Gear list from John

[computerfixerguy]

I've read and heard bits here and there but never thought to write any of it down. Nor can I remember what videos I heard John mention various parts and things he uses.

John: can you help us out with a list of gear you regularly use? You know, specific models, brands?

1. Video camera
2. Solder station
3. Wire stripper
4. Solder sucker
5. Multi-meter
6. any other especially cool tools worth mentioning?

Oh and finally.. Where did you source all those stinkin' spare monitors and chassis you've shown in your garage? Did they come individually? From craigslist, friends? From cabs you purchased then junked?

[John's Arcade]

1. Video camera - Sony HDR-PJ710 - I edit the video in iMovie. The intro was done in After Effects. The music is by me.

2. Solder station - Weller WTCPT http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004W463/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1
2.1 Solder - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002KRAB0/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1
2.2 Soldering iron tip - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002BSP3G/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1
2.3 Tip Cleaner - http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-599B-02-Solder-Cleaning-Holder/dp/B00FZPGDLA

3. Wire stripper - http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3932546&utm_source=GooglePLA&utm_medium=pla&utm_term=6400083&gclid=CPagh-_D7bwCFedlOgodIxgAvQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

4. Solder sucker - http://www.amazon.com/Edsyn-Deluxe-Soldapullt-Heavy-Vacuum/dp/B006GOKVKI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393546290&sr=8-1&keywords=soldapullt

5. Multi-meter - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000O3LUEI/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

6. any other especially cool tools worth mentioning:

My two favorite tools in the whole world: http://www.amazon.com/Xcelite-S2K-2-Piece-Shearcutter-Pliers/dp/B001R1UEPW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1393546375&sr=8-3&keywords=xcelite

I got a lot of the monitors from warehouse raids and here and there from friends, cabinets that were trashed (not many), etc

[EmptyCoinslot]

Great topic. Thanks for the info. I'm just getting into vids started with pins. Now that I'm redoing my basement. Half of it will be and arcade and some vids will be a must! After watching your PAC cabirett restore and seeing your Tempest and centipede ones. Now I want them in the cabiretts. So thanks a lot!! 

[John's Arcade]

Great topic. Thanks for the info. I'm just getting into vids started with pins. Now that I'm redoing my basement. Half of it will be and arcade and some vids will be a must! After watching your PAC cabirett restore and seeing your Tempest and centipede ones. Now I want them in the cabiretts. So thanks a lot!! 

Yeah, those cabarets can be pretty cool!

[iankellogg]

I really think every person should learn how to use one of these
http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-Electronics-LP-560-Logic-Probe/dp/B000Z9HAP4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393552396&sr=8-1&keywords=logic+probe

You can fix a lot of dead PCB's with just one of those and a soldering iron.

[John's Arcade]

I really think every person should learn how to use one of these
http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-Electronics-LP-560-Logic-Probe/dp/B000Z9HAP4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393552396&sr=8-1&keywords=logic+probe

You can fix a lot of dead PCB's with just one of those and a soldering iron.

The only reason I have never invested in one of those is because I don't have a PCB test bench. I need to really build something soon.

[iankellogg]

do you have an amiga monitor?

My test bench is just a standard switching PSU, a standard jamma harness, an arcade to LCD converter and a PC.

I have a bunch of edge connectors and jamma finger boards that i wiring up adapters for the games i fix.
I have that exact logic probe and this logic analyzer http://www.saleae.com/logic16
I have a really cheap USB oscilloscope that works most of the time.
I usually print out schematics or if i have to, i probe random things trying to find something that doesnt make sense.
I actually learned a bit on how to fix arcade games from your buddy adam's youtube channel. The stuff I fix at work is modern things which in some ways is much easier to fix stuff.

[computerfixerguy]

Wow John thanks for the info!

I got some imitation meat in my freezer. If you're ever passing through you can totally have some.

[STEVESPEEZE]

1. Video camera - Sony HDR-PJ710

2. Solder station - Weller WTCPT http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004W463/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1
2.1 Solder - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002KRAB0/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1
2.2 Soldering iron tip - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002BSP3G/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1
2.3 Tip Cleaner - http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-599B-02-Solder-Cleaning-Holder/dp/B00FZPGDLA

3. Wire stripper - http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3932546&utm_source=GooglePLA&utm_medium=pla&utm_term=6400083&gclid=CPagh-_D7bwCFedlOgodIxgAvQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

4. Solder sucker - http://www.amazon.com/Edsyn-Deluxe-Soldapullt-Heavy-Vacuum/dp/B006GOKVKI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393546290&sr=8-1&keywords=soldapullt

5. Multi-meter - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000O3LUEI/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

6. any other especially cool tools worth mentioning:

My two favorite tools in the whole world: http://www.amazon.com/Xcelite-S2K-2-Piece-Shearcutter-Pliers/dp/B001R1UEPW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1393546375&sr=8-3&keywords=xcelite

I got a lot of the monitors from warehouse raids and here and there from friends, cabinets that were trashed (not many), etc

John you really should do a tech video and lay out the tools of your hobby on a table and point out what they do and what you use those for.

[jasonsmith]

I really think every person should learn how to use one of these
http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-Electronics-LP-560-Logic-Probe/dp/B000Z9HAP4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393552396&sr=8-1&keywords=logic+probe

You can fix a lot of dead PCB's with just one of those and a soldering iron.

Is there a website or a step by step how to on using one of these?I'd love to by a scrap board and start playing.

[iankellogg]

well the gist of it is you plug the probe into power and touch the end of the probe onto pins while the board is powered. Depending on the beeps you can figure out if something is shorted out or not behaving correctly. it just a faster way to find dead chips. you still need to know how to read schematics or understand how the chips are suppose to work.


This is john's friend adam's youtube channel, he has a lot of videos showing how he fixes games, it should give you an idea what you have to do to get started.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Bzak63p0W4bL1mp8txEVA

[jasonsmith]

Awesome, thank you. This is a field that I never got into but always enjoyed.

[STEVESPEEZE]

what a cool idea john ()  now the video ha

[STEVESPEEZE]

Wish I had this dude as a repair tech..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlmwzGpen40

Im gonna be picking through over 100 pcb's soon and this dude would make enough off me
to pay his rent for a month .

[John's Arcade]

Wish I had this dude as a repair tech..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlmwzGpen40

Im gonna be picking through over 100 pcb's soon and this dude would make enough off me
to pay his rent for a month .

That's my friend Adam. He has been in a few of my videos.