It’s Christmas Season once again and George and Jeremy are back to discuss gift ideas for your workbench!

This week, we’re joined by previous guests Nick KN6NK, Rod VA3ON, and Smitty KR6ZY.  This inspiring discussion will give you plenty of ideas for tools, test equipment, supplies, and stocking stuffers to add to your holiday workbench wish list!

Twitter Workbench Picture Thread - https://twitter.com/smittyhalibut/status/931740952690958336

Double Cross Antenna - http://w7dbo.net/MARTES_Double_Cross_Antenna.pdf

Mount Panavise Jr. to an Arm!  - https://twitter.com/CyberQueenMara/status/931560219125063680

Hand Tools

Weller ML100 Magna-Lite Micro Torch $10

Hakko CHP 170 Diagonal Micro Cutters $6

Stainless tweezers (curved, straight) $25 each, or super cheap set ($9)

Slotted head ceramic driver/adjustment set ($14) - for tweaking trimpots without shorting stuff out

iFixit 64-bit screwdriver kit ($30)

Hakko flush cutters ($5)

PowerPole crimper ($50)

Wiha System 4 Precision Modular screwdrivers

Knipex mini Pliers set Of two with Parallel jaws

Soldering Tools and Accessories

Aoyue soldering iron and  hot air rework station $150

Entry Level Hot Air Rework $75

Aven Circuit Board Holder $12

PanaVise Jr $27

MetCal Soldering PS2E $175 USED

MetCal Soldering MX500 $250

How the MetCal works (youtube video)

WES-51 or FX-888 soldering iron ($100)

TS100 portable iron (requires external DC power) ($50-$80) Hackaday review  Video review

Hot-air reflow station ($60)

Controleo toaster reflow controller ($109)

Tiny desk fan ($20) and solder fume extractor ($25-$50)

Solder reel stand ($10-$20)

Ceramic floor tile (12”x12” or larger), $1-$2

Workbench Accessories

Pluggable USB Microscope $35

Stereo microscope ($190) with 5x/10x, 10x/15x, or 10x/20x

Prusa i3 MK3 3D Printer $999 Assembled

CNC router ($400+)

MillRight CNC Router Kits

Laser cutter ($500ish)

Storage and Organization

Organization/storage tool rack  $11

Global Industrial storage boxes (~$30-$70 per 100 boxes, mine are 4”W x 12”D x 4.5”H)

Lift-N-Lok tool box (seem to not be available anymore)

Veto Pro Pac Tool bag

Mechanics tool drawers (with organizers and Ptouch labels for the OCD crowd)

DYMO LabelManager 160 Label Maker $15

AKRO MILS

AKRO-MILS Small Parts Bins $30

AKRO-MILS Mixed Parts Bins $30

AKRO-MILS Large Parts Bins $30

Consumables and Supplies

Bag of powerpole connectors - 10 pairs for $9.99 free shipping

Hatchbox 3D Printing Filament

Box o’ Resistors!  $7

USB Cables!  Especially Anker Powerline for anything that is doing power

RF Adapters (You use one for a project, and it lives with that project forever.)