This
60 watt soldering station is a great value and a good performer. I use this station, and am pleased with the quick heat up, and stable temperature. The only negative is the power cord is shorter than other stations that I have used. I think that it is about 3 feet long, while my other stations are probably closer to 4 feet.
Get a spare tip, or two from the auction site. Tips for the Hakko 936 fit perfectly. I like the Hakko 900M-T-I.
A tip cleaner is a good idea. I never liked using a sponge, but many swear by it. I like the
waterless tip cleaner.
Don't forget the solder. Thin rosin core solder (37/63, 0.015") and some solder flux will make for clean, smooth joints. You can also use solder paste with good results if you are careful.
A decent multi-meter can be purchased for less than $30. In addition to voltage and current readings, you might want a meter than has resistance, capacitance and a continuity tester. If you plan on doing a lot of modding in the future, a good meter is a good investment. My Radio Shack digital multi-meter was $70 when I got it on sale 12 years ago. It does everything, including testing transistors. If I could find a DMM with the same features for less than $100, I would buy it.
A third hand holder is another good tool to have when modding lights. You can find an inexpensive holder with alligator clips for less than $5 on the auction site. The best third hand holder is the
GRS Benchmate double third hand. It is expensive, but is the best holder that I have used. I got mine for less than $100, and it was money well spent.
If you use Teflon coated wire, you will need a pair of good wire stippers. Several pairs of tweezers and small needle nose pliers are a must, and split ring pliers are a good tool for removing pills. Other useful tools would be strap wrenches for opening lights, containers for holding light parts (ZipLoc containers are excellent), and a pen and paper for sketching how a light is constructed, or taking notes.
I am sure that there is more, but this is a good start.
