The most versatile option, is to go straight away for the most expensive. A temperature controlled 20cm square hotplate is “future proof”, as you can build multiple devices at the same time, or use it to make when running bat detector workshops for others. As an expensive and heavy item, these are probably best bought from local (UK) sellers such as Amazon. Search for “soldering hotplate 20cm”, and look for something similar to this.

Features to look for include:

• Temperature range of 0–400℃, with large digital display of current temp.
• Large 200x200mm heating surface, with cool “anti scaling edge
• Wattage of 700W+ with UK kettle lead
• Likely cost = £40 to £50 max

If you are only every going to building one device at a time, a cheaper option is a temperature controlled 10cm square hotplate, basically mini versions of above.

These seem rare from UK suppliers (Amazon), so we bought one from AliExpress and this heats up faster than our 20sm sq. hotplate.

Features to look for:

• Temperature range of 0–400℃, with digital temp. display
• 100x100mm heating surface, with cool “anti scaling edge
• Wattage of 350W+, Voltage 220v AC, with UK kettle lead
• Likely cost = £18 to £32

A basic option is a mini hotplate, with a 56mm square bed powered by a separate (not supplied) PD rated (65w) USBc power supply. These are only just big enough for Mini Griff, Nano Pip and PippyG, and can’t do miniPips or Griff. And as the “recommended temperature should not exceed 250℃” they are only just hot enough. Hence we don’t recommend them.

• Search Amazon or AliExpress for “mini hot plate PD 65w”.
• Likely cost £12 to £22

Lastly you could “get away with” a “LED Remover Hotplate“. These heat up very quickly (within 30seconds claimed!) and you have no control over temperature. They come as a bare wire with no plug and have absolutly have no safety features. Phil describes them as the “wild west”, but he has built many devices on one.
We bought one, and just used it once, before running away scared to buy a temperature controlled hotplate. They are “risky”.

Features to look for:

• Minimum size = 12 x 7cm
• Wattage = 400w+
• Likely cost = £4 to £8

This most basic of Mats is all you need. It has anti-slip design both of surface and back, and is static-free. You can solder directly on the mat with hot gun or soldering iron as it can withstand directly contact temperature up to 500°C.

Often known as a “S-100” soldering mat, it is 300x200mm by 1.3 to 2mm thick.

Mats are far cheaper on AliExpress than Amazon – search for “Soldering Silicone Mat“

However if we were starting again, we would spend a little more on the “S110” mat. While this is slightly smaller at 280x200mm, it is much thicker at 3 to 4mm, and hence is much stronger.

It also has the advantage of having a lip right around the edge of the mat, and deeper recesses for components.

We found buying Tweezers to be the most frustrating process. You want strong tweezers that are forged with varying thickness along the length as shown on the photo of the stainless pair.
We bought several from eBay that the photos showed as forged, only to find on arrival they were pressed out of thin uniform thickness materials with blunt point, and were useless. Try to avoid these at all costs, as they are too flimsy and blunt.

While not essential for building devices, as soon as you come to troubleshoot your first non working device you will appreciate a Multimeter.

There are MANY types available, and you may already have one.

If not, the “ANENG SZ308 Portable Mini Digital Multimeter” is very cheap, and does what you need.

While most of the soldering is done on the hotplate, you will need to use a soldering iron for attaching battery packs, and for any troubleshooting of dry joints.

There are MANY types available, from cheap “kits” (£8 to £17) to soldering stations (£15 to 30+).
Things to look for include:

• At least 60 watts of power, with adjustable temperature
• A coil type iron stand, rather than a simple precarious rest
• Look for a set that comes with spare tips, and some solder
• A UK plug!

We do not recommend the rechargeable battery type “pen” types of soldering iron as while they work, their runtime is limited to a handful of minutes.

If they don’t come bundled with your iron also consider buying:

• Solder Sucker – useful for removing battery packs and tidying up excess solder
• Solder Iron Tip Cleaner – really helpful when the tip is too oxidised to “tin” properly
• Solder Iron cleaning ball – easier to use than a damp sponge for removing extra solder from the tip.

When using the Hotplate or soldering, potentially harmful fumes are released as the solder flux melts. Hence it is best to work in a well ventilated space, or next to an open window, with some or form of fan to help the fumes escape.

You could use a mains powered fan that you already have to blow the fumes away.

Or you could buy a purpose made extractor fan with active carbon filters. The “FA-400 Fume Extractor Smoke Absorber” at £15.12 seems a good choice and is shipped locally with a UK plug.

Building the devices involves lots of close up work with tiny components. Hence some form of magnifying aid is VERY useful. There are many types, from simple handheld ones, to ones with stands and built in illumination.

This 30X Magnifying Glass is a well tried and tested favourite with our workshop groups.

Lots of types available, and you may already have some that will do. It is only used to cut the pins of the battery holders down to length on the Pipistrelle and PippyG.

This is used to attach the 3D print back covers (and brooch clips), to Griff, PippyG and BatSynth. A useful tip is to add blobs of hot glue to the 3D print cover, then heat the device to 100°C on the hotplate, before using gloves to “smoosh” the hot device into the cold glue on the print, and hold until cool.

There are LOTs of types available, and if you haven’t got one already, things to look for include:

• At least 20W of power with an on/off switch
• Some form of stand so the hot nozzle is off the deck.
• Look for a set that comes with spare glue sticks
• A UK plug!