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here is a little something I thought I'd share with you guys. if you are looking for small electronics tools like flush cutters, needle nose pliers, rounded needle nose for bending leads, etc., and you don't have a specialized electronics store (we dont even have one in chicago), there is a better place than home depot or the local hardware store. if you have a large arts and crafts outlet like JoAnn Fabrics or Hobby Lobby, check out the jewelry and beading section. they usually have a large amount of tools that are similar to the ones you will find at a specialized electronics store. recently, I saw some nice rounded needle nose that were stepped in diameter, they would be useful when bending the leads on small, medium, and large sized components. these types of stores also stock other items that can come in handy, like paints, stencils, and stamps, etc. but just keep in mind, that your tools might have pink handles!

It's ok man, you don't need to make excuses; there's nothing wrong with wanting to make a little jewellery!

actually, I'm more into scrapbooking. it's great. I can spend hundreds of dollars on premade crap to stick in a book. it's kind of like art, but without the work!

Just bought a tiny glue gun at such a store for 7€ (Loisirs et Création for french members)... It is indeed a nice place to seek for smart tools...

bou, I have a packet of mini size glue sticks I bought by mistake for my MANSIZE glue gun; do you want them?

Hides-His-Eyes wrote:bou, I have a packet of mini size glue sticks I bought by mistake for my MANSIZE glue gun

PM'd... Ha ha, I may have huge hands, you know?

Good call RNfR. A friend of mine has managed the big local beadery joint since forever and she started giving me her old used tools way back when I was the most fearsome Playstation pirate on the seven seas. Which I've come to find out is very generous of her. I was in there for the first time in years (current gf wants to make jewelry) and noticed that the cute little yellow handled dikes she gave me a few years ago were marked at $58!

Anyhow, we have several big electronics shops around here and Fusion Beads kicks the absolute crap out of all of them when it comes to any kind of small wire cutters and small pliers. Who'd've thunk?

lolbou wrote:

glue gun.JPG

lol that is so cool! any mini heat guns? lol

That's a brilliant idea! I was just bitching the other day after doing some work inside a Fender narrow chassis about how I could really use some smaller tools!

Thanks for the tip!

You can also use the storage bins they sell for sorting out electronics parts instead of beads(I plan on buying myself one of these soon):

one more thing is sticky-backed foam or felt. it can be used for the backs of PCBs to stop shorting.

RnFR wrote:one more thing is sticky-backed foam or felt. it can be used for the backs of PCBs to stop shorting.

Yes, the paper sheet sized craft foam (8 1/2" x 11", non-sticky) at WalMart is 98 cents! Several of the aforementioned cutters are there as well for 3 bucks.

Harbor Freight is great for cheap multimeters, heat shrink tubing, some other electrical doodads...

Also, wall/poster sticky tack is an excellent "3rd hand."

I've used these guys for a bunch of cheapo tools - I get admiring looks from all who visit my basement work area when they see me use a stainless steel bedpan as a project/parts tray. http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/sub ... tegory/128

Don't forget about Michael's hobby & craft stores (if you're in the USA)...they've got tools & decals,etc. Just about anything you'd need to build a project with (except electronic parts, of course) .

For sticky foam I use weather stripping from the hardware store. I've decided to start laying batteries flat in b boxes whenever possible and I just bought a roll of 'rubber foam weatherseal' in 1.25"wide x 7/16"thick by 10 feet in length for $7. It should last til the rapture blows over I figure.