Avionics Toolkit - Seeking Advice

[binny45]

Howdy folks

I'm in the process of building my tool kit and would like some advice on what to get and where to get it. I'm in St. John's, NL. Keep in mind that there is no Snap On dealer here and the MAC tools dealer doesn't service the airport apparently (one is one the way in the new year so I'm told.)

I've had a lot of AME's tell me that for the most part, the Mastercraft tools should be fine for a starter kit as they do have a life time warranty, but before I commit to any purchases, I'd like to get some input from you guys. AVCanada has been a huge help and I'm hoping you guys can steer me in the right direction without my having to spend more money than I have to.

I do have some tools, but a complete list would help me compare what I have to what I should have. REALLY appreciate this folks!

[Troubleshot]

I'd agree with that...mastercraft/craftsman is the way to go, especially if you do not have access to Snap-on/Mac dealer for repairs and warranty work. There are obviously some higher end tools that are worth the money and you'll be glad you got them.

I think most here will agree that a Snap-On screw driver set is a good buy, that is one thing you will not find at Crappy-tire and Sears. I really like the pick set from Snap-On also. My wrenches are mastercraft, pliers and cutters are a mix but mostly Snap-on. Punches, chisels, soft hammers, snips are Gray. All my sockets and rachets are "SK" , 12point , deep and regular depth, and in 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" drive.

I have more crap but you'll figure that out once you've been working awhile.

Oh and, invest in a strong small flashlight...maybe expensive but you'll be glad you did.

Good luck.

[binny45]

Awesome stuff! Keep it coming hehe.

Thanks for the advice!

[ourkid2000]

I'm an AME-E, I can help you to get started.

Get the Snap on screwdriver as mentioned before first off
- 12pt deep and shallow 1/4" sockets (3/16 to 1/2").........Craftsman make fine ones.
- You may need to get Snap on for these: 1/8" deep & 5/32" deep sockets. You'll find they are used quite often (relays, connectors)
- Good flush cutters (I have Lindstroms, but you can get others just as good)
- Good meter (Fluke are expensive but worth it)
- Mini pliers set (needle nose, long needle nose, etc), short ones and long ones
- Ratchet wrenches (3/8, 5/16, & 1/4 will meet 90% of your needs)
- Hemostats (invaluable for clamps, etc), various sizes from small to large
- A great flashlight (something very bright and tough.......do not skimp!)
- Duckbills.......snap on are the only decent ones i've seen.
- A must for us E guys is that mastercraft bit set that has the little ratchet in it. This thing is worth its weight in gold!
- Large long nose pliers........45, 90, straight
- Make yourself some leads as well with various pins on your wires for when you are testing connections
- A Leatherman, I still use mine constantly
- A good speed handle (3/8")

Thats about it. Everything else I would just buy Mastercraft or whatever, they are all pretty good for your wrenches and pliers and stuff.

[binny45]

I'm an AME-E, I can help you to get started.

Get the Snap on screwdriver as mentioned before first off
- 12pt deep and shallow 1/4" sockets (3/16 to 1/2").........Craftsman make fine ones.
- You may need to get Snap on for these: 1/8" deep & 5/32" deep sockets. You'll find they are used quite often (relays, connectors)
- Good flush cutters (I have Lindstroms, but you can get others just as good)
- Good meter (Fluke are expensive but worth it)
- Mini pliers set (needle nose, long needle nose, etc), short ones and long ones
- Ratchet wrenches (3/8, 5/16, & 1/4 will meet 90% of your needs)
- Hemostats (invaluable for clamps, etc), various sizes from small to large
- A great flashlight (something very bright and tough.......do not skimp!)
- Duckbills.......snap on are the only decent ones i've seen.
- A must for us E guys is that mastercraft bit set that has the little ratchet in it. This thing is worth its weight in gold!
- Large long nose pliers........45, 90, straight
- Make yourself some leads as well with various pins on your wires for when you are testing connections
- A Leatherman, I still use mine constantly
- A good speed handle (3/8")

Thats about it. Everything else I would just buy Mastercraft or whatever, they are all pretty good for your wrenches and pliers and stuff.

So for this would be the complete list including a standard wrench and plier/cutter set?

