Starting out on your electronics adventure? Want to wield the mighty soldering iron? Tired of saying "I'd totally get into electronics if I only knew what tools to get..."? Working with substandard equipment is a terrible way to learn electronics: a lot of frustration with too little success. The right tool set will keep you progressing without the stressing. This toolbox contains carefully selected hand tools that will last you...

The first time you soldered up a surface mount component you may have been surprised "these are really small parts!" and there's dozens of different names too! QFN, TDFN, SOIC, SOP, J-Lead, what do they mean and how can you tell how big they are? Now you can have a reference board at your fingertips, with this snazzy PCB reference ruler. Measuring approx 1" x 6", this standard-thickness FR4, gold plate ruler has the most...

These are the best diagonal cutters, large super-comfortable grip to use and have strong nippers for perfect trimming of wires and leads. I've used my pair every day for years.

These are the finest wire strippers we have used, and if you have to do a lot of wiring, you will agree! They have soft rounded grips - very comfortable to use, and precision ground notches that do a perfect job every time. No more yanking or twisting to strip wires cleanly and quickly. If you're on a budget, check out our basic wire strippers - they're not as sharp and precise but will do the job for hobbyist work.

Sugru! Soft-touch silicone rubber that molds and sets permanently. Sticks to aluminum, steel, ceramics, glass, wood and some fabrics + plastics! sugru is the incredible new air-curing rubber for hackers, makers, gadget lovers & anyone else who wants to make things or make their stuff work better. Self-adhesive to most other materials, and flexible when cured, sugru is a versatile tool for hackers and makers - Repair and strengthen damaged...

Heat shrink is the duct tape of electronics, it keeps your stuff all safe and kept together. Especially when wiring and soldering, use heat shrink to add mechanical strength to cables. We use this stuff all the time and having a zip-lock bag of all the possible sizes is super handy. Pack contains four 6" pieces of the following sizes: 3/32", 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" 2:1 shrink ratio High-grade flexible polyolefin material UL approved

When soldering small surface-mount (SMD/SMT) components, one thing you'll need is a good pair of tweezers. These are a great pair of every-day tweezers. They're anti-static, anti-magnetic and made of hard stainless steel. The tips are fine and pointy to pick up any size component. This particular model is 120mm long with a 9mm / 0.35" gap at the tips while open, this allows it to pick up components with better precision for...

Make cables and wiring harnesses with ease using the best crimping pliers we've used. These precision machined crimpers will turn you into a pro, no more painful struggles with pliers and generic crimpers that smoosh your contacts so they wont fit properly. This model does a wide range of the most common connectors, from 1.6 to 2.5mm / AWG #26-18 There's a great website at ENGINEER Co. with lots of details. There is also a video tutorial...

When soldering small surface-mount (SMD/SMT) components, one thing you'll need is a good pair of tweezers. These tweezers are a great pair of every-day tweezers. They're anti-static, anti-magnetic and made of hard stainless steel. The tips are fine and pointy to pick up any size component. This particular model is 135mm long with a 12.5mm / 0.5" gap at the tips while open, this allows it to pick of fairly large TQFP's and...

Caliper rule? Tire tread gauge? Ruler? Thread scale? Writing instrument? The Messograf is all of these in one. It is a multipurpose instrument, constructed of chromium-plated brass for those who demand more than just the joy of writing. Many have tried to copy it - none have succeeded. This is the original. This retractable ballpoint pen has a large ink cartridge. Made in Germany.

Make cables and wiring harnesses with ease using the best crimping pliers we've used. These precision machined crimpers will turn you into a pro, no more painful struggles with pliers and generic crimpers that smoosh your contacts so they wont fit properly. This model will work best for smaller common connectors, from 1.0 to 1.9mm / AWG #32-20 - all those frighteningly small contacts used in fine pitch connectors. There's a great website...

Look, over there at that thing! Take it apart! You can now attack just about every kind of box or enclosure that needs undoing with this 38-bit screwdriver set. This set is fine quality and excels at disassembling games, phones, cameras, and other small portable electronic goodies. What drew us to this tool box is its small compact size, the big grippy rubber handle (not a thin or slippery metal grip), the magnetic bit holder (which is not...

The most useful tool we've ever laid our hands on. These calipers are really good quality and an excellent choice if you need something better than a cheap 'disposable' pair of digital calipers but you're not quite ready for a set of high-end Mitsutoyo calipers. These digital calipers work by having a capacitive sensor instead of a rack and pinion, so they never go out of alignment even if, say, you accidentally drop them (a few...

