Best screwdriver kit for notebook modding?

Any recommendations?

I bought one of those precision screwdriver kits from radioshack... they are basically pieces of poo poo ... most of the screwdrivers aren't a perfect fit so they never catch... and when they are a perfect fit, they are so weak I just end up filing down either the driver or screw.

 

Just head to your local home depot or something and take a look around at some brand name stuff.

never buy anything from radio shack unless you need it in a pinch and its one of those nitch items that only they carry (electronics parts)

 

B&M is the best way to go?

i thought maybe amazon or ebay would have some great kits

and yes i will avoid RS like the plague now lo

 

No B&M is probably not the best way to go, but if you see something there that is good you can then go online to get it cheaper. But in the case of a screwdriver set it should not be a huge difference in price.

 

oh i see what you meant. yea its nice to see these kits first hand.

im just tired of always stripping the tips or the screws.

arg.

 

I have like 5 different sets of cheapo precision screw drivers. I could use a good set too.

I want a set that has a real grip and a magnetic tip. I have a trick I often use with the kind that are just thin metal screwdrivers with no real grip.

I push down hard on the top of the screwdriver and then use a pair of pliers to grip it and turn it. I have to do this for stubborn screws often.

I just went and grabbed a screwdriver I really like out of our maintance room.

It just says "General" for the brand.

Under the brand it has the size "0 x 2-1/2" and a number that is probably the item number "712010"

I am going to see if i can find a set of these, its magnetic, it fit my G73 screws like a custom tailored suit, and it has a grip big enough to turn on hard screws so I wont have to do the pliers trick.

Edit: found it

http://www.google.com/products?q=general+712010&aq=f

About $4 each...

But its worth it

Cheaper if you find sets like these:

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/maintenance/tools-hand-bench/tools-hand-benches-screwdriver/6pc-technician%27s-screwdriver-set-slotted-phillips?utm_source=amaz_shop&utm_medium=shp&utm_campaign=Screwdrivers-amaz_shop&infoParam.campaignId=T9I

http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-67123-Precision-Screwdriver/dp/B001LF4IYW

I like the set on Amazon it qualifies for free shipping so thats a big discount on a small purchase, just need $4.00 of filler and I need some RJ45 connectors anyways to make some more console cables for my custom joysticks.

Oh and just found this set, not the same screwdriver I have used but I bet they are good also since its the same brand/sizes, they are made for electronics.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs..._-D25X-_-100659813&locStoreNum=256&marketID=4

Id get the ESD set from Home Depot if it was not $6.00 for S&H it has all 3 of the philips sizes and thats what I use most, I almost never use the flat tips. Though ESD is not needed to work on electronics just make sure you ground yourself before you go about touching things.

Edit:

Found a similar kit on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-713-Piece-Screwdriver/dp/B00004T7U7

And the same kit as before @ Home Depot
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100569870

Not that sweet all black though for some reason.

 

That General set looks quite good... shame no reviews on it..

I found this set for $6... i have amazon prime so no fillers needed

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-66-05...ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1277957846&sr=8-1

thoughts?

will i need torx drivers for laptop modding?

 

I have never needed torx for a laptop I dont think.

I'll go ahead and get the general set I really like how they feel and the performance. It does not say anything about being magnetic so maybe the one here at work just has had a magnet near it and magnetized it.

Thats not a bad idea, maybe I will buy a magnet too.

Im not too fond how how they have a grip near the end of the shaft on the Stanley set.

 

Tool Kits - Stanley Supply & Services

 

I love using the Torx text that I bought from the Source. Taking apart computers is a joy!

 

Just magnetize your screw driver with a battery and a long piece of wire wrapped around the screw driver.

 

I'll pass on that idea, electromagnets have there purpose but not in my laptop nor so I want a battery and wire in my way.

 

Must be real real bad quality then.

Never spent serious money on precision screwdrivers and they all work fine.
Electronics aren't exactly put together with torque wrenches - that's when you need good quality (or if you use them all day, just for comfort).

Only thing to check is the right head - mostly Phillips for computers.
If you mess up screws you are doing something seriously wrong imho.

 

u are definitely on to something lol

just for kicks i grabbed a regular size screwdriver out of my car and tried it on the laptop. worked PERFECTLY lol!

i guess the precision set i got from radioshack was just beyond crappy

 

If you can find any heat treated blackened steel tools, you wont understand how you ever lived without them...I use them at work, and the difference is unbelievable. No amount of abuse will strip them, but they will tear the crap outta most screws if your not fitting them right, so you have to be careful.

The type I'm taking about look like this (not usually plated): http://techwings.com/images/MINI SCREWDRIVER.JPG

 

Those general branded ones I want to get use hardened tips, so I assume its the same quality.

Plus they are marked with measurements for a reason. My G73 uses #0 screws so grab the #0 screwdriver and its a 100% perfect fit.

 

What to really look out for is that some laptop uses the crappy aluminium screws. The screws will strip fast. Thats when perfectly fit precision screwdrivers comes along.

 

You guys want Xcelite tools. A bit more expensive if you get the kits but a long term investment.

