Your First Arcade Toolbox
So, you want to repair arcade games but you don’t know where to start? Well, it might be good to make sure that you have the tools you need before you get started. In this post, we are going to discuss what tools you will need if you plan on repairing arcade games. We are going to go into detail on each of these tools and give you links to where you can buy these items if you are interested. If you would prefer a quick overview of this post instead of reading the whole thing, you will find two videos embedded after the break. Let’s get started shall we…
Your First Arcade Toolbox (Part One)
Your First Arcade Toolbox (Part Two)
Tools Featured In Your First Arcade Toolbox (Part One)
Digital Multimeter: A digital multimeter is a must-have tool when you want to repair arcade games or any electronic devices for that matter. Make sure you get one that provides a beep when testing continuity. We’ll talk about digital multimeters and how to use them more in future posts.
Buy the Craftsman Digital Multimeter from Sears.com now!
Nut Drivers (SAE and Metric): Most of the arcade games that you encounter are going to use 1/4″ nuts with bolts somewhere on the cabinet. The most common place for this is on the control panel to hold down a piece of plexiglass. While SAE is more common, if an arcade game is from another country it might use metric instead which is why it’s always good to have both.
Buy the Stanley 6-Piece SAE Nut Driver Set
Buy the Stanley 7-Piece Metric Nut Driver Set
Needle Nose Pliers: Needle nose pliers are a necessity when working on arcade games. Many times you will come across a tight situation where regular pliers just won’t cut it. Make sure you have a pair of needle nose pliers in these situations as they will save you a lot of time and probably a headache as well.
Wire Cutters: The first time you open up an arcade game from an auction you never know what’s going to be in there. It’s always good to be prepared with a pair of wire cutters so you can clean up any extra wires or rewire problem areas.
Buy the Stanley 4-Piece Pliers Set
Buy the Stanley 6-Piece Bi-Material Mini Plier Set
Monitor Discharging Tool: The combination of a lamp/extension cord and alligator clips might seem pretty simple, however, it can save your life! Just cut and strip the cord, solder alligator clips to each end, tape up the ends where you soldered and your done! Make sure to get a long, insulated flat head screwdriver to attach this to when discharging a monitor. Watch our post on how to Safely Discharge An Arcade Monitor before trying it yourself!
Buy the 12 pc 2″ Insulated Alligator Clips Set
Wire Strippers: From time to time you might find a wire in an arcade game that doesn’t have enough bare wire showing to reattach it to it’s correct location. Stripping the wire with a good pair of wire strippers can give you that extra bit that you need.
Buy the Automatic Wire Stripper
Molex Crimpers: Many arcade games contain Molex connectors in them. These connectors contain pins that must be crimped around the wire. These crimpers are essential to making sure that you crimp these pins around the wires correctly.
Buy the D-Sub Pin Crimper from Radioshack.com now!
Electrical Tape / Flashlight: Remember, DO NOT get cheap electrical tape! It will come back to bite you! Stick to the good brands like Scotch or Duct and you’ll be fine. Also, remember that arcade games are dark so keep a good flashlight with you at all times.
Buy the Scotch Electrical Tape Set
Buy the Stanley Tripod LED Flashlight
Tools Featured In Your First Arcade Toolbox (Part Two)
Soldering Iron: Make sure that you get a decent soldering iron even if you don’t plan on using it all of the time. It’s good to stick to major brands like Weller and Metcal when selecting an iron. For the beginning arcade technician, I recommend the Weller SP40LK Soldering Iron Kit
Buy the Weller SP40LK Soldering Iron Kit
Solder (Rosin Core): When you go shopping for solder, you will notice that there are many types and sizes available. Make sure you get rosin core solder in a small diameter (preferably 0.05″ to 0.062″). The amount that you get (usually in ounces) is up to you. NEVER use acid core solder for electronics!!!
Buy the American Terminal Rosin Core Solder (4 oz)
Soldering Station: It’s also a good idea to pick up a soldering station along with your soldering iron. This will give you a safe place to store your soldering iron while it’s hot. Most soldering stations also come with a sponge so you can remove excess solder from the tip. Make sure that you wet the sponge before you start using it!
Buy the Cables To Go – Soldering Station
Desoldering Iron: Desoldering irons can be very handy for quick removal of parts from an arcade board. They are basically the combination of a soldering iron and desoldering pump. You can buy the desoldering pump separately, however, having a desoldering iron is more convenient than having to use the soldering iron/desoldering pump combination in most cases.
Buy the ECG 45 Watt Desoldering Iron
Desoldering Braid (Solder Wick): When you are trying to desolder delicate parts on an arcade board, desoldering braid or solder wick typically works better than a desoldering iron. It allows you to get into tight places where a desoldering iron might be too big for the task.
Buy Tech Spray No-Clean Desoldering Wick
Well, now you know what to put in your first arcade toolbox, however, knowing what to put in your toolbox is just the beginning. Watch for more posts and videos on how to use these tools to diagnose and repair your arcade issues. Good luck on repairing your arcade games in the future.
[...] Once you have determined that your plug is damaged, we can now begin the process of replacing it. Let’s talk about what tools you will need. You will need a screwdriver (phillips or flat depending on your plug), a pair of wire cutters and a pair of wire strippers. We have also found it helpful to have a pocket knife or razor blade handy in case you have to cut the jacket (or outside cord wrapping). If you have any other questions about these tools please refer to our post on Your First Arcade Toolbox. [...]
[...] Before you touch anything in the arcade cabinet, make sure the power is switched off and the game is unplugged. Also make sure that you have assembled your monitor discharge tool and have an insulated flat-head screwdriver to use with it. For more information on this, please view our post on Your First Arcade Toolbox. [...]
Hey guys, great site. In regard to a soldering iron, do you guys recommend 40W over 25W? If so why? I ask because I’m in the middle of a cap kit and lifted a trace by applying too much heat. I’m thinking 40W might be too much..???
John,
Thanks for the great site comment. I’ll return the favor by saying great question. There are times when the higher wattage definitely comes in handy. We like to use solder wick (or braid) on boards and when the solder is old the extra wattage helps melt it down. That being said, it’s really all about what’s your more comfortable with. If you feel like the 40 watt is too high then keep a 25 watt around as well for those smaller jobs. Even better, you can get you a soldering iron with a temperature adjustment. Weller makes some great ones around the $100 range that should be able to handle any project you face.
We have also featured your question on episode 22 of our Q&A podcast. Please listen to it for more of our thoughts on your question. Thank you for your question and good luck with your repair.