What would make tiny electronics repair more comfortable?
April 14, 2015 6:08 AM Subscribe
My husband likes to take electronics apart and put them back together (cameras, smart phones etc.). Right now his setup is ridiculous: he works (mostly) over a big tupperware container to catch the screws that fall into it, unless they fall on the floor, and he holds the flashlight on his iPhone with one hand while trying to wrestle tiny screws into place with the other hand. There has to be a better way; this looks painful. what can i buy him to improve his setup (lights, magnifiers, other things i haven't thought about)? What do you use in your efficient and effective home repair shops?
A good headlamp and a magnetic tray for holding screws are the first two things that I can think of. I can't imagine doing small electronics repair without them.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 6:11 AM on April 14, 2015
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 6:11 AM on April 14, 2015
My dad did this type of work; one thing he always had was one of those lamps on a movable arm so he could shine it exactly where he needed it. I think his clamped to the desk.
posted by kitten magic at 6:18 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by kitten magic at 6:18 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Trade his tupperware dish out for a large sheet cake pan.
posted by myselfasme at 6:21 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by myselfasme at 6:21 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I use used food (cottage cheese/chip dip/etc) containers to hold screws and the parts they are associated with. one container for each set.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 6:23 AM on April 14, 2015
posted by ArgentCorvid at 6:23 AM on April 14, 2015
Depending how fancy you want to go, there are a variety of watchmaker's benches (as well as anti-roll mats, mini benches, and lamps.)
posted by Comrade_robot at 6:25 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Comrade_robot at 6:25 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Perhaps an iFixit mat and a nice desk lamp would be good for starters.
posted by bondcliff at 6:29 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by bondcliff at 6:29 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
seconding watchmaker kit: combination light/loupe, anti-roll mat, mountable lamp, parts trays. I wouldn't go with a magnetic tray, just because you don't want to inadvertently magnetise any small parts.
posted by holgate at 6:30 AM on April 14, 2015
posted by holgate at 6:30 AM on April 14, 2015
You can buy cheap LED headlamps at costco. I bought a 3 pack for my dad for a stupid price given how helpful they've been for him for random electrical things. There is no need to be using an iphone flashlight.
posted by cgg at 6:35 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by cgg at 6:35 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Ice cube trays are very handy for organizing screws into assembly order.
A magnifier light is great for seeing what you're doing.
If you want to really get up close, a stereo microscope is where it's at.
PanaVises are great for holding stuff.
posted by zamboni at 6:37 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
A magnifier light is great for seeing what you're doing.
If you want to really get up close, a stereo microscope is where it's at.
PanaVises are great for holding stuff.
posted by zamboni at 6:37 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Craft lighting can be simple and inexpensive or more complex and costly.
A head lamp would be a great improvement over a flashlight, but the above links include magnifiers.
posted by whoiam at 6:39 AM on April 14, 2015
A head lamp would be a great improvement over a flashlight, but the above links include magnifiers.
posted by whoiam at 6:39 AM on April 14, 2015
Bright LED head lamp that takes easily rechargeable AA or AAA batteries (not silly little watch batteries or whatever).
One or more multi-compartmented plastic boxes that he can label by compartment (for temporarily storing all the the little screws and other wee parts when he takes 30 screws out to get inside something). Make sure the compartments are big enough for him to get his fingers into.
Big magnifying glass and lamp and holding clips/clamps as mentioned variously above.
posted by pracowity at 7:01 AM on April 14, 2015
One or more multi-compartmented plastic boxes that he can label by compartment (for temporarily storing all the the little screws and other wee parts when he takes 30 screws out to get inside something). Make sure the compartments are big enough for him to get his fingers into.
Big magnifying glass and lamp and holding clips/clamps as mentioned variously above.
posted by pracowity at 7:01 AM on April 14, 2015
If you're working on something that doesn't have an iFixit guide (or similar), and thus you have to figure out how it comes apart in order to be able to put it back together again, one trick is to take photos as you go so you can reverse what you did to get it apart. For that purpose you could get him a tripod and grip (or Gorillapod, or similar) for his phone that he can use to stabilize it while he takes photos of the disassembly process.