[ourkid2000]

Those are the tools I use almost everyday. You might find you'll need the odd thing like wire twisters or an ignition wrench set from time to time and over time you'll get other stuff depending on the jobs you do but the tools mentioned will get you by. Oh, you'll need some wire strippers too.......my company provides us with Ideal Custom Stripmasters, but not all places do.

[Harpoon]

I figure the most important tool for an Avionics guy is the gray matter between their ears. Work on improving that stuff everyday and you'll find you won't need a lot of tools.

[binny45]

I figure the most important tool for an Avionics guy is the gray matter between their ears. Work on improving that stuff everyday and you'll find you won't need a lot of tools.

Aye, hehe, that part is a never ending challenge.

I'm only an apprentice in Avionics, but with 14 years in the Army, you realize that with time comes the realization that you'll NEVER know everything, but everyone knows something.

[Timbre]

One of my favorite's is the 1/4" Mico-tooth rachet from Mac. I've had it many years now with no problems. I would also pick up there 5 piece 1/4" extension set to go along with the rachet.

[still_bluenoser]

no need to get all the tools right away. Buy any tool you have to borrow twice.

1/4in drive deep sockets are most easily found at NAPA. they have a nice little set there.

Snap on screwdrivers. period. They make a nice set of four that have a #1 and #2 philips and common, many many uses.

a nice assortment of dental picks

[iflyforpie]

Snap on screwdrivers. period.

+1

[still_bluenoser]

Although, I have found that the Xcelite screwdrivers are quite good, the 12inch #1 philips is great for the back of racks, and they make a really nice set of small screwdrivers.

Oh yea, and they also make a bristol spline kit and allan key kit that are really nice and small for some of the instrument knobs!

[dashx]

cantilever tool boxes

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.as ... ore=canada


http://www.spginternational.ca/vw/fs/p009.htm

cantilever toolbox page 17 of new catalogue (made for sears also)
made in Canada ………


Tools in general

http://www.yardstore.com/

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/v_10153_12605_Tools

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/catalog.asp?store=canada

http://www.matcotools.com/index.jsp

http://www.mactools.com/

http://www.browntool.com/tableofcontents.asp

http://www.aircraft-tool.com/shop/main.aspx

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/start.shtml

http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=16&no_cache=1&L=1



Xcelite tools

http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brands/xcelite/index.cfm

WELLER cordless soldering irons

http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brands/w ... t_id=WEL00 6%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&att1=Cordless%20Butane%20Products%20%20%20%20%20%20&att2=Pyropen%20Irons/Hot%20Air%20Tools%20%20%20


Electronics tools

Electrosonic http://www.e-sonic.com/acc/home.aspx

Newark http://www.newark.com/

Active http://www.active123.com/b2c/redirect.cfm?pn=2
http://www.active123.com/b2c/redirect.c ... 62d3ec1fTR

Daniels Manufacturing Tools

http://www.dmctools.com/catalog.htm


My tool kit (away from base)

Cantilever toolbox (fits under standard airline seat)

Angle wrench set ¼’ to 1” (snap on)
Regular wrench set ¼” to 9/16” (11/32” included) (snap on)
3/16”-7/32” ring wrench (snap on)
¼”-5/16” 3/8”-7/16” ratcheting ring wrenches (straight and angled) blue point
¼”-5/16” reversible ratcheting wrench Husky 66604
Cdn tire hex bit kit with ratchet (small blue box)

3/16”-9/16” deep and short 12 point ¼” drive socket set (snap on)
¼”-1/2” universal socket set 12 point (snap on)

¼” drive extensions 6” 4” 2” 1.5” (2” is a wobble extension)

¼” drive ratchets (3” and 4” both snap on) for sockets

¼” drive to hex drive adapter

Adapters: ¾ to ½, ½ to ¾, ½ to 3/8, 3/8 to ½, 3/8 to 1/4 , ¼ to 3/8.

