Playing a lot of catchup today. Question - What do you folks use as a "goto" tool for reel clamp screws/nuts?
Duh! The default answer here is "screwdriver" but I am wondering if I am missing something, and looking for some guidance.
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Left to right are my Avet JX6/3, Torque 25NLD2, Tiberon 113H, and 20VISX. Here is my worry - common screwdrivers all have a "pitch" to the bit and hence their engagement is more of a "wedge" and there is some slop. On the Avet (which has the most use) you can see the edges are starting to exhibit wear. I also know that these clamp screws do not need to be tightened to 200 lbs/ft of torque :D (side note - last June I saw a nice United Composites deckhand style rod reduced to scrap from an over tightened reel seat on a trip). I'm also looking for something that I can throw in my reel bag that will not take up a lot of space. So -
Is there a cheap existing tool that I don't know about? If not:
I am thinking about either taking a common nut driver and grinding it down to turn it into a pseudo "spanner wrench nut driver" with nubs that fully engage (no pitch).
I am also thinking of making something out of sheet metal (could have different size nubs/different span on each end). The positive is that it would be flat and not take up a lot of room in the reel bag - and I know there is no need to generate a lot of torque on this. It's just with some of these nuts they would easily take a #3 size common screwdriver - pretty damn big overkill screwdriver to be lugging around for a "single use" tool. What do you folks use? And to think my older stuff just uses wing nuts, and the universal tool is located on the end of my hand. :D
Good question, beats me. Some of the Shimano screws are the worst. In a pinch I use a coin and my dykes
I believe hollow ground Brownell's gunsmithing drivers may be what you seek- Fred will say for sure. I just use a big bit as-is, but you could grind your own with a file to the profile you need and just keep it in reel tools bag. My 0.02.
John
Brownell's, Wheeler, Chapman, and Grace all have good hollow-ground screwdrivers.
These are gunsmithing screwdrivers.
Some folks are OK using any old cheap screwdrivers that they find -- that doesn't work for me.
And you don't need to break the bank when acquiring tools.
Personally, I made up a complete set of reel tools and spare parts -- it goes on every trip.
It is in a soft case and weighs about 8 pounds.
The key is having a hollow ground screwdriver blade of the closest to the exact slot size possible.
Best,
Fred
Screwdrivers and tools are not really that expensive -- I just get what is needed.
Best, Fred
I bought a cheapo multi-bit driver that I keep in my tackle box. This driver holds 7 bits, 3 different size blades, 2 sizes phillips heads. 1 #14 spanner bit and one large blade notched for the Avet seat bolts.
It works fine for all my reel clamps and I could even do reel most repair/service with it on longer trips if I wanted or needed to.
Yeah, I have repaired many a reel on a galley table with just a newspaper, screwdriver, crescent wrench, and maybe a pocketknife -- as we moved to another drop site.
But I soon learned that that did not work well for me -- plus when folks find out that you are a reel mechanic -- they expect a little more professionalism.
So I generally always have an organized repair bag kit on trips -- with tools, drags, common spare parts, lubricants, etc.
Never need it for my own gear -- it is to assist other anglers.
Best, Fred