Tools

The list is a work in progress. Please add your suggestions

Essential: no more than £70

  • A laptop, netbook or tablet plus 3G dongle (for when no Wifi is available)
  • Spudgers or guitar plectrums or old credit/debit/hotel cards
  • Screwdriver set for electronics
  • Conventional sized Philips and flat screwdrivers
  • Compressed air
  • Isopropyl Alcohol
  • Rags or paper towels for cleaning
  • Electrical insulation tape
  • Super glue
  • Masking tape for extension leads
  • Extension leads and multiplugs
  • Multimeter
  • Soldering kit (ask a Restarter to bring this)
  • Bootable and installable OS's on USB and CD (ask a Restarter to bring this)*
  • Egg cartons or pill boxes for storing screws
  • Tweezers
  • Pliers
  • Knife, razor or cutting tool
  • First aid kit




Troubleshooting and opening

  • A laptop, netbook or tablet plus 3G dongle (for when no Wifi is available)
  • Headlamps, handheld torches or strobes
  • Magnifying glasses
  • Spudgers
  • Guitar plectrums or old credit/debit/hotel cards (cut up in strips and plectrum shapes)
  • Wire cutters and Wire Strippers
  • Heatgun

Screwdrivers

  • Set for electronics – the iFixit set is best, but others will work
  • Robust Philips and flat screwdrivers
  • A "safety" set with all shapes like torx etc.
  • Extenders

Stuff in cans

  • Compressed air
  • Isopropyl Alcohol
  • WD-40

Soldering

  • Soldering Iron
  • Solder
  • Braid
  • Flux

Adhesives and hacking materials

  • Insulation tape
  • Sugru and/or bluetac
  • Super glue
  • Gluegun

Safety

  • Tape for extension leads
  • Gloves
  • PAT tester and stickers for PAT tested devices
  • Anti-static wrist band

Software

  • Bootable and Installable OS's on USB (OS X, *PartedMagic*, etc.) and CD
  • Latest updates and offline installers (esp. virus checkers, anti-malware, fan utilities)

Power-related

  • Spare Fuses
  • Variable Power supply (or Universal laptop power supply with ends)
  • Multimeter (ideally with audible continuity tester)
  • Extension leads and multiplugs (ideally with power indication light)

Data preservation

  • Hard drive dock(s) to get data off failing machines
  • Thumb drive for carrying data

Miscellaneous

  • Egg cartons, pill boxes or magnetic mats for storing screws
  • Pokey things for poking (e.g.Needle to eject SIMs)
  • Tweezers
  • Pliers
  • Knife, razor or other cutting tool
  • Cleaning CD
  • Rags or paper towels for cleaning
  • First aid kit