This is a basis for how one may go about setting up an electronics workbench in a company or well-equipped home shop. Tools are divided up by type and are categorized by importance and possibly even quality.
| Pretty much essential |
| Very useful |
| Perhaps useful |
In general, I decided to go with Jameco & Digikey as suppliers. Suggestions for other reputable distributors are appreicated.
Nota Bene: this is a medium to high-end set of tools, cheaper ones may work just as well for beginners. The list is more meant to be a reference point for a laboratory used by multiple people on a day-to-day basis.
Froogle/Ebay is your friend, I bought my Metcal MX500 for $200 on eBay and it works great.
If you're just starting out, I have collected selected tools into 'kits' that you can buy complete from Electronics Express
These are the day to day tools necessary.
| Tool Image | Description | Manufacturer & Part # | Price | Notes |
 |
Shear cutters | Cooper Tools "Xcelite" 170M | Essential, and get a nice one, they are extremely useful! | |
 |
Wire Cutters/Strippers 20-30AWG | HT5023 | 20-30AWG is the most common gauge range used for hobbyists | |
 |
ESD-safe tweezers | GCP-018 (OK-quality) |
Digikey $13.68 |
If you're doing a lot of surface mount soldering |
| Needlenose pliers | Generic |
Useful for basic assembly of all kinds, any pair is OK so get the cheapest available | ||
 |
High quality precision screwdriver set | Wiha #26190 | Digikey $24.48 All-Spec ($16.55) |
For disassembling & reassembling electronics. I wouldnt get a cheap set, they're not nearly as useful |
| High quality torx screwdriver set | Digikey | Eventually, you'll need to open weird stuff | ||
 |
Calipers | G/S GMC160 (for example, economy dial) |
Jameco $29.95 or McMaster-Carr ($100) |
For basic/precision measurements. 6" steel jaw is good. Dial calipers are better than nothing but eventually you'll want to upgrade to digital. Unless you are doing 1mil precision work, a $20 pair will be just fine |
| Tin snips | "Generic" | McMaster #3585A12 ($13) | Great for cutting boxes, plastic, PCBs, etc. | |
 |
Universal Crimp tool | Molex #63811-1000 | Jameco $42.99 | If you're making any sort of connectors/cables |
 |
IC chip extractor | HT103A | Jameco $1.49 | An extremely poor device, requires dexterity. I would just use a "chip lifter" or a small flat screwdriver. |
 |
Nibbler / Nibbling tool | HT-204 | Jameco $7.95 |
Used for cutting square holes in plastic/aluminium enclosures.
|
Tools required for soldering. Of the three soldering irons available, only one is necessary, and then upgrade as desired
 |
"25W adjustable" soldering iron (marginal quality) |
Xyltronics SUPERPASE 258VL | Doesn't come with stand |
|
 |
Adjustable 50W soldering iron (Good quality) | Weller WES51 (digital version is WESD51) or WES50 (older version) |
All-Spec $93 |
Good for most larger surface mount & all thru-hole. You can upgrade to a smaller tip for finer pitched SMT. |
 |
Inductive heating, quick-change tips. (Highest quality) | Metcal MX-500S | Wassco $485 |
For intense surface mount and rework. Quick-change tips are awesome and make working on mixed SMT/thruhole a lot faster. A dream! |
 |
Inductive heating, quick-change tips. (Highest quality) | Metcal SP-200 | HMC $285 | A possible alternative to the MX-500? |
 |
60/40 Lead Solder, rosin core .031” 1/2-1 lb | Kester 60/40 1lb | Elexp 060701 $2.75 | For general purpose thru-hole, wiring, repair, large surfacemount |
|
60/40 Lead Solder, rosin core .062" 1lb and/or 63/37 Lead Solder, rosin core, .025" 1/2 lb |
and/or |
Digikey $13.75 and/or Digikey $18.05 |
For mechanical connections and/or fine SMT work |
 |
Solder sucker / Desolder pump | Generic | Elexp 060820 $2 | Extremely useful for when you make mistakes or bridge pins! |
 |
Desoldering Braid, thick | Techspray 1816-5F | Jameco $2.39 | General Purpose |
|
Desoldering Braid, thin | Techspray 1814-5F | Jameco $2.29 | In addition to thicker braid, this is good for SMT |
 |
Tip tinner | Kester 83-4000-4010 | Elexp 0603TTLF $4.50 | Keeps soldering tips in good condition |
 |
Solder roll holder | 8PK-033ST | Jameco $8.95 | Convenient, but not essential
|
Non-hand tools.
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"Third hand" tool | Elexp 060834 $2.95 | For making cables, some repairs | |
 |
Small circuit board holder |
Panavise Jr. 201 | Elexp 03PV201 $19.95 | Good for small circuit boards |
 |
Large circuit board holder | Panavise 324 or similar | Elexp 03PV324 $68.95 | Good for larger boards. Comes with solder spool holder and iron holder. |
 |
Magnifying 22W work lamp | GC Electronics | Unicorn Electronics $49.95 | |
  |
Heat Shrink Gun + attachment |
GIHG1 10-HG018-AO |
Jameco $39.95 Jameco $1.95 |
|
 |
PCB Shear (low quality) | Harbor Freight $125 | For cutting panelized PCBs. Paper phenolic boards (home etching) can be cut with a good papercutter. FR4 (commercial) need a real shear | |
 |
PCB Shear (high quality) | T-Tech OA-Shear | T-Tech $545 | A real shear! Probably overkill |
Assorted other things you'll want around
 |
Alligator Clips | GAL01 | Jameco $4.95 | |
 |
Test clips | SF-207A | Jameco $11.49 | |
 |
Banana to test clips | 3782-36-02 | Jameco $7.95 | |
 |
Solid 22ga wire 100' Red, Black & Green (or other 3rd color) |
Consolidated Wire 9313-2, 9313-0 and 9313-5 |
Jameco $5.49 each |
Get more colors as needed |
 |
10' .12” heatshrink and/or 10' .24” heatshrink and/or 10' .43” heatshrink |
KSS 0927F32-3 |
Jameco $1.19 Jameco $1.71 Jameco $2.90 |
Get different sizes depending on what you need |
The expensive electronic bench-top tools
 |
LCR Meter | B&K Precision 875B | Digikey $190 | If you're doing any analog work, this is essential |
| Portable, color LCD, 4-channel oscilloscope (high quality) | Tektronix TDS2014 | $2000 | 100MHz, 4 channels. Tektronix makes high quality affordable scopes. | |
| Portable, b&w LCD, 2-channel oscilloscope (very good quality) | TDS1002 | $850 | 40MHz, 2 channel |