There’s been some interest in computer repair forums lately about precision electric screwdrivers, so I thought I’d post a review of one example: the General Tools Ultra Tech Cordless 500 Precision Screwdriver.
First of all, around $20.00 I wasn’t expecting much quality. I was pleasantly surprised by the build quality. It is made of a durable plastic with a rubber grip surface. Ergonomically it is well designed and fits nicely between thumb and forefinger. You hold the driver like a pen and use your index finger to operate the yellow lever.
Two triple A batteries are required. Plan to purchase rechargeable batteries and a charger if you intend to use this device frequently. Can’t really comment on battery life here as I’ve only been using it for a short while, but it looks good so far in this regard.
The driver has good torque, which was one of my main concerns. Personally, I wish it had a little more torque for those stubborn bolts, but I’m really picky here. It could be argued that increasing the torque would also increase the chance of the bolts breaking. So far I haven’t had any issues with the controller removal screws. You can feel it when the bit doesn’t bite or when it jumps, just like you can with a hand driver. In cases like this, just swap it out for a manual controller.
I also wish it had a faster rotation speed as I can remove a screw quicker with a precision hand screwdriver, although I’m not sure this is the case after the 30th screw I removed the old fashioned way.
If you disassemble a lot of laptops, a device like this can make your job much easier. There are days when I disassemble the laptop so much that my fingers literally start to cramp. This is where General Tools 500 really shines. While it’s not designed for smartphone or tablet teardown, it works great with laptops or equivalent devices.
Now my few complaints:
- The bits: comes with 6 bits, chrome type (my least favorite type of bit and have found it to be the least durable over time). Although for this type of bits they are well made and should last quite a while.
- Rotation speed, as I mentioned earlier. Not bad, but not fast enough for my liking. A bit on the slow side.
- The bits are not magnetic. However, you can magnetize these bits with a magnetizer/demagnetizer available at any hardware store.
It’s a pretty good deal at around $20. I wish GeneralTools would come up with a pro-level model that’s rechargeable. Also, it would be nice to be able to increase or decrease the speed of rotation depending on the force you use on the lever. I’d pay good money for this, and buy two of them so I’d always have one charged. Higher quality bits would be welcome. And more of them. I’m not sure if GeneralTools has a larger bit set for this model. With that said, the bits provided will cover the vast majority of common repairs.
Overall, I’m happy with the device and highly recommend it to technicians who disassemble a lot of laptops or electronics.