Screwdrivers for laptop repair - serious question

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excal32
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Screwdrivers for laptop repair - serious question

#1 Post by excal32 » Wed Oct 19, 2016 2:00 am

Over the years, i have bought many many many sets of precision screwdrivers. The problem is I have not been able to find any flat sort of philips head screwdriver, all the ones i own have a pointed tip which not allow the screwdriver to make contact with the threads on a screw on a laptop for instance.

I ended up doing three entire R61 frankenpads with just a precision size flathead as it was the only thing i had which could get to the thinkpad screws.

If anyone knows a good set that fits in these tiny screws as found in the *61 please do let me know!
1x R500 (P8600), R61e [T9300], X61 (T7300) - RIP T420 (replaced by HP Z420 workstation)

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Re: Screwdrivers for laptop repair - serious question

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Wed Oct 19, 2016 5:21 am

Get a set of these top quality Wiha screwdrivers: http://www.ebay.com/itm/151718776109
Or go cheap with these questionable ones: http://www.ebay.com/itm/331987907305

Or go to your local Ace or DoItBest and get some precision screwdrivers with Phillips #00 and #0 heads.
I use a few of these all the time: http://www.acehardware.com/product/inde ... d=53089736
and one of these: https://www.doitbest.com/products/319257
They fit on any Thinkpad I have ever come across (exception: 701 Butterfly, which also needs Torx #1 and #6).

Not sure what you mean with "flat sort of philips head" or "make contact with the threads on a screw"
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MikalE
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Re: Screwdrivers for laptop repair - serious question

#3 Post by MikalE » Wed Oct 19, 2016 7:20 am

I have set of Wiha and I think they are among the best. Mine goes down to 000 for the really fine screws. I don't have any Wiha flathead drivers yet as I have a set of precision Craftsman that are somewhat better than OK.

If you're going to be working often on laptops, tablets and cell phones, a bench set from Wiha might be the answer. IIRC there are 68 or so different precision drivers in that kit, including the strange pentalobe fasteners that Apple uses to keep you out of their products, as well as Torx and Allen drivers.

http://www.wihatools.com/master-tech-es ... tation-set
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Re: Screwdrivers for laptop repair - serious question

#4 Post by TPFanatic » Wed Oct 19, 2016 12:30 pm

I use this set,
https://www.amazon.com/Maxtech-16521MX- ... B000MF754W

With Thinkpad screws I find the the precision philips head in "1 size" fits all, only except for the tiny screws that hold the fan housing to the heatsink in some models.

Mind you the plastic handle to metal extension rod interface is chintzy and broke on me, and I had to superglue some little plastic pieces back on and that was annoying. Other than that I like the handle, it spins nicely, and overall it's been great for laptop screws but not much anything bigger.
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excal32
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Re: Screwdrivers for laptop repair - serious question

#5 Post by excal32 » Wed Oct 19, 2016 3:38 pm

Many many thanks to all!

Two votes for the Wiha, going to go for those.

I positively can not recall how many sets of $3 to $15 precision screwdriver sets I've destroyed...
1x R500 (P8600), R61e [T9300], X61 (T7300) - RIP T420 (replaced by HP Z420 workstation)

excal32
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Re: Screwdrivers for laptop repair - serious question

#6 Post by excal32 » Fri Oct 28, 2016 12:43 am

Just wanted to bump the thread to say I've had a set of Wiha, the very ones RBS linked, I was shocked. I have never used a screwdriver that worked this well off the bat. I'm truly shocked! My days of buying budget modular screwdrivers are over! I'm fully converted to Wiha now and can't wait to use them to touch up my R500.
1x R500 (P8600), R61e [T9300], X61 (T7300) - RIP T420 (replaced by HP Z420 workstation)

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