Make cables and wiring harnesses with ease using smooth ratcheting crimpers. These precision machined crimpers will turn you into a pro, no more painful struggles with pliers and generic crimpers that smoosh your contacts so they wont fit properly. Once you've pressed enough, the ratchet releases, so you know when you've applied enough force. This model will work best for smaller common connectors, from 0.1mm2-1.0mm2 / AWG #18-28 - all...

Repairs can be tough. You don't need missing screws making it worse. iFixit designed this mat to make repairs easier. You won’t lose screws and won’t forget which screws go where. Magnetized to hold tight onto small screws.Dry erase surface lets you keep notes and stops mistakes.Reduces reassembly time by up to 40% while preventing errors. New! The Pro version of this mat has a better quality magnet for a strong hold and a foam...

This tote is "totes awesome" - plenty large with lots of storage, double sided design, solid clips, clear tops and a pleasing, easy to carry shape. We love this tote for storing all of our goodies and keeping them safe from home to the studio to the workshop. One side has little 'cups' that can be removed. The other side has the classic divider system. Outside dimensions: 13.5"x11.5"x3.25" One side contains 15...

Look, over there at that thing! Take it apart! You can now attack just about every kind of box or enclosure that needs undoing with this ratchet screwdriver set. This set is fine quality and excels at disassembling and assembling larger hardware and makes a good companion to our smaller 38-piece set. What drew us to this tool box is its comprehensive selection of bits, the two rubber screwdriver handles (one small and one large, neither are thin...

These Italian-made Hakko pliers are excellent for any precision work. The nose is flattened and fairly short to provide excellent control. The inside of the jaws is also flattened so they won't leave ridge-marks. And the grips are ultra comfy too, you can use these all days with no discomfort.

We've upgraded our basic 'adjustable' wire strippers to these multi-sized wire strippers. They include: 20-30 AWG strippers, wire cutters, 'plier' tips, and a wire loop. Ground blades for precision cutting. Spring return, comfy molded handles and a closing-lock. Great for general usage, we use them for standard 22 AWG solid-core breadboarding wire and 26 AWG stranded ribbon cable, sometimes for other thin wires like thicker...

Save your scissors! Instead of using your nice shears (and dulling them) or wire cutters (not right for the job) - use these super scissors. They're meant for engineering/maker cutting jobs such as cutting plastic, leather, copper sheet/wire, even coaxial & ribbon cables. There's a notched flat section and a grippy tooth section. Notched (front) section capabilities: Nylon/Kevlar fiber: Various typesCopper braided wire: Various...

You take your soldering seriously, so you deserve a serious IC extractor tool. We purposefully never carried the cheap bent-sheet IC extractors, and if you've ever used one you know why. They should call them "IC try-to-extract-but-end-up-bending-half-the-pins-ors" and even with a lot of experience they're just a pain. The Japanese made IC extractor is an exception, it's got ground tips that can wedge in there to lift the...

Break seals! Void warranties! With this handy screwdriver set at your hands, all hardware you touch will open up and reveal their secret innards. This set contains 6 screwdrivers, 3 Phillips (#1, #0 and #00) and 3 flat (2.4mm, 1.8mm and 1.4mm). These sizes will open up pretty much any consumer electronics you come across. We picked this set to carry because it is better quality than most low cost sets. Instead of thin metal rods, these have...

Neat-freaks! Put down that toothbrush and pick up this nice ESD-safe cleaning brush! If you want to have a nice clean board (or maybe you're doing some repair) you can use this stiff-bristled brush without worries. Some people like to drip a little rubbing alcohol on their PCBs after soldering and then scrubbing to remove rosin/flux. Finally, you have the right tool for the job. About 7" long from end to end, scrubby part is 1.5" x 0.5" with...

Heat shrink is the duct tape of electronics which I guess makes this heat shrink the colorful and exciting duct tape they sell at craft stores.  This heat shrink comes in six different colors - red, blue, green, yellow, white and the traditional black. Each pack contains ten 6" pieces of the following sizes: 3/32", 1/8", and 3/16".  You get three of each in black and red, and one of each in...

If you've ever had to remove a stripped bolt or screw, you know how incredibly frustrating it can be. Normal pliers slip when trying to grip onto the screw head. Unless you're careful, you can easily make the problem worse, requiring you to drill out the screw (a dangerous proposition) That's where these precision screw removal pliers come in. The end is concave and extra-grippy so you can grasp the bolt head and tug on it. It's...

Simple needlenose pliers for twisting, pulling and pliering your project.

Break seals! Void warranties! With this handy Torx driver set at your hands, all hardware you touch will open up and reveal their secret innards. This set contains 6 torx drivers: T-10, T-9, T-8, T-7, T-6 and T-5. These sizes will open up pretty much any consumer electronics you come across. We picked this set to carry because the drivers have nice rubber grips and long thin shafts for getting into boxes with deeply recessed screws. The ends...

