tools to remove anatomical grip on Technika V

[andrewd]

Hi all, I recently bought a Super Technika V. It came with the anatomical grip mounted and also a spare hand strap with mounting plate. The screws to remove the grip mounting plate are non standard slotted screws. All of my slotted bits do not fit. The slot on the screws is very thin for the diameter of the screw. Can anyone recommend the correct slotted bits to remove the grip mount? I don’t want to damage the screws by using the wrong tool.

[Greg]

Purchased an ORIA tool kit locally for around $20 and have yet to find a screw that one of the bits will not fit into.

https://www.amazon.com/ORIA-Screwdriver-Professional-Precision-Smartphone/dp/B01E16J6RQ/ref=sxin_7_ac_d_rm?ac_md=0-0-b3JpYQ%3D%3D-ac_d_rm&cv_ct_cx=oria&dchild=1&keywords=oria&pd_rd_i=B01E16J6RQ&pd_rd_r=558bc037-c9be-41ac-b140-c384a542cecb&pd_rd_w=vuI0E&pd_rd_wg=Bcex9&pf_rd_p=500f114e-2c2f-4a43-bcda-f4dcdd3832f9&pf_rd_r=21RTQEFV4Z1P4KW8BGAT&psc=1&qid=1599245017&sr=1-1-12d4272d-8adb-4121-8624-135149aa9081

[Havoc]

Go to a car shop and buy a set of spark plug feeler gauges (*). Cut to size and fit in a vise grip. Or be fancy and make a handle for it.

(*) a set of separate blades for each size, not those "ramp" types

[Bob Salomon]

Clamp a quarter into a vice grips. That should do it. If not, use a dime.

[RivetGun]

Please do not try any home made screwdrivers. I am quit sure you are dealing with narrow European Style screw slots. The heads are large for size of screw. The slots are very narrow, shallow and precision made. Most of the screws have a slot .020" or .025" thick. Plaubel is another company that used them and used screws can sell for over $10 each.

This is what you need: https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/screwdrivers-sets/magna-tip-bits/magna-tip-thin-bits-prod425.aspx

I bought this set and they work like a charm. Some of your screws may have even thinner slots. You can measure them with feeler gauges. Good luck.

[LabRat]

I did a complete (needed) rebuild of a Tek III more than several years ago, and I remember the flat head screws came out OK using one of my Wiha (German) screwdrivers, but mine were a straight (flat) slot... I seem to remember they were not too tight, in fact maybe one was a little loose...

But the first thing to check is inside the body shell where the screws come in and see if there is a retaining nut or threadlok where the screws come in... Then soften the screw paint or lok with micro application of solvent before you start...

I don't use the grip on mine as it is big and takes up storage space in case or bag, and my camera always goes on a tripod... The grip is so big that I would never pick a fight with a guy who's hand would fit it!!! Also a bit rough on the wrists if you were handholding it all day...

Steve K

[andrewd]

Thanks for all the replies, very useful

[andrewd]

Please do not try any home made screwdrivers. I am quit sure you are dealing with narrow European Style screw slots. The heads are large for size of screw. The slots are very narrow, shallow and precision made. Most of the screws have a slot .020" or .025" thick. Plaubel is another company that used them and used screws can sell for over $10 each.

This is what you need: https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/screwdrivers-sets/magna-tip-bits/magna-tip-thin-bits-prod425.aspx

I bought this set and they work like a charm. Some of your screws may have even thinner slots. You can measure them with feeler gauges. Good luck.


Is that the 18-piece thin-tip bit set for ~$80? The link diverted to the home page of Brownells uk site.

[andrewd]

I did a complete (needed) rebuild of a Tek III more than several years ago, and I remember the flat head screws came out OK using one of my Wiha (German) screwdrivers, but mine were a straight (flat) slot... I seem to remember they were not too tight, in fact maybe one was a little loose...

But the first thing to check is inside the body shell where the screws come in and see if there is a retaining nut or threadlok where the screws come in... Then soften the screw paint or lok with micro application of solvent before you start...

I don't use the grip on mine as it is big and takes up storage space in case or bag, and my camera always goes on a tripod... The grip is so big that I would never pick a fight with a guy who's hand would fit it!!! Also a bit rough on the wrists if you were handholding it all day...

Steve K

Apart from being large the grip does add significant weight. I weighed mine at 275 grams without mounting plate, whereas the hand strap with mounting plate and screws is 47g. I suspect that the mounting plate and screws for the grip would be close to the weight of the handstrap, so the total weight saving of the swap would be 275 grams, which is the weight of another lens.

