Magnetic Screwdriver Okay Or Not?

[babaghan]

I'm clumsy - always dropping those little screws inside my system chassis. Is it safe to use a magnetic screwdriver to fish screws out or work on a PC?

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[runswindows95]

I've been using for a year now and haven't had any problems.

 

[nvalhalla]

I have been using a magnetic screwdriver for years without incident. I wouldn't rub it on your hard drive, but otherwise you should be fine.

 

[M3d]

Same here. Have been using the same magnetic screwdriver for years and no problem.

 

[APieceOfCheese]

I used mine to screw in the hard drive. Haven't had a problem yet.

 

[joefriday]

I use a magnetic screwdriver. Nothing to worry about.

 

[rammedstein]

magnetic screwdrivers are fine, the damage you do to your computer by leaving the screws lying around and shorting stuff out is very likely to be much worse.

 

[techgeek]

I used to think the same thing, but I think it would take a lot more Gauss than a screwdriver has to cause bit loss/re-arrangement on an HDD.

 

[No1sFanboy]

Try working on an Antec 900 without one. If it's not OK I've got a problem. I have strong magnetic collars on my screwdrivers and have never had a problem.

 

[robucf4]

Try working on an Antec 900 without one. If it's not OK I've got a problem. I have strong magnetic collars on my screwdrivers and have never had a problem.

Great case but jesus what is up with that HDD case. I was almost done with my built when I encountered that, I did not have a magentic screwdriver around so I had to wait until the next day to finish it.

 

[ethel]

I'm clumsy - always dropping those little screws inside my system chassis. Is it safe to use a magnetic screwdriver to fish screws out or work on a PC?

Never had any problems and have used one for years. And whoever invented the magnetic screwdriver deserves a knighthood.

 

[No1sFanboy]

I agree the magnetic screwdriver is indeed great but it would be entirely unnecessary had the world not ignored another great (CDN),invention, the Robertson. But alas the USA is indeed large and powerful and with that influence it thrust upon the world the curse that is the Phillips head.

 

[ethel]

I agree the magnetic screwdriver is indeed great but it would be entirely unnecessary had the world not ignored another great (CDN),invention, the Robertson. But alas the USA is indeed large and powerful and with that influence it thrust upon the world the curse that is the Phillips head.

What is a Robertson?

 

[fantastapotamus]

I once read somewhere that compared to the magnet in your screwdriver, the HD's magnet is enormously strong and it is nearly impossible to do any damage to the HD with it.

Also I have used magnetic probes to pick up screws in computers for over a decade and have not had any problem. I did mess up a monitor (CRT) beyond its ability to degauss itself, however.

 

[notherdude]

For the heck of it once we took a large industrial magnet and put it up against a old HD and it had no effect on it that we could determine - all the data was still there at least.

Not that I would reccomend this treatment on a drive you care about 😀

 

[alcattle]

simply the Robertson screw has a square hole and the screwdriver has a square tip. Too simple to really work

 

[No1sFanboy]

Alcattle is correct, square, but also the angle inside the screw head tapers keeping the screw on the tool when held overhead or even at 180 allowing for one handed operation.

 

[3lfk1ng]

I have always used em, no issues yet.

Even if the magnetic head were to rest on your hdd, it wouldn't cause any issues because the Gauss strength is not even close to strong enough.

 

[chuckshissle]

It's okay to use magnetic tools as long as you don't poke them sensitive components like the cpu and etc.

 

[engrpiman]

it all depends on the strength of the magnet.. most screwdriver magnets are weak and will not hurt anything. for that matter Magnetic fields are week but that not the point ..

 

[sirheck]

it all depends on the strength of the magnet.. most screwdriver magnets are weak and will not hurt anything. for that matter Magnetic fields are week but that not the point ..

yes the magnets in the hdd are much more powerful than
a screwdriver.

 

[SEALBoy]

You should be fine. The only components that can really be affected are hard drives and floppies, and even that is minimal.

Magnetic fields produce current ONLY when the field is moving, so unless you plan on waving your screwdriver around like a maniac, you shouldn't induce anywhere close to the amount of current it needs to short something out.