Stanley 969188 Fatmax Clip-n-Grip Multibit Screwdriver

The Medway Handyman

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Jun 19, 2013, 3:43:17 AM6/19/13

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My old man had something similar years ago. Didn't know they were still
about.

The answer to a maidens prayer for a lot of jobs.

So much stuff has screws hidden away or difficult to get at, cooker
hoods, water heaters, light fittings and I've tried magnetic bits,
insulating tape etc. This thing simply works!

Not cheap, but well worth the money.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-969188-Clip-n-Grip-Multibit-Screwdriver/dp/B002SH9VTO
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

newshound

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Jun 19, 2013, 4:03:07 AM6/19/13

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On 19/06/2013 08:43, The Medway Handyman wrote:
> My old man had something similar years ago. Didn't know they were still
> about.
>
> The answer to a maidens prayer for a lot of jobs.
>
> So much stuff has screws hidden away or difficult to get at, cooker
> hoods, water heaters, light fittings and I've tried magnetic bits,
> insulating tape etc. This thing simply works!
>
> Not cheap, but well worth the money.
>
>
> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-969188-Clip-n-Grip-Multibit-Screwdriver/dp/B002SH9VTO
>

One of the useful sizes in my collection of rare earth magnets is about
10 x 25 x 3 mm (eBay). I find if you pop one of these half way down the
shank of a screwdriver it will support a steel pozidrive screw just
about as effectively.

Peter Percival

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Jun 19, 2013, 4:13:58 AM6/19/13

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The Medway Handyman wrote:
> My old man had something similar years ago. Didn't know they were still
> about.
>
> The answer to a maidens prayer for a lot of jobs.
>
> So much stuff has screws hidden away or difficult to get at, cooker
> hoods, water heaters, light fittings and I've tried magnetic bits,
> insulating tape etc. This thing simply works!
>
> Not cheap, but well worth the money.
>
>
> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-969188-Clip-n-Grip-Multibit-Screwdriver/dp/B002SH9VTO
>

On that page are things called ratchet screwdrivers. I thought ratchet
screwdrivers had long shafts (or whatever the word may be) that had
helical groves in them, so that when you pressed down on the handle, the
shaft turned. Have I misunderstood what a ratchet screwdriver is (or
was, I'm thinking about things I saw forty years ago).

--
I think I am an Elephant,
Behind another Elephant
Behind /another/ Elephant who isn't really there....
A.A. Milne

Andy Burns

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Jun 19, 2013, 4:22:17 AM6/19/13

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Peter Percival wrote:

> I thought ratchet screwdrivers had long shafts (or whatever the word
> may be) that had helical groves in them, so that when you pressed
> down on the handle, the shaft turned. Have I misunderstood what a
> ratchet screwdriver is (or was, I'm thinking about things I saw forty
> years ago).

You are remembering 'yankee' screwdrivers.

Mike Clarke

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Jun 19, 2013, 4:33:55 AM6/19/13

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Peter Percival wrote:

> On that page are things called ratchet screwdrivers. I thought ratchet
> screwdrivers had long shafts (or whatever the word may be) that had
> helical groves in them, so that when you pressed down on the handle, the
> shaft turned. Have I misunderstood what a ratchet screwdriver is (or
> was, I'm thinking about things I saw forty years ago).

These were/are "pump action" screwdrivers - a specific type of ratchet
screwdriver.

A ratchet screwdriver allows you to turn the handle in the reverse direction
without rotating the blade. This lets you insert the screw all the way
without releasing your grip on the handle or removing the tip of the blade
from the screw. A small slider or collar on the handle is used to select
which direction you want the screw to turn. There seems to be much less need
for them with Pozidrive and Torx screws than with slotted ones.

--
Mike Clarke

Mike Clarke

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Jun 19, 2013, 4:50:56 AM6/19/13

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The Medway Handyman wrote:

> My old man had something similar years ago. Didn't know they were still
> about.

I think I still have an old one somewhere. Very similar but without
interchangeable bits - haven't used it for years though.

It was an ingenious idea but the grippers made the end of the screwdriver
very bulky - often too bulky to get into the inaccessible locations where it
might have been most useful.

--
Mike Clarke

Harry Bloomfield

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Jun 19, 2013, 10:48:27 AM6/19/13

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newshound used his keyboard to write :

The limitation is that it only works with steel screws. I usually get
by with a blob of bluetack on the end, to stick screws in place, works
with all types of metal and plastic screws.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

Peter Percival

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Jun 19, 2013, 11:16:22 AM6/19/13

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Ah, yes! I recall that word now. Do you know why they were called that?
Wikipedia mentions 'Persian screwdrivers' in connection with them,
that's another name that has me wondering where is came from.

The Medway Handyman

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Jun 19, 2013, 4:40:30 PM6/19/13

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I did try that, but when trying to get a screw into a metal light
fitting.....

Vir Campestris

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Jun 19, 2013, 5:04:25 PM6/19/13

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On 19/06/2013 09:22, Andy Burns wrote:
>>
>
> You are remembering 'yankee' screwdrivers.

So am I . In this case a Yankee Handyman, which has a plastic handle
with half-a-dozen bits in it.Not standard hex though.

F*** me, ebay has it as a vintage tool. It's not even an heirloom,
unlike some of mine!

Andy