Tools for working on computers

[pedrobedro]

I only use a Phillips driver and a flat and it's handy to have them magnetic. I don't think I ever needed to cut wires in a modern build. Adaptor cables and connectors are easily available for everything I ever needed I have been building my own since the days of 486.

 

[chunkolini]

Cheers guys. I figured this was the place to go to.
I'll pass a link on to him and see what he thinks is needed.

 

[graffian]

I only use a Phillips driver and a flat and it's handy to have them magnetic. I don't think I ever needed to cut wires in a modern build. Adaptor cables and connectors are easily available for everything I ever needed I have been building my own since the days of 486.

I bring a magnetic screwdriver in, if I remember and if I don't, I use a swiss army knife.
My computer needed some welding last upgrade! So he needs.................

 

[rtbcomp]

Magnetic screwdrivers don't work on brass screws.

 

[DAPPH]

Magnetic screwdrivers don't work on brass screws.

Nor aluminium or plastic screws .

A tiny bit of warmed Blue- Tack on the tip end is useful in such events , especially when trying to put them back in without inventing a new thread in the hole , rotate the screw anti clock till you feel it drop into the thread form then screw up in the normal way .

 

[pedrobedro]

Magnetic screwdrivers don't work on brass screws.

Never found a brass or aluminium screw in a computer and the plastic ones have all been thumbscrews.

 

[ChrisJ]

I built and repaired computers for a number of years and found I rarely needed more than a good pair of side cutters and a half descent screwdriver, some needle nose pliersI recently inherited a friends toolkit for pc's which is barely more than that. [edit] side cutters used for nylon cable ties to keep the wiring neat

 

[pedrobedro]

For the cable ties I use nail clippers in the case. The ties are not thick and nail clippers get in easily.

 

[MCKDAVID]

i'm with parm, except forget the screwdriver, hammer - the bigger the better, then float test it to be sure...

 

[GW8IZR]

Most screws in puters are not that tight, the threads are crap and even a cheap screwdriver will strip a thread before the driver slips.

but **** screwdrivers can mark the heads, if your opening someone's macbook or elitebook they will be much happier if it looks like new when they get it back!

For desktops I would agree, but laptop screws tend to be loctited in...

Agreed, its all about doing a professional job.

 

[pedrobedro]

i'm with parm, except forget the screwdriver, hammer - the bigger the better, then float test it to be sure...

If they don't float are they water cooled? My mate said his iPhone wouldn't sink but it did when I tried it in a bucket of water. Apparently it is spelt synch.

 

[fixerupper]

I have a mac version too - it has a longer handle.[/QUOTE]

And it only cost £180....and it came in a lovely box ....

 

[rikrobson]

I used to go around with a massive tookit to repair pcs/computers/printers back in the day. 86---96 back then you needed a fair bit of tooling as there were usually printers and dumb teminals to repair.
You could resolder stuff and the bigger older equipment, but not you could just rock up with a screw driver no1 philips and get the job done. A small pai of pliers and a small flat blade come in handy too.

Most of the dells are clipped together to make FRUs easier to change and the servers are now too. there are orange ones and blue ones. I think orange can be done on a live system and blue the unit must be off or the other way round.
The only time you'll need a bigger screwdriver is when some muppet has torqued up your rack mount screws or cable thumbscrews to 90Nm ( they are not wheel nuts ffs)

 

[normspanners]

but **** screwdrivers can mark the heads,

the biggest problem with screw/ screwdriver combinations is people using philips in posi , frearson, or jis b1012 or the opposite way round and not knowing the difference
even so called 'good' mechanics dont know and it angers me especially when they pick up my screwdrivers.
A lot of jap stuff has jis screws and the drivers are completely different so much so that I used to put tape round the tip of my jis to stop people just using it
for working on computers I have a selection of different drivers because even if you buy one expensive kit it will probably not have every style in it.
the biggest tool in your kit-------- are your eyes to see the difference ! and your hands to hold the driver straight with the screw which seems to be an impossibility with most kids of today coz they are not used to using tools.

