I read from someone here the way to hold those really tiny screws on the tip of your screwdriver when working on some reels.
as many of you know, from time to time you will find a fishing reel with tiny screws, are so tiny that is really hard to try to hold it with your fingers while using the screwdriver with your other hand.
short story is to put a tab of grease on the tip of your screwdriver and the screw will stay steady on the tip of the screwdriver until you fasten it.
as someone said, a image or video worth more than thousand words I will post a video of the tip on an actual reel service job, as always the text in the video is in spanish but you really dont need any text to understand.
I use Jiffy Peanut Butter . you can have a lil desert after you get through messin with those tiny Screw.
Quote from: Leonardo on September 06, 2025, 04:47:57 PMI use Jiffy Peanut Butter .
you're joking , right? right? ???
I was in electronics 39 years some also use bee's wax,My tool of choice are curved tweezers.Also,for washers tight places I use a hex driver or scribe,hold the washer up with index finger until you have the tool aimed in the desired spot release the washer
i just use a bit of grease on the end of the screwdriver.
I find the chemical (grease/wax/etc) solutions to be the best. I will say, as a child of my era I have some old coaxial car speakers laying on shelf (that should have been thrown away in 1985) but a quick wipe of the screwdriver across the magnet and I can pretty much suck your car keys from out of your pocket across the room. Problem is, demagnitizing.... - john
Quote from: Brewcrafter on September 06, 2025, 06:52:31 PMI find the chemical (grease/wax/etc) solutions to be the best. .....
but a quick wipe of the screwdriver across the magnet and I can pretty much suck your car keys from out of your pocket across the room. Problem is, demagnitizing.... - john
the problem also with those fishing reel tiny screws is good quality Stainless steel screws dont stay put on a magnetized screwdriver tip.
In my personal experience, I will share, I wasnt much a tech guy or handyman before starting to work on fishing reels, so, I didnt now much tips like this one or many others to made the work easier and faster.
Typically, the grease works really well.
Also have an electronics background, and one of my vocational teachers always had a tub of that dark molasses colored grease close by for finicky tiny screws in tough locations. It had that "old electronic grease Odor".
I also have a couple of "screw holder" screwdrivers that are old school —- but also work well.
I also do a bit of "amateur hour" watch repair —- those tiny screws are insanely ridiculous.
Even more crazy, are the super micro screws when replacing a battery in a smart phone.
I have a couple of larger screw holder screwdrivers that I use for tough access when doing automotive work, particularly around dashboards and hidden electronic automotive areas. They are by Wiha and Knipex. Always good when appliance disassembly and repair jobs happen.
This is a good tip, Alex. These tiny screws will frustrate a lot of folks, unless they know this grease trick.
You would be surprised at how many "Folgers" reels I received over the years. (A wife shows up at the front door with a coffee can of reel parts —- and asks if I can put it back together for her husband, since he ran out of time. Which is code word for "can't find all of the screws, or get them back where they belong", and too proud to bring it by himself".)
There are many "tricks of the trade" that will save a lot of time by being super quick & effective.
Maybe we should start a section on the site dedicated to tricks and shortcuts on reel work. We can all learn a little bit more...
Best, Fred
Quote from: steelfish on September 06, 2025, 06:17:41 PMQuote from: Leonardo on September 06, 2025, 04:47:57 PMI use Jiffy Peanut Butter .
you're joking , right? right? ???
Use the CREAMY STYLE as the Crunchy just don't hold as well .
No Jelly just Peanut Butter .
Any Brand MIGHT Do but I am Partial to the Jiffy Brand with it's consistent Viscosity and you may not want to Lick the Screw Driver afterwards if you have Peanutitis
Bostik Blu tak.
Crappy old tacky type grease works the best for these types of issues. A good quality synthetic grease like Super Lube doesn't work out to well because it's not stiff enough.
Quote from: foakes on September 06, 2025, 07:36:10 PMThere are many "tricks of the trade" that will save a lot of time by being super quick & effective.
Maybe we should start a section on the site dedicated to tricks and shortcuts on reel work. We can all learn a little bit more...
Best, Fred
this sounds like a terrific idea, someone should start a thread or section asap
@tommy, yup, that old brown tacky grease is perfect for the job, yamaha grease is still good to use for this job also, its not syntetic
I'll try this again, then I'm giving up! Don't know what it is, but all my post just disappear now and then have to repost?
Short version: I stumbled on something accidentally, after one of my screwdrivers rolled off my workbench. It wound up landing in one of those flat glue board mouse traps, and still sticky to this day lol. So when I'm in a pinch and grease, won't cut it. I do this lol!
Sorry, I can't get the video to post for some reason? And now, I can't even get a picture to post? Uggghhh!
Quote from: ExcessiveAngler on September 09, 2025, 11:26:50 PMI'll try this again, then I'm giving up! Don't know what it is, but all my post just disappear now and then have to repost?
Short version: I stumbled on something accidentally, after one of my screwdrivers rolled off my workbench. It wound up landing in one of those flat glue board mouse traps, and still sticky to this day lol. So when I'm in a pinch and grease, won't cut it. I do this lol!
glued pad mouse traps to hold the screws on the tip of the screwdriver, LOL thats kinda extreme but surely will work
You did see my screen name, right lol?
Yep, we see your screen name, if you keep having problems to see the video/pics try using another browser