Tales of Three Screw Starters

Hello Harp Techs,

Machine screws used in harmonica construction and repairs are small, such as 0-90, 0-80. Especially difficult to hold between our chubby fingers, while driving them in place with a screwdriver. I found three screw starters, all available from www.micromark.com that proved invaluable on my bench:

Screw Holding Tweezer, Quick Wedge Screw Starter, and the Wiha Magnetizer/Demagnetizer:

Taken’ it to the bench:

I found these tweezers work particularly well for philip head screws

Underside view of the Hohner Special 20 reed plate machine screws

Good clearance for the Wiha 262/Pz0 x 50 screw driver

With the collar pulled back in the neutral position, the tip of the Quick Wedge Screw Starter blades are tightly closed, enabling the blade to insert into the slot of a machine screw.

Shown here is the collar pushed forward, spreading the tip of the blade apart. This will press against the inside of the machine screw slot--brilliant!

Although the blade holds the machine screw securely, this tool is NOT a screwdriver and is not designed to be torqued. Once you inserted the machine screw in place, swap the Quick Wedge Screw Starter with your Wiha straight blade screwdriver to tighten the machine screw. A student in one of our Harp Tech Workshops, found this out the hard way and broke the tip of the blade (my tool ;o(

Rarely do I use steel machine screw (because they rust), but if I do, magnetizing my screwdrivers is a slick way to hold machine screws in place. Insert the blade of your screwdriver into the LEFT side chamber for magnetizing and RIGHT side for demagnetizing, when working on electronics.

Where to buy:

https://www.micromark.com/Screw-Holding-Tweezer

https://www.micromark.com/Quick-Wedge-Screwdriver-Screw-Starter

https://www.micromark.com/Magnetizer-Demagnetizer

Your Harpsmith, Kinya