We tried half a dozen different 5-point star/"pentalobe" screwdriver tools to find the one we liked the most The body is made from a single piece of aluminum and has nice knurled grips. The end-cap rotates so you can keep the body steady while rotating. The tip is nicely machined and is magnetic so it holds the miniscule screws in place while inserting/removing them. Pentalobe 0.8mm screws are used in iPhone 4S (not iPhone 4). Check...

We tried half a dozen different 5-point star/"pentalobe" screwdriver tools to find the one we liked the most The body is made from a single piece of aluminum and has nice knurled grips. The end-cap rotates so you can keep the body steady while rotating. The tip is nicely machined and is magnetic so it holds the miniscule screws in place while inserting/removing them Pentalobe 1.2mm screws are used in MacBook Air cases. Check your Air...

A little tool-box in your wallet - good for every-day use, travel, or when you're on a camping trip. Handy credit card sized multitool packed with useful features. Comes with 11 tools: Can OpenerKnife EdgeScrewdriverRulerCap opener4 Position wrenchButterfly screw wrenchSaw bladeDirection ancillary indication2 Position wrenchLanyard/key chain hole Made from high quality stainless steel. Comes with a leatherette protection sleeve. Mini Work...

The all-mighty Jimmy from IFixIt is the best way out from an iRock and an iHardPlace. Slide, cut, twist, poke, slice, part, uproot, divide, lift, dissect, separate, and pry your devices to check out their insides, void your warranties, and mod your gear. The Jimmy is a high-quality flexible steel blade that easily slips between the tightest gaps in the toughest devices. Bust through your previously unpenetrable...

We tried half a dozen different precision Phillips #000 screwdriver tools to find the one we liked the most. The body is made from a single piece of aluminum and has nice knurled grips. The end-cap rotates so you can keep the body steady while rotating. The tip is nicely machined and is magnetic so it holds the miniscule screws in place while inserting/removing them. These small Phillips screws are used in iPhone 4G (not 4S) and nearly every...

Removing SMD parts more complex than a resistor or SOT-23 can be a real bear. You want to get the part off without damaging traces, and if possible, without damaging the part either. You could haul out your hot air tool or you could go in surgically with this handy SMD Removal Kit from Chipquik  - SMD removal is made easy! It uses a special metal alloy that bonds to your solder but stays liquid for a long time so can melt it over the...

Removing SMD parts more complex than a resistor or SOT-23 can be a real bear. You want to get the part off without damaging traces, and if possible, without damaging the part either. You could haul out your hot air tool or you could go in surgically with this handy SMD Removal Kit from Chipquik  - SMD removal is made easy! It uses a special metal alloy that bonds to your solder but stays liquid for a long time so can melt it over the...

The Chipquik Tack Flux 10cc Syringe is ideal for all rework, solder, de-solder, and reflow applications! The tack flux is non-corosive, non-conductive, no-clean and it won't run all over your PCB when applied. In our GIF demo we used the syringe to apply the tack flux on an Adafruit Metro and then used a Chipquik SMD Removal Kit for the rest! Flux Type: Synthetic No-Clean (for Leaded and Lead-Free applications) Flux Classification: REL0 ...

Have you ever been in a situation where you desperately needed a screwdriver right away ? Now you can have one at-the-ready all the time — enter the Adafruit Pocket Screwdriver ! OK, it's a little tough to write exciting copy for a pocket screwdriver, but really this one is truly great for Adafruit customers. The Phillips head fits the 3.5mm terminal blocks we have on many of our kits, and the slot is great for the common...

Cut through cardboard like butter with the Canary Box Cutter . This Japanese-made tool is perfectly engineered, way better than using scissors or a craft knife. This is the perfect tool for cardboard-crafting-trashbot enthusiasts! Ever get annoyed when your blade gets stuck to tape or adhesive? The Canary's fine sawtooth edge and non-stick coating take that problem out of the equation. The serrated double-edged blade makes it ideal for clean...

Heard about locksport and want to try it for yourself? It's a fun hobby you can pick up easily (ha!). It's like a Rubik's cube but you have to work by feel alone. And all you need to get started is a lock and a pick-set. We recommend kicking off with our beginner transparent padlock, it's a perfect first lock. Once you've gained confidence you can check your local hardware store (or look through your basement/attic?) for...