Since it is my first Technika, I thought I would at least try the grip since the camera has a coupled lens. But after briefly trying in the back yard I quickly found out that it is very uncomfortable to hand hold. It is different to hand holding a heavy SLR with long lens because in that case you can support the weight with both hands. For the Technika you need to support the full 3kg weight with one hand while you focus with the other.

I will probably keep the grip so I can sell the full set if I decide to sell the camera in the future, but will use the hand strap to minimise weight and size while using the camera. All you need is something secure to prevent dropping the camera between the bag and the tripod.

[LabRat]

When you remove camera from bag, open bed in your hands, and insert your fingertips inside of top edge of bodyshell... It works as a balanced lift point over top of camera... ;-)

Steve K

[Robert Bowring]

Micro-tools.com has a large selection of tools for working on cameras.

[RivetGun]

Is that the 18-piece thin-tip bit set for ~$80? The link diverted to the home page of Brownells uk site.

This should get you the set for $50.99: https://www.brownells.com/aspx/search/productdetail.aspx?sid=1932&pid=44342

You can buy the bits individually but it is surprising how many of the different tips you will use.
I should have added in my post that I am not that familiar with the Super Technika V screws but the original poster sounded exactly like I did before I found the thin bits. Browning shotguns use them also.

The European Style screws I was dealing with resemble a thumbtack with a screw head 4 to 5 times the diameter of the threaded portion. (1/4" - 5/16" head with a threaded portion less than 1/16") Any normal screw driver that was thin enough to fit the slot was very narrow and would really nick the shallow slot. Grinding an old screw driver accurately enough was almost impossible without a precision surface grinder. These screws look odd or cheap but they are a very precision and workable system if you have the correct bit. The correct bit will actually stick in the slot and and a .020" bit in a .025 slot will mark it up. I think their are better screw heads available today but these work fine with the correct bit and knowing how to work with them.

[andrewd]

This should get you the set for $50.99: https://www.brownells.com/aspx/search/productdetail.aspx?sid=1932&pid=44342

You can buy the bits individually but it is surprising how many of the different tips you will use.
I should have added in my post that I am not that familiar with the Super Technika V screws but the original poster sounded exactly like I did before I found the thin bits. Browning shotguns use them also.

The European Style screws I was dealing with resemble a thumbtack with a screw head 4 to 5 times the diameter of the threaded portion. (1/4" - 5/16" head with a threaded portion less than 1/16") Any normal screw driver that was thin enough to fit the slot was very narrow and would really nick the shallow slot. Grinding an old screw driver accurately enough was almost impossible without a precision surface grinder. These screws look odd or cheap but they are a very precision and workable system if you have the correct bit. The correct bit will actually stick in the slot and and a .020" bit in a .025 slot will mark it up. I think their are better screw heads available today but these work fine with the correct bit and knowing how to work with them.


Thanks. Annoyingly the link doesn’t work because I am not in USA. It just sends me to the local home page and there are 80,000 products on the site!

It would be much appreciated if you could confirm the product name and number. I can see there is:
Thin-Bit MAGNA-TIP® Set Product no.: 080120000

Is that the one?

[andrewd]

I ended up installing the ProtonVPN app on my ipad so I could click on your link.
Just confirming that it is the same product as noted above. Expensive, but looks like the quality is top notch.

Here is the link for those based in the UK
https://www.brownells.co.uk/MAGNA-TIP-THIN-BIT-SET-Thin-Bit-MAGNA-TIP-Set-BROWNELLS-080120000

[RivetGun]

I ended up installing the ProtonVPN app on my ipad so I could click on your link.
Just confirming that it is the same product as noted above. Expensive, but looks like the quality is top notch.

Here is the link for those based in the UK
https://www.brownells.co.uk/MAGNA-TIP-THIN-BIT-SET-Thin-Bit-MAGNA-TIP-Set-BROWNELLS-080120000

andrewd: They are very good quality but expensive for you. If these are the screws you are dealing with I am sure you will be happy. It took me almost a month of searching the internet to figure out what I needed but like you I did not want to mess up highly specialized screws. I wish I could find thin bits that fit .010" & .015" grooves also. I kept buying precision German and Japanese "thin" screwdrivers that were way to "thick" and they cost more than the Brownell set. Good Luck!

[andrewd]

Thanks. I appreciate good quality tools, so will likely pick up a set.
I am sure there will be other applications in the future where I will need these.