Must-Have Tools For Working On Vintage Audio Gear!

[@jeffstockton534]

When this gentleman is at 50k subs, I'll remember that I was here at 1k.

[@AHFixIt]

We'll see!

[@cheaprubbergarage6015]

Been a year and he's at 10.4k I'd say he's on the road to hitting that 50k soon

[@milo963]

Hakko FR-301 desolder gun is worth every nickle I paid for it. +1 on a magnifying visor, mine has two lenses and a flip down monocle to get right on top of stuff.

[@chriscluver1940]

What's that black square on the "desk lamp" arm? Doesn't look like just a work light.

[@allanwaite3725]

This is very helpful. I was watching videos about the Fluke 117, one guy says it is for electricians, not electronics repair - because it does not feature milliamps or microamps measurement. Thoughts?

[@cottydry]

Great video. I would add a set of Optivisors to your list. You can thank me later.

[@johnspina318]

Great video...What do you use for a dummy load and signal generator? I enjoy your videos and also getting more into my Pioneer and Marantz stereos and want to learn further.

[@TheDecguy]

Another inexpensive tool, wire wrap.

[@jtb8461]

Great Channel! Lots of useful information. Found a NAD receiver at Goodwill with dirty volume and balance controls and a Vector Research VR-5000 at a fleamarket that needs quite a bit more TLC. Been using your videos as a reference for the repairs. Still building my tool collection.

[@jakeingwersen3980]

Are you still making videos?

[@wrh0627]

I really like your video's and have learned alot from them. I was wondering about your dummy loads that you use for testing if you could tell me where you purchased them. I'm going to start a full rebuild of a Marantz 1060 on my own due in part from the confidence I got from watching your videos keep up the good worm.

[@AHFixIt]

These guys: www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Ohmite/C300K8R0E?qs=tdviw6CI36f2RiBBjsEH%252Bw%3D%3D

[@wrh0627]

Thanks!

[@394Magic]

You don't use a wire wrap / unwrap tool?

[@amrench]

Thanks for posting this. I just bought a bunch of items and used your affiliate links for all the ones I picked up from your list. I’m excited to get started. I’m a little intimidated when I look at those boards in the receivers but I’m sure the more I get into them the better I’ll get. :)

[@alcameron6071]

This is a really great video. I have pretty much mostly the same handtools, I just recently purchased a X-Tronics soldering station, with attached helping hands! This is really great for holding small boards or wires in front of the soldering station so you can use both hands free to do the work. It’s really nice. Presently I’m working on a Kenwood KR-7070 with the auto tune bar. Manufactured around 1972, and a really sweet receiver, 65 W per channel. There are two bulbs burned out in the dial face that need to be replaced, and the pointer seems to be rather dull, I’m guessing it’s not the correct bulb voltage. But I have one problem. I can’t remove the faceplate. I removed all the knobs, I remove the four nuts and washers from four of the control stems but there seems to be something still holding it from being removed. Appears to be holding at the bottom but after removing the bottom cover from the receiver, I cannot find a single thing that would be preventing it from being removed. I have researched many sites, emailed at least four people, after explaining the problem all I get back is crickets. I realize Marantz is your area of expertise but maybe you have different resources hookah help me with my problem? Any help would be much appreciate it. Thanks.

[@DavidBerquist334]

I have a optinica amplifier sm 1515 b if the power transformer goes bad can it still be fixed the part number is rtrnp0506afzz and put ic is rh-ix1066afzz can you still get those parts

[@Jennd2000]

Suggestion do you have a web site? And do you also offer for sale items re-newed ? Please consider and keep to vintage hifi repair let’s get you to 100k genuine subscribers!

[@JamesJoyce871]

Hello AH. Nice video. I have some of the tools but I don't have the confidence in my fix-it skills!!

[@PioneerGuy581]

oh please mention saftey of the contact cleaner smell - i think i am going to dIe from it, try to spray that stuff outside! i have not done any repairs in years - i have to recap the 838 tone board - what a noisy beast. pop hissssss click, seems like the older they are the harder they are to do. new subscriber btw. I have a Aoyue 2703A Rework Station - maybe this will work for desoldering these kinda boards as it never worked on laptops, i quit repairing laptops 5 years ago as the repairman became obsolete. cool channel btw..ill be here a lot it looks like got in over my head on a few pioneers. if you ever need a lapop DC jack I probally have it as that was my old business - swapped out over 3000 of them.

[@slickfu]

Bro, you really remind me of Will Wheaton from Star Trek. You should play on that in your videos. You're welcome!

[@branhicks]

Is this a compliment?

[@slickfu]

@@branhicks yes of course. Wesley Crusher was a BA.

[@ivansbacon]

Can you comment on Capacitor testing? Will the Fluke do that, i have heard that cheap multi-meters do not test capacitance.

[@AN-ce1nd]

I use a iPhone app that is a signal generator. Free, and neat. I definitely would like at one point to get a better signal generator for FM, AM work.

