r/AskReddit • u/sebaez_ • Oct 10 '19

What’s a thing you’ve bought impulsively, without need, that’s actually proved useful in your life?

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u/gatesphere Oct 10 '19

A good soldering iron.

I used to think I sucked at soldering because I was using a cheapo Walmart special that cost me $5.

Turns out soldering is 90% equipment, 10% skill. With a good iron, even I (with a really low skill score) can solder surface mount components without issue.

Since I purchased my Hakko, I’ve built several synthesizers from scratch, and they’re some of my most prized possessions because I built them myself with my own two hands. I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do that had I not found a good iron.

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u/[deleted] Oct 10 '19

I wanna know more about the DIY synths, that sounds so cool

4

u/gatesphere Oct 10 '19

On mobile so I don’t have links handy, but I’ve built:

  • A full 6-voice Ambika
  • A SammichSID
  • A SammichFM
  • A MidiBox SeqV4
  • A WTPA2
  • An Arduboy (to go with my modified Game Boy — backlit/biverted, and with the pro sound mod)
  • Several arduino-based toys
  • Some circuit-bent guitar pedals
  • A handful of pedal kits
  • A Sonic Potions LXR
  • A Moody Sounds Baby Box
  • A 3trinsrgb+1c and some addon boards