The Chip Quik No-Clean Liquid Flux Pen  is great for all rework, solder, de-solder, and reflow applications! In particular this one is from the rework-champs at Chip Quik. Liquid flux helps solder to "cling" to metal by removing oxide buildup. It also helps spread out solder by reducing surface tension. Liquid flux is crucial for surface mount soldering and desoldering, but usually not necessary for through-hole components....

Looking for something for the little engineer in your life? The Makedo Toolkit is a starter kit of cardboard construction tools that's a great introduction to Makedo. Enter into the world of playful cardboard construction and build small creations with 30 reusable parts. Rocket ships, cars, dinosaurs, a knight in cardboard armor – build whatever you can imagine with these handy little tools. Grab some cardboard and get...

This here is iFixit's most economical do-everything toolkit. The Essential Electronics Toolkit is what you need for the most essential electronics repairs, as well as everything you need for most household DIY fixes.  Get started in electronics repair with all the bits and precision tools to handle your most urgent screen breaks and battery swaps. Upgrade your home DIY toolkit with what you need to service door knobs, home...

Heard about locksport and want to try it for yourself? It's a fun hobby you can pick up easily (ha!). It's like a Rubik's cube but you have to work by feel alone. And all you need to get started is a lock and a pick-set. We recommend kicking off with our beginner transparent padlock, it's a perfect first lock. Once you've gained confidence you can check your local hardware store (or look through your basement/attic?) for...

Enter the world of cardboard construction and build playful robot friends!  Instead of slapping on tape or waiting for your hot glue to warm up, you can use these  Plastic Pop Rivets ! So easy to install. Just poke them through the cardboard and fasten with the back piece. This will ensure clean, movable joints and attachments. You can even remove them with some effort (but they'll hold as long as you don't pry them apart)...

Looking for something for the little engineer in your life? The Makedo Scru Add-On  pack is a perfect complement to the Makedo Toolkit – a great introduction to the land of Makedo. Enter into the world of playful cardboard construction and build small creations with these reusable parts. Rocket ships, cars, dinosaurs, a knight in cardboard armor – build whatever you can imagine with these handy...

Praise the sun! You will never have that awkward situation where your caliper battery dies just when you need to take a measurement. Sure, if you have the budget, we recommend these near-indestructable high-end Mitutoyo calipers. But these are very fine calipers as well. The jaws are plastic, so not good for hot metal measurements or when you need perfectly flat jaws. In particular, these caught our eye since they are solar powered and have a...

King Arthur carried Excalibur and Thor wields Mjölnir, but the Electrical Engineer? She will always have a pair of excellent tweezers at the ready such as these Rhino SW-11 Tweezers ! They are sharp, straight, and super luxurious. These  are our favorite pair of small-component-grabbing tweezers. They're anti-static, anti-magnetic, anti-acid, conductive, and made of hard and frosted stainless steel (although the tips are so...

Is there something missing from your tool kit or workstation? Are you having trouble figuring out which elusive tool it is that you're lacking? Perhaps it's a spudger! "A what?" A  s-p-u-d-g-e-r ! It's a prying tool that has a wide flat-head screwdriver-like end that extends as a wedge, used to separate pressure-fit plastic components without causing damage during separation. Basically, this is the...

Enter the world of cardboard construction and build playful robot friends!  Instead of slapping on tape or waiting for your hot glue to warm up, you can use these Large Plastic Rivets ! They have a large honkin' 19mm diameter rivet face, for mega surface contact. They're so easy to install. Just poke or cut a 9mm diameter hole in your cardboard, then side one half through the front, one half through the back and snap them together....

Enter the world of cardboard construction and build playful robot friends!  Instead of slapping on tape or waiting for your hot glue to warm up, you can use these  Plastic Snap Rivets ! So easy to install. Just poke them through the cardboard and fasten with the back piece. This will ensure clean, movable joints and attachments. You can even remove them with some effort (but they'll hold as long as you don't pry them apart)...

Enter the world of cardboard construction and build playful robot friends!  Instead of slapping on tape or waiting for your hot glue to warm up, you can use these Large Plastic Rivets ! So easy to install. Just poke them through the cardboard and fasten with the back piece. This will ensure clean, movable joints and attachments. You can even remove them with some effort (but they'll hold as long as you don't pry them apart) Works...

Doctor Who has the famous sonic screwdriver, and we have the next coolest thing, a Motion Control Electric Screwdriver ! Ergonomic, comfortable to hold, and constructed out of stainless steel, it's a seriously exquisite hand tool with a ton of smarts that will make it your new favorite tool. Unlike most screwdrivers where you have to twist your wrist like a uncultured barbarian, this screwdriver has an IMU (inertial...

