Tiny tiny screwdriver with 4 heads - anyone?

[Vidar]

Hey
I never said that I wouldn't buy a couple!

 

We will see. Unless the cost can come down I think there will be very few made of these indeed. Anyway, even these days one should be able to make some progress so hopefully I can show a physical version here in a month or two.

[Vidar]

So, first physical versions in hardened stainless steel. The one on the bottom is the cross driver - it actually works better than I thought on surface screws. The risk of getting cut on the flat drivers seems less than I imagined. Or I might just haven been lucky. 

In the lower middle is the new keychain version. A fair bit bigger than the cross driver but still quite small.

The drivers have longer reach than typical screwdriver bits, and the body