Starting from scratch

[Jabbatee]

Building a slotcar from scratch has always been on my slot car bucket list. After being inspired by the work of those in this forum and reading several great tutorials, it got me to thinking about the tools that would be needed to get started with a build. If you were to recommend five "must have" tools to get started with a build, what would they be?

Thanks in advance for sharing your perspectives.

Joe

[Retro Racer 44]

I would recommend first of all a honeycomb board and the nails to use on it. A Weller 80 watt soldering iron or similar, and solder and flux to go with it. A good hacksaw with a fine tooth blade.
A small vise such as a 3 inch drill press vise. A drill press or a portable variable speed drill and a set of good bits.

Is that five? With those five things you can easily make quality brass chassis.

Cheers,

Keith

[MoparGreg]

Dremel is my number 1 go to tool. I use it a lot. Grinding and cutting plastic and brass.

[HomeRacingWorld]

1. Good variable speed Dremel
2. Good quality soldering iron. We can debate that forever. I use a inexpensive 40 watt Weller and it does the job. 60/40 solder and Flux to add.
3. Mini Torch. I do a LOT of soldering with it.
4. Chassis Jig. Regardless if you go with an inexpensive honeycomb board or higher end jig. You need one.
5. Good quality hand files. Nothing is better for precise clean up on axles or truing a bracket surface.

6. PATIENCE :) Ooops that's 6...but the most important one IMHO :)

[Florida_Slotter]

In order of importance, here is my well worn lsst of required tools:

1. My belief us that if you intend to solder, then you require a quality soldering iron. How do I define "Quality"? Simple, something that meets or exceeds the requirements of the task you will assign it to. Does this mean you need to spend $$$$$$ for your soldering? Absolutely not.

I use the Inland Deluxe 100 Soldering Iron. I've been soldering for almost 60 years, mainly in the electronic / communications field. My current soldering iron has almost 200 "notches" cut into it - one per chassis soldered. I am still using the original tip!

Of course I use a light dimmer rheostat to control the output of the iron. I feel this is mandatory. You need much less heat to solder .025 wire then you need when soldering .064 brass. Kind of like having a "Big Block" in your car. The power is there when you need it. When I am building, my soldering iron is always on, just urged down,

Here is a link to the Inland Soldering Iron:

2. Adjustable Dremel tool.

3. Dial Calipers - 4 inches in length, capable of displaying .001 as minimum.

4. "Bending Pliers" are another necessity. I use all sorts of pliers, but the all have well known names emblazoned on the - Klein. To me a pair of pliers that will allow you to form wire into whatever it is that you feel it should look like.

5. Something to hold parts in alignment whilst you are soldering.


This what you NEED, at least it is in my opinion.

I for one am looking forward to seeing your work.

[Gameover]

Dremmel is a must.

Of course a soldering iron. I went cheap twice wish i didnt. Now i need to buy another one. I use my torch i use for copper lol. It works but gets way to hot! I also just bought a small butane torch. I will use that now too.

And a jig i use razor jons jig. Love it.

[Mitch58]

I have several soldering irons, I do poorly with all of them. I finally bought a soldering "gun" and it works great for me. It's cool on the bench, your pick it up and hold the trigger halfway and in about 5 seconds its ready to solder anything you want. The Dremmel is a must have with various bits, I use it constantly. If soldering doesn't work out for you, you can always start with something like a PSC, or Slot Classic, or Slot it HRS2 chassis. They can be made to run very well.

[HomeRacingWorld]

This is a good thread. Very interesting and helpful comments for anyone IMHO.

[RazorJon]

dremel tool- they make a nice cordless one for about $80.00

small pencil torch- $20.00

Jig- you could make one from scrap plywood $?

couple of needle nose pliers- $5.00

X-Acto razor saw- $15.00
cordless drill- got a small craftsman for $25.00

this is mostly what I use and I make my own motor mounts

[btaylor]

[TsgtRet]

Concur on everything listed thus far. One consideration, if money is an issue, buy a less expensive single speed Dremel and use a variable light dimmer. They say it's hard on them but I used one that way for 30 years before it crapped out.

[ccobra]

At least times are better now the way I look at it. Back in the sixties when I first started as a kid, I used my Dad's weller soldering gun, used a 2x4 and nails for a fixture, have a rather large flat file and emory cloth, and for an xacto knife I would swipe one of Dad's single edge razor blades. Yes it was hard on the fingers back then but it sure does make the tool list like everyone else has mentioned be that much better. But most important be patient and HAVE FUN!

[Jabbatee]

Thanks to everyone for sharing all this great information. This is definitely going to be very helpful as I begin to acquire some tools.