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Hot glue gun

A hot glue gun is a versatile tool for minor repairs, making plastic items, and reliably bonding materials such as glass, wood, and ceramics. Once cured, the glue forms a waterproof joint and holds firmly.

It is especially useful for anyone who makes souvenirs or DIY crafts.

I have often used a glue gun to repair plastic boxes cracked by falls and to seal openings.

Glue guns vary in power and glue-stick diameter (7mm and 11mm).

I recommend taking a quality 150W model with temperature control and a set of nozzles that regulate the thickness and shape of the glue.

Glue sticks are usually transparent, but colored and glitter versions are also available for some creative projects.

I recommend watching the video for some unexpected ideas on other ways to use a glue gun.

Utility knife and scalpel

Utility knife

A utility knife is convenient for many household tasks:

  • cutting wallpaper and paper, and opening boxes

  • stripping wires and removing insulation

  • making fine cuts

The main advantage is that the blade section can be replaced quickly as it becomes dull. Replacement blades are widely available and inexpensive.

For everyday use, this type of knife is more practical than a fixed steel utility knife because it is compact and does not require sharpening.

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Scalpel

It is a more specialized tool. Its blade is thicker than a utility-knife blade, so you can apply more force at different angles without worrying about bending it.

The scalpel is extremely sharp and has a small handle, making it useful for precise work on wood or plastic.

Scalpel blades come in different shapes, so you can choose the one best suited to your task.

Quality utility knife

Quality utility knife

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Multitools, pliers, side cutters
 
1. Multitool

I use the Leatherman Charge TTi: uncompromising quality with titanium handles. After many years of use, mine still has no scratches.

 
2. Pliers

In addition to the small pliers from China, I also use:

 
3. Side cutters

Side cutters are a versatile DIY tool.

In addition to cheap Chinese wire cutters that do not last long in everyday use, I also use:

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4. Wire stripping

Over time, I realized that I needed wire stripping tools because I was tired of doing it with wire cutters, so I purchased the following tools:

 
5. Crimping Pliers

For easier work with stranded wires that are repeatedly connected to terminals, I use two types of crimping pliers: HSC8 6-4 (Amazon, AliExpress) and SN-58B (Amazon, AliExpress), plus a set of attachments for wires of different diameters.

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Screwdrivers

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1. I use an iFixit Manta Precision Bit Set with two magnetic bit drivers for 4mm and 1/4-inch bits and 110 bits. The lid attaches magnetically to either side of the case, and the ribs inside make it a convenient temporary tray for screws removed during a repair.

I also bought an iFixit Magnet project mat with a marker before a difficult MSI laptop disassembly. I could write down, step by step, where each screw came from and in what order, then reverse the sequence during reassembly. The magnetic mat also kept small screws in place if the table was bumped. It is very convenient.

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2. It is not always convenient to carry such a large screwdriver set. I also bought a Würth 06136104, the bits for which are hidden in the handle.

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3. For access to deeply recessed screws when disassembling household appliances, I bought the following kit: Wiha Screwdriver and bit set slimVario (41231), 19-pcs

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4. Once I got a 3D printer, I started using hex bolts more often. For convenience, I bought a set of four hex (Allen) screwdrivers in 1.5mm, 2mm, 2.5mm, and 3mm sizes (AliExpress, Amazon), and a set of seven nut drivers in 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, 3.5mm, 4mm, 4.5mm, and 5mm sizes (AliExpress, Amazon), instead of using wrenches.​

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Digital caliper

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If you do mechanical work, drilling, or bolt assembly, you will often need to measure drill bits, bolts and nuts (inside and outside diameters), plastic and metal pipes, and screw or bolt lengths. Even if you simply enjoy measuring anything within reach, a caliper is an essential measuring tool.

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Warning! Do not buy a cheap plastic caliper: it flexes during measurement and can introduce errors of up to 0.3mm, which is unacceptable.

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Vises, clamps, and wrenches

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1. Vises and clamps

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2. Wrenches

I use the Knipex 86 03 180 SB Pliers wrench, Length: 180 mm, as a universal adjustable wrench with flat jaws. A push button locks the jaw opening to the nut size.

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Measurement and testing equipment

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1. Multimeters

I use several multimeters:

  • UNI-T UT61C - my workhorse (UT58E close alternative), with auto-ranging and a thermocouple for temperature measurement.

  • UNI-T UT210E Digital AC DC Current Clamp - I bought this as a second compact multimeter. It allows me to measure current without breaking the circuit using the clamp, or by connecting it conventionally in series.

  • ANENG A3008 Digital 6000 Counts - this multimeter is convenient for working in confined spaces and at height.

  • Benning MM 7-2 True RMS (Amazon) - precision accuracy and German quality. Measuring a component with this meter almost feels like doing the component a favor.​​​​​

2. Electronic component tester

  • LCR-T7 - a convenient device for testing transistors, Zener diodes, and other electronic components while providing detailed information about them.

  • FNIRSI DSO-TC4 (Amazon) (AliExpress) - purchased to replace both the LCR-T7 tester and the DSO138 oscilloscope. It is a 3-in-1 device that combines a component tester and an oscilloscope with an AC signal generator.​​​​​

3. Oscilloscope

  • DSO138 Digital Oscilloscope - a simple and inexpensive oscilloscope that I bought to learn how this class of instruments works. It was eventually replaced by the more advanced oscilloscope built into the FNIRSI DSO-TC4 (above).​​​​​

4. Electronic load

Using resistors to create an artificial load is inconvenient, for example when measuring battery capacity during discharge or applying a maximum load. For these purposes, I bought an electronic load.

