Tools repair and advice - screwdriver on tommy bar?

Author

screwdriver on tommy bar?

Liam

2006-03-31, 9:21 pm

I am trying to remove some frozen screws but have only two inches of
space to work with, and can't get enough torque holding the stubby
screwdriver with only my fingertips. Is there such a tool as a
screwdriver head attached perpendicularly to a little tommy bar?
Thanks
Liam

Bruce & Lois Nelson

2006-03-31, 10:21 pm

Not sure what you mean by a "tommy bar". Several companies make offset
screwdrivers. The simplest form is a bent metal bar, with the end in the
form of an appropriate drive tip. More complex, and easier to use, is
similar to a ratcheting box-end wrench. It takes 1/4" (6.25 mm)
screwdriver insert bits.

Two other things that might be of help to you:
1. Penetrating oil. You can use a hair dryer or heat gun to warm the
screws, which also helps to loosen the rust (differential expansion).
Tapping (vibration) sometimes helps.
2. A product called Screw Grab. It is a fine very hard abrasive in a
liquid carrier. It helps to keep the screw driver bit from torquing out of
the head of the screw.

Bruce

"Liam" <Liams@abc123.spam> wrote in message
news:HqednVldUe6FTrDZRVn-og@comcast.com...
> I am trying to remove some frozen screws but have only two inches of
> space to work with, and can't get enough torque holding the stubby
> screwdriver with only my fingertips. Is there such a tool as a
> screwdriver head attached perpendicularly to a little tommy bar?
> Thanks
> Liam

Liam

2006-04-02, 1:21 am

Bruce,
These are helpful suggestions. I hadn't heard of Screw Grab or offset
screwdrivers.

By little tommy bar, I meant a straight bar, maybe three inches long,
though normally they're bigger, like the bar that goes through the hole
in the socket of a lug wrench.
Liam

Bruce & Lois Nelson wrote:
> Not sure what you mean by a "tommy bar". Several companies make offset
> screwdrivers. The simplest form is a bent metal bar, with the end in the
> form of an appropriate drive tip. More complex, and easier to use, is
> similar to a ratcheting box-end wrench. It takes 1/4" (6.25 mm)
> screwdriver insert bits.
>
> Two other things that might be of help to you:
> 1. Penetrating oil. You can use a hair dryer or heat gun to warm the
> screws, which also helps to loosen the rust (differential expansion).
> Tapping (vibration) sometimes helps.
> 2. A product called Screw Grab. It is a fine very hard abrasive in a
> liquid carrier. It helps to keep the screw driver bit from torquing out of
> the head of the screw.
>
> Bruce
>
>
> "Liam" <Liams@abc123.spam> wrote in message
> news:HqednVldUe6FTrDZRVn-og@comcast.com...
>
>
>
>

Bruce & Lois Nelson

2006-04-03, 6:21 pm

OK, I think I know what you mean by a tommy bar. The bar has a sliding
drive part on it to fit into sockets? However, the one I have for use with
1/4" drive is about 6" long, for a 3/4" drive about 18" long.

If you are in North America, most hardware stores, Lowes, Canadian Tire, Ace
Hardware, Home Hardware, Home Depot, Sears will have the offset screwdrivers
in various formats. Alternatively, some places sell screwdriver bits to fit
standard ratchets (the bit is embedded in what looks like a socket). If
all else fails, try a ratcheting box end 1/4" wrench and a suitable 1/4" hex
screwdriver bit.

The screwgrab is a bit harder to find. It was all over the place a couple
of years ago, but I guess it did not move as well as the manufacturer and
corporate buyers expected.

"Liam" <Liams@abc123.spam> wrote in message
news:S-OdnWa-xop9zbLZnZ2dnUVZ_u-dnZ2d@comcast.com...[color=darkred]
> Bruce,
> These are helpful suggestions. I hadn't heard of Screw Grab or offset
> screwdrivers.
>
> By little tommy bar, I meant a straight bar, maybe three inches long,
> though normally they're bigger, like the bar that goes through the hole
> in the socket of a lug wrench.
> Liam
>
>
>
> Bruce & Lois Nelson wrote:
the[color=darkred]
of[color=darkred]

Derek

2006-04-04, 6:21 pm

"Liam" <Liams@abc123.spam> wrote in message
news:HqednVldUe6FTrDZRVn-og@comcast.com...
>I am trying to remove some frozen screws but have only two inches of space
>to work with, and can't get enough torque holding the stubby screwdriver
>with only my fingertips. Is there such a tool as a screwdriver head
>attached perpendicularly to a little tommy bar?
> Thanks
> Liam

I can offer a bit of lateral thinking
- depending on the offset a flexidrive screwdriver might give you an edge
-more likely though the narrow space might just defeat it is using a 1/4
drive socket wrench with a small socket and fit a hex screwdriver bit
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=040212490 that is a decent
enough kit ironically a really cheap pound shop special might be better as
the sockets are less deep and the bits tiny
-or if you can find one small enough a ratchet spanner and slip hex
screwdriver bit in it http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=040210062
siezed screws are a XXXXX graphite base penetrating oil helps as does heat
but where you can get in an impact driver and a very big hammer rules
Derek

Liam

2006-04-08, 11:21 am

Thanks for the suggestions. I've managed to find on eBay a little
ratchet that takes hex bits with screwdriver heads.
Liam

Derek wrote:
> "Liam" <Liams@abc123.spam> wrote in message
> news:HqednVldUe6FTrDZRVn-og@comcast.com...
>
>
>
> I can offer a bit of lateral thinking
> - depending on the offset a flexidrive screwdriver might give you an edge
> -more likely though the narrow space might just defeat it is using a 1/4
> drive socket wrench with a small socket and fit a hex screwdriver bit
> http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=040212490 that is a decent
> enough kit ironically a really cheap pound shop special might be better as
> the sockets are less deep and the bits tiny
> -or if you can find one small enough a ratchet spanner and slip hex
> screwdriver bit in it http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=040210062
> siezed screws are a XXXXX graphite base penetrating oil helps as does heat
> but where you can get in an impact driver and a very big hammer rules
> Derek
>
>

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