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iConcepts 10-Piece PC Tool Kit |
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Written by Mikhail Ivanenkov
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Wednesday, 13 June 2007 |
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Product sample purchased at OfficeMax.
Any self-respecting computer enthusiast needs the proper tools to get things done. Fortunately, putting a computer together or ripping one apart can usually be achieved with a Phillips head screwdriver of medium size. But every now and then a troublesome component or a stubborn case will rear its ugly head and suddenly that screwdriver is no longer sufficient. A basic tool kit should be part of any builder's arsenal.
Taking my own advice I decided to go on a medium shopping spree on the day after Thanksgiving (dubbed Black Friday), the day that kicks off the holiday season purchase frenzy. One of the many items that caught my eye was a relatively inexpensive ($10 off the shelf, free after mail-in rebate), basic 10-piece PC tool kit from iConcepts (actually a division of Sakar International, a semi-generic accessory company that makes products for B&M stores).
It comes in a zippered cloth pouch and contains the following pieces (from left to right): 8mm nut driver, 10mm nut driver, 3-pronged tension "parts retriever", tweezers, 5mm Torx screwdriver (star pattern), insulated chip (IC) extraction clipper, 3.2mm Phillips screwdriver, 3.2mm flat head screwdriver, 5mm Phillips head screwdriver, and a 5mm flat head screwdriver. One thing I noticed that was clearly missing was a set of pliers. While the nut drivers help alleviate one of the typical uses of pliers in the computer environment, you still need a precise tool to grasp, pull, push, twist, and sometimes break off various parts.
The IC extraction tool is of particular interest. While this won't be used often (in all my years of experience with computers I've never had to replace a BIOS or similar chip), it certainly is helpful if/when the situation arises. Removing BIOS chips is incredibly easy; just grasp it from the bottom and pull out. To replace, just push it back in. There's no spring on this tool and the steel bends in and out with minimal tension, so it can be resized to fit snug around chips of all dimensions.
Another incredibly useful tool is the parts retriever. It's basically three long wires with hooks on the end pointed outwards. By applying pressure on the end of the tool (similar to a syringe), you can push out these wires. You can then grasp any miniature parts that are too small to get by hand, and let off the pressure to lock it in place. The most typical use for this is finding pieces that happen to fall inside a case that are either non-magnetic (and therefore can't be retrieved with a tipped screwdriver) or otherwise non-removable.
Finally, all 4 screwdrivers have magnetic tips. These are helpful in properly aligning screws before insertion. There is some speculation as to the damage caused by using magnets around sensitive components, but the truth be told, the magnets are so weak they probably couldn't even impact data on a bare hard drive platter. I use magnetic screwdrivers whenever I get a chance and I've yet to notice any side effects.
This is in no way a complete kit. The 4 screwdrivers are sufficient for any computer part requiring such tools, but other parts are missing. Pliers are an absolute necessity. A few other items are also desired, namely a soldering iron, scissors, electrical tape, and to a lesser extent molex extractors, a wire stripper, and an anti-static wrist wrap. The latter isn't necessary if you have a grounded object that you can touch every minute or so (I usually have a PSU connected to the mains whenever I'm working with computer parts; even if it's turned off it's still grounded).
Pros
- Inexpensive kit that includes the essentials
- Included IC extractor
- Included 3-prong parts retriever
- Compact, zippered carrying pouch
Cons
- Missing pliers (partially substituted with nut drivers)
- Would be nice to have other parts (soldering iron, molex extractors, scissors, electrical tape, etc)
The iConcepts 10-piece PC tool kit is a great starter set if you don't already have these tools. Generally you can get by with a couple screwdrivers and some pliers, but the extras provided with this kit are certainly helpful. Depending on your preferences, you may want to invest extra and purchase a more complete kit that has the parts missing in this one. Nevertheless, OfficeMax sells it for about $10.
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