location where there is little
room to work, or to re-flow
existing solder. Always clean
flux from the surface after
applying
26) Solder in "Zipfizz"
dispensers
27) Spools of solder
28) Spool of solder wick
The little yellow dispensers of
solder are home made from
"Zipfizz" tubes. I alway buy
spools of solder, but spools are
heavy and awkward to handle.
Poke a small hole in the bottom
of a Zipfizz tube with an exacto,
and coil about 10 feet of solder
around the shank of a sizable
screwdriver. Slide the coil of
solder into the zip fizz container
and... there you have it, a really
nice dispenser!!!
