I have a set of cheap snap ring pliers with replaceable tips. But my needle-nosed pliers work better most of the time for removing retaining rings.
Other tools I've found invaluable for flashlight maintenance and modding:
- A good soldering iron. I use a hot air reflow station that includes a 60w soldering iron and a heat gun with digital controls. Works great.
- a pick. I have a small hooked pick, similar to a dental pick. It's great for reaching under stars or driver wires to lever them up.
- tweezers. Invaluable for picking up stars, reflowing LEDs, etc.
- long-nosed pliers. Sometimes helpful for when the needle nosed don't provide enough grip.
- 3M indoor stairway grip tape. Very grippy thick rubber tape that can be removed without damage. Useful for providing extra grip to help unscrew bezels or other parts while protecting the light from damage.
- 22 gauge silicone wire. I use this for driver wire.
- 20 gauge silicone wire. I use this for e-switches.
- solder paste. Good for reflowing LEDs or really anywhere solder is needed. Easier to use than traditional wire solder.
- toothpicks. I use this to apply solder paste or thermal adhesive. Sometimes I use an exacto knife to sharpen the toothpick.
- q-tips. For cleaning off old thermal grease under stars.
- Thermal grease. I use arctic silver 5. For placing under stars.
- a small vise that sits on a table. Used for holding lights in place while I work on them. Mine is an old with steel vise. To protect my project I applied 3m indoor stairway grip tape in the jaws. I also taped on some pieces of popsicle sticks with gaffers tape. Unlike the grip tape, the popscile sticks won't melt if I stick something hot inside.
- reading glasses. Unfortunately, my close up vision isn't as good as it used to be.
- small scissors. I use the scissors on a victorinox mini to strip and cut wires. I don't have an actual wire stripping tool.
- Nyogel. used for lubricating o-rings.
- Deoxit Gold. Used for maintaining metal on metal connections.