Small screw gripper

Fingers getting fatter ? Screws getting smaller ? I have had this handy little device for some years now. Use it to grip a small screw (8 Ba etc ) to help screw it into place. I see that they are available from Radiospares 537-293 £1.30 - Other good stores may also sell them.
BobH

Me being a "toolaholic" I will order one.

Reminds me of this cheap little red plastic gadget:

It's just slipped over the end of a suitable screwdriver; shown holding a 4BA screw.

Jewellers use a similar device - nothing fancy - to hold precious stones when offering them to the settings (etc). Try 'jewellery tools' for UK info, jewelry ditto if over the pond.

Cheers, Tim

Both of the photos show grippers fitting outside the screw, but there is another way. My father used to have a flat blade screwdriver (I wish I had a photo, or better still the screwdriver) that gripped inside the slot.

The tip was divided into three parts. The two outer sections were integral with the tubular shaft, and formed a fork, similar to a security screwdriver, whilst the centre section had a straight shaft and parallel tip like an electrician's screwdriver, passing straight down the centre of the shaft. This was spring loaded to rotate about 60 degrees relative to the rest of the blade. To fit it to the screw, you simply turned a knob to align it with the rest of the blade, and when released it gripped inside the slot.

Brian

I like the prong tool but can never find it when I need it. so generally just use a strip of paper.

Brian G:

Excellent description - I think this was the Valtock. They also made a meths blowlamp.

I have one of the tools mentioned by Brian. Made by Blue-Point (part of Snap-On), bought from Snap-On rep over 40 years ago. Part no. SSM5A. The pictures below show how the tip is constructed. In frist picture you can see the centre blade which rotates to lock the screw on the blade. When screw is tightened the end sleeve rotates and the cutout in the slot receives the little pip. I think I may have a Phillips version somewhere as well.

Very handy when working in awkward places on cars.

Colin

I bought a similar screwdriver from "Home Radio" in Micham in 1964, lost it about ten years ago.

It might turn up again

Frank

I have yet another type, purchased 30 years or so ago from RS I think - there's no identification on them at all. The blade is split longitudinally and 'sprung' slightly, so that the business end fans out to give a tip that is twice as wide/half as thick as it would have been before being split. A close-fitting sleeve over most of the length of the blade has a collar at the top end, near the handle, and when pushed down the shaft it draws the two half-blades together, causing the tip thickness to increase and so grip the screw. Dead simple to use. Asking at any general engineering supplier or tool store draws a completely blank look, and when you show them one, half of the (young) assistants say "what would you want that for?"

Roger