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I was going to check out the Guitar Pedal Expo this weekend in Van Nuys, and wanted to see what other Los Angelinos were going to be there? This would be my first time.  Out of curiosity, are the people that put it on going to respond to this post?

Lindstrom cutters and pliers are extremely well made tools. If that's something you enjoy and appreciate, I'd say go for it.

You know thats a good point. I do enjoy a well made tool that will last and does what it does extremely well. Now that I think about it, that is pretty much how I am with all my other tools (non pedal tools. Bike tools and handy man stuff). I would rather spend the money once and trust the tool, then keep running back to harbor freight every couple weeks for a new "fill in the blank." Don't get me wrong, that place serves a purpose but...Wait, what were we talking about? I digress. Im gonna go buy some Lindstrom tools now.

I just upgraded my ones last week.  I ended up getting these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/quality-cutters-hardened-Japanese-engineer/dp/B000TGJSWG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395424822&sr=8-1&keywords=engineer+side+cutters

Seem great so far, nice build quality, time will tell though.

I got the same branded solder sucker too, best one I've ever used.

Couldn't find them on the on the US amazon. 

These are pretty good:
http://www.amazon.com/Xuron-170-II-Micro-Shear-Flush-Cutter/dp/B000IBSFAI/ref=pd_sim_indust_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1DK4QSPW2M9Y0XPHYC1M

These are better:
http://www.amazon.com/LINDSTROM-DIAGONAL-MICRO-BEVEL-8160/dp/B000HYOHSA/ref=sr_1_7?s=in

Don't know if they are 7x better. I have both, and the Lindstrom is a much nicer tool, but the Xcelite works pretty well, and at that price, you can just get a new pair when it gets dull.

Thanks for the suggestions! I might pick up those Xcelites. Howeer those Lindstroms looks pretty legit. Are they one of those things where you pay what you get for? I think that might be up my alley as I was looking for a good solid pair that will last a while.

Odale Hombres! Happy Friday!

I seem to always be on the search for some decent micro flushcutters. I bought a solid pair a while back from Pacific Radio and they did the job fine, but seem to be going a bit dull. I was at an electronics store and bought some for a couple bucks as a replacement. No bueno, there is nothing flush or precision about them . I learned my lesson. I was curious if anyone has any suggestions, or preferences, or maybe no one has ever even really put much thought into it (I tend to over think things a bit). Anyways what do you use? I was gonna try and order something from amazon today. My local homedepot didnt seem to have anything that would suit my needs.

Thanks,
upthepunxxx!

Man, this is one of those things that keeps me up at night. I go green with envy and become completley mystified when I see gut shots from pros like Juansolo and others. It really boggles my mind how you guys can keep everything so clean, with wires bent in all the right places and the lengths just long enough. Its goddamn pedal porn I tell you! Seriously though, whenever I get ready to box something I tell myself that this is the pedal that will look beautiful and clean under the hood. Then something happens, I black out and wake up with a box filled with wires that are too long or too short, sloppy soldering, boards that are crooked, LEDs hanging on for dear life. Its a mess man. So, I tell myself I'll get em next time kid. And thats what I strive for, a little cleaner, a little tighter, and just overall a little prettier than the last. Yea maybe it sounds the same, but I want it to look RAD! Is it the wire? Should I use solid core? Is that how dudes get those sweet ass bends to stay in their wire that is cut to the perfect length? Well, back to looking at gut shots for this punk...

Go slow and be super patient. If each build is a little cleaner than the last, you're already doing the right thing!

Solid core wire gives perfect bends and strips easy. Downside is that it breaks easy.

Stranded wire is nice and flexible but doesn't like to hold its shape and the strands can fray and be annoying.

Pre-bonded is perfection. Flexible but hold its shape. No need to tin the wire ends since it's pre-tinned. Try the 24ga bonded from Smallbear. You'll probably never use anything else after that.

Thanks brotha! I have some of the prebonded 24ga stuff from small bear. The only thing is that when I order the samples the wire is great, but when I ordered some 50 foot spools of a couple different colors, the wire was noticeably thinner. Probably just a random unrelated event as it seems like everyone else swears by the stuff. And like I said the sampler stuff and the red and black spools I ordered were perfecto, it was just the colored (blue, white, green) that were thinner.  Not sure if that happened to anyone else? Anyways might try and take some solid core stuff for a spin, and try not to break it!

Man, this is one of those things that keeps me up at night. I go green with envy and become completley mystified when I see gut shots from pros like Juansolo and others. It really boggles my mind how you guys can keep everything so clean, with wires bent in all the right places and the lengths just long enough. Its goddamn pedal porn I tell you! Seriously though, whenever I get ready to box something I tell myself that this is the pedal that will look beautiful and clean under the hood. Then something happens, I black out and wake up with a box filled with wires that are too long or too short, sloppy soldering, boards that are crooked, LEDs hanging on for dear life. Its a mess man. So, I tell myself I'll get em next time kid. And thats what I strive for, a little cleaner, a little tighter, and just overall a little prettier than the last. Yea maybe it sounds the same, but I want it to look RAD! Is it the wire? Should I use solid core? Is that how dudes get those sweet ass bends to stay in their wire that is cut to the perfect length? Well, back to looking at gut shots for this punk...

I know you were trying to avoid drill presses, but man has it made life a lot easier. I dont have a lot of room to work with so bench top, lightweight yet powerful were key. My ol' lady picked me up this 5 speed WEN for Christmas. It was like 100 bucks or so, probably cheaper on amazon so it wasn't that expensive. It comes in at about 33 lbs which is great for moving off the bench and back in the closet or under a desk. I also enjoy being able to set the drill depth for when I am not using a stepped bit. I was having a problem with "box walk" at first, as a I coudn't find clamps strong enough to hold enclosures steady while drilling the bigger holes for power and switches. I ended up using heavy duty spring clamps which do the job just fine. However, the machinist at my pop's work is making me some adjustable jigs that will clamp to the drill press adjustable base easier.  Anyways thats my 2 cents. I promise I am not a lobbyist for "big drill press" or anything like that. Heres the link, it ain't the nicest but it works for now. Until I can get a big ass standing one!

http://www.amazon.com/WEN-4205-8-Inch-Drill-Press/dp/B005UKGL4E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395182918&sr=8-2&keywords=wen+drill+press

That thing is mean and clean!

So rad!!! thank you for the warm welcome! Looks like I need to start getting some builds and pictures together...

I hope so!
And thank you for the welcome!!

Hey Everyone! I was a little nervous about posting, so I reached out to Paul  ( I started off watching all the videos he posts on his youtube channel), and he told me I had nothing to worry about, and that this place wasn't like most forums. Everyone has mad respect for each other and their ideas. Which I am way down with it. Oh yea, another dude I know told me to quit lurking and say something already! So here I am...

Anyways, I'm relatively new to building but I'm sure like most of you, I really really dig it and fell in love rather quickly. I've got a few build under my belt but nothing crazy. Well, I just wanted to say hi and start off on the right foot! No more lurking for this hombre, I hope to be posting fairly regularly from here on out!

-upthepunxxx!