We love non-standard conductive materials here at Adafruit, and now we have a metal-based conductive paint for your crafting needs. This silver/tin/copper based conductive paint is usually used to repair flex circuits or maybe fill in gaps in EMF shielding. But you can use it on paper, plastic, fabric, etc. to create a low-resistance conductive connection. The Chipquik Conductive Paint 5cc Syringe  provides low resistance, metal-based...

Carry up to 29 tools anywhere you go with this travel friendly wearable multi-tool; the Leatherman Tread . This is the Stainless Steel version, we also have it in black steel. Ultimate wearability and modern style. The customizable Leatherman Tread goes everywhere you do, it follows TSA specifications for taking on an airplane so it can stay on you when you travel. Roll up your sleeve and get to it with the multi-tool that’s always on...

Carry up to 29 tools anywhere you go with this travel friendly wearable multi-tool; the Leatherman Tread . This is the Black Steel version, we also have it in stainless steel. Ultimate wearability and modern style. The customizable Leatherman Tread goes everywhere you do, it follows TSA specifications for taking on an airplane so it can stay on you when you travel. Roll up your sleeve and get to it with the multi-tool that’s always on and...

The Adafruit "midnight hacker" is a Leatherman Squirt ES4 and a very handy, unique key-chain size multi-tool. The E4 sets you up with 20GA, 18GA, 16GA, 14GA and 12GA wire strippers and electrical wire cutters to handle all kinds of precise jobs. The gripping edges on the ES4's spring-action pliers help you get a firm grasp on fuses, small cables, and many hard-to-reach items. Tools: 420HC Clip Point KnifeSpring-action Needlenose...

The most useful tool we've ever laid our hands on.  We thought we'd use them just for electronics but then we got our hands on these calipers and had so much fun we started measuring  everything. They're indestructible - which is good because we don't know what we'd do without them - and ultra precise which is super helpful when measuring components or when trying to decide what diameter blueberry you prefer the...

Be the Mikhail Kalatozov of GoPro with this 3-N-1 ActionGrip Suction Cup Camera Mount Kit! This kit has enough flexibility to give you three different camera mounts - one for low profile mounting, one for full range of motion, and one for maximum adjustability. It's the kind of all-in-one tool that can give your footage a unique perspective with a variety of interesting angles.  The ActionGrip also comes with a super powerful suction...

Sugru! Soft-touch silicone rubber that molds and sets permanently. Sticks to aluminum, steel, ceramics, glass, wood and some fabrics + plastics! sugru is the incredible new air-curing rubber for hackers, makers, gadget lovers & anyone else who wants to make things or make their stuff work better. Self-adhesive to most other materials, and flexible when cured, sugru is a versatile tool for hackers and makers - Repair and strengthen damaged...

The HexBright FLEX is the world's first open source, Arduino compatible, rechargeable LED light. Features include a high quality CNC aluminum body, an ergonomic grip, a TIR lens & sealed ends. Stats for the HexBright FLEX, 500 lm model: USA Made CREE XM-L U2 Rugged All-Aluminum Construction USB Rechargeable and Programmable Regulated light output! Stays constant! High Mode - 500 Lumens/1 Hour Medium Mode - 175 Lumens/8 Hours Low Mode -...

Make cables and wiring harnesses with ease using our favorite crimping pliers. These precision machined crimpers will turn you into a pro — no more painful struggles with pliers and generic crimpers that smoosh your contacts so they wont fit properly. This model is a little bigger than our PA-09 pliers and can crimp 2.5 to 5mm pitch connector pins. The dies range from 1.6mm to 2.3mm.  There's a great...

Some people say "a college education opens doors" but for thousands of dollars less you can open any door you wish using this ever-handy emergency pick card. Designed and produced by The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers, this ISO-compliant wallet-sized card can be kept easily on your person without hassle or fuss, but should the need arise for picks in a pinch, simply snap the card apart and you have a nine-piece toolkit at your...

Repairs can be tough. You don't need missing screws making it worse. iFixit designed this mat to make repairs easier. You won’t lose screws and won’t forget which screws go where. Magnetized to hold tight onto small screws. Dry erase surface lets you keep notes and stops mistakes. Reduces reassembly time by up to 40% while preventing errors. Magnetic surface is safe for hard drives, and other modern electronics. Anyone who has...

Form meets function with the Leatherman Tread LT . This rugged yet elegant bracelet solves spur-of-the-moment handiwork problems. Carry up to 26 tools anywhere you go with this travel-friendly wearable multi-tool! This is the narrower and lighter version of the previous Leatherman Tread bracelet. Utilitarian, for sure, but it also boasts smooth curves to follow the natural circumference of one's wrist to avoid snagging on stuff. The...