[sdiy] Starting Point?

[David G Dixon]

As far as tools, a good pair of needlenose pliers, a good wire-stripper and
cutter, and a good wire snipper are essential.  I also have an old-school
pin crimper which is essential for me.

My preferred DVM is a little $25 Victor VC921
(https://testmeterpro.com/victor-vc921/)-- I have two of them, so I can use
one to measure voltage which I use the other to measure frequency.  I have
benchmarked it against a Fluke frequency meter, and it is every bit as
accurate.  I have a more expensive DVM, but I haven't used it for many
years.  The battery has probably leaked all over it.

My oscilloscope is a very old Tektronic 2230 that I was given by a colleague
at school when he bought a newer one.  I believe these can be picked up for
less than $300 and they are real workhorses.

My soldering station is a cheapo Chinese one with adjustable temperature.
It works well.  I've never had much problem with it.  I replaced the pencil
once, and replaced the tip once more, but the base is solid.

I got a Hakko FR301 desoldering gun for Christmas a few years ago, and that
thing is golden.  That's the one "extravagant" thing I have, and its a life
changer.  If you only do the occasional part removal, though, then the
cheapo Chinese blue-and-yellow-plastic plungomatic is probably sufficient,
and they're about $5.

For a power supply, I simply bring a power cable out from my modular (which
sits on my workbench), so my bench supply is the same Power-One +/-15V
supply in my modular.  It's pretty convenient.

Honestly, I've spent less than $200 on tools, many of which I've had for 12
years or more.  I've done a crapload of electronics with those simple tools.