KB0HAE's recommendations

This page contains suggestions for your Go Bag from Martin Campbell, KB0HAE.

As a former slot technician on a casino boat, I was able to fix a surprising variety of things (both electronic/electrical, and mechanical with the following tools:

  • A multi-tool ($9.95 cheapy from AutoZone)
  • A multi-screwdriver (the type that has 2 reversable bits, and the shaft gives 2 sizes of nutdrivers with the bits removed)
  • Six inch slip-joint pliers
  • A small philips screwdriver and a small straight screwdriver (for use on tiny screws like the ones used in muc connectors)
  • Butane soldering iron
  • Solder
  • Butane lighter (to light the butane iron)
  • Good electrical tape
  • Small swiss army knife (not the one with every tool known to man on it)
For your tool bag, a few more useful things are:
  • A can of butane fuel (only if the bag is not stored in a hot place!)
  • VOM (volt-ohm meter)
  • A couple of sizes of adjustable wrenches
  • Large slip-joint pliers
  • 6 point wrenches in sizes that you know you will need
  • A 1/4 inch and a 3/8 inch socket wrenches with appropriate sockets (this may be overkill)
This should give you the tools to fix just about anything, without being too large or heavy.

As for the rest, you will never have everything you need or want, so go with the lists that are out there, with a few judicious additions.

One note: DO NOT include one of those cheap batteryless "shake lights" Most of the cheap ones are fake (they have 1 or 2 watch batteries). Personally, I like the flashlights with the hand crank better.

© 2008 St. Louis County ARES®

00641