 

Absolutely! I was going to suggest rubbing the old magnet on it..much easier.

BTW, this will NOT harm your drive...discussed many times over the net due to flux density. However particle accelerators will harm your laptop..those guys will rip your laptop out of your bag. Cool article in one of the National Geographics about Fermilab.

 

Hey all.. i am on a market for an electric screwdriver.
I am dealing with fixing PCs and notebooks almost on a dalily basis and i thought that it could make my life a little easier.
Does anybody use an electic screwdriver that he can recommend ?
Ideally it'd be a lightweight one, with a set of bits to match the different screws that can be found in electronic equipment.

thanks!

 

Im still planning on getting a set of regular precision screwdrivers. I was actually just about to bump this thread myself to ask if there is a particular type of magnet that does better at magnetizing the screwdriver.

 

I opened an old 20GB HDD and used the head magnets to magnetize all my screwdrivers.
Works great

 

Haha, I definitely recommend that the magnet be separate from the screwdriver. Especially for someone not used to working on computers. A strong enough magnet can do screwy stuff to lots of the components...

I didn't see anyone mention this set: Husky 8-in-1 Precision Screwdriver - Phillips and Slotted - 74501 at The Home Depot

This is by far the most convenient and durable laptop screwdriver set I've ever used. I bought two sets in case I lose one (doubtful) and because they are so well priced. I've done loads of system tear downs with this set and the bits are still sharp. There is a torx set in the same page if you need torx for anything.

I can't recommend this set enough.

 

I'm using an old B&D that uses the round slide in lithium batteries and metal gearbox. This has a clutch so you don't strip out the case screws..or you will

 

Yeah, for real. I bought a cheap ($10) small screw driver with interchangeable heads at Home Depot, which can do everything from smaller medium-sized screws to impossibly tiny eyeglass screws.

 

I use Wiha brand

Professional Precision Tech Sets : Wiha Tools Canada - Insulated 1000V • Torx • Hex • Torque Control Tools. Screwdrivers • Bits • Pliers & Cutters, Quality Tools for Professionals

Not cheap but made in Germany quality









Alex

 

I've come across the odd HDD and housing that's had torx screws.

The tiniest-of-tiny flathead bits always break... almost everyone I've ever mentioned this to agrees. (I'm talking 1mm and smaller)

This current $20 set, looked a great buy with about 40 different heads, flat, phillips and the pointier version of phillips as well, torx, hex - anyway the first time I went to use it one of the smaller heads broke. I thought, great, another example of the pinnacles reached by chinese manufacturing... However 3 years on it remains the only broken one so how wrong was I.

Besides I've used my set for stacks of other stuff besides laptops anyway. Needed one of the larger hex bits to get the antenna off the A pillar of my 323 to replace. Handy

 

I've got a $5 set of precision screwdrivers from Home Depot. They work just fine, but weren't initally magnetized. I solved the problem using some magnetic shirt stays from Wurkin Stiffs. The tiny little magnets are super strong (and I mean super). One little rub from the magnet and the screwdrivers have just the right level of magnetism for me.

So, find yourself some strong little neodymium magnets and they should do the trick for you.

 

Ha, those are kinda cool my shirts for work get the plastic stays all warped after a few washes (i never take them out i forget) but man they are expensive! (like rip off expensive)

 

I bought them on a whim when I thought I'd wear my dress shirt more than I do. I'm a self-employed bodyworker (advanced forms of massage therapy). It takes something formal or a funeral to get me into a dress shirt these days. Unfortunately, a funeral is coming up.

I'd have to say that if I wore those shirts often, these stays would be totally worth it. Right now, they make awesome refridgerator magnets.

 

Speaking of magnets. Once when I was working on my car I needed retrieve a screw I dropped where I couldn't get my hand. At the local hardware store I purchased a telescoping tool with a very strong magnetic on the end made for such a purpose.

The magnet on the end of the tool is strong enough to pick up wrenches but still only about 3/4" round. It is one of the strongest magnets I have come across. If you can't magnetize a screwdriver with that magnet, I would say it can't be magnetized.

The tool also serves dual purpose for finding small screws dropped on the carpet or under workbench's. I have yet to not find a screw dropped in the carpet with just a few passes of the tool over the carpet.

 

Craftsman makes a very nice 12 pc set of Micro-Tech Precision Screwdrivers. Have used for numerous projects including dismantling computers. Not cheap - few years back set cost me around $20.

 

I have one of those mine is a mini one the size of a pen that extends like 5' long.

Good magnet but nothing along the lines of "strongest" people dont know you can buy magnets much much stronger than what you are used too rather cheap just by going to the right source.

K&J Magnetics for example sells the kind of magnets that you basically have to agree to a waver for because they can smash your fingers like if you stomped on a uncooked hotdog with your foot.

 

Found something interesting today.

Took a random trip to Harbor Freight to get a air tool to clean out the dust on my computer case and saw this:



Purpose made screwdriver magnetizer and demagnetizer for under $5.00 so grabbed it up. Have not tested it yet but I think it will do the job just fine.

I like how I can demagnetize with it if needed.