[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] tool glossary

[Ian]

Good stuff.  73, Ian N8IK 




Soldering iron - tool for overheating components such as transistors and
IC's, also used for burning holes in workbenches, dropping hot solder on
pants legs, and attaching PL-259 connectors to coax before realizing the
outer ring wasn't put on the coax first.

Phillips screwdriver - tool for stripping out the heads of Phillips screws,
usually the very last one removed from a radio.

Flat screwdriver - tool for making huge scratches in the top of a radio
enclosure or breaking plastic cases when opening after failing to realize
one screw wasn't removed.  Also used to strip out the heads of torx screws.

Multimeter - measuring device used to give false readings when the wrong
range is selected.  Also used to falsely report zero voltage or continuity
when the cable is plugged into the Amps jack instead of V/Ohm jack. 

Dummy load - a device used to destroy the finals of a transmitter by
forgetting to attach it.

Pliers - used for rounding off tight bolts or nuts so that they'll stay on
permanently.

Long screwdriver - used for finding high voltage points in a boatanchor by
displaying sparks, followed by a blackout.

Fuse - safety device you blow five of before realizing you hooked the radio
up to the wrong terminals.

Slug tuner - a plastic device that gets stripped while trying to turn a
stubborn slug in an IF can.

Clip leads - used to temporarily make connections when building a project
which won't work after it's been installed & hardwired in an enclosure.

Magnifying glass - used to fail to find dropped SMT components on the floor.

Tweezers - tool used for installing components in tight places by gripping
them until they shoot out and disappear forever.  Also used for dropping SMT
components on the floor (see also: Magnifying glass).

Heat sink - device used for transferring intense heat from an electronic
component to your finger.

IC remover - tool used for ripping legs off IC's and leaving them on the PC
board where they're still soldered.

Solderless breadboard - device used for testing & improving circuits which
won't work once they're hardwired.

Wire cutters - used for cutting wires too short. 

Line shooter - a slingshot device used to hoist antennas into trees before
realizing you forgot to connect the coaxial cable to it first.

Battery charger - a device which is forgotten to connect to a dead gel cell
battery the night before Field Day.

Super glue - adhesive used to attach electronic components to fingers.

Spray paint - substance used to leave fingerprints on a project enclosure.


Tom Sevart N2UHC
St. Paul, KS