All-in-One Kit or build my own?

November 27, 2015 5:28 PM

Which is the better approach, buying an all in one electronic repair kit set or just compile one from various vendors?

So, I used to have an all in one repair kit but I gifted it to a colleague who seemed to borrow mine, often.

Should I just buy another kit or should I build a kit? If you were building a kit which sub-sets of tools would you get? Makers or manufacturers that produce quality? What is your ideal toolkit for electronic device repair?

I work on both PC and Mac equipment if that is helpful. It is not a business or work, but pleasure and process.

posted by jadepearl to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

Best answer: That looks like a pretty nice little kit, way better than the cheap one that I bought some time ago. It seems like a great start, and then if it turns out that, say, you use the t40 bit all the time and wear it out, you can then buy a nice dedicated t40 screwdriver.
posted by rockindata at 5:34 PM on November 27, 2015

Best answer: I have the bit set from that kit and find it pretty useful. I'd probably start with that kit and add other items as I needed them. Some needle nose pliers and cutters might be nice, I like the Xuron brand for a good compromise between cost/quality, perhaps the 485 and 170.
posted by doctord at 6:55 PM on November 27, 2015

Best answer: It's already been mentioned that starting with a kit and replacing with better stuff is a decent strategy, and I agree ... for someone starting out. But it sounds like you already know what you need better tools for and what you don't.

For me, it's screwdrivers. I love my Wiha Drive-Loc set. I hear Wera makes nice ones too.

Most of my other tools are low- to mid-range things. Think basic Ryobi corded drill, Stanley hammer, no-name bolt cutters, etc. Maybe if I was a homeowner or a hobbyist craftsman I'd want some nicer stuff. But the only thing I thought it was worth splurging on was screwdrivers.
posted by Brian Puccio at 10:25 PM on November 27, 2015

Best answer: Seriously just do whichever approach appeals to you the most.
- If you can find a pre-made kit that contains the stuff you need, then it'll all come in a nice handy case, and you'll also save yourself a bunch of time.
- If you custom make your own kit, it will be tailor-made to what you like and what you use.

Personally, I think there aren't enough places in our lives where we can assemble something really nice that is a permanent / lifetime investment. So a third option might be to pull out the stops and make a custom set that is some crazy nice heirloom thing in bespoke leather or something :)

My repair kit is smaller (in physical dimensions) than the one you link but it's denser packed. Some of the things in it that are not in the kit you link:
- a tiny pocket multimeter
- dual-end alligator-clip test-cables
- a button LED lamp (for peering down into the back of the cases under tables etc)
- an electrician's E4 Squirt multitool
- a small bundle of vinyl insulating tape
- Tiny assortment of tiny components (fuses, wire, LEDs, etc)
- a butane-powered soldering iron (with self-lighter mechanism) and solder

Those are also pretty much in descending order of how often they're useful. A multimeter is handy even if just to check that a connection is really connecting. Whereas a cordless soldering iron is fantastic when you need it, but most things that need soldering (or components) you 'll find there's rarely an expectation of doing it on the spot and there's usually time to take it back to a proper workbench :)
posted by anonymisc at 3:13 AM on November 28, 2015 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thank you all. I bit the bullet and went with two kits and with the full intention of adding on. So you were all helpful.
posted by jadepearl at 6:19 PM on December 14, 2015