The Essential Tools Every Guitar Pedal Builder Should Own
The Essential Tools Every Guitar Pedal Builder Should Own
(in no particular order)
Sometimes when picking up a hobby, cheap starting equipment is more than enough to get by. Eventually though, upgrades are needed no matter what the hobby is... In my case it turned into a business.
Here's a few things that are essential for speed, efficiency and most importantly, quality.
1. A Quality Temperature-Controlled Soldering Station
Kind of obvious, but this isn't something to cheap out on...
A temperature-controlled station maintains consistent heat, allowing components and PCB pads to reach the proper temperature without overheating. This results in cleaner joints, less frustration, and fewer intermittent faults.
Quality soldering iron tips are also important as they use better materials and last longer than no name ones.
A quality soldering station can be a pretty large one time investment but it will serve you for many years to come!
I personally use an analog Weller WES51 but that has been discontinued for the Weller WE1010NA which is basically the same thing but with a screen and digital control over the temperature. 
Here's mine! I've been using it for many years and its covered in dust and battle scars but has never failed. I really need to clean my work area....
2. Good quality solder
Good solder doesn’t make a “better sounding” pedal on its own—but it does make a more reliable, quieter, and easier-to-build circuit.
Pedals are made to be used on the road and need to work every day and night. That starts at good soldering quality. I won't teach you how to solder, there's tons of great tutorials online. If your joints are still bad it may that your solder is to blame.
Place more info here and talk about solder quality and what solder i use
3. Digital Multimeter (and learn how to use it)
4. Plastic sockets
Rocket Sockets – Pedal Hardware Tool | Pepers' Pedals | Pepers' Pedals
5. An Audio Probe
Signal Tracer/Injector Pen V6.3 + Case – RTU (Ready to Use) – TH custom effects
6. Flush Cutters
7. Wire Strippers
8. Good Lighting
9. Fume Extractor
10. Part Organizers
11. PCB Holder
12. Precision Tweezers
13. Screwdriver Set
iFixit Pro Tech® Toolkit: Computer, Phone, Electronics Repair Kit
Note: None of this is advertizing and I am not affiliated with any company other than StonegateFx . All of this is my personal opinion :)