Best Hardware Tool Kit?

[Coldkilla]

New Job. Start next week. Told to purchase PC tools that I can use in my daily work schedule.

I'm basically a computer hardware tech, and my job will be to remove/repair/order parts for laptops/computers/printers. All form factors will be worked on. Anywhere from removing a system board, to a laptops monitor/keyboard.

I need a small arsenal of tools. From flat/Phillips head screw driver, to a T-10 T-16 type of screw driver, even a small knife for opening packages. An 'all in one tool' is nice, but many times they are difficult to use in that ether they are flimsy, or have a large resistance to switch from one tool to the next. I will be carrying a binder around with me all over this North Western Mutual building. My boss has a small 3-hole pouch inside of his binder with a bunch of unsorted/mismatched tools.

I was wondering if anyone here through experience has a good system of carrying specific tools when taking calls from clients. Is there a good brand of equipment that I should buy? Is buying a 'PC Mod package' smarter? Or is purchasing numerous tools separately smarter?

Basically I need a bunch of tools that are small, will work on smaller laptop components, and larger desktop components. I'd like to magnetize them and can purchase a magnet to do that. Does a stronger magnet make a stronger charge on a screwdriver for example? Reason I ask is that I'm sorta 'shaky' at times for no apparent reason and find a lot of trouble moving around sometimes inside a PC trying to navigate a screw hole without losing the screw under the system board.

 

[Blain]

THIS is one of the handiest tools I use for PC work.

Magnetism is used to write data to the HD platters. Personally I don't like to use magnetized tools when working on a PC.

Items I use:
Canned air,
Bent needle nose pliers,
2 different size phillips screwdrivers,
2 different size slotted screwdrivers,
91% alcohol,
Q-tips,
small flashlight,
ATX PS tester,
3-in-one oil,
foil duct tape,
thermal compound,
small & medium zip-ties,
USB drive with drivers, utilities and OS updates

 

[JustaGeek]

Do NOT use a magnet around the computer components!!!

That's why the computer-specific toolkits are actually demagnetized.

If you need to retrieve a screw, there is a little "retriever", for a lack of a better word, with 3-prong tip retracting and contracting as you push the top button.

I use a $11.99 toolkit purchased at CompUSA. You might need something larger like this:

$39.99
http://www.compusa.com/product...t3&product_code=895124

Good luck!

 

[Zepper]

Most "computer tool sets" I've seen are just a hodge-podge of marginal Chinese stuff, I get most of mine separately.

Most techs use magnetized screwdrivers - I know I hate to go hunting for screws. The above is an "old wives' tale" from back in the floppy disk days - you should know what can be affected (like floppy diskettes) and be careful with any magnetic tools around such. Almost nothing in a modern PC will be affected by magnetic tools, but it is true that most you'll find are demagnetized, but they are easily re-magnetized. I buy most of my tools from Sears when they are on sale. They have a nice set of miniature pliers/cutters like the above on sale this week. They also have a digital meter that's good enough for most PC repair work on sale for $10. They have nice technical screw and nut drivers in sets and singly. You'll also need a nice standard #2 Phillips for all those case screws, etc. I use a light-duty power screwdriver a lot for those. A compact but bright flashlight is always useful - LED ones as the batteries last seemingly forever. The nut drivers I use are 3/16, 1/4 and 5mm mostly as those are the common sizes of standoffs, etc. Number 8 Torx is used a lot in notebooks and elsewhere - other sizes of Torx are seldom used - but you may find it in server grade or older Compaq or IBM stuff. I have a large set of bits for my screwdriver with most metric and english sizes of phillips, flat, torx, square, hex (allen), etc. just in case I need something unusual. And I have a handle for the 1/4" hex bits with very little waste metal in the shaft - got it in an old Curtis computer tool set. I use that all the time. I hardly ever use anything but #1 and #2 Phillips on PCs as the great majority of screws are #2 Phillips. Even Kmart used to have some nice technical tools in their Benchtop brand, but you're likely to find a limited selection of Sears stuff or chinese junk there now as they are part of Sears. I have a short spring grabber (from the same Curtis tool kit) and a magnetic pencil-shaped grabber for snagging those dropped parts. I also have an anti-static wrist band but seldom use it - I know how to keep myself neutralized.
www.cyberguys.com has some nice tools and jameco.com usually does too.

. But the most important tool is the one between your ears - if you don't know what you're doing and focus while you're doing it, a full set of the nicest tools wouldn't be worth a crap.

.bh.

 

[Taqwus]

I been a tech for about 8 years now and also was senior tech for a national it contractor and if I boiled it down I just use 2 tools
1 Screwdriver with magnetized changeable tips
1 Paperclip

Pretty much I have not found anything I really can not do without those 2 items from servers, to printers, to pc's and some laptops

The other usefull items are
Jewlers Screwdriver Kit (for laptops)
Toner Vac (for printers)
Multimeter
Compressed Air for all those lovely dusty pc's
Post Card (highly recomended)
Spare memory, video card, HD, DVDRW, PS, NIC, Modem, and monitor are very helpfull
Copies of Hirens, UBCD, and any other diagnostic disk you find and also the tattoo disk for various OEM companies as you find them

 

[corkyg]

Been working with electronics components since the mid-50s. Magentic tips really require care in their use. An alternative I learned a long time ago is chewing gum. I always chew gum on a job, and a fresh bit of gum on a driver tip is very good for holding a screw on.

Another very useful to is a surgical clamp. These are usually stainless steel, and some in two shapes - straight and curved. They are like tiny pliers with scissors handles that can lock in place. Very useful for holding small components and parts, and removing chips.

I would add these to all the neat suggestions above.

If you want to see a good array of tool kits, testers, etc., I recommend Cyberguys. Once you are a customer, you get a really nice catalog sent to you several times a year so you can keep up with new components and parts.

Tools

 

[Old Hippie]

Another very useful to is a surgical clamp. These are usually stainless steel, and some in two shapes - straight and curved. They are like tiny pliers with scissors handles that can lock in place.

And all this time, I thought those were roach clips. :shocked: