Tools to use

It is always easier to work if you have good tools made for the job. If you are serious in your effort to build effects you do not need to spend a fortune on tools but don´t go for the cheapest ones.

This is what I use to assemble the electronic part of an effect project.

Need to have

  • A soldering Iron. You can get a good one under $10
  • A good set of cutter and Plier about $5-6 a piece
  • A good Digital Multi Meater DMM about $40 (should cover 0 ohm to 20M Ohm 0-1000 V DC, 0-700 V AC, 0-1000 mA, Transitor hFe, and Diode and buzzer for contact. To mesure Condenators in (n,p,uF) is nice to have but not a most. 
  • A  Desoldering Pump $7 or a desoldering braid $2
  • Set of normal small screwdrivers

Nice to have

  • A deasent soldering station like mine is only about $80
  • A wire Stripper for all that wireing job.
  • Some kind of magnefiing glases, for me this is a most.
  • The third hand, to help holding while working.    

This is what I use to prepare my boxes.


  • A scale to messure and to scratch lines for the drill centers with
  • A step drill bit for the wholes.
  • A dremel and a cutter
  • Small screwdrivers
  • Shrink tubes in different sizes
  • Automatik puncher to mark with
  • Dubbel sided tape to fix the PCB to the backside of potentiometers with.

Some ware to store all your components is allso a good thing to keep track of all those small parts.