Tech Tools On Sale

[Grainger49]

I'm changing the name of this thread.  As we see tools on sale for a reasonable price we can all put a post in here for the products.  At the end of the thread I'm adding a light and soldering station.  The old OP is below.

From Music Direct (no connection), on sale for Black Friday.  This is like the kit I bought 20 years ago and have not used up yet!  Normal Price $50, Sale Price $30.

Music Direct Vacuum Tube Survival Kit Sale

A link to the Caig page:

Caig Vacuum Tube Survival Kit page

The Signet Male/Female RCA Cleaning Tools at the bottom of the page are a good idea for all spray on cleaners.  Buy several of these.

I'll modify the post but leave a few links since it is back after years of not being available.

YouTube link:

YouTube demonstration

 

[Noskipallwd]

I'll 2nd you on the Craig kit Grainger, picked one up from Music Direct a few years ago. I like to use the foam swabs to clean PCBs. At this price I think I'll pick up another, thanks for the heads-up.

Cheers,
Shawn P.

 

[Grainger49]

Not as good but not $50 either, Parts Express has it for $31.50:

Tube Socket Cleaning Kit At Parts Express

 

[4krow]

I have tried using my Dremel with a non-wire cup brush. It seems to clean the pins well, and after that, I use alcohol and a Q-TIP(I'm a cheep drunk). I haven't come up with a good way to clean out the sockets. Was considering a pipe cleaner or something.

 

[Tubejack]

If you already have DeoxIT, or some other favorite cleaning solution, lab brushes work very well ....

http://www.amazonsupply.com/s?savedSearchKeyword=tube+brush&keywords=tube+brush&page=1&size=20&searchNodeID=256168011&ref_=sp_s_node_256168011&x=0&y=0

Scroll down about mid page .......

 

[Grainger49]

Ok, my post was completely lost. 

Greg, what is a non-wire cup brush?  Can you post a picture?

I posted the perfect, cheap (you know what a cheapskate I am), disposable brush for cleaning 9 pin tube sockets, probably good for some larger but not a 2A3/300B sockets in my FAQ thread in my corner.  (worst run on sentence of my life)

 

[4krow]

TA-DA!

 

[Grainger49]

Greg,

Thanks, I got it.  I might even have one or two of those.  Paully has often said I have a lot of tools.  He is right, I have enough that sometimes I forget I have them... Or maybe it is just age?

Who else do you know with an "Inch-Pound" torque wrench?

 

[Grainger49]

I got an MCM catalog yesterday.  This morning drinking my coffee I saw these two items.  I have the light, I don't have the soldering station.  The links will be dead after a while but that is going to happen with all the links in this thread.

To get these prices you will need the Source Code: B212AA and Customer Code: G36502

Tenma Soldering Station $39.99 Was $109

Magnefying Light $39.99 Was $49

 

[adamct]

Grainger,

That soldering station is tempting indeed... I already have this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BRC2XU/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Am I correct that there is no practical reason to get the Tenma station other than wanting a shiny new toy?

Best regards,
Adam

 

[Grainger49]

Adam, yes, I use an old, 1975 Weller.  But for the price, you can maybe buy a Weller pen, not a soldering station.

 

[adamct]

For someone who doesn't already have a soldering station, I agree that the Tenma would be a no-brainer. But seeing as how I already have the Weller (and a variety of tips), I figure there is no point in buying the Tenma as well. I was just looking to test that assumption (namely that there is nothing particularly useful that the Tenma can do that my current Weller cannot -- and a digital display, while nice, doesn't really change much in terms of functionality).

 

[4krow]

I can't speak everyone, but I was amazed how much better my soldering became once I bought a solder station. I too, had a few pens, with a variety of tips. In my experience there is just no comparison.

 

[adamct]

I agree. I was very, very happy when I got my Weller station.

 

[Paul Joppa]

I learned to solder somewhere in the third grade. For many decades, I had either a Radio Shack 25-watt solder pencil/woodburning set, or my dad's old 250-watt soldering gun. About 10 years into this hobby, my lovely wife (acting on a suggestion from Doc B I believe) bought me a decent solder station for my birthday. I am still amazed at how much easier it is now!

 

[Grainger49]

But, Paul, you became a much more careful solderer with the cheap soldering iron first.