Hand
Tools: You
can't have toooo many!
(not listed in any
particular priority)
1. A good set of screw drivers.
Look for a phillips head type and a flat blade type.
There are
many different sizes of screw drivers out there. Pick and
assortment of the sizes you think you may need. Multi-use screw
drivers are vary handy and they have usually 4 different blades
that can be interchanged in the handle and one tool will do the
job of 4 saving you space in your tool box.
A good set of
Jewelers screw drivers is
needed when it comes to those tiny screws on knobs and
controls and also putting on mic connectors, etc. Remember those
tiny screws in the hinges of your glasses.......that just
justified the purchase of them. They will come loose eventually
and you just saved yourself a trip in the car.
2. Tool Box...as mentioned in #1 above. The size
and type depends on the amount of tools you may want to add in the
future.
3. Wire cutters. These vary in
size according to the wire size that you will be cutting. As a
general rule of thumb, many wire type antennas that you may build,
require #12 or #14 gauge wire, so the wire cutters should be of
appropriate size.
Wire crimpers would be a good tool to have
latter on. These aid in the connection of various connectors to
wire ends and splices. Some even have small bolt cutters built
in....very handy when you need them.
4. Wrenches and socket sets. Adjustable wrenchs
are recommend as they are multipurpose and fit many different size
nuts or you can get the open end types or closed end types to suit
your taste. Many choices are yours in socket and wrench sets that
come in handy carrying cases for good prices with a wide
assortment of sizes to fit "all". Wrenches are usually needed when
mounting many antennas on supports depending on their construction
and the mfg's recommendations and many other variables. "Allen"
and hex head wrenches also come under this
category...available in various assorted sizes. Very handy for
removing knobs.
5. Pliers. These
come in many different sizes and shapes according to their
intended use. A couple of different sizes of "Channel Lock" types
are very handy along with regular hand sizes. Some come with wire
cutter ends. "Needle nose" types are very handy also and come in
many sizes. "Ignition pliers" are very handy for small jobs and
fit in your pocket. A pair of "Vice Grips" is a
help.
6. Tape measure. 12 feet or longer depending on your needs. Great aid
for antenna work!
7. Electrical
Tape. Not really considered a hand tool, but you will
certainly use it.
Again, don't buy the cheap stuff, especially
if it will be used outdoors. Scotch #33 brand is very good.
Must be flexible in cold weather and seal well.
8.
A good sharp pocket knife or utility
knife. Used for trimming insulation
from wire, coax, etc. Use as needed and be
careful.
9. Soldering iron and/or gun. This will depend
on your ability to solder. Many times in your ham radio lifetime,
you will need to be able to solder, so if you don't know
how....just get a ham friend who knows how to help you learn
or search the internet. There are many good "How to Solder" web
sites out there. When soldering, practice, practice and lots more
practice for the inexperienced!
10. All of those tools I left off of this list
that will come as time passes and you get more acquainted with
exactly what you may need depending on how far you want to go with
your station and your ability......don't forget a good ladder that
will safely reach your job.
11.
SAFETY FIRST! Hand tools, ladders, test
equipment, other ham equipment, etc, can get you hurt, or
worse. Metal ladders should NEVER be used when
working with ANY electrical job. Get help if you don't know
what you are doing or are not mechanically inclined...be
safe, not sorry! Remember Antenna
Safety and the lethal levels of electricity you may be working
with in or around your ham station!
Search
Amazon.com for Hand Tools!
Suggested Test Equipment for the New
Ham:
(Again, not presented in any particular
order of importance)
1. SWR/POWER METER.
I refer to an
external swr/power meter. Yes, you may have a built in unit in
your radio, but how do you know it is accurate? An external meter
is invaluable in trouble shooting station problems!
This
will strictly be an individual choice. It must cover the frequency
range and potential rf power level that your station
will be operating on. Some are built into different radios, some
are external. As a general rule, most external swr/power meters
are more accurate than the little ones built into the face of many
radios. The external types come in many sizes, frequency
ranges and power levels. An swr/power meter that covers up to
30mhz...will usually not work on 6 meters and higher frequencies
with any sort of accuracy. Assure yourself your meter is the right
one for your station by reading the specifications of it. You need
accuracy....not guess work!
2. A good
multimeter.
Digital
Multimeters
Click link to see a wide
selection.
Again, your choice. It can be either digital
or analog. It needs to be able to measure at least continuity,
voltage (AC and DC), current, (preferably AC and DC), and
resistance (ohms), up to the expected levels you may need to
measure with a safety margin to spare. It is also assumed you know
how to use one....if you don't, read the instructions and
then get a good ham friend who knows how to help you learn more
about how to use it. DANGER.....you COULD BE
ELECTROCUTED if you don't know what you are
doing. You can also destroy your meter if it is not
used properly. The voltage, current and resistance range
must be higher than your "expected" working
ranges!
3. Dummy load.
Used for a substitute
"perfect" or near perfect antenna load.