Hex bit holder: ¼” drive and 3/8” drive

3/8” drive speed handle (old craftsman with wide head)

Wire twisters – cushion throat reversible (snap on) made by milbar

Small flush cutters
Diagonal cutters
Duck bill pliers
Small needle nose pliers
Extra long needle nose


Compound duckbill pliers

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp ... ir=catalog

They also make cutters like this as well………

Allen key set 3/8” to 1/16” ball head (plus a bunch of small straight end 1/16” to 3/16”)

Spline key set (Bristol keys) in a pouch

Craftsman 12” adjustable wrench (goes to 1-1/2” open) you can also find similar at Home depot.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Some of my friends have the Knipex “Plier Wrench”

http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=559&L=1

You might also like to use the Ford wrench instead

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Knipex “Cobra” water pump pliers (12”) also sold under Craftsman brand

Cannon plug pliers (blue point)

Small needle nose (straight and bent) and regular vise grips
One regular vise grip

Flexible pick up (claw) tool
Magnetic (extension) pick up tool

Round (small) inpection mirror – extension handle
Oval – same as above
2”by3” inpection mirror – extension handle

Medium ball peen hammer
Plastic tip/rubber hammer

Feeler gauge set

Brass screwdriver (compass swing) – u make it……..

Heavy duty scissors
Jewelers screwdriver set

Olfa knife (or similar in quality) with spare blades

Tape measure

LED headlight
1 watt LED hand flashlight (I see now they have 3 watt adjustable focus ones at Costco – cheap)

Spare AAA batteries for above.

Pick set
Cotter pin removal tool

Snap on ratcheting screwdriver – standard
Snap on ratcheting screwdriver – short

An assortment of Phillips (1 2 and 3 size) screwdrivers
An assortment of flat tip screwdrivers

5/32” drift/tapered punch (more of an alignment tool for leading edges and panels)

3/32” and 1/16” pin punches

Hemostatic forceps
Tweezers

Magnifying lens

http://www.thesource.ca/estore/Product. ... ct=6308054

Butane powered soldering iron – Weller Pyropen WPA2 – with different attachments

Desoldering tool

Amprobe Multimeter (with AC/DC clamp)

Tyewrap gun (cheap T&B WT1)

Manual wire trippers (Craftsman 73574) 22 to 32 gauge
Automatic wire strippers (Speedex) 16 to 22 gauge


Hex drivers 5/32” and 1/8” (both Snap on NDD104 and 105)

Cannon plug pin removal/insertion tools (as required for your job)

Mine: DMC tools

DRK83-20, DRK95-20 – rear release (need to get -16 and -12 to complete set)

DHK20 DHK 16 DHK 12 front release contacts

You can also use the plastic tools as well:

https://www.dmctools.com/store/catalog. ... RY_ID=3681

DMC contact pin crimper

I carry my own M22520/2-01 pin crimper for small contacts. If I know I’ll be doing more work then I will bring the larger crimper with the turret heads.

This one I should have but don’t normally carry it with me:

Raychem environmental splice crimper (AD 1377)

Alligator clip set.
An assortment of male and female cannon plug pin wire sets for troubleshooting.
Again as required for your job.

Wrist ground strap.



I used to have all my tools in one tool box but now use two. I find it easier to separate the avionics tools (and electrical tools) from the mechanics tools.

I also use rolling tool pouches for some equipment to keep things in order.

And a folding hand truck to move the toolboxes around when using ground transportation.

http://www.shopxscargo.com/product_cata ... cellaneous

This is an example.

Some of the Snap on items mentioned were bought on Ebay. Some items can be ordered online (check out Snap on Canada online). There is a Princess Auto in St john's. The US Sears website is only for the US but has good information.

[skydrolboy]

For a meter get a Fluke 115, you can get it from sears in the states for about $150, but the warranty is fully valid in canada as Napa sells them aswell. It has all the functions you will ever need including freqs.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... ccessories

http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=559&L=1 and get a set of the 7inch knipex pliers....Snap-on is now carrying these under the knipex brand instead of blue-point like in the past and the price has dropped on them. I just picked up the 12inch ones off the snap-on truck for $54 bucks, I originally paid $120 for my 7inch ones.

[binny45]

Wow! This thread is still going. It's good stuff, not only for me but any newbies coming into the field.

I'm just waiting on the last of my tools to come in. For my meter I ended up going with a Fluke 87-5 kit that was on sale in New York. Talk about FAST shipping and even with GST and shipping, it still beat the local places that sold Fluke meters.

Thanks all!