5 of the Most Helpful Precision Tools for Small Repairs

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The smaller the repair job, the more difficult it is to perform it efficiently and accurately. Tools that you can use for many of the same tasks become obsolete, often because they are too large to achieve the required precision. Fortunately, the market has many tools designed for very small DIY repairs, all designed to tackle different projects.

The nature of these tools means you’ll need quite a few if you plan to try various DIY projects around the house. However, you usually won’t have to spend close to a whole lot or power tools to get them. The following five tools are designed to access tight, enclosed areas with ease to connect, remove, or install various components in various gadgets and appliances. We’ve made sure to choose a variety of tools that can be used in multiple applications to ensure you get your money’s worth.

Firmly holding any part you are working with during a repair can be very difficult with your fingers, especially for small repairs that require great precision. A few different tools can get the job done here, but we’d recommend a needle nose pin. Compared to the many types of pliers you can find, this particular type of small Jews makes them ideal for holding small parts. You shouldn’t have much of a challenge reaching tight spots with a pair of these pins.

The ease of use of this tool also makes it one of the most versatile tools to add to your collection. If you need to work on complex electrical projects or enjoy DIY hobbies like jewelry making, needle nose pliers can make the process much easier. They’re also some of the most effective tools you can buy at a low price, with Harbor Freight selling household pliers for as little as $2.99, but brands like Milwaukee raise the cost to $22.99, for example, for a large 8-inch pair. If you find yourself using these times all the time, going for a more sturdy pair will do the trick.

If you’re going to be dealing with hex or socket screws, buying a precision nut driver will make things a lot easier for you. Hex screws are used in a variety of gears and devices, often used in electronics. Think of automotive and electronic components in particular, with many of the car’s internal components assembled together with these types of screws. Socket screws are often used in small electronic components, so it’s important to be able to reach them and remove them as carefully as possible.

If you’re going to repair gadgets that require you to remove the circuit board, the correct nut driver will be to simply remove the socket screws. Supermarkets sell individual drivers, such as Wiha tools, for as low as $7.36, or a complete set filled with various bit sizes for maximum performance. Prices go up a lot if you want a set, however, Grainger is selling a set of seven Wiha drivers for $54.83 right now. Make sure to see that the set has all the pieces you need, though, especially if you’re going to be working with both hex and socket screws to make sure you have everything you need.

Staying on the topic of electronic repairs, if something goes wrong or you install a new part, making sure you have a safe connection, is important. To save a solid amount of money on a standard station, picking up a cordless soldering iron will certainly give you many benefits with very little maintenance required to join. Broken circuit boards, wires, and car electronics can all be fixed with one of these tools. No more long cables to get in the way; the wireless model is compact, easy to control, and will not lose many important features.

Depending on your budget, the market is wide open for cordless phones. In particular, this flat iron is part of Milwaukee’s M12 model line, and retails for $119 at Home Depot, with a maximum temperature of 750 degrees Fahrenheit, which helps to earn that price. If you don’t need that kind of power, Amazon sells well-reviewed products for as low as $15.99.

This next tool is not a repair tool, but it can still be used pretty much for any small repair job that involves screws, bolts, or anything like that. The small task is, the individual parts can be small, which makes it very easy to place them in hard-to-reach places. When you’re repairing or replacing a part on a PC, for example, small bolts can easily fall behind other parts that you can’t pick up. This is where a small magnetic tool can make a big difference, saving you a lot of time and an equal amount of stress.

You also won’t have to spend a lot of money to get one; Ifixit sells one for just $4.99. Hard tools from Gearwrench increase the price to about $15 at Home Depot if you need something a little heavier. Owners of this tool often notice how easy it is to make small adjustments, without having to worry about what they will lose inside the system you are working on.

We’ve covered why precision nut drivers can be very useful when working with small maintenance jobs, but the bits used for that tool can’t be used everywhere. Most things still use cross screws or slotted screws, sometimes combined with hex and socket screws that will require a nut driver. As mentioned before, devices like PCs and game consoles use different types of screws for different parts, so having both tools on hand can speed up the process a lot.

The price of a precision screwdriver is in line with other tools with a similar function, with Home Depot selling well-reviewed products from brands like Klein Tools for $11.97. The Milwaukee direct driver can be downloaded for an additional $16.97 if you choose the hosting type. Some brands will also sell tools that come with both screwdriver and nut driver bits to fit into the same tool, but they may not cover all the bases you need. Still, it’s worth checking out a multitool to see if one will do the job for you.