Very helpful in
determining if your transmitter has output without connecting
the transmitter to the antenna and the resulting harmful
interference this causes. When used in conjunction with a power (rf watt
meter) it will tell you if your radio is up to specifications on
it's output. It must also be designed for the frequency range you
will be using it for. Many hams have one for the hf frequencies
and then another for VHF/UHF use. Your choice depending on your
station and your future plans for operating.
4. Optional. Antenna
analyzer.
(The MFJ-259b shown)
Very helpful
and time saving when working with
antennas and their design and tuning.
5. Other items of
test equipment not on the list will come as you
progress.
Assorted items you may want to keep on
hand:
A small vice. Comes in handy when you need that
third hand!
Sealer for weather proofing
outside connectors and joints, splices, etc.
"Coax
Seal" in the ad below is very popular with most hams! Works much
better than tape to seal those connectors outdoors and is not
a liquid which takes forever to dry.
Click the ad to check
out "Coax Seal"
Extra connectors for coax ends. PL-259 types
are used often.
Extra solder if you
are into soldering and extra tips for the soldering
equipment.
Extra plugs for various
connections in your shack. Don't forget an extra mic
plug!
Fuses. Have spares for your
radio, power supply and other devices that require them.
Consult your operators manuals.
Emergency
roll of electrical tape. Hide it from the family or it
won't be there when you need it! Same goes for your important
tools!
Pencil and pad for taking
notes.
Assorted nuts, bolts, screws,
lock washers and other hardware as needed. Storage containers....Some way to store them
separated by size if possible. Old coffee cans, baby food jars,
etc make great "catch all" containers but takes a while
to find that one screw you need! Many hams that are into repair
and kit building use parts bins with many separate slide out
container sections. Your containers are your choice.
Magnifying Glass....(or a pair of good
eyes)
How to save money being a true
"ham".
Be a scrounger.....many items of no interest
to others can be used in ham radio applications. Although I
don't recommend "dumpster diving", sometimes hundreds of feet
of wire can be found...antenna paradise! Aluminum and copper
tubing, assorted "insulator material" and just too much of other
people's "junk" to mention. Construction sites can be
loaded....the throw away stuff, I'm talking about....get permission first. Yard and
garage sales can be a treasure trove to the ham with a "wise eye".
If you decide you're going to upgrade that old VCR....it may
be loaded with components you may use in the future. Same
goes for that old TV, stereo system, and on and on. Don't pass up
on that old CB...loaded with parts. More advanced hams can convert
many of them to 10 meter beacons also! Now you can see how that
one man's junk can be another mans' treasure!
Many consumer
devices contain very small speakers that can be removed and used
for many applications around the ham shack. I have several! Old TV
antennas can be used for many ham antenna projects especially on 2
meters and up! Think about all of that free aluminum tubing! All
of those small screws, nuts and bolts, mounting brackets,
insulators, etc, can be removed and save you much money
when you need one...think about not having to crank the car to run
to the hardware store for 1 screw or a mast mounting
bracket!
Don't forget about ham
fests....loaded with all the "good stuff" that
other hams are trying to unload on you! Let the buyer
beware!
Here are a couple of examples of
scrounging that happened while I was writing this article.....My
wife was taking apart an old table lamp she no longer
wanted....most of it was not usable, even by me with all my
scrounging experience....but.....wait....there inside the glass
globe (which contained artificial flowers that she
did want) was a very looooong threaded brass rod
with nuts!
I disposed of it for her.....straight to my
junk box! Lucky me!
Another opportunity happened the day after
that with her....my son had a novelty glass that had a
blinking led array in the bottom. It stopped working and she
wanted me to take a look, batteries had become corroded due to
water leakage, not worth the cost and effort to replace.....she
said, just throw away the led "stuff" on the bottom and leave the
glass, which was OK....I did....now I have several no cost leds in my junk box! One man's
(woman's) junk, another man's treasure!
See the cable
guy making an installation next door or down the street? Ask him
if he has any roll ends of coax you can dispose of for him. Yes.
CATV coax can be used in a pinch as a substitute for 50 ohm coax
using 100 watts or less and it is very low loss! Many hams use it
instead of the regular 50 ohm coax in homebrew antennas. You will
have an immediate 1.5 to 1 swr but who's to
know!
This
"Scrounger" list could go on forever, but the point is to keep your eyes and ears open. You
just may see or hear about a "windfall" for your station. You have
to determine your own needs and compare them with what is in your
bank roll!
This list of suggested tools
and test equipment for the new ham is in no way "all
inclusive", but should help you in the beginning stages of setting
up your new ham station and hopefully help you to prepare it for
your future adventures in ham radio. What's that.....The wife is
calling me.....Now it's time to throw out the trash.......after I
look thru it! She throws away trash, I find treasure!
(Sometimes)
73, Don - N4UJW at Hamuniverse.com
Looking for those tools at
good prices. Check out the Advertisers below!
Hand
tools from Northern Tool! Fantastic Assortment and great
prices!
Use their Search function to find what you want!
Great selection and great quality!
Great
buys in digital multimeters, soldering stations and
more!
10 Meter Ham radios on Amazon.com
!
Ham Radio on Amazon.com
