Computers & Magnetic Tip Screwdrivers

[sennister]

Back when I was in school for networking we had an A+ class. I remember asking the instructor on the effects of using a magnetic screwdriver when working on a computer. He (with 20+ years experience in the industry) said he uses them and never has had a problem. I personally don’t use them just to minimize the risk, but what are your opinions on this? Anyone ever have any problems?

[Sowulo]

Originally posted by sennister:
<STRONG>Anyone ever have any problems?</STRONG>


None.

[ShadowKing]

Use Em all the time.

The magnetic field generated by the screwdriver could only hurt one component in your PC anyway: the Hard Drive.

It however is sheilded by a metal case. You could probably hurt it with a speaker magnet... But not much else...

(Though I must admit, I've never tried <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">)

[Geek #1]

Personally I've never had a problem using a magnetic screwdriver.

Although you can hold one in front of a monitor screen and get a weird effect.

[Garak]

i've never personally had a problem with magnectic screwys, but there was this one time i dropped a screwdriver on my mobo, never worked the same since <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0">

[Mad Machinist]

No problems at all...I just always power down before going near a computer with a screwdriver.

[Seoirse]

Never had a problem either....

[Evan5599]

Been using them for years without a single problem

[King Grover]

no problems here either

[WesFlash]

Just don't get into the habit of touching components with it and you won't transfer an static charge to them and be safe too.
Personally, I'd make sure the tip is inches away from any component when using one, even to get a screw. I'd soone turn the computer off and shake the screw out of the case than risk messing up the components with ESD or a magnetic field. Maybe I'm just playing it safe. I used to teach students to work on computers and you would be amazed how something so simple as a magnetic screwdriver can be used to wreak so much havoc in a computer system. Maybe that's why we played with the magnetic tools and left the students to use the safer ones, including the non metal screwdrivers.

[Stalemate]

I agree with WesFlash on this.

Don't stab sensitive components like the CPU or onboard chips (sound/video, etc.) and you should be fine.

Never had a problem so far.

[Daemon]

I use them all the time for 18 years, I just touch the screw only and nothing else <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

[Major Kong]

As I have told my son and nephew - "Magnetic Tip Screwdrivers are alright, but if you ever open up the computer case again while eating freaking jelly doughnuts I turn the both of ya into mules!" <IMG SRC="smilies/mad.gif" border="0"> (Actually happened) <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Auric]

I use them sometimes too, the magnetic field is barely strong enuf to keep the screw on let alone damage anything, besides with a steady hand you can do it without touching anything delicate anyway <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

[Snommis69]

I use a mechanical screw starter from snap-on. If you want to check it out, go to snapon.com and search for part no. CSSC9. It has a plastic shank and does phillips and flat tip screws without magnets (for you paranoid types). I have, however, never had a problem with magnetic type screw starters. Most quality screwdrivers are slightly magnetized, anyway. (Snap-On, Craftsman, ect.)

[snooper2]

i've never had a problem with them.

[techguy13]

I have been teching for three years and have not had a problem with magnetic screwdrivers. An instructor at the tech college I went to thought it was better to carefully use a magnetic screwdriver than to risk dropping a metal screw on a MoBo or other component.

[http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum1/noncgi]

Just to give an idea how hard it is to erase magnetic media, I once tried to corrupt a floppy by rubbing a magnet over the case. It took about 15 minutes before it was corrupted badly enough to be unusable. The typical screwdriver is probably less powerful.

On the other hand, hard drives have much smaller magnetic tolerances, so they might be more sensitive.

[sennister]

Maybee I'll start using one. It sure does make computer work alot easier.

I'm sure everyone out there has disassembled a bad HDD. I still can't believe the magnet that is inside of one. It's gotta be 1000 times stronger than a magnetic screwdriver. It's a good thing that it doesn't mess with our data. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[cpuguys.Net]

I have every screwdriver in the shop magnitized, I use a tool I picked up at a hardware store for a buck, it has a hole in the center that you just put the tip in and out of and it does the trick. The magnitizim does not last for more than a month, so I just pass it in and out 3-4 times and its good to go.

[Platypus]

Originally posted by pakprotector:
<STRONG>I turn the both of ya into mules!" (Actually happened) </STRONG>

Urk!! I don't think you intended this to mean how it reads..... <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

[orange]

Have always use a magnetic screwdriver - absolute life saver - would never be without it. <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

[GC74]

Never heard of anything.

