Looking for 1/4" hex drive precision screwdrivers

[ssbtech]

I'm having trouble finding some 1/4" hex drive precision screwdriver bits with a long-ish (1") shaft.

I'm mostly interested in Phillips bits for my cordless screwdriver. I need the longer shaft as I'm often screwing down holes, in my laptop. Seriously - I repair laptops and some of the screws are recessed a fair bit so the standard short bits don't always reach.

I can't seem to find what I want in stores like Canadian Tire, Home Depot, etc...

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[jeremy v]

There isn't too much of that sort of thing out there. You only have a couple options. You can buy Wiha or Wera long shaft 1/4" hex drive power bits for several bucks each. They come in different overall lengths, they are production quality bits, and they remain thin for most of their length. In some of the lengths you can get them down to a #00 phillips. An example is linked to below.

http://www.kctoolco.com/Wiha-Phillips-Power-Bit-00-x-70mm-p/74167.htm

Here is the link to the main Wiha page that shows all the different Phillips sizes you can for each bit length.

http://www.wihatools.com/700seri/741serie_Long.htm

The more flexible option would be to buy something like a Wiha 1/4" hex drive to 4mm hex micro drive adapter, and then pick up a set of much easier to find 4mm micro bits from a good manufacturer. You get close to your goal with a setup like that. Standard 4mm micro bits are around 1-1/16" to 1-1/8" long (~28mm) and they only go about 1/4" (~6mm) into the adapter, so you are left with around 7/8" (~22mm) worth of shaft that is a max of 3/16" aka ~5mm (measured from edge to edge of hex) in diameter.

http://www.kctoolco.com/Wiha-Insert-Bit-to-System-4-Micro-Bit-Adaptor-p/75802.htm

The links are just examples that you can look at to get part numbers from. I don't know if they ship to Canada or not.

If you want something local you can often find a 1/4" hex to 4mm micro bit adapter in one of the cheap hardware store homeowner ratcheting screwdriver kits like the one shown in the attached picture. Then just keep an eye out for some good quality micro bits (pretty easy to find locally) and you should be good to go.

 

[bob15]

Apex (I believe amazon, zoro tools, msc all still sell apex):

http://www.apexpowertools.com/catalog/pdffiles/TC-100_EN.pdf

or

Zephyr (mro tool sells them)

http://www.zephyrtool.com/

 

[jeremy v]

It looks like the best option from Apex in a #0 phillips would be a 4910x bit. It is a #0 phillips with 1-1/4" of turned down shaft before it increases in diameter. The #1 phillips equivalent would be a 491X. Other options are shown on page 2 of the catalog linked to by bob15. I don't see any options from Apex if you need the smaller #00 phillips size.

 

[cheechi]

I would not bother trying to adapt or use anything smaller than PH0 or T10 with 1/4" hex bits. That's why 4mm standard is there. You don't want the kind of torque you could accidentally make a huge mess in a small space. I"ve fixed plenty of laptop techs' 'fixes' with similar antics.

You get guys who want to take PC's apart with a cordless (or some even a corded, don't ask I have no idea) drill, even with a clutch set on the lowest setting or one of the 'electric screwdriver' style, all of them are the wrong tool for the job. Precision does not imply fast, automatic, or 'the easy way out'

Since you mentioned HD
long shanks (China)
4mm set (China)

However, big boys fix laptops with a better set;
Wiha (Germany)
ifixit (Taiwan iirc)

That ifixit set is better than you're thinking it is, think especially if you get it in the big kit. Both of these sets include an extension shank that is 3" I think, maybe longer. For my money that ifixit set is what I'd get if I had none and had time to order. If you do it a lot I find the wiha is a better quality and the case stands up nicely. That is a minor detail, but a very helpful one. Just not worth everybody's money to pay extra for it.

I've been fixing laptops and small electronics for a long time. I have precision bit sets from basically every common manufacturer, I don't wear down bits often but when I do I make a note of where it came from. So far only broken tips from no names and HD. Worn down several from Stanley, Husky (now HDX), HF, Kobalt, and General Tools.

 

[ssbtech]

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the idea of the 1/4 to 4mm adapter.

cheechi, I appreciate the concern, but I've been tearing laptops down to the bare shell and reassembling them for 12 years. I'm more interested in the speed of electric for disassembly but with my new cordless screwdriver, assembly would be safe with it too. (At least the case, perhaps not for the motherboard).

I've owned Black & Decker cordless screwdrivers and those were indeed too tight on the lowest setting, but my Ryobi cordless slips at a very low torque level, hence why I'm now looking for bits like this.