R.G. mentioned Harbor Freight, which I love shopping at. I just picked up the flush cutters for trimming leads off pcb's and they blow away what I've been using for years:
http://www.harborfreight.com/micro-flush-cutter-90708.html

I got 'em for $1.99 a month ago, but apparently the price has gone up online. Damn inflation! Use that 20% off coupon that's usually in the newspaper too, if you're a super cheap #$%@#! like me.
They usually have the 4 or 6 pack of alligator clips on sale for  50 cents that are handy as well.
           Happy building!!

Quote from: jimmybjj on March 23, 2011, 04:24:07 PM

Quote from: artifus on March 23, 2011, 01:41:24 PM
blu-tack! always a blob on the bench and never fails to come in handy.

what do you use it for? examples? thanks

sorry so late responding, missed your question - have only just noticed the 'show new replies to your posts' button!

just to hold things in position when soldering/tinning, holding temp connections together briefly for testing etc. very quick to just squish components or wires into to hold in position rather than chasing them across the bench with the iron or fiddling with 'helping hands' (croc clip mag glass thingy) which i've never found to be much of a help. a blob lives on my solder reel so stuff's slightly elevated off the bench. sometimes to hold boards or whatever in place in boxes. stuff like that.

For removing knobs from pedals, I've found that a pair of spark plug pullers are priceless.
They already have the rubber caps on them so they don't cause damage.
Get this kind.

http://www.matcotools.com/ProductImages/SP529.jpg

picked up a vice for my bench from harbor freight for like 20$ so i no longer have to hold my enclosures on the floor with scraps of wood for drilling
small set of jewelers screwdrivers come in handy for a lot more things than just screwing (enlarging holes in perf so i can thread wires through them, cleaning out the last bit of solder the solder sucker can't get to on pcb, etc)

Besides the "magna-lamp" (I think thats what they are called)..this little bit I made:


A real blessing for testing.

reamer....brilliant for enlarging holes without getting the drill out again...

Nail clippers!

Perfect tool to use for trimming component leads / tidying up the solder side of vero, but also for cutting wires / anything when there's nothing else to hand!

Quote from: novakram on May 06, 2011, 06:38:49 AM
Nail clippers!

Perfect tool to use for trimming component leads / tidying up the solder side of vero, but also for cutting wires / anything when there's nothing else to hand!

and you can use them for ya nails too..great!..(i'll nick my wifes ones now...)

Quote from: deadastronaut on May 06, 2011, 06:41:43 AM

Quote from: novakram on May 06, 2011, 06:38:49 AM
Nail clippers!

Perfect tool to use for trimming component leads / tidying up the solder side of vero, but also for cutting wires / anything when there's nothing else to hand!

and you can use them for ya nails too..great!..(i'll nick my wifes ones now...)

yeah - instead of biting them when fretting / debugging! 

Quote from: deadastronaut on May 06, 2011, 06:41:43 AM

Quote from: novakram on May 06, 2011, 06:38:49 AM
Nail clippers!

Perfect tool to use for trimming component leads / tidying up the solder side of vero, but also for cutting wires / anything when there's nothing else to hand!

and you can use them for ya nails too..great!..(i'll nick my wifes ones now...)

ha! t'was ages before i 'upgraded' to pliers/snips! and i still occasionally reach for the nail clippers! 

ive made all my breadboards true bypass now....saves a lot of grief with unity issues etc...shouldd have done it ages ago...using 3pdt toggles...£1.00 each..bargain.

jacks ripped from an old stereo...and found a use for those useless metal dc jacks...

oh and i never use batteries...only a psu.

Quote from: deadastronaut on May 06, 2011, 07:03:47 AM
jacks ripped from an old stereo...and found a use for those useless metal dc jacks...

So that's a use for those jacks I've ripped out of old gear

I've just about finished my adjustable (V and A, or U and I if you prefer) PSU, LM723 based. And yes the meters are salvaged VU meters, the transformer is salvaged as well, and this is my first homegrown PCB project 



The meters are getting back lit (when I get a couple of 3mm leds in a color I like) and the fan-grill of the ATX PSU case I used should be fitted to close the enclosure.

that looks really cool....nice...i love home built stuff...

good use of an atx psu box too...bet it was a bitch to cut those square holes...

Quote from: CodeMonk on May 06, 2011, 01:17:22 AM
Besides the "magna-lamp" (I think thats what they are called)..this little bit I made:


A real blessing for testing.

I've only had one cup of coffee so, at the risk of seeming like I need more info..... I need more info/instructions for use. Thanks for bearing with me!

hi steve, its for testing your project before boxing up...

connect in/out...power/ ground...and switch is for bypass...good idea...same as my breadboard really..but in a seperate box.

(at least i think it is)..

What do you guys use if you need to cut out a sizeable chunk of a perfboard?  Not just a straight line for example.  Say a whole corner. 

Quote from: deadastronaut on May 06, 2011, 09:30:33 AM
hi steve, its for testing your project before boxing up...

connect in/out...power/ ground...and switch is for bypass...good idea...same as my breadboard really..but in a seperate box.

(at least i think it is)..

I kinda thought that, too. The jack is a terminal strip.... But, we're all so darn creative here, I didn't want to miss something. 

BTW, there is only one thing I need to learn to properly use a breadboard. Patience. (I just learned how to use smileys!)

Just looked out the window... "Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo.... 

Gut shots:


And Rob (My name too), you are correct.

Quote from: ayayay! on May 06, 2011, 09:32:31 AM
What do you guys use if you need to cut out a sizeable chunk of a perfboard?  Not just a straight line for example.  Say a whole corner. 

score across the holes with a sharp blade a few times and then snap or nibble from hole to hole with nail clippers/pliers.

Quote from: artifus on May 06, 2011, 09:54:00 AM

Quote from: ayayay! on May 06, 2011, 09:32:31 AM
What do you guys use if you need to cut out a sizeable chunk of a perfboard?  Not just a straight line for example.  Say a whole corner.  

score across the holes with a sharp blade a few times and then snap or nibble from hole to hole with nail clippers/pliers.

+1 but make sure you do this first!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brF5z2XKrcA


cool box rob...