best magnetic/clip-style retaining screw/nut drivers?

A

Alan Horowitz

Guest
the scenario is pulling out/putting in screws and nuts in orientations
where gravity or tightquarters or awkwardness prevent a handhold on
the item at moments that it has no retention by threads. Ie, at the
end or at the beginning, gravity wants to make it fall down into bad
places for it to be....

Best magnetic or clip-style retaining screwdrivers, wrenches, socket
sets?
 
"Alan Horowitz" <alanh_27@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1e3670a7.0402011424.55239a4b@posting.google.com...
the scenario is pulling out/putting in screws and nuts in orientations
where gravity or tightquarters or awkwardness prevent a handhold on
the item at moments that it has no retention by threads. Ie, at the
end or at the beginning, gravity wants to make it fall down into bad
places for it to be....

Best magnetic or clip-style retaining screwdrivers, wrenches, socket
sets?
Click to expand...
What I usually do is take an ordinary screwdriver and slide a magnet over it
several times. After that screws won't fall off if you don't shake too hard.
Works well for me.

--
Peter van Merkerk
peter.van.merkerk(at)dse.nl
 
On 1 Feb 2004 14:24:33 -0800, alanh_27@yahoo.com (Alan Horowitz) wrote:
the scenario is pulling out/putting in screws and nuts in orientations
where gravity or tightquarters or awkwardness prevent a handhold on
the item at moments that it has no retention by threads. Ie, at the
end or at the beginning, gravity wants to make it fall down into bad
places for it to be....

Best magnetic or clip-style retaining screwdrivers, wrenches, socket
sets?
Click to expand...
For slotted head screws, I like the wedge type screwholders. They
work well, are easy to use, don't get in the way, and don't attract
undesirable swarf. I do not like magnetic tools for the latter reason.

I haven't found anything comparable for Philips head screws. I
actively detest the spring clip style screwholders since the spring
clips get in the way, and they aren't easy to use.

So since I always seem to have a bottle or two of expired Crazy
Glue, I will often just glue a Philips screw onto a screwdriver.
Since the goop is expired, it doesn't hold so well you can't easily
free the screwdriver from the screw, but it still bonds instantly,
so it is quick to use.

For holding nuts in sockets, a bit of modeling clay is just the trick.

Gary
 
The type shown here are the best. I was fortunate to get several
that have Phillips on one end and straight on the opposite end
about a foot long US military surplus.

http://www.setools.com/sskits.shtml


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Keep the whole world singing. . . .
DanG


"Gary Coffman" <ke4zv@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:741r10t0lap539bh885khgq4p81ju69qmg@4ax.com...
On 1 Feb 2004 14:24:33 -0800, alanh_27@yahoo.com (Alan Horowitz)
wrote:
the scenario is pulling out/putting in screws and nuts in
orientations
where gravity or tightquarters or awkwardness prevent a
handhold on
the item at moments that it has no retention by threads. Ie, at
the
end or at the beginning, gravity wants to make it fall down
into bad
places for it to be....

Best magnetic or clip-style retaining screwdrivers, wrenches,
socket
sets?

For slotted head screws, I like the wedge type screwholders.
They
work well, are easy to use, don't get in the way, and don't
attract
undesirable swarf. I do not like magnetic tools for the latter
reason.

I haven't found anything comparable for Philips head screws. I
actively detest the spring clip style screwholders since the
spring
clips get in the way, and they aren't easy to use.

So since I always seem to have a bottle or two of expired Crazy
Glue, I will often just glue a Philips screw onto a screwdriver.
Since the goop is expired, it doesn't hold so well you can't
easily
free the screwdriver from the screw, but it still bonds
instantly,
so it is quick to use.

For holding nuts in sockets, a bit of modeling clay is just the
trick.

Gary
Click to expand...
 
What I usually do is take an ordinary screwdriver and slide a magnet over
it
several times. After that screws won't fall off if you don't shake too
hard.
Works well for me.
Click to expand...
Yes this is a good idea. Maybe not exactly what you are looking for, but its
handy to have magnetized screwdriving tips for driving screws in all the
hard to reach places without losing them. I just received a little
magnetizer/demagnetizer gadget from rockler which works quite well.
Just have to remember to de-magnetize the tools if you are going to use them
on electronic components :)
The magnetizer/demagnetizer can be found here http://tinyurl.com/2hnvr
It goes for $6.99.

