Part VI — The Real Shop Toolkit · Chapter 20
Starter Stock: Consumables and Parts
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Running out of adhesive or flux stops the whole shop. Keep a minimum stock of consumables, and stock only the fast-moving parts for the devices most common in your area. Count stock every week and reorder when you reach the reorder level.
Consumables (typical monthly use for one busy bench)
| Item | Monthly use | Reorder when you have |
|---|---|---|
| Isopropyl alcohol 99% | 1 L | 0.5 L |
| No-clean flux (syringe) | 2–3 | 1 |
| Solder wire 0.3 mm | ¼ spool | 1 spare spool |
| Desoldering wick | 2 | 1 |
| Pre-cut screen adhesive (popular models) | 20–30 | 10 |
| Battery adhesive strips (popular models) | 15–20 | 5 |
| B-7000 / T-7000 glue | 2 tubes | 1 |
| Kapton tape | 1 roll | ½ roll |
| Thermal paste | 1 tube | ½ tube |
| Thermal pads (mixed) | 1 sheet each size used | ½ sheet |
| Opening picks (they wear out) | 10 | 5 |
| Lint-free wipes, swabs | 1 pack each | ½ pack |
| Zip bags + job tags | 100 | 30 |
| Replacement screws kit (laptop + phone) | as used | low |
These quantities are planning examples for a busy bench; track your actual use for the first two months and adjust.
Fast-moving parts (stock in small quantities)
Rule: look at your first 50 jobs. Stock the parts for the 10 most frequent models in your area. Buy 1–3 of each, never dozens of an untested supplier’s part.
| Category | What to stock | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Phone batteries | Most common iPhone and Samsung/Oppo/Vivo/Xiaomi/realme models in your area | Check manufacture date; batteries age on the shelf |
| Phone screens | 1–2 each of the most common models, in the grades you sell | Test on arrival; record defect rate per supplier |
| Charging ports / sub-boards | Popular Android sub-boards; iPhone charge-port flexes | Cheap, frequent job |
| Back glass / back covers | Popular models | — |
| Laptop parts | SATA SSD 256/512 GB, NVMe SSD 512 GB, DDR4 8 GB SO-DIMM, DDR5 8/16 GB SO-DIMM | Very fast-moving for upgrades |
| Chargers | 65 W USB-C PD, common laptop barrel chargers | Customers often need a new charger |
| Cables | USB-C, Lightning, micro-USB, HDMI | Accessory sales |
| Small components | Assortment kits of 0402/0603 capacitors and resistors, common fuses, TVS diodes | For board work |
Quality control on incoming parts
- Inspect packaging and labels; photograph defects.
- Test screens before installing: connect to the phone (battery disconnected while connecting!), check touch, brightness, colour and dead pixels — then disconnect and install properly.
- Check batteries: voltage at rest (most single-cell phone batteries ship partly charged, around 3.7–3.9 V), no swelling.
- Record supplier, date, batch and result in your stock sheet. Drop suppliers with high defect rates.
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