Screw Grabber, the perfect tool for boats

[StinkBug]

I hope this doesn't violate any rules but a friend of mine has invented a neat little tool that is a total life saver when working on your boat and he's trying to get it in production.

It's called the Screw Grabber and it's a molded silicone sleeve that slides over your screwdriver and holds onto screws so you dont drop them. It's perfect for all the annoying little stainless screws we use that wont stick to a magnetic driver. I helped him out with some of the filming for his kickstarter campaign and he gave me one of the prototypes and over the last couple weeks I've used it a ton while doing a bunch of improvement projects on my boat. It's really awesome for when you're in an awkward spot, holding a part with one hand and only have one hand for the screwdriver and screw.

Here's a link to his kickstarter campaign. He's already over 25% of his goal in only a week so things are looking good, but obviously they aren't there yet.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/phillipkauffman/screw-grabber-holds-non-magnetic-screws-tight

For the record I get absolutely nothing from this, other than the pleasure of helping a friend, and informing a community I feel could really use something simple and useful like this. I even pledged some money myself after using the one he gave me for a day. I want enough to keep on all my screwdrivers now.

He also just posted this video on youtube from the day he came over for the motorcycle test and started taking things off my boat

http://youtu.be/ueoMjLb8by0

 

[fred1diver]

nice product, can't wait to see in on the market

 

[Tom J]

As a mechanic, and having been in this situation many times, I'd say it's a great idea.

 

[alexco38]

In Canada we use Robertson screws (i.e. square hole with slight taper). It holds itself..

 

[Tom J]

In Canada we use Robertson screws (i.e. square hole with slight taper). It holds itself..

So that's where all those funny screws on my Roadtrek RV came from! It's made in Canada, of course, and first-rate construction.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I LOVE the Hula Girl test!

 

[Tim R.]

Nice idea. I have always used a wrap of electrical tape around the screwdriver for this purpose.

 

[StinkBug]

Tape works, but is not reusable. Also it always seems like that roll of electrical tape is somewhere else when you're buried in a really uncomfortable spot that isn't easy to get in or out of.

As for those damn square head things, they do seem to work. Just try finding them in stainless from any major (or worse yet local) supplier. They might be common in Canadia but everything I buy here comes with phillips or slotted, with a nice bit of allen head thrown in for good measure. I mainly hate the Robertson screws for the fact that I can never find a driver to turn them when I need to.

I'm really hoping that enough people choose to invest in this one that it makes it to production. It's certainly not the ONLY solution to the problem, but it is very simple and elegant, and should be very inexpensive.

 

[seadaddler]

RV store

RV's have been using square head screws and other type for many years made in USA,I have a whole set of them I keep just in case.
Nick

 

[caguy]

I have a half dozen of these for holding screws, very handy.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Silverline-...17533021?pt=US_Hand_Tools&hash=item540266a05d

 

[Tim R.]

Tape works, but is not reusable. Also it always seems like that roll of electrical tape is somewhere else when you're buried in a really uncomfortable spot that isn't easy to get in or out of. As for those damn square head things, they do seem to work. Just try finding them in stainless from any major (or worse yet local) supplier. They might be common in Canadia but everything I buy here comes with phillips or slotted, with a nice bit of allen head thrown in for good measure. I mainly hate the Robertson screws for the fact that I can never find a driver to turn them when I need to. I'm really hoping that enough people choose to invest in this one that it makes it to production. It's certainly not the ONLY solution to the problem, but it is very simple and elegant, and should be very inexpensive.

That's why I keep two roles in my tool bag.

 

[centerline]

there are screw holding screwdrivers already on the market.. for both slotted and phillips bits... any dedicated tool store will carry them.... but options are good

 

[alexco38]

It is common in Canada even at Homedepot etc to find Robertson screws including SS.
There are 4 driver sizes color coded.

Actualy it's harder to find slot and Philips head in Canada. Sorry guys.

 

[StinkBug]

There are other options, but so far I haven't found anything that works on ANY driver and any type of screw. For example the drivers caguy posted dont work with stainless screws if you're pointing downward, the screws just fall out. They also wont work with screws with large heads that dont fit inside the little sliding sleeve. I have a couple of those, and they work great for drywall screws, but so far I haven't found a good use for them on the boat.

Really tape is the only thing I've seen mentioned that will actually work in a similar fashion on stainless hardware, the screw grabber just takes it one step further by making it reusable and adjustable. Plus you can store the things right on the shank of the screwdriver so you aren't ever up to your waist in some small compartment and have to wriggle out to get to the tool bag and that roll of tape.

 

[Fred Villiard]

A little wad of butyl tape on the end of the screw driver will hold any screw. Also it will work in sockets for bolts and nuts.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Real men (or women for that matter) don't need screw grabbers.
I mean really?, you can't get the screw into the hole and then put a screwdriver on it. I'd recommend you seek professional help if this is your skill level.
Now if you really want a cool tool get a magnetic pickup tool. Get those nuts and bolts out of the intake manifold without taking the carb off!!!!

 

[Tom J]

Real men (or women for that matter) don't need screw grabbers.
I mean really?, you can't get the screw into the hole and then put a screwdriver on it. I'd recommend you seek professional help if this is your skill level.
Now if you really want a cool tool get a magnetic pickup tool. Get those nuts and bolts out of the intake manifold without taking the carb off!!!!

If you haven't been in a situation that would be helped by something like the screw grabber, then you just haven't been having enough fun!

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Real men (or women for that matter) don't need screw grabbers.
I mean really?, you can't get the screw into the hole and then put a screwdriver on it. I'd recommend you seek professional help if this is your skill level.
Now if you really want a cool tool get a magnetic pickup tool. Get those nuts and bolts out of the intake manifold without taking the carb off!!!!

Never worked deep in the bilge, where the screw is ONLY reachable with on hand eh?

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

It is common in Canada even at Homedepot etc to find Robertson screws including SS.
There are 4 driver sizes color coded.

Actualy it's harder to find slot and Philips head in Canada. Sorry guys.

I really like the Robertson had screw. I have gone strictly to those in stainless decking screws (house decking, not boat)

Have little trouble getting them. HAVE had problems with some of the Chinese made ones though. SOFT and will round out in a heart beat

Also really really like the Torx (star) head screws.

 

[caguy]

I really like the Robertson had screw. I have gone strictly to those in stainless decking screws (house decking, not boat)

Have little trouble getting them. HAVE had problems with some of the Chinese made ones though. SOFT and will round out in a heart beat

Also really really like the Torx (star) head screws.

I feel the same way about the torque head screws. Even the ss ones seem to stay on the bit., Fortunately we have an industrial screw and fastener store on th next block. Remnant of the Lockheed years in Burbank.