--
Regards,

Dean Bielanowski
Editor,
Online Tool Reviews
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Latest 5 Reviews:
- Veritas Shelf Drilling Jig
- Ryobi CID1802V 18v Cordless Drill
- Workshop Essentials Under $30
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------------------------------------------------------------
 
An Old helo mech showed me some stuff called fuel lube. Aircraft Spruce P/N
09-25300. It is a very sticky grease and a small dab will hold the screw,
nut, washer whatever on the end of the tool. Even held a small nail on the
face of a hammer for one-handed out-of-reach nailing. It is also useful as a
gasket holder, anti-seize and other lube jobs. Not cheap, but I have had a
1# can for some time. "Guaranteed not to rip, rattle, run around the
seams, drip down your leg or smell bad in the summer time". I'ts better
than Dr. Chutes Two Root Rubbing compound.
Stu Fields sfkf@iwvisp.com
"Alan Horowitz" <alanh_27@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1e3670a7.0402011424.55239a4b@posting.google.com...
the scenario is pulling out/putting in screws and nuts in orientations
where gravity or tightquarters or awkwardness prevent a handhold on
the item at moments that it has no retention by threads. Ie, at the
end or at the beginning, gravity wants to make it fall down into bad
places for it to be....

Best magnetic or clip-style retaining screwdrivers, wrenches, socket
sets?
Click to expand...
 
Stu Fields wrote:
An Old helo mech showed me some stuff called fuel lube. Aircraft Spruce P/N
09-25300. It is a very sticky grease and a small dab will hold the screw,
nut, washer whatever on the end of the tool. Even held a small nail on the
face of a hammer for one-handed out-of-reach nailing. It is also useful as a
gasket holder, anti-seize and other lube jobs. Not cheap, but I have had a
1# can for some time. "Guaranteed not to rip, rattle, run around the
seams, drip down your leg or smell bad in the summer time". I'ts better
than Dr. Chutes Two Root Rubbing compound.
Stu Fields sfkf@iwvisp.com
Click to expand...
I have used the stuff under the name "honey grease" though it was
officially "grease, plug valve, hydrocarbon resistant.
Great stuff, until some doorknob spooges too much of it on a gasket and
gets it into a fuel or hydraulic system.

Cheers
Trevor Jones
 
In article <401d9791$0$19705$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>,
"SawEyes" <bbaa@etcetera.co> wrote:

What I usually do is take an ordinary screwdriver and slide a magnet over
it
several times. After that screws won't fall off if you don't shake too
hard.
Works well for me.

Yes this is a good idea. Maybe not exactly what you are looking for, but its
handy to have magnetized screwdriving tips for driving screws in all the
hard to reach places without losing them. I just received a little
magnetizer/demagnetizer gadget from rockler which works quite well.
Just have to remember to de-magnetize the tools if you are going to use them
on electronic components :)
The magnetizer/demagnetizer can be found here http://tinyurl.com/2hnvr
It goes for $6.99.
Click to expand...
I have a couple of these... they work great!

Only snag is stuff like the stainless screws they use around automotive
headlights...

Sometimes you have to fool around a little 'finding' which step of the
demagnetizer part works best for which driver. I've noticed if I don't
get a complete demagnetize using one step, it's better to remagnetize
before trying another step. Don't think the demagnetize is ever quite
100% either, but good enough not to pick much if any crud... a
de-gaussing coil is best...

Erik
 
My main objection to magnetic screwholders is that the screw is attracted to
the edge of the hole, making it difficult to start it. Anyone else have
this trouble?

I have used the kind with a flat rod that twists crosswise, the split bit
that wedges over itself, CA glue, masking tape, grease, hemostats, and
whatever else comes to hand. I can't say I have a favorite, but I agree
that the double spring-clip type seems to get in the way, and often drops
the screw at a crucial moment.
 
"SawEyes" wrote ...
Just have to remember to de-magnetize the tools if you are
going to use them on electronic components :)
Click to expand...
What electronic components are affected by using magnetic tools?
We used to have to take care around magnetic tape heads, but
unless you are working on tape (or cassette) recorders, I can't
think of any real danger of using magnetized tools?
 
"Richard Crowley" <rcrowley7@xprt.net> wrote in message
news:101ro58b240dv46@corp.supernews.com...
"SawEyes" wrote ...
Just have to remember to de-magnetize the tools if you are
going to use them on electronic components :)

What electronic components are affected by using magnetic tools?
We used to have to take care around magnetic tape heads, but
unless you are working on tape (or cassette) recorders, I can't
think of any real danger of using magnetized tools?
Click to expand...
The only thing affected by magnetism is magnetic media and heads. Nothing
else will be damaged by normal magnets, though CRT's, compases and hall
effect sensors will be interfered with.

Why's this being crossposted so so many random groups? I deleted the ones
that definitly have no relevance.
 
I have always used bees wax . not candle wax .. the soft sticky stuff .
Of coarse it takes time to scrape a bit of wax on the tool . It doesnt
take much .

