There has been lots of discussion about “Kits”, learning to solder, improving our soldering skills etc. This is certainly a useful skill in the Amateur Radio hobby, whether building and antenna, repairing a power cable or building a useful device for your shack. We have added this section to provide some resources for kits, parts, tools to build the “work-bench” in your Ham Shack.
- General electronic Kits: Click on titles to visit sites
- Fofio!: Radio Kit Guide (Big List of Radio related kits)
- Rainbow kits Simple to advanced Kits (learn to solder)
- Carl’s Electronics Simple to advanced Kits (learn to solder)
- Four State QRP Ham Radio related kits by a Ham club
- QRP Labs Ham Radio related kits by Hams
- Adafruit Kits, Cool digital devices, Arduino & Raspberry Pi accessories
- SparkFun Single card computers & Accessories
- Welcome to QRPGuys – Unique ham radio kits for the budget minded
- Jameco Parts & Tools
- Newark Parts & tools
- Allelectronics Surplus, Parts & Tools
- Midnightsolutions DIY Digital mode single band Transceivers
- Heathkit HONESTLY! they are NOT dead, back and selling Kits!
- ARRL.org Yes, the ARRL also markets kits
- MFJ Yep MFJ is also in the Kit business, some fun offerings here!
- American Science & Surplus Fun stuff, Games + electronics Kits
- DXEngineering Yes, also in the kit game
- PowerWerx Wire, Power devices, Anderson “PowerPole” connectors
- Palomar Engineers
- HFkits.com
- The Wireman
- Digikey Parts & Tools
- Mouser Parts & Tools
- StemToyExperts Great items/kits for Kids & Adults
- Servo City Extensive collection of Robotic/RC components
- Midway electronics QRP Transceiver kits
- Five Dash QRP Transceivers and Receivers
- Bliss Radio QRP Transceivers
- QRPme Lots of Great Ham radio projects
- K1EL systems Lots of really simple and fun Kits
- Radio-Kits British company selling Great kits
- Spectrum Communications Another British Kit Mfg
- Kits and Parts dot com
- Quasarelectronics another British company
- SotaBeams Antenna and RF items
- uBITX Kit radio
- YouKitshttps://antiqueradiosandparts.com/
- QRP Kits wow, gotta check this stuff out!
- Fox Delta Pretty advanced stuff here
- RF parts Company
- Antique Electronic Supply
- Antique Radio Parts
- Old Radio Parts
- Antique Radio parts guide
- Antenna Rotor parts & Repair
You will need to outfit your “Electronic Workbench” with a quality soldering iron/station with replaceable tip preferably multi sized/shaped tips, brass wool to clean the tip, rosin core solder ( I prefer the smallest diameter I can find) de-soldering wick, liquid rosin, small “nipper” type wire cutters, small pliers for bending, manipulating wire, tweezers for handling small components, a magnifying glass for inspecting small work.
![](https://gotahams.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roulette-wheel-001-791x1024.jpg)
The tool list could go much farther, I’ll allow folks to send me their “Ideal tool kit” ideas to expand this area, and will try to include options for purchasing a “Dream kit” or at least a Electronic repair “Go-Kit” for field repairs.
Please send us any/all Kit suppliers we could add to our above list, I’d like to create a comprehensive list for the beginner to expert involving our Radio hobby including supporting STEAAM and Scouting functions + Robotics and Radio Control?
A Nice Soldering tutorial https://www.aaroncake.net/electronics/solder.htm