mc86
Joined: 20 Sep 2008
Posts: 767
Location: pittsburgh, pa
TV/Projector: ECP 4500 (Vidikron box), ECP4500+, wanting 07MS/07MTS, evaluating pc soft-blend
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| Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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In addition to having the correct driver with sufficiently long shaft, I find having screwdrivers with "screw starters" to be really nice for this kind of task -- that is, reaching a long distance into a little place with few degrees of freedom. I have a universal screw started that is OK, but a bit short for your task. For application-specific drivers, are a variety of specific types (depending on the head of the screw) that exist. If you are going to purchase something for the job (ie, if you do this enough OR don't have the tool), consider spending a little extra.
In the worst case, magnetize the tip of the driver using a magnetize/demagnetize tool that you can keep for all jobs. OR get some of that sticky paste/wax (like a kid's glue stick, but made for this job) and touch a bit on the tip to hold the screws. Put a little on the screw itself or even a finger and you can often get things positioned for a normal driver to do the job. I have some at home, but can't for the life of me recall where I got it or what it is called. That said, the drivers that are really handy are the ball-ended hex drivers (allen/L-key) that have a tiny sprung ring on them to retain the screw. I actually will replace phillips/flathead/and nutdriver nuts with socket-head or button-head cap-screws sometimes just for this reason. The button heads can be a bit more tricky as they frequently have less purchase surface.
It took me way too long in life to realize that when I'm doing a task that is a PITA and think "there must be a better way or tool for this"...there almost always already is! DUMMY!
Matt
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