On sockets If you want to get fancy buy a cheap set of sockets those
seem to have little temper in them & drill a small hole , thread it &
install a set screw to lightly snug the nut in the socket but once again
time consuming to fiddle with the set screw ...... if you can even drill
the socket ?
 
alanh_27@yahoo.com (Alan Horowitz) wrote in message
.....
Best magnetic or clip-style retaining screwdrivers, wrenches, socket
sets?
Click to expand...
I use square drive screws. Don't need no steenking magnets ;>)

As a demonstration for doubters I pick up my cordless by holding only
a screw chucked in the bit.

Mike
 
alanh_27@yahoo.com (Alan Horowitz) wrote in message news:<1e3670a7.0402011424.55239a4b@posting.google.com>...
the scenario is pulling out/putting in screws and nuts in orientations
where gravity or tightquarters or awkwardness prevent a handhold on
the item at moments that it has no retention by threads. Ie, at the
end or at the beginning, gravity wants to make it fall down into bad
places for it to be....

Best magnetic or clip-style retaining screwdrivers, wrenches, socket
sets?
Click to expand...
For once in awhile use, a roll of masking tape does wonders. Tear off
a small chunk, poke your screw through it, tape it to the screwdriver.
Once the thing is started, tear off the tape. You can do the same
with nuts and nutdrivers. Not a production technique but handy
sometimes where you positively don't want to dismantle the object to
get a stray screw back. Even magnetic and clip types will lose a
screw if you bump them hard enough and sometimes the quarters are so
close that a magnetic tip will stick to the object more than to the
screw. For fishing stuff out, there's now rare-earth magnetic
grabbers with a high-powered LED in the center. Just ran across one
in the hardware store. I've used the wedge-fast slotted screw
starters and the Phillips screw starters, the masking tape beats them
both.

Stan
 
Alan Horowitz wrote:

the scenario is pulling out/putting in screws and nuts in orientations
where gravity or tightquarters or awkwardness prevent a handhold on
the item at moments that it has no retention by threads. Ie, at the
end or at the beginning, gravity wants to make it fall down into bad
places for it to be....

Best magnetic or clip-style retaining screwdrivers, wrenches, socket
sets?


Nobody's mentioned *nuts* yet. Here's my contribution on that part of
Click to expand...
the problem:

For small nuts, say 2-56 through 10-32, just grab a length of 1/16"
diameter wire solder, lay its end across the flat of the nut and give it
a good squeeze with a pair of pliers. The solder will "flow" down into
the first thread of the nut and grab well enough so you can bend the
rest of the solder into whatever shape is required to put the nut where
it has to go.

Once the screw starts into the other side of the nut, a tug on the
solder releases it and you can usually get some sort of wrench or a
fingertip onto it for the rest of the tightening.

Jeff (Who's *not* gonna rant about crossposting...)


--
Jeff Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying."
 
Want the best? Find your local Snap-on tools guy. There are several
alternatives suggested though.
 
On 1 Feb 2004 14:24:33 -0800, alanh_27@yahoo.com (Alan Horowitz)
wrote:

the scenario is pulling out/putting in screws and nuts in orientations
where gravity or tightquarters or awkwardness prevent a handhold on
the item at moments that it has no retention by threads. Ie, at the
end or at the beginning, gravity wants to make it fall down into bad
places for it to be....

Best magnetic or clip-style retaining screwdrivers, wrenches, socket
sets?
Click to expand...
For 1/4" hex screwdriver handles and bits http://www.brownells.com

Lifetime guarantee on the Brownells bits, they are replaced for free
it they break (shipped with your order for free, otherwise you pay the
postage).

For screw starters http://www.setools.com/sstarter.shtml

For the rest of it, a collection of 1/4" square drive extensions,
universal joints, and the like with a male 1/4" hex to male 1/4"
square adapter for the drive end and a 1/4" hex socket for the other
end. Also gender changers for the square to hex parts.

I have a collection of the spring loaded 8" to 10" long screw
starters, straight and Phillips, that were found at various industrial
surplus places. The link above will get you the same kind of tools
but the quality may be different. Mine are all refugees from the good
old days when things were Made In America and are either American or
Japanese made.

I have never had any problem with working around consumer level
electronics with screwdrivers with magnetized tips. I exercise a
reasonable caution and would not intentionally rest the tip on a IC or
component.

I keep a small super magnet stuck to the lid of one of metal tool
boxes and give many of my screwdrivers just enough strokes to pick up
the average screw when they have lost their magnetism.

When magnetizing screwdrivers, you have to start at one end and slide
the magnet off the other, then move it away and back to the starting
end for the next stroke. Using continuous contact and sliding it up
and down does not work well.



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