Best Laptop Toolkit?

What is the best tool kit for working on a laptop? I know iFixit is a standard but is there something as good but costs less money? Think of getting the iFixit Pro Tech toolkit for $70 unless someone has a better suggestion.

 

I don't own an ifixit kit, but they do look complete, what are your goals for the kit though? $70 seems rather steep if you're just planning on working on a laptop here and there.

This toolkit is what I usually reach for when I'm doing work on laptops:
https://www.amazon.com/Wera-Kraftfo...=1&keywords=wera+tools&qid=1627245130&sr=8-38

I paid $30 for it when it was on sale.

 

I don't think I would be using one a lot. Mainly just getting in a laptop to repaste or upgrade something. It definitely needs to be magnetic so I don't have to get on my hands and knees looking for a screw I dropped.

 

Add a Wera Star magnetizer-demagnetizer to your kit then, that way all your drivers can be magnetic when you want them to be.

https://www.amazon.com/Wera-Star-Magnetizer-Demagnetizer-5073403002/dp/B00CA36ZTU

 

That could come in handy.

 

You can get a cheap one, I use something like this:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Precision-Magnetizer-and-Demagnetizer-3601H/302880580

 

You can get just the screwdrivers from ifixit, which includes a magnetized tip.

Mako Driver Kit - 64 Precision Bits - iFixit

Grab a magnetic parts tray from Amazon to put the screws while you're working on the internals, and to pry open the bottom panel you could probably get a guitar pick for free from a local music shop.

 

Thanks everyone. Some good ideas.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083GK6MNL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use that one, under $20 and has everything I have ever needed.

 

Thanks! That looks good and Fakespot gives it a B. Gonna order today since the shipping on my Legion 7i has moved up to tomorrow.

 

If you don't care for the chiwanistanese trash that amazon sells and want something good that will last.
Try these, they are what I use and would swear by...the grit coating on the blades will not slip and screw up those tiny screws...
https://www.crescenttool.com/screwd...ual-material-diamond-tip-screwdriver-set.html

 

Those are made in China too.

 

Yea but at least they are warrantied thru a respectable company that is based in the US.
I was a auto mechanic (not a technician, I actually repaired **** instead of unplugged and plugged in modules) for nearly 30 years.
I have (seriously) hundreds of thousands in SnapOn, Mac, AST, Matco, etc tools. I definitely know a good screwdriver from a bad one.
I would say to get Klein screwdrivers, but the cost would be prohibitive for most here, SnapOn does NOT make good screwdrivers for the small bits a laptop has and they would cost another bunch of dollars no one wants to spend.
Go into a homedepot and find the Crescent brand I linked to.
Once in the hand the quality is obvious.
That you will never be able to say about anything amazon sells.

 

My "toolkit" includes iFixit Pro Tech kit for special cases. It is nice to have good selection of bits and opening tools on standby.

However most of my work I do with two Philips head screwdrivers, sizes PH1 and PH0. Additionally I have couple small flat head screwdrivers that I use as extension to my fingers: I'll route cables, attach and remove wifi connectors etc. Much nicer than pushing stuff with my fingernail.

Main tool is the PH1 screwdriver, it is big enough to avoid stripping screws and fits almost all computers.

I mainly use one opening tool:

That is the best, really.

I prefer separate tools because I can just pick them up and they are ready to go. No need to look for next bit and constantly switch between them on some machines. And once the screwdriver wears out, I'll just get another one.

The other stuff my tool bag holds, are actually two leathermans, some post-it notes, pens, marker, magnetizer, some usb-cables, small flashlight. A small pouch of usb sticks. Finally there is a magnetic mat that originally came with a Xiaomi Wowstick, wonderful little screwdriver that did not last more than few weeks in my daily use. Too bad, it was really nice to use. For occasional use I think it would serve great. It tightened screws just right to my taste, no need to manually tighten afterwards.

Going up from the laptop tools, I have one insulated large Philips head screwdriver. Mainly for desktops and server racks.

One more step up is in my backpack, Bahco 808050 ratcheting screwdriver with some built-in bits. I got the set with extra bits that included torx bits. Setup is completed with Bahco 2058/26 small ratchet set. All bits of these are interchangeable. There has been some tight spaces where a screwdriver was too large. Those I don't really need with computers though.

I think the most special tool I have is a hex nut driver, same size as motherboard standoff or those screws in rs232/vga etc ports. Much nicer to use than pliers.

In general, I would suggest getting in addition to some bit kit just regular screwdrivers in main sizes. There are sometimes deep and small holes that bit drivers just do not fit in. Same goes for desktops, the insulated driver I mentioned earlier is too big in some cases when I need to guide a screw in through some hole first.

 

I had that problem on my old MSI laptop. Then I had to scrounge around for a screwdriver that fit.

 

Let's add one more... that anti slip mat used under the rugs. We use suitably cut pieces under the laptops (about 4x size of a laptop), because when you flip laptop upside down to work on it and there is something like few grains of sand on desk... scratched top cover and unhappy client (/boss).

Smaller piece will also fit any bag.

 

I understand where you are coming from, nearly all the hand tools I use at work are Klein and Knipex and power tools are Milwaukee, but that kit I linked works perfectly fine for the average person. If I was running an outfit like Gamer Nexus or something where I was tearing down computers and electronics every day then I would invest in something higher end, but for the occasional personal desktop/laptop tear down it gets the job done without issue.

 

Best tool I bought for working on a laptop (or anything with small screws). Comes with 5 different magnifying lens.



I got a new cooling pad from Amazon yesterday. One of the fans wasn't even screwed in and flopping around by the wire. I found one teeny screw and was able to at least get that in thanks to my new headlight.