Tools For Beginners

Builders with years of experience often find themselves in need of a new tool or device to build or run their robot but there are a few things that all builders, even people using robot kits, will need.

Weller Solder Station

Soldering Station
Mastering soldering can be difficult but if you don't have the right tools, even with many hours of practice you'll never become proficient. There are a lot of beginners guides to help you with the basics. There are a lot of inexpensive and worthless soldering stations out there. You don't need to break the bank but you should get a quality tool from a manufacturer like Weller or Hakko or X-Tronic. There are a lot of online guides comparing soldering stations.
The heat from soldering can sometimes damage components. One of the best ways to avoid this is to use leaded 60/40 (60% tin, 40% lead) rosin core solder. Some places will advocate for using lead-free solder but it's melting point is much higher and is much more difficult to use. Another thing to consider getting is a pair of Helping Hands. Typically you will need to hold onto three or four pieces (wire, motor, solder, iron) to solder and this can be difficult with two hands. Helping Hands will hold the pieces you are soldering together for you so you can concentrate on just getting a good solder joint.

Wire Cutters - Strippers

Wire Cutter / Stripping tool

For smaller robots you can get by with a pair of scissors to cut your wires and a sharp knife to strip off the insulation but it can be difficult to strip the insulation without damaging the underlying wire. Things will be much easier if you have the right tool for the job. There are several different varieties but you can get a fully functional pair for just a few dollars. The 'automatic' wire strippers tend to work better for larger gage wires plyer style can work better for smaller wires.

Drivers

Saws