  • KZ35 5A 35W - I used this load for some time, but eventually needed a more powerful device, so I bought: ​

  • ATORCH DL24EW 150W WiFi Smart Power Electronic Load Tester - a very useful tool. I use it to test AC-DC power adapters at their maximum current and to discharge batteries, since this is the only reliable way to determine a battery's actual capacity. If necessary, four of these devices can be combined to increase the maximum load to 600W​​​​​

5. Locating broken wires

For this type of task, I bought a UNI-T UT683kit Wire Tracker Tester​​​​​

6. Testing USB chargers and USB cables, and monitoring USB device charging

I use a range of measuring devices. You can find a detailed description on this page.​​​​​​

​​​​​7. Wattmeter and electrical energy consumption meter

ZHURUI PR10-C (AliExpress) - an excellent device. I use it when I need to measure how much power a household appliance consumes while idle or over a complete operating cycle, such as a washing cycle or heating one liter of water. You can enter your electricity rate and see the monetary cost of the cycle. It also displays the power factor (PF).​

8. Measuring lighting quality

To measure CRI, flicker frequency, color temperature, and brightness, I use the OPPLE Light Master 4 Lux Meter (Amazon)​​​​​

9. Infrared camera

For testing component heating on circuit boards and connections, evaluating soldering quality and the condition of LED chips, and detecting heat leaks in a home, I use the Xinfrared P2 Pro (Amazon), equipped with a macro lens and a 256x192 InfiRay sensor. Its temperature range is -20°C to 600°C.​​​​​​

10. Sound level meter

For objective monitoring of the sound levels produced by various devices and for monitoring noise pollution, I use the UNI-T UT353BT. It measures sound levels from 30-130dB(A) with an accuracy of +/-1.5dB. A particularly useful feature is the ability to transmit measurements via Bluetooth to a smartphone, allowing more accurate measurements to be taken from a distance or from behind a wall.​​

11. Battery internal resistance meter (milliohm meter)

The YR1035+ (Amazon) (AliExpress) can accurately measure very low resistance using the Kelvin method (four-wire measurement). This approach is considerably more accurate than the method used by ordinary consumer multimeters.

Measuring the internal resistance of rechargeable batteries, especially Li-Ion cells, makes it possible to assess their level of wear and retire them from service in time.

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Electronic load ATORCH DL24EW 150W

ATORCH DL24EW 150W

Keyless access chip duplicator (entrance/garage doors)

For copying (duplicating) NFC/RFID chips, I use the 5YOA iX100 RFID Programmer Reader.

It can read and write chips at the following frequencies: 125kHz, 175kHz, 250kHz, 300kHz, 375kHz, 500kHz, 625kHz, 750kHz, 875kHz, 1000kHz, 13.56MHz, of which 125kHz and 13.56MHz are the most common for keyless access chips. This device has other professional functions, but I only use it as a duplicator.

You can find many rewritable keys of different designs on sale (examples are shown in the photo), including dual-band (125kHz and 13.56MHz), which are convenient to insert into external cases or glue to something.

Here are a few examples of such chips. Example 1, Example 2

Before ordering a chip, you need to determine the frequency range of the key you are going to copy, or use dual-band keys.

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5YOA iX100 RFID Programmer Reader
RFID_NFC_chips
Other tools and equipment
1. Electric air duster

This tool is very convenient for removing dust from various household devices:

  • cleaning laptop fans and computer power supplies

  • blowing crumbs out of keyboards and dust off motherboards

  • blowing dust from air-conditioner radiator fins (just run a vacuum cleaner nearby so the dust does not spread around the room)

  • clearing air ducts in a car

  • contactless dust removal from camera lenses (I own a DSLR, so I know how useful this is)

  • cleaning blinds using the same method as for an air conditioner

Using this type of tool is more economical than disposable cans of compressed air.

2. eSynic head-mounted magnifier with magnifying lenses and LED light.

This lightweight headset comes with five lenses offering different magnifications: 1.5x, 1.5x, 2.0x, 2.5x, and 3.5x. Two lenses can be mounted at the same time, in which case their magnification values are multiplied. There is also an additional 8x magnifying lens for one eye. Built-in LED lighting provides a better view, and the headband size is adjustable. A very convenient device.

3. Safety glasses

  • voltX OVERSPECS industrial Safety Glasses (Amazon) - very good safety glasses that I wear over my regular glasses. They protect against solder splashes (I have had that happen), sparks, and pieces of plastic thrown off while working with a Dremel.

  • FEITER UV protection glasses 190-520nm - protective glasses against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. I bought them for working with UV LEDs used for disinfection. These LEDs emit wavelengths that are harmful to the eyes, so proper protection is essential.

4. Files

I regularly use small Chinese needle files, but sometimes a full-size file is needed for woodworking or rougher jobs. For these purposes, I bought a Pferd Workshop File Sets

5. Tap and die set for thread cutting. 

I bought a 110-piece PODOFO, containing 35 different dies and 35 different taps from M2x0.4 to M18x1.5, primarily for 3D printing, to check the quality of printed threads because I regularly work with unusual thread sizes for which it can be difficult to find suitable bolts in a store for testing.

6. Headlamp

A very bright headlamp with a wide beam: 9 Led Strong Light Headlamp USB Rechargeable

7. Bench DC power supply.

A precise and compact bench power supply: WANPTEK NPS3010W 0-30V/10A 300W

8. Drill

I use an excellent cordless brushless drill: Bosch GSR 12V-35 FC

9. Dremel

The Dremel deserves a separate page.

10. Soldering equipment

Follow the link for an overview of soldering equipment.

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