Electronics Lab Equipment Wanted

Inventor

Hi, many of you know me on this forum but what you may not know is that I recently gave up my ENTIRE electronics lab including scope, soldering iron, parts, bins, tools, dremel, etc. so I could move from evil Florida to heavenly Texas (with apologies to those still trapped in Florida). So now I'm getting started back in the hobby and I need a simple lab setup, nothing fancy or expensive and used is OK, and I'm open to suggestions.

If you know of some great deals on this kind of stuff, post your links please. Also maybe you have been thinking of upgrading your gear and would like to part with the older stuff at a nice low price, that could be a good option as well. Or maybe you just have advice to offer, go ahead.

Thanks and have a great day!

Les

JingleJoe · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:29 am Post subject:

Why didn't you just take it with you?

Inventor · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:58 pm Post subject:

Because you can't take it with you! haha, bad joke...

Because we had to fit my clothing and medical equipment an guitar stuff into the back of a small SUV. It was kind of a fly-by-night rescue thing, and I didn't really plan nor pack well. Plus most of my lab stuff was old or broken or misfit in some way. It was time for a fresh start.

Les

JingleJoe · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:44 am Post subject:

Ah I see, well unfortunately I have nothing to offer unless you want to pay extortionate postage for an old broken AVOmeter.

Inventor · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:26 am Post subject:

Heh, nah looks like i'll be buying new which is a good thing really...

Les

DES · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:23 pm Post subject:

Les, what kind of test equipment you looking for? I might have some DVMs, wow/flutter meter, distortion analyzer and such. I haven't used some of these in years.

Inventor · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:24 pm Post subject:

DES! What's up bro? I dunno, looking at the prices at sparkfun.com a meter can be had pretty cheap, but yeah I need a decent meter and one with some nice features would help like lotsa digits for matching transistors if i ever do that, or capacitance measurement which i hear many meters have today.

I also need a soldering iron and some type of scope. I might get a little pocket scope, again from sparkfun. Amazing what you can get for $100 these days. Sparkfun is out of stock on solder stations and they have a good one but I have to wait for it. Digikey has nothing in my price range. I want a decent solder station with digital temp control if possible, though analog will suffice in a pinch. But a station, not just an iron.

That's about it for now, what have you got DES?

Les

Inventor · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 12:38 am Post subject:

Hehe, I just bought a Weller Iron from amazon! it's the famous light blue color and look of a classic Weller Iron: now that's soldering in style!

Les

DES · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:58 am Post subject:

Let me get a list together of what I'm thinking of parting with and I'll shoot it to you. I do need to keep enough gear to fix my arp 2600 but still have other gear that can go.

Btw....you should check to see if there are any hamfests in your area...you can usually get some good deals there.

Inventor · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 2:07 am Post subject:

I'm not into hamfests. I went to get a ham license and they acted like idiots. I was helping to develop a new product in a new company and they thought I was there to steal their bandwidth so they acted mean to me. No hams for me, too hammy. Besides, I don't walk too well with this leg injury and it's hard to push the wheelchair at my size.

I bought the weller analog WES51 iron only to see the digital one is 20 dollars more. well, i prefer analog thingies anyway so i'm happy.

Thanks for preparing a list of your gear.

Les

DES · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:46 am Post subject:

Sri to hear about your experiences with Hams. They're like any group...a lot of good people and always a few jerks who seem to end up putting themselves as the pointmen in the greetings committies... Don't write hams off...a lot of us are actually quite nice and helpful...

Some fests are held indoors and that would make it easier to get around with the wheel chair. Outside you would probably need an off-road version Smile

Personally I never cared for digital solder stations. They just needed to have an adjustable temp. I bought my Unger 9000 series station with two different wand attachments for $25 about 20 years ago at a hamfest...the person said it was broke and was selling it for parts.... It just needed a fuse Smile

loydb · Joined: Feb 04, 2010 Posts: 393 Location: Providence, RI

I've got a Tektronix 475 scope about 2 hours from you that I'd let you have cheap.

Inventor · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 2:25 pm Post subject:

DES: yeah, i guess you're right about the hams, those two were just plain jerks. I treally pissed me off though. I can forgive.

Inventor · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 2:30 pm Post subject:

Wow I just looked at that Tektronix 475 on the web, it looks exactly like my old off-brand repackaged scope only if it works that's a major bonus! I really enjoyed that thing and it was a good workhorse, would love to have a suitable (and better bandwidth) replacement!

Les

DES · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:26 pm Post subject:

Tek 475 scope is great. I used to have one several years ago but donated it to the local tech school as I was down-sizing my shop.

loydb · Joined: Feb 04, 2010 Posts: 393 Location: Providence, RI

I'm unlikely to make it to San Antonio before we move to Rhode Island in a few months. If you don't want to drive all the way north to Liberty Hill, I could give the scope to my dad next time I see him and you could pick it up in San Marcos...

Inventor · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:46 am Post subject:

Looks like a near miss, loydb, I'll just buy a new one. no problemo. I don't even have a car to drive anywhere.

Les