I do not own very many tools, but am looking to eventually build a full kit for repairs and restorations. What are some of your favorite / most used tools? What is a must own for someone taking the dive?
(Topic ID: 105229)
Essex, ON
1. Klein magnetic nut drivers
2. A magnetic star screwdriver
3. long needle nose pliers
4. DMM
5. Soldering iron/solder
6. extra hardware (screws, nuts, posts, rubbers etc).
7. Novus 1,2, (maybe 3), invisiglass cleaner, q-tips, micro fibre towels, metal polish
8. The phone number of a good pinball repair guy!
***there are many more things than this....youll have to keep running to the store when you realize you need something else***
Fultondale, AL
You can do most repairs with..... Nut drivers in 1/4 inch, 8mm, 9mm, 10mm. And 5/8 inch for legs.
Phillips head screwdriver
Small flat blade screwdriver
Hex key set
Needle nose pliers
Dikes and or wire strippers
Soldering iron/solder
Meter
More to come as I'm doing this from memory:
Small open end wrench set
3 picks (straight, right angle, curve)
1/4" nut driver 10" length plus an entire nut driver set
Small socket set
Contact cleaning tool (not nail file)
Switch adjusting tool
Molex round pin removal tool .156
The longest #1 Philips head screwdriver you can buy (PM me for details as I'm not near my tools now)
Plastic pry bar set
Mulimeter with a good set of test leads including alligator clips
Needle nose pliers (high quality)
High quality crimper for .156 Trifurcon style terminations
Allen or "hex" key sets in both metric and sae (don't buy the ones that fold up, get the "L" shaped ones
Mini socket wrench set (the ones that are really tiny and have an adapter that fits into wrench to use in tight spaces...only goes up in size to 3/8ths or so)
Right angle Phillips head and flat head screwdrivers
Soldering iron station (search forums for a decent one)
Solder "sucker"
LED light that straps to your head
Small jewelers hammer
Pin punch set
Magnetic retrieval device (telescoping)
"Grabber" retrieval device (punch button and "fingers" pop out other end to grab stuff in tight places)
Telescoping mirror
Plastic razor blades
Fuse puller tool (not the little yellow one)
IDC wire insertion tool
Bulb removal tool
3,000 RPM electric drill
Channel Lox adjustable wrench
Flipper gauge
Feeler gauge set
The tools I use most frequently--pretty much every time work on my pins:
Master Mechanic tool set. I've had this for over a decade (prior to my pinball hobby), and it has all the sizes I've needed so far (for pinball), with the exception of a 5/8" socket for legs. However, I'm not quite sure if this set is even made or sold any more since it didn't turn up in a cursory search. It looks like the brand is carried by True Value, which has largely been replaced by Ace Hardware stores in my area.
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Standard needle nose pliers (blue handle), long reach / jewlers / precision needle nose pliers (yellow handle), Cutter (from a 4-piece set), and 6" metric/inch/fractional digital calipers
amazon.com link »
amazon.com link »
amazon.com link »
20141005174951518.jpg
Weller WES51 analog soldering iron.
amazon.com link »
Lastly:
18lb tumbler from Harbor Freight. The up-front cost seem like a lot compared to smaller tumblers, but it has been well-worth it, considering the size of the parts I've been able to use in it. If you buy it, I'd suggest driving to a Harbor Freight store, rather than shipping it--I've had issues with large, heavy items breaking en-route from them. Also, make sure to use one of their 20% coupon with any purchase from Harbor Freight.
This list is by no means a complete list, there are several other tools I use regularly and infrequently. These tools are the tools I just seem to always end up having out when working on stuff.
The LED headlight is the best tool you can have in your kit by far. You can't fix what you can't see!
Get a decent one - this is what you want -
amazon.com link »
Yeah, it's more $$ than a lot of them, but you pay for quality. Mine has been thru hell & back and it never fails me.
Thanks everyone for the great suggestions, tons of peripheral tools I would have never thought of. Cheers.
Adding to my list above:
Jewelers screwdriver set
Heat sink for soldering
Forceps of various sizes for holding wires while soldering
Spare alligator clips for holding wires while soldering
Titan ratcheting magnetic screwdriver - note, shaft is 6.5" (mentioned above, link below)
This screwdriver is very high quality for the price and you can add any bits you want:
- bits to remove cap screws on flipper mechs
- bits to remove hex head screws (even unslotted, as the screwdriver had a socket adapter)
- bits for star screws, security screws, etc., etc.
amazon.com link »
Hitachi cordless screwdriver. This thing is awesome! Almost all of the techs where I work on copiers use it and it works great for pinball machines. Comes with 2 batteries and these go a very long time on a charge. Highly recommended!
http://www.zoro.com/i/G4934307/?utm_source=Bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PLA
Just getting around to this question. It is a great question because it gave me a reason to clean up my kit.
