What is this tool in my computer toolkit?

[stultus]

I have two similar 12-piece computer toolkits. Both contain flathead and phillips screwdrivers, a jumper grabbing device, a pair of tweezers, a "compression" thing of some sort, and a MYSTERY ITEM! It's about 5 inches long, cylindrical, and 3/4 of an inch wide at the bottom. Both are spring-driven, but they are slightly different in each kit. If you put the tool flush against a surface, you get get another part of it to press down to the surface by pushing against the spring tension.

This is an awful description, but I'm sure if you have a toolkit you know what I'm talking about. Is it for putting on HSFs? That is the *only* thing where I can think of it to be useful to have a part push down for.

Any ideas?

 

[Killbat]

How about a better description, or a picture?

 

[Shmorq]

Are you talking about a probe?
Yeah... this is something that would definitely require a picture.

 

[Vincent]

If you push one end, does a set of wire claws come out the other end? If so, it's probably used to pick up screws and other small items that have fallen into places where your fingers can't fit.

 

[stultus]

You can see it here. It's the black item along the center of the kit just to the left of all those red rachet things.

I guess it is either a "Chip extractor" or "Chip inserter" judging from the description.

But what does it do? It is still useful, or is it some ancient tool that's just included for kicks that has no use anymore?

When you push it stright down, another piece (yellow, just barely visible in this picture) comes down, and you are left with the flat yellow surface against whatever surface you are pressing against.

 

[Killbat]

If it's a chip tool, it's surely for DIPs. The only common DIPs on modern machines are BIOS ROMs.
If you need to remove one of those, you have three options:
- ruin chip
- bleed
- use chip tool

 

[DARRIN]

Well you can use it for inserting or extracting socketed chips OR Use it as a Long Island Ice Tea stir stick.

 

[stultus]

Just wanted to make sure if I removed it and replaced it with something else I wouldn't be kicking myself later. But seriously, who would have a need for that these days? Geesh.

 

[Lanyap]

It's an ancient chip inserter. They have been around for a long time but are not useful to most people these days. In the "old days" (1980's) they fit the tiny memory chips that were used at that time. Replace it with a spare parts tube from http://www.cyberguys.com/. Plug this number 1150185 into the search field.

 

[edblor]

Wow

Learn something new everyday. I thought it was there to take up space!

Edblor

 

[bacillus]

most interesting!

 

[Snowdog]

Sounds like a molex pin extractor to me.

 

[ArkAoss]

yup its an old school dip removal thingy, if you do non computer related work i.e. vcr's copiers, PLC repair, you might need it more often.

 

[Pakman]

Yup, it's a dip chip inserter... I've played with it and the chip remover a few times on some old motherboards just for kicks. It's really not that useful though since it's for those small memory chips. It doesn't fit the bios chip...

 

[PCResources]

Those chip inserter and remover thingys... Well, they might prove useful for you in the future, many firmware chips still use that kind of socket so it would be a good thing to have if you need to replace a firmware chip one day...

I use it at least once a month, but then again, i do these things all day long (and sometimes all night too)...

Patrick Palm

PC Resources

 

[joinT]

LOL @ Edblor



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