Other than that, most of the things mentioned above will help: articulating work/desk lamp, magnifying glasses, helping hands, ice cube trays for tiny screws, and a magnetic work pad to keep fallen screws from bouncing to the floor and getting lost. Several people have recommended head lamps, but I find them irritating and would rather have a desk lamp for most jobs (although for some jobs, a head lamp is the only thing that would work, so … maybe get both?).
posted by fedward at 7:06 AM on April 14, 2015
Other than that, most of the things mentioned above will help: articulating work/desk lamp, magnifying glasses, helping hands, ice cube trays for tiny screws, and a magnetic work pad to keep fallen screws from bouncing to the floor and getting lost. Several people have recommended head lamps, but I find them irritating and would rather have a desk lamp for most jobs (although for some jobs, a head lamp is the only thing that would work, so … maybe get both?).
posted by fedward at 7:06 AM on April 14, 2015
Oh, also if he has to do any soldering work you could get him a high end soldering station instead of just a cheapie wand.
posted by fedward at 7:08 AM on April 14, 2015
posted by fedward at 7:08 AM on April 14, 2015
I suggest tweezers. To find ones that are useful for electronics search for 'ESD Tweezers'.
posted by bdc34 at 7:11 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by bdc34 at 7:11 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you're feeling rich you could get him a fancy 3D microscope.
An anti-static mat would be a really good idea if he expects electronics to continue working after reassembly. Not super expensive either.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 7:13 AM on April 14, 2015
An anti-static mat would be a really good idea if he expects electronics to continue working after reassembly. Not super expensive either.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 7:13 AM on April 14, 2015
So, uh, you didn't mention a price range, and this is a fairly expensive microscope, but it's fucking magic: Mantis Elite Inspection Microscope. Costs 3-5 thousand, less for used ones on ebay. It puts every other magnifier and inspection microscope I've ever used to shame.
It's kind of hard to describe what it's like to use one. It's a stereoscopic microscope, but without eyepieces. Instead there's a glass window that you look through. It's very intuitive to use.
If you were Google and you were buying equipment for your top R&D lab, and money was no object, this is what you'd get (in fact that's where I got to use one). But at the same time it's in reach of serious hobbyists. It's really cheap cheap for what it is.
posted by ryanrs at 7:13 AM on April 14, 2015
It's kind of hard to describe what it's like to use one. It's a stereoscopic microscope, but without eyepieces. Instead there's a glass window that you look through. It's very intuitive to use.
If you were Google and you were buying equipment for your top R&D lab, and money was no object, this is what you'd get (in fact that's where I got to use one). But at the same time it's in reach of serious hobbyists. It's really cheap cheap for what it is.
posted by ryanrs at 7:13 AM on April 14, 2015
ThinkGeek's magnetic work mat looks really really useful.
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:14 AM on April 14, 2015
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:14 AM on April 14, 2015
Ha ha, two recommendations for the same microscope back-to-back. Now you HAVE to get one!
posted by ryanrs at 7:29 AM on April 14, 2015
posted by ryanrs at 7:29 AM on April 14, 2015
Magnified desk lamp with daylight lightbulbs. NOT LED the light spectrum from most LED's makes it really hard to see the colors of the tiny parts.
Cookie tray connected to ground.
Pilbox to collect the screws in individual sections.
Various magnets
ESD ground strap
iFixit screwdriver kit with all the strange bits
Tweezers
etc etc
posted by Mac-Expert at 7:46 AM on April 14, 2015
Cookie tray connected to ground.
Pilbox to collect the screws in individual sections.
Various magnets
ESD ground strap
iFixit screwdriver kit with all the strange bits
Tweezers
etc etc
posted by Mac-Expert at 7:46 AM on April 14, 2015
I do stuff like this for a living. My short list now that I officially have "old guy" eyes --
(mostly Amazon links because it's faster, there are probably better suppliers for some of these)
* A magnifying lamp of some kind (they come cheaper and less cheap)
* A decent set of tiny screwdrivers (the $5 set where the screwdrivers are press-fit onto the handles is not worth it)
* Tweezers
* Magnifying headset (I have this one and the Bausch & Lomb version; it's mostly what fits your eyes better. If you have a larger budget, I lust after custom-fit dental loupes but haven't pulled the trigger yet.)
* If there's soldering, a temperature-controller iron is really useful (at this point I'd consider it a minimum requirement, and the only way you can safely do surface-mount rework). That Hakko iron is pretty great.
* I hate all "helping hands" devices with fiery flames but a Panavise can be great
posted by range at 7:54 AM on April 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
(mostly Amazon links because it's faster, there are probably better suppliers for some of these)
* A magnifying lamp of some kind (they come cheaper and less cheap)
* A decent set of tiny screwdrivers (the $5 set where the screwdrivers are press-fit onto the handles is not worth it)
* Tweezers
* Magnifying headset (I have this one and the Bausch & Lomb version; it's mostly what fits your eyes better. If you have a larger budget, I lust after custom-fit dental loupes but haven't pulled the trigger yet.)
* If there's soldering, a temperature-controller iron is really useful (at this point I'd consider it a minimum requirement, and the only way you can safely do surface-mount rework). That Hakko iron is pretty great.
* I hate all "helping hands" devices with fiery flames but a Panavise can be great
posted by range at 7:54 AM on April 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
Magnetized screwdrivers (easy to do oneself) make small parts much easier to deal with.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:16 AM on April 14, 2015
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:16 AM on April 14, 2015
I am very much an enthusiastic amateur in this area, but I do find myself taking little things apart on a regular basis and I keep a dedicated set of small tools on hand for the purpose. This is all stuff that I've just sort of accumulated over the years, so it's by no means an exhaustive list and many of the items involved are probably not ideal, but perhaps you'll find some ideas. Some of them have already been mentioned, but hey. I'll link some of the more unusual tools, but understand that those links are not endorsements of any particular item; I just want to provide examples of the kind of thing I'm talking about.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 9:04 AM on April 14, 2015
- A box to keep my tools in
- A small notebook and a pencil for keeping notes
- Various small screwdrivers: phillips, flat, hex, torx
- An additional small flat screwdriver dedicated to prying (you don't want to use a good screwdriver for that)
- A plastic prying tool made from a cut-up credit card, for delicate prying (you can buy purpose-made ones called "spudgers" that are probably better)
- A few rare-earth magnets (you can stick these on the sides of screwdrivers to magnetize them)
- Headlamp
- Magnetized tray
- Magnifying glass
- Iris scissors
- EMT shears (that link is an endorsement, those things are excellent)
- Hemostats
- Forceps
- Scalpel and blades (scalpels are sharper than x-acto knives)
- Superglue
- Electrical tape
- Heat-shrink tubing
- Temperature-controlled soldering iron (that's the one I have; it's a cheapo but it's a lot better than no temperature control) with solder and a little sponge
- Butane lighter
- Butane soldering iron with a torch tip (not very good for soldering, but good for heat shrinking, sterilizing, brazing, etc.
- Microfiber cloth
- Ultra-fine Sharpie
- Micro pliers
- Micro wire cutters
- Some small coils of hook up wire
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 9:04 AM on April 14, 2015
I use a real watchmaker's desk, like some have suggested, with a traditional two-tube fluorescent lamp, but also I have several of these lamps around my workshop. They are cheap and wonderful, like a bright directional flashlight that stays shining wherever you point it. Get two or three. Multiple sources of light will give you fewer shadows.
If you don't have a watchmaker's desk, find another way to get the workbench surface elevated to neck level when he's sitting comfortably upright in an armless chair with good lower back support. Yes this seems very high! But try it!
Unless he's very young he might want a special pair of glasses to make this comfortable - try the strongest drugstore readers if he doesn't wear glasses, or if he does, try some cheapies from Zenni with about +4d sph added.
I have a good stereo microscope, but usually my special glasses are plenty, and so much more comfortable. Working under a microscope takes a lot of practice because you can't see your hands - it's more like working under remote control.
posted by fritley at 10:09 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you don't have a watchmaker's desk, find another way to get the workbench surface elevated to neck level when he's sitting comfortably upright in an armless chair with good lower back support. Yes this seems very high! But try it!
Unless he's very young he might want a special pair of glasses to make this comfortable - try the strongest drugstore readers if he doesn't wear glasses, or if he does, try some cheapies from Zenni with about +4d sph added.