[@robertocarvalho6242]

Great video.Hello from Brazil.

[@SunnySingh-tg2rg]

Hi, I saw your video of rebuilding magnepan speakers. I have a pair I which needs to be rebuilt. Can you do it?

[@SuperDeBruce]

Great video, thanks for the advice and guidance - I've had a Hakko FR301 on my wish list for a while now!

[@quiksr20]

Used your links to buy some tools, cant wait to get cracking at this receiver I got sitting here dead. Keep up the great videos.

[@AHFixIt]

Thanks! Good luck!

[@quiksr20]

@@AHFixIt Thanks , just picked up a Realistic STA-100 to get my feet wet with repairs.. Been learning a ton from youtube / audiokarma and a vintage facebook group im in which has lots of techs. Its been a ton of fun.

[@cheaprubbergarage6015]

I've been using that same exact soldering station, yeah it's old but has outlasted many irons over the past 15 years

[@midmodaudio6576]

Great video ! Thanks for taking the time to post it. Regarding SAFETY GLASSES, I completely agree that they should always be worn when working. Scuffed safety glasses can be easily renewed with either plastic or metal polish. We have enough plastic in the environment so no need to toss them when worn.

[@ericschleppegrell4467]

Solidworks? Do you design for a living? #Me too!

[@Jennd2000]

Great to watch and very informative please keep up good work.

[@Managua-f1n]

Thanks a lot ... I would like to use the oscilloscope . First I have to learn to use , is in my mind . About the lamp circuit ;Would you please put a schematic circuit how to do it .

[@AHFixIt]

I've added links to the description for info on oscilloscopes and dim bulb testers.

[@branhicks]

I find the ifixit kits to be extremely handy when it comes to small screw drivers

[@jnbraga67]

Great video!!! Thanks!

[@ericschleppegrell4467]

Can you get some bigger test speakers?

[@larrydrish8960]

What are the 2 gold colored bulb/cup like things mounted on the solder station and the solder sucker? Great video! I'm just getting started on vintage stereo restoration and found your video to be excellent. Thanks for the tools list! That is very helpful. Keep up the great work!

[@AHFixIt]

They are Hakko 599B tip cleaners. Thanks for watching!

[@pharoahamunra]

desoldering tool is what those are called.

[@jb678901]

To make my DIM BULB tester, I opened up a $8 plastic power strip (with switch) and rewired it for this purpose. Took about 20 minutes. After rewiring it, I used a silver marker on the black plastic housing of the power strip to clearly label: 1) "DIM BULB TESTER", 2) Bulb socket, 3) test-load socket. I bought a plug in socket for the bulb (a couple of bucks). Works like a charm. The challenge was finding the correct wattage of incandescent light bulbs where I live (Europe-CH). Seems the world has switched to LED while I had assumed the incandescent bulbs would always be readily available. Anything above 40W is a real chore to find. Might have left some in storage... somewhere...hoping that's the case. I suppose one could even go the route of wiring for multiple bulbs with a 4 or 5 socket power strip with individual socket switches and different wattage bulbs. Useful if you find screwing light bulbs (in and out) to be a challenge.

[@v12alpine]

I ended up making one like AH's. I like it because you can use a single bulb on the unit itself, or plug in a power strip for multiple bulbs to parallel up the wattage.

[@insolentstickleback3266]

Hobbiest Sensai…

[@alexbautista1891]

Not mentioned on your list. What are the specs on your DIY load resistor?

[@michaelwright1602]

Normally 8 Ohm

[@PlaybackMansion]

This is great!

[@elopes77]

Great vídeo! I would add one signal generator and an 8ohm/4ohm load resistance to test power specs.

[@treadmillrepair754]

I have 2 funtion generators in my lab but now I use a computer only. I bought one Zoom U-24 now I can do a lot of testing with the computer. Best Regards

[@Kiera_Jackson74]

What power/wattage of light bulb do you use for the dim bulb tester?

[@AHFixIt]

Depends on the amp. If it's a lower power amp, probably 60 watts is ok. If it's a higher power one, you start looking at 100W and higher.

[@timbabyfacesavage377]

Even tho you may not be a professional you have all the tool's you need to do what you do. Keep it up ps i just bought a Marantz 2252b and after awhile of listening the left channel fades any ideas? I'm sure it's an easy fix just wanted you're opinion thanks.

[@AHFixIt]

I'd start with cleaning the controls with DeOxit. If that doesn't work, it could be a number of things, some simple some more complex

[@timbabyfacesavage377]

@@AHFixIt thanks brother i really appreciate it.

[@Urbaxter]

I really would like to know what you think about these "in circuit" ESR Meters, and why you don't use these kind of tools?

[@AHFixIt]

There is nothing wrong with those. I get by just fine with the capacitance reading function on my DMM.

[@marais75012]

ESR readings are rarely needed for audio applications. You would want one of those for work on switching power supplies.