We lab techs generally shoot really small items. Rather than spending big bucks on extravagant light setups, flash heads and tents... you would be surprised what you can accomplish with a 1 gallon milk jug and the flash you already have. Whether its a ring or a twin or even a standard flash head - the milk gallon is diffuse enough to soften and change the incidence of light, depending on how you hold the light. Just do a cutaway on one side, not much bigger than the end of your lens. Put your subject inside, stick your lens into the hole, hold the light at an angle outside the jug and shoot away.
I've got thousands invested in several light setups, with plans to spend a lot more. That said - light is light! Learn how to color balance your camera for whatever you have and you can shoot amazing photos with a bare tungsten bulb!