 

[Migmac]

This is my tool of choice for comfeckinputers, one for the screen, one for the keyboard and one for the tower

 

[GW8IZR]

the biggest problem with screw/ screwdriver combinations is people using philips in posi , frearson, or jis b1012 or the opposite way round and not knowing the difference
even so called 'good' mechanics dont know and it angers me especially when they pick up my screwdrivers.
A lot of jap stuff has jis screws and the drivers are completely different so much so that I used to put tape round the tip of my jis to stop people just using it
for working on computers I have a selection of different drivers because even if you buy one expensive kit it will probably not have every style in it.
the biggest tool in your kit-------- are your eyes to see the difference ! and your hands to hold the driver straight with the screw which seems to be an impossibility with most kids of today coz they are not used to using tools.

That's funny I thought they were only cross type screws and flat screws , I don't like the cross type ones because the end of the kitchen knife doesn't fit.

There is a place for buying cheap tools and those universal screwdriver Kit I quite handy to have around for those one-off jobs. I have a couple of them kicking around in various places in case. Trouble is they often don't conform to any standard more accurate than flat or cross! The original poster was asking about someone starting out in industry and if he does end up pulling apart expensive laptops which are more like consumer products than the old days of the PC then his customers will expect him to make a decent job, I think it's worth spending a few quid on decent screwdrivers

 

[Bill Edwards]

the biggest problem with screw/ screwdriver combinations is people using philips in posi , frearson, or jis b1012 or the opposite way round and not knowing the difference
even so called 'good' mechanics dont know and it angers me especially when they pick up my screwdrivers.
A lot of jap stuff has jis screws and the drivers are completely different so much so that I used to put tape round the tip of my jis to stop people just using it
for working on computers I have a selection of different drivers because even if you buy one expensive kit it will probably not have every style in it.
the biggest tool in your kit-------- are your eyes to see the difference ! and your hands to hold the driver straight with the screw which seems to be an impossibility with most kids of today coz they are not used to using tools.

Yes, a vast amount don't know the difference between Philips and Pozi, and it's only relatively recently that I myself found out about JIS (though I do very little on Jap motors, they're so reliable). If my eyes can tell the difference then there won't be many who can't.
Using the correct type is everything as far as I'm concerned, even the very best screwdrivers don't work right when being forced to move a different (wrong) type of screw.

Why can't there just be one standard for screws!


As to computers if I send something to be worked on by a pro I expect every screw to be undamaged.
I'm not a computer guy but my take on buying the tools for them is that you don't ever want the cheapest as they won't fit well and probably won't last and will chew things up and make a mess. But equally buying the top end stuff is probably just wasting money as it's not demanding work.
I'd probably go with Bahco for the cutters (decent ones vs cheap ones does show a massive difference) and also for the screwdrivers.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

All I used was a couple of cross heads, Phillips and a 6mm flat,also I do have a JIS Driver.
I have a small pair of snips to cut the cable ties holding looms bunched up. Modern machines hardly need cable cuts to fix.

But far the best item in my computer tool roll, it is small enough to fit into a trouser leg pocket, are a fine tip permanent black marker, used to colour the heads of lap top screws. A white marker just to leave a note inside the case.


I have seen some Computer field service engineers turn up with a brief case full of tools and 99% look unused.
One gentleman I meet to do upgrades/repairs on "Integrated Systems" carries his tools in his pocket and spares in a small back pack.

So to start of, like all engineering trades, start with the best starter kit you can afford and build up.

I bet there are members on here who started with borrowing their Dad's tools and worked up.

I bet I am not the only one who recalls buying their first tool

 

[normspanners]

interesting........https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/79686/Doubting+if+the+MBP+screws+are+Phillips,+JIS+or+Frearson


a lot of screws on computers now do seem to look like jis /reed and prince

Views on this ??

 

[julianf]

My son has been building PC's for a few years and is in with a chance of a job repairing and building them.
he is after tooling up with some better tools and has spotted this little kit. https://eustore.ifixit.com/en/Tools/Toolkits/Macro-Bit-Set.html
I know nothing but have always said buy decent tools.
Is this any use to him or can anybody reccomend a good starter kit that wont break the bank or let him down.

I would say buying that kit would be a pretty bad idea.

Youll only find about 3 types of screw head in a pc (if that!). And then maybe the hex spacers that mother boards etc are mounted on.

Far better to get just the few screwdrivers required in proper, solid, ones (rather than with detatchable bits) - they will be much more convenient in use.