I found that sometime it is better to give up some projects that seem too, how can I say, not worth it, and get some cheap stuff for only a few dollars (from $5 to $40), like turntables, old receivers, old DVD players or CD players, etc., and then to put them in their original shape and operating conditions.
I do quite a bit of that, and I really enjoy. I fix a very nice Pioneer turntable ($2), a Sony Linear drive turntable ($3), a very expensive Onkyo tape deck ($8), a Teac tape deck ($5), etc. Few receivers too, an old very nice Kenwood ($15), A Marantz classic tuner ($10), another tuner by ICC electronics ($4), etc. VCRs are tougher to repair, and I lost interest, now that we're with blu-ray. But it's fun to do (less so when you have to change the entire transport or the video heads).
It's tough also to get the right parts for older components, even with connections from Japan, China, Germany, France, Britain, USA, Canada, Finland, Netherlands, Singapore, Brazil, Portugal, Sweedish, and many more.
I've been at it for quite a while, so I'm getting use to only fix the worthwile stuff that can be of more use for myself, family, friends, for gifts, presents, birthdays, kids, etc.
You need a few tools to test the various circuits, and parts access for replacements, resistors, caps, transistors, attenuators, transformers, light bulbs the right size, the right amperage, fuzes same, etc.
Anyway have fun trying, because it is rewarding when you succeed.
And by the way, New Zealand is where they made a movie about me. Beautiful country indeed. Say Hi to Peter from me.
Bob (LOTR)