[kannibul]

A really powerfull magnet can damage a disk or hard drive - but the magnetics on a screwdriver tip are not powerful enough (unless you supercharged it) to damage anything else.

[kannibul]

Originally posted by CPU Guys:
<STRONG>AMD,NETSCAPE,NORTONS.. Why are they almost alwalys found together? Possibly the worse software and hardware made to date, (not including AOL)
</STRONG>

Where is your proof that AMD is the worst hardware?

[jimbowman]

Use one every day, no complaints, of course I use it on customers pc's not mine..... <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[Fubarian]

Look at it this way...from a physics point of view...

every single current flow has an EM on it of some kind...regardless if its 1mV at 1 nano amp to 10MV at 300Amps...so everything is going to create some kind of EM.

Now, lets take a look at the lil 3.5" piece of steel/circuits in yer comp call a hard drive...whats in it? a BIG FREAKIN' magnent! But all your componenets are nice and working. Granted the mag in those puppies are diffused quite nicely, but still, I think you see my point, those lil magnents won't do a thing...put it to yer monitor <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> it'll screw it up though

ps - ...10 megavolts at 300 amps...ouch...

[grosas9]

Ive been using magnetic screwdrivers on computers for 6 years. Never once had a problem...except that one time i tripped and jabbed the damn thing in my leg. The magnatism must have been attracted to the EM feild of my nervous system (yeah right...like my profile says-"Professional Moron")

[da_grinch]

Nope, never had a problem. I just make sure the case is plugged out of the 120VAC and ground myself to the computer with a wrist strap...

[format c:]

All my screwys are magnatized a wee bit , No problems so far, Now If I could only get it off of the steel ceiling of the ship ;) :)

[Cygnus]

I insist upon useing magnetics, and I have never had a problem with em. Any problems they mnight give you are far outweighed by there benefits.

[USGyrene]

[quote]Originally posted by da_grinch:
<strong>Nope, never had a problem. I just make sure the case is plugged out of the 120VAC and ground myself to the computer with a wrist strap...</strong><hr></blockquote>

Huh? :confused: Static discharge and Magnetic fields around components are two different things.

[ilovetheusers]

I had a PC apart and someone asked what all the chips were for on the MOBO. I noted what they were and touched the video chip with the magnetic screwdriver to demonstrate where it was. As soon as I did it hung my head and knew what was going to happen when I booted. The video was beyond scrambled. The machine was under warranty so I took it back and said I had no idea what happened.

I will never use magnetic devices in a PC again.

By the way - I tried to kill a HDD one time (for the hell of it) and put huge speaker magnets on it. It was never better after the things set on it all night. Guess you never know. It still runs to this day.

[Outcoded]

No problems at all, I use one everyday, the internal speaker has a stronger magnet. I personally hold my spanner on a cupboard door with two hard disk magnets - a screwdriver is piss-all by comparison.

I also tend to take lids off/put back on PC's using a cordless drill (though I don't use it inside :) )

[Dan Man]

Like all people, for 10 years,no problems.

[Sergeant Fury]

Well, there is one danger with a magnetic screwdriver.

Don't stab yourself with it. =)

[rrockey]

nope, but i'm only touching screws with it :)

[GarryK]

I keep my magnetic screwdriver sitting next to my laptop in it's case when I'm travelling around because there's nowhere else it will fit! Been doing it for 2 years without a hint of trouble. Static electricity in us humans is infinately more dangerous to computers than good old mags!

[Vette2000]

Never had a problem either. It sure comes in handy when you realize the last screw to attach the mobo to the case has to go through between the drives and the power cables. http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum1/noncgi/cwmsmilies/cwm13.gif Just remember screwdrivers are sharp instruments and can put out an eye. That makes you somewhat shortsighted! http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum1/noncgi/cwmsmilies/cwm3.gif

[*SlyVenom*]

Sorry to bring back a dead topic, but...

I've found non-magnetic screwdrivers to be detrimental to a cramped computer case,
with nothing to hold the screw to the screwdriver the loose screw can fall down onto delicate electronics causing far more damage than,
the weak magnatization of your screwdriver tip ever could

[prince_steval]

Well, I have been using Magnetic tip screwdrivers for ten years and never experienced any problems.

I feel they are very useful for fitting those screws in all the weirdest places in a case ;)