My Tool Bench Top 10, 2025 Edition

Here at the Repair Shop, we believe you should be able to set up your own bench if that's your thing. To help you out, I've put together this page listing the tools we keep on our bench and why they matter—nothing fancy, just what you actually need.

Solder Station – RS PRO 1244134 (RS)

Any soldering iron will get you started, but if you're dealing with bigger components or doing proper rework, you'll want a hot-air attachment. Having solid temperature control and adjustable airflow makes the job quicker and stops you from cooking parts or lifting pads.

Multimeter – Lidl Parkside (or anything decent)

You don't need a top-end multimeter to get started. If it has a continuity tester and it goes beep, you're already 90% there.
The €5 Alibaba multimeters are fine for students and beginner DIYers, they do the job. but they're very plasticky and feel like a toy. Try to spend €20–€30 if you can. A sturdier body and proper leads make your work safer and far less annoying.
At this level you're only dealing with 1–24 volts, so you're not in danger. but a decent meter makes learning and troubleshooting much easier.

iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit 

It has every bit you'll need. Sure, you can get a kit on Alibaba for a tenth of the price, but it's the same story as buying a Dacia vs. a Rolls-Royce. Both get you there, but one feels solid every time you hold it. The iFixit bits are tough, reliable, and the whole set is just brilliant. Even if you don't go for the full kit, the Mako Precision Bit Set alone is worth it.

Solder Fume Extractor

This one's all about safety and keeping smoke out of your face. Get one. You'll still forget to turn it on half the time, and then immediately wonder why you didn't.

Since I'm talking about Alibaba so much: yes, you'll get free solder and random extras from sellers. But here's the problem, it's probably leaded. Nobody cares about RoHS compliance when you're doing repairs, but at the end of the day, it's still lead. You're heating it. You're breathing it. The absolute bare minimum is turning on the extractor fan. Do your lungs a favour.

Variable Power Supply

A proper variable power supply is usually the first "real" upgrade people make. You can dial in exact voltages, limit current so you don't fry anything, and actually test circuits the right way. It's not the flashiest tool on the bench, but it's one of the most important.

Digital Oscilloscope – MP720854

I'll be honest, this is the tool I both believe in completely and still haven't unlocked the full power of. It's brilliant, but I'm not pretending I'm using every feature like a pro.

What is true is this: the oscilloscope took me from guessing to actually knowing. Instead of "maybe this works," I can see whether a signal is clean, broken, or not there at all. That alone makes it worth having.

Yes, it's expensive. No, it's not the first tool you buy. But when you're ready to step up your skills and stop relying on trial-and-error, an oscilloscope is what takes you into the next league.

Electronics are getting smaller, and your eyes aren't getting any better. Guessing never fixed anything.

A scope lets you actually see what's going on:

• Burnt or blown components you'd never spot otherwise

• Hairline cracks in traces or solder joints

• Shorts or bridges between tiny pins

• Lifted pads before they become a bigger headache

• Cold joints that look fine but aren't

Thermal Camera 

This one works especially well when combined with a variable power supply. Most blown or failing components heat up, so you can literally see the problem—or spot a potential one before it blows.

It's just a really handy tool, especially for this kind of work. Makes troubleshooting faster and far less guesswork.

Hot Plate / Preheat Station

This is mainly needed when you're working with large SMDs, heat sinks, or plastic connectors and parts. It's incredibly helpful, but also one of the biggest dangers on the bench—these things can hit 250 °C and don't care about your skin.

Use it, but treat it with respect. It speeds up tricky jobs, but don't get careless.

Ultrasonic Cleaner

Conclusion

Setting up a bench doesn't have to be complicated, but having the right tools makes all the difference. You don't need every shiny gadget out there, just the ones that actually help you see, fix, and test without guesswork.

From a basic soldering iron to a microscope, thermal camera, and power supply, each tool has its place. Some will sit on the shelf most of the time, some will save your skin or your sanity, and some will help you step up your game.

Invest in the tools that matter, respect the dangerous ones, and don't be afraid to upgrade as you learn. At the end of the day, a well-set-up bench is the difference between guessing and knowing and that's what makes repairs actually work.