Toolsets for those tiny screws

[senderoaburrido]

Where can I get tools to screw in the fixture for shutter releases, and things like that? I've purchased two camera screwdriver kits online that were still not fine enough to deal with the screws on the bodies of shutters. I'm wondering if there's some nomenclature I'm missing in my keywords for searches.

[Leigh]

You'll find any hand tools you might need at McMaster-Carr Supply Co. www.mcmaster.com
They take pride in offering quality tools and materials. The company's been around over 100 years.

A more specialized vendor is Micro-Tools, run by Kurt Fargo whom I know. www.micro-tools.com
It has been the go-to supplier for the photo repair industry for a long time.

- Leigh

[senderoaburrido]

You'll find any hand tools you might need at McMaster-Carr Supply Co. www.mcmaster.com
They take pride in offering quality tools and materials. The company's been around over 100 years.

A more specialized vendor is Micro-Tools, run by Kurt Fargo whom I know. www.micro-tools.com
It has been the go-to supplier for the photo repair industry for a long time.

- Leigh

Thanks! Does anyone know what the size is for the screws on Copal shutters? I'm looking at McMaster-Carr and the screwdrivers come in specific sizes.

[Leigh]

I would recommend buying a set of small ones, from the smallest available up to perhaps 1/8" diameter.

Whatever you look at now, a future victim will be a different size.

On the McMaster home page, type "miniature screwdriver sets" (without the quotes) into the search box at upper left.
There are a number of products available around $25 per set.

- Leigh

[LabRat]

I would recommend buying a set of small ones, from the smallest available up to perhaps 1/8" diameter.

Whatever you look at now, a future victim will be a different size.

On the McMaster home page, type "miniature screwdriver sets" (without the quotes) into the search box at upper left.
There are a number of products available around $25 per set.

- Leigh

A great inexpensive set of screwdrivers are from Wiha (Germany)... They have slightly larger plastic handles that has a better grip/torque, use good steel, and the tips fit photo gear well... I got a set from Fry's electronics on sale for about $17 (then), and liked them so much, I ran back to buy another set... (At first glance they look look like cheap quality, but are VERY well engineered!!!)

I own many of the Euro watchmaker's grade tools, but I always seem to use the Wiha's as my "go-to" set... :-)

Stay away from the tools with interchangeable tips, as even the good ones will sometimes rotate the tips in the handle when under torque... :-(

Steve K

[Leigh]

Wiha tools are very high quality. I have many of them.

- Leigh

[BrianShaw]

Sometimes one must get out the oils tones and modify a screwdriver to properly fit.

[Jac@stafford.net]

I don't know how I would cope without one of these.
Ace hardware in the scale model section.

[Jim Jones]

I don't know how I would cope without one of these.
Ace hardware in the scale model section.

A speck of grease in the screw's slot may work in the absence of the right tool.

[Drew Wiley]

Any hobby shop or serious hardware store will have what you need, plus electronics stores which cater to the solder gun crowd. I second Wiha as a good brand,
as well as McMaster as a convenient source. In a pinch you can simply grind down the tip of an ordinary screwdriver.