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punkncat

punkncat

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I have been casting around a bit for a small cordless screwdriver to use for things such as motherboard screws and such. Ideally, it would have a light on the end, but that is not a deal breaker. I really don't wish to trust some content creator/influencer. Some years back I was watching Awesome Hardware, and they suggested a tool called a Wowstick. Size wise it is good in some respects, has a little light on the end so you can see what you are doing, and as an added bonus is magnetic.
The issue with that unit and the multitude of them I see from off brand no name, no reputation retailers I suspect would be the same as I have had with this one. The battery takes a long time to charge, it holds that charge just long enough to die about halfway through a project. It is so weak you have to hand turn to initially loosen or tighten something. The worst aspect was that it came with something like four tubes of bits. There is no duplication of common sizes and a whole lot of things I doubt I would ever find a use case for....oh, and they shatter/break if you look at them too hard.

I have been considering something a little larger and perhaps using a long extension to reach down to the locations such as above with a motherboard. Is anyone using something that is robust and that you would recommend for such?
 
punkncat said:
The last one there is essentially the clone of the one I have, or opposite. It seemed like it was going to be so good and just wasn't.

In your own experience, good battery life? good torque?
Click to expand...
For MANY things, "good torque" is not what you want. I would not use a power screwdriver on motherboard screw install (removal maybe). Too easy to damage something. A magnetized manual is my preferred choice.
 
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punkncat said:
The last one there is essentially the clone of the one I have, or opposite. It seemed like it was going to be so good and just wasn't.

In your own experience, good battery life? good torque?
Click to expand...
Me too. Very similar one. It's great for laptops but anything that needs a bit of torque won't budge. Like you mentioned, you almost have to manually loosen the screws first before using the tool. Kinda defeats the purpose I think. You can forget about using it for removing the screws of a GPU (so you could take it out), the tool just doesn't have enough torque to turn it. Or the screws used to put in a new fan. The threads on those can be tough even with a traditional screwdriver.

https://www.amazon.com/HOTO-Screwdr...-Shadowless/dp/B08Z74BLX9/131-6716269-6778515 this one that @USAFRet suggested looks a little more beefy.

Unolocogringo said:
I use this one for most of my electrical work.
Not as cheap as the others but a solid tool, I'm not afraid of breaking. and you can get tips anywhere for it.

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-Screw...lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Click to expand...
That looks a very strong one. DEWALT are considered good professional tools. I'd expect that would work on any screws that might require a bit of a torque.
 
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kanewolf said:
For MANY things, "good torque" is not what you want. I would not use a power screwdriver on motherboard screw install (removal maybe). Too easy to damage something. A magnetized manual is my preferred choice.
Click to expand...
Good point.

I think @USAFRet might have the right idea. A combination of the three highlighted gives you the best coverage between having too much/little torque. Really depends on what exactly you're doing.
 
kanewolf said:
For MANY things, "good torque" is not what you want. I would not use a power screwdriver on motherboard screw install (removal maybe). Too easy to damage something. A magnetized manual is my preferred choice.
Click to expand...

As @Roland Of Gilead points out, this isn't even nearly on a level of enough torque to even loosen a side panel screw, much less motherboard standoffs, or I/O shield screws. With the Wowstick that I have you literally have to use a 'regular' screwdriver to loosen everything, then follow up with the powered one. But then, even at that, get about halfway into a case and it needs a recharge. In my experience with the one I have that is at least six hours before it is usable again. The other negative being that when you attempt to just use the Wowstick to initially break the screw loose, it actually ends up breaking the bit instead.

I feel like the Dewalt @Unolocogringo suggested is a bit 'more' rugged than I am looking for on this use case.

That Skil one @DSzymborski looks to be the one that jumps in my cart. I would assume that using it inside the case also requires the use of a hex bit extension a good deal longer than the one included?
 
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Roland Of Gilead said:
Good point.

I think @USAFRet might have the right idea. A combination of the three highlighted gives you the best coverage between having too much/little torque. Really depends on what exactly you're doing.
Click to expand...
Even when I was working (now retired) and doing rack builds, too much torque was not a good thing. I did like the M12 screwdriver -- https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/2401-22 It has very slow turn speed and a good clutch.
 
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Very much just a simple magnatized manual rachet style screwdriver for me when working on computers and peripherals etc..

Need something light with a good grip for when the arthritis flares up.

Little "twists".

Safer though, for me, to just hold off on doing some things.....
 
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