My tools
Measurement
For measurement I use old-school tools from mid 90´s. As the Commodore machines these are still going strong!
Analog oscilloscope PM3055 from Philips/Fluke
- 60 MHz
- 2 channels
Digital multimeter DM-332 from Goldstar
This is my old multimeter from early 1990s. It´s followed my through all these years! Nevertheless, it has now started to drift a bit while measuring voltages. But it´s great for checking connectivity and such!
Digital multimeter ZT-Y from BSIDE
Not an expensive Fluke, but I think that this works great! An inexpensive multimeter, but it does the job good enough!
Solder and desolder
Tools for soldering and desoldering is a must when refurbishing Commodore machines and peripherals. Here's what I use:
Soldering iron and hot air gun - JCD 8898
This is an inexpensive soldering station, but it works very well for the purpose of refurbishing old Commodore equipment. There are also several nozzles for the hot air gun, and also several different solder tips.
Luxoparts Desoldering Station Pro (90W)
This is an inexpensive desoldering station, but it does it job. I had to sell my previously professional PACE desoldering station due to high maintenance cost.
Weller WE-1010 soldering station
This is my main soldering station which I use for most work related to refurbishment.
Software and cartridges
Here you will find a collection of the most important software- and cartridge tools I use when refurbishing Commodore machines and peripherals
Cassette-azimuth
This C64 software is used to verify optimal performance of the read/write head in the datasette. I use this software after alignment is done by oscilloscope first.
Download at csdb.dk
Dead test cartridge
This C64 software is stored in a ROM cartridge. The dead test cartridge is a very useful tool. I will boot even if the BASIC-, Kernal-, and CharacterROM chips are removed. Even without both CIA chips it will boot. Nevertheless, if any of the aforementioned chips are not completely dead they can corrupt datalines which prevents the dead test cartridge from working.
This cartridge works in "Ultimax" mode (GAME=0, EXROM=1)
Diagnostic cartridge
This C64 software have similarities with the Dead Test cartridge. But it will not boot without major chips functioning. The Diagnostic cartridge is a great tool to verify that everything works after a complete refurbish.Note: for the time being I don't have the required harness to get full functionality of this software. Instead, I do a complete test with real usage of the C64. This is a bit more time consuming - but more fun!
This cartridge works in "Normal 8k" mode (GAME=1, EXROM=0)
1541 Test & Diagnostics cartridge
This is a compilation of tools for testing 1541 (and 1541-II) disk drives from World of Jani.
- RPM motor calibration
- Drive operation (read/write/formatting)
- Head alignment and calibration
- Mechanical operation
Joystick tester
This is a very simple - but effective - software tool. And as the name says it's used for testing joystick operation.The good thing with this software is that it's quick to load, but the bad thing is that it doesn't show all 8 directions of the joystick (such as UP and RIGHT). So this tools is used to verify basic joystick operation, and then playing some real games are used for the final testing (and as some kind of celebration of a complete refurbish).
Download at csdb.dk
Ultimate II+ cartridge
This cartridge is THE Swiss Army Knife for the Commodore 64/128! It emulates both cartridges, ROM, REU, floppy drives (1541/1571) and tape. When testing av Commodore 64/128 this tool is invaluable - a real masterpiece!
64 Doctor
Software based tester for RAM, keyboard, video, audio, joysticks, disk drive, printer and cassette. For refurbishment it´s primarily the RAM and keyboard tester which is used.
Download at https://commodore.software/downloads/category/148-c64-testers
Commodore 64 SID tester
SID Tester for the Commodore 64 by Andrew Challis for testing all of the SID chips voices.
Download at https://commodore.software/downloads/category/148-c64-testers
Amiga Test Kit
By Keir Fraser is an excellent tool for diagnossing issues with memory, keyboard, floppy drive, controller ports, audio, video, CIA Chipset, RTC and serial / parallel ports.
Download at https://commodore.software/downloads/download/848-amiga-diagnostic-tools/15684-amiga-test-kit-v1-16
Amiga DiagROM
The Amiga Diagnostic tool by John "Chucky/The Gang" Hertell. It replaceses the Amiga Kickstart ROMs and try to make a diagnostic of the system.
Commodore test- and demo disk for 1541 floppy drive
The original test disk from Commodore. This floppy disk contains tools used for testing and verification of 1541 floppy drives. Also, since this is an original floppy disk it can be used for alignment purposes.
1541/1571 Drive alignment software (FAKE?)
Although this disk is probably a fake I think it serves it purpose as a reference disk used for testing. Real (original) calibration disks for 5 1/4" floppy drives are no longer possible to produce. Nevertheless this disk contains software for checking that each track of a floppy can be read "SATISFACTORY" by the floppy drive. So, even a fake it can be used as part of a pool of "baseline" tools.
Audio cassette speed calibration test tape
Test tape from duplication.ca used to calibrate the speed of the datasette. The tape contains a 3150 Hz sinewave (and also a 440 Hz sinewave). Used in combination with oscilloscope and/or tape signal frequency counter.
Tape signal frequency counter
Software to be used in combination audio cassette speed calibration test tape. The software is developed by Jan Derogee. Software, and a very good article on how to do the speed calibration, can be found on https://janderogee.com/projects/1530_tapespeed/1530_tapespeed.htm.
Anykey
Keyboard Test Program for Commodore 64, 128, PET, Plus/4, VIC-20, MEGA65, and ZX Spectrum. The program monitors the keyboard and joysticks. It is useful to test hardware or to explore the key bindings of emulators. Can be downloaded from: https://github.com/T-Pau/Anykey
Amiga 500 Revision 5 EPROM adapter
From Amigastore.eu: New Kickstart ROMS chips produced and available on the Amiga market are EPROM chips (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). The revision 5 of the Amiga 500 motherboard is not able to use one of these new ROMS without modifications.
Other
Keycap puller
Simple, but very effective, tool to pull the keys of the keyboard. Also, reduce the risk of breaking the plungers holding the keys.
Chip puller
Tool to pull the ICs from the main board - reducing the risk of braking the pins.
12 % Hydroperoxide
Herfit Pro 40 Vol cream used for retrobrighting yellowed plastic parts.
PLCC extractor from Jonard Tools
Very smart tool for removing the Fat Agnus from the Amiga! Don´t use screw drivers - it will break the socket!
Glass fibre pen
A "must have" for refurbishment. Used for removing rust, corrosion and other residue.
Precision tweezers from Aven
There are many small parts which are hard to handle without a pair of good tweezers. When changing the belts on a datasette this tool is very handy.
Precision chip lifter from Wiha Tools
It is of course possible to lift the ICs with normal flat screw drivers. But, with a good chip lifter this process becomes way easier and reduce the risk of damaging the chip (or socket).
DIP IC extraction tool from Jonard Tools
A handy tool for removing DIP ICs (24-40 pins).
Diagonal cutter MICROFOX-SP-1 from Phoenix Contact
When doing a recap it is important to have quality tools for cutting the surplus leads and also for cutting SMD caps.
Pro Tech Toolkit from iFixit
The Swiss army knife; contains everything from tweezers, screwdrivers, sorting bin, spudgers, opening tools etc.
Banner picture credits: Fcb981