Through out the years I've made some of my own custom tools for various projects. I've been searching for a flexible screwdriver with a small head on it to get into tight places. Especially for the right A/F screw on the center carb for my GTO and the sync screws for my bike. So I made one. Out of a 12v DC accessory light that plugs into a car lighter I was going to through out. I documented the build in case MacGyver wants to build one. This was a fun little project. The light Remove the head and measure aluminum end to see what sizes I can work with. Next take a hex head straight removable screw driver tip and grind down to .200" For the internal shaft that the tip will attach to I used a piece of speedometer cable. tuff stuff. I wanted to braze the cable and tip together. But didn't have any brazing rod. So the next best thing is JB Weld. Yep I swear by this stuff. In order to get the cable epoxied to the tip on center took a little thinking. I put the cable in to a small vinyl tubing then put that into a rubber tube/boot with the bit being held by it. This centered the two pieces. Throw in a little JB Weld and wait 24hrs. It worked great and holds very good. Next is to enlarge the aluminum end to just fit the bit in to. About .240" and make an end cap to capture the screw head prior to bit finding the slot in the screw. This will keep the tip from coming of the adjustment screws. Now I have the basic driver and next on to the handle and stabilizer tube for it. I found an old tire plug tool and the handle looked small enough and the right color. I removed the center part by heating it and pulling the handle off. I then put two set screws opposite each other to clamp the cable. I cut a short SS tube 1" long and drilled the handle and driver part. So the handle wouldn't flop around were the cable comes out of the driver part. I can loosen the set screws and adjust the tip in or out a little incase the screw head will not fit inside the end tube. I now have a flexible screw driver for tight places and it works for my car. Hope this helped with anybodies winter boredom. I know it helped mine for a few days while making it. I can see upgrades though. Hey what can I say it's a proto type. Not perfect, yet!
Ingenious and well done sir, that's probably exactly how somebody came up with the first ones that are on the market today.:thumbsup:
Just now dawned on me that he made a tool to work on his three duce intake setup, extra awesome win!!
Another useful tool for the armory. Like they say, if you hadn't done it, another genius woudahada sometime.
Not like this one. Some of the ones I've found the head is either to big (dia) or to long because they have a magnetic end to hold a bit. Basically a nut driver. I need the end no longer than 3/4"-1". I really didn't find much out there. Some of the one I did were also like $30-40 bucks. For a screw driver I only use a few times a year. naaaaaaaaa Besides this one will capture the screw head inside the tube so it won't slip off. None of the others will do that or have a small enough end.
I don't see the one I bought years ago for like $15, but I see a bunch on Amazon for fairly cheap with a case, and bits and no time. Amazon.com: Precision Screwdriver and Bit Set T4 T5 T6 to T20 33 Pcs: Home Improvement
Thanks. If I had another flexible light I would. If you find one send it to me. I'll make one for you, for the price of return postage and a pack of smokes.