I have a good stereo microscope, but usually my special glasses are plenty, and so much more comfortable. Working under a microscope takes a lot of practice because you can't see your hands - it's more like working under remote control.
posted by fritley at 10:09 AM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Not much I can add that hasn't already been said, but I'll contribute my short list of required doo-dads. I tried to keep it generic, these items are good for computer and small electronics repair, but I've tried to avoid getting too specialized. For instance, all computer repair techs need an easy way to hook hard drives up to a computer externally, and most phone techs needs several different connection cables and a bevy of software packages, but I'll stick to general multi-purpose tools.
Solder re-work station, solder, flux, flux cleaner, desoldering braid, solder sucker
Bench power supply, lots of alligator-clip test leads
Anti-static or rubber mat (this helps keep screws from bouncing around if you drop them as well as being a ground to prevent ESD damage to electronics in contact with it)
Lots of pill boxes or plastic egg boxes to keep screws in... I had a whole set of pill boxes when I was a tech to keep partially disassembled repairs organized if I needed to put them away.
Magnifier lamp the bigger the lens the better, and try to get something you can get replacement bulbs for easily, sucks to have to special order those things
Third-hand tool (little alligator clip hands and a magnifying glass head)
Clamps in many sizes (not spring-loaded clamps)
Kapton tape, electrical tape, masking tape, packing tape, 2-sided tape, heat-shrink tubing
Gorilla glue, super glue, epoxy, rubber cement
Jig-a-loo or WD-40, white grease if you're repairing anything mechanical
Air compressor (save you lots of $$ on cans of dust remover)
Plastic spudgers (various kinds), q-tips, toothpicks
A few screwdriver kits, a common household one, a "small electronics" one (usually includes several philips, flat-blade, and torx screwdrivers) and a "security bits" one (often sold as a "video game console toolkit") A nice ratchet set can also be very handy.
A dremel and accessories (cut-off wheels, wire brush, polishing wheel, drill bits, etc)
Various grits of sandpaper
Putty knife (these are thin-bladed and made of a very flexy steel, excellent for prying something open or scraping glue or paint off a surface)
Microfiber cloths, paper towels, windex
Thermal compound
Multi-meter
Wire-stripper
posted by signsofrain at 12:06 PM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Solder re-work station, solder, flux, flux cleaner, desoldering braid, solder sucker
Bench power supply, lots of alligator-clip test leads
Anti-static or rubber mat (this helps keep screws from bouncing around if you drop them as well as being a ground to prevent ESD damage to electronics in contact with it)
Lots of pill boxes or plastic egg boxes to keep screws in... I had a whole set of pill boxes when I was a tech to keep partially disassembled repairs organized if I needed to put them away.
Magnifier lamp the bigger the lens the better, and try to get something you can get replacement bulbs for easily, sucks to have to special order those things
Third-hand tool (little alligator clip hands and a magnifying glass head)
Clamps in many sizes (not spring-loaded clamps)
Kapton tape, electrical tape, masking tape, packing tape, 2-sided tape, heat-shrink tubing
Gorilla glue, super glue, epoxy, rubber cement
Jig-a-loo or WD-40, white grease if you're repairing anything mechanical
Air compressor (save you lots of $$ on cans of dust remover)
Plastic spudgers (various kinds), q-tips, toothpicks
A few screwdriver kits, a common household one, a "small electronics" one (usually includes several philips, flat-blade, and torx screwdrivers) and a "security bits" one (often sold as a "video game console toolkit") A nice ratchet set can also be very handy.
A dremel and accessories (cut-off wheels, wire brush, polishing wheel, drill bits, etc)
Various grits of sandpaper
Putty knife (these are thin-bladed and made of a very flexy steel, excellent for prying something open or scraping glue or paint off a surface)
Microfiber cloths, paper towels, windex
Thermal compound
Multi-meter
Wire-stripper
posted by signsofrain at 12:06 PM on April 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
speaking of Wire strippers, I like the Ideal Stripmaster. It has replaceable blades that come in different sizes, and has a catch so that your freshly-stripped wire doesn't get smashed.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 7:17 AM on April 15, 2015
posted by ArgentCorvid at 7:17 AM on April 15, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by devnull at 6:11 AM on April 14, 2015 [6 favorites]