I have been working on equipment since the late 80s and bought my first pin in 90. Since then I have been accumulating stuff. Here's what I got:
I use a Platt extra deep case. It is pretty old, and all the molded rubber has broken away years ago. I replaced it with tie-wraps (CARGPB in me).
First we have a digital meter, cheap logic probe (with modified longer leads), assorted clip leads and a set of the Pinball Lizard Bally AID rig.
tool kit 1 meter probes etc.JPG
Next, some paperwork. A Bally 6800 manual for reference, some cards for notes and some rebuild info notes.
Tie wraps, Velcro, heat shrink and wire nuts
tool kit 3 velcro tie wraps etc.JPG
Small claw hammer and rubber mallet
Metal file, contact file, socket cleaner stick, sandpaper and scrub pad
Crappy switch adj tool, good spring hook, couple of bike spokes for gate wires, round board removal tool, WMS lamp removal tool, good switch adj tool
tool kit 7 hook sw adj tube tools.JPG
Assorted screwdrivers
Inclinometer, level, tape measure
tool kit 9 level incl tape measure.JPG
Flashlight (LEDs are good use here), disk drive platter for mirror, magnifying glass
tool kit 10 optics flash, mirror, mag glass.JPG
Box blade with extra blades, scraper, scissors
Nut driver assortment
Brass brush for boards, plastic brush, detail scrubber, paint brush (that doesn't bird nest), puffer brush
Wrenches, bits and socket set
Large binder clips (perfect for clamping split plywood along the bottom edge of the cabinet), electrical tape and two sided foam tape
tool kit 15 clips and tape.JPG
Assorted drill bits
Assorted pliers, crimpers and strippers
Soldering supplies
Some miscellaneous, hurricane strap, outlet tester, slick 50 in visine bottle, screwdriver magnetizer, and C clamp (for disk brakes).
Bag full of wire, heat shrink and insulation tubing
tool kit 20 wire heatshrink.JPG
And it all goes in the deep tool kit
Thanks for prodding me to clean and reorganize my kit. I hope this helps!
10 months later
Quoted from rollinover:I love this, lamp bulb changing stick, great for hard to access areas. works nice w LEDs too!
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Did you make that or buy that somewhere?
Quoted from WesleyCowan:Did you make that or buy that somewhere?
You could screw an old shooter rubber to a dowel.
5 months later
Any recommendations for cordless driver/drill? I am curious if you guys use them from installing or removing screws or nuts on or under playfield or hand tools only? And also if you use same drill or driver to attach a buffing or waxing pad for playfield. Pics, links or model numbers. What size/type chuck, what features are important in pinball applications?
Highly recommend the dewalt gyroscopic screwdriver. Can change from forward/reverse just by turning wrist, built in light, clutch, comes with battery and case. Love it and it saves so much time. amazon.com link »
Quoted from twisty4678:Highly recommend the dewalt gyroscopic screwdriver. Can change from forward/reverse just by turning wrist, built in light, clutch, comes with battery and case. Love it and it saves so much time. amazon.com link »
Thanks! will check it out.
Quoted from jpinb:bandaids
Thats actually a really good idea. I've accidently cut myself more than once while picking up a game.
Quoted from MT45:...
Magnetic retrieval device (telescoping)
...
I second this!
Quoted from Captain_Tilter:Don't forget the telescoping magnet for picking up all the little screws/etc that you drop
Also useful for drop prevention! 
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/tech-tip-installing-washersnuts-on-posts
Digital 4 channel scope from rigol.
16 channel logic analyzer from aliexpress
Eprom programmer from aliexpress
Logic probe
And sooooooo much more.
1 year later
Quoted from cody_chunn:Assorted pliers, crimpers and strippers
That automatic wire stripper is the bomb.
My tool kit is most probably empty. Screw driver over there... another over here... one in my glove compartment... etc.
Every other Christmas - I get another set of Craftsman screw drivers (I'll miss those). You'd think after about 20 sets of screwdrivers, I'd have thousands of them. But nooooo... I'll bet the only thing I can find right now are 20 Torx T4's.
3 years later
10 months later
I haven't seen anyone mention this handy tool. Search for "383EER4001A Washer Inner/Outer Tub Spring Expansion Tool by Beaquicy".
The other day I was having a heck of a time getting some rubbers on and I was thinking how nice it would be to have something like an oversized snap-ring pliers. It can expand easily around flippers and the like. You might have some problems with the little notches, it could damage some brittle rubber. This thing was made for metal springs and the notches make sense in that use case.
IMG_20211013_131133 (resized).jpgReply
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