Tools of the trade
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: General Mobile Electronics Questions and Answers
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=5196
Printed Date: August 21, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Topic: Tools of the trade
Posted By: PLAYER69
Subject: Tools of the trade
Date Posted: November 06, 2002 at 8:40 PM
I just thought it might be interesting to see some of the different tools people use to make life easier as an installer. I currently use snap on soldering iron but since I go through a tip every couple days, I was wondering what you guys use. Here is a link to mine. https://buy.snapon.com/catalog/pro_det.asp?P65=yes&qt=1&tool=.....
Replies:
Posted By: PLAYER69
Date Posted: November 06, 2002 at 8:46 PM
Here is another cool little tool i use. Lots of you have probably seen this before but many might have not. I use it primarily for a tach finder and to program astro starts. https://www.astroflex.com/english/dealers/Multitest.html The nice thing about it is that it shows how many cylinders and the rpm. Completely eliminates the guess work and is really handy for remote starts that have to programmed by number of cylinder and rpm reading instead of self learning.
Posted By: TooDarkTinting
Date Posted: November 06, 2002 at 10:00 PM
what is the cost of the multitest II
Posted By: SnomanF150
Date Posted: November 07, 2002 at 12:52 PM
same iron I use.... but my best friend is my old as dirt mikita drill... the small 7.2 drill before they came out with the ones that you can't get into a dash now.. my most impressive is the CP heavy duty recip saw... CP181 I think is the model.. pull the trigger on it and it's like starting a two stroke... and of course, the good old fashioned snap on blub test light... but that was another post.. lol
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George
David's Car Stereo
Baton Rouge, LA
Posted By: PLAYER69
Date Posted: November 07, 2002 at 4:06 PM
TooDark, That mulitest II is about $250 canadian. It is really handy especially if you install Astro Start.
Posted By: JellyNutz
Date Posted: November 09, 2002 at 10:41 PM
Soldering iron, huh? I don't use an iron unless I have to. Try a torch. I have a small one that has an adujustible flame that is small enough to solder under a dash without burning anything, and it saves lotsa time. Good for heat shrink too... if you use it. I know most shops like car toys, for example, dont even bother to solder let alone shrink. The tools I value most are probably my makita right angle drill (great for under the dash & other tight spots), my snap-on hook tool set and plastic panel popper (keeps from tearing up door panels), my racheting snap-on screwdrivers and angle drivers (along with a wonderful bit set that includes anything from a slot bit to a torx or hex (allen) bit), a good set of klein strippers and crimpers, and of course my trusty torch... Of course there are several others but these are used nearly 99% of the time and I always keep them handy in my tote.
Posted By: SOUND PRESSURE
Date Posted: November 09, 2002 at 10:45 PM
Don't forget a handy unibit for getting wires through the firewall. I got my butane soldering gun from snap-on. It is a blue point. It has taken a beating over the years but it is still running.
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Sound Pressure
You know you have the right amount of pressure when your eyes start to water! Now you've got Juice!
Posted By: JellyNutz
Date Posted: November 09, 2002 at 10:46 PM
Oh yeah... as far as finding a tach wire (or any other one you'd need for that matter) try directechs.com if you are a directed dealer. They have wiring info on anything you'd ever need, and it's much easier than probing through a bundle of wires... Nice when your installing a solaris or any other clifford for that matter, as we do all the time (None of our salespeople like selling anything cheap). Don't you just love making 30 connections? Hehe....
Posted By: JellyNutz
Date Posted: November 09, 2002 at 10:47 PM
Gotta love the unibit for flush mounting LED's and valet switches...
Posted By: SOUND PRESSURE
Date Posted: November 09, 2002 at 10:50 PM
YES without a doubt. It is a handy piece of equipment.  ------------- Sound Pressure
You know you have the right amount of pressure when your eyes start to water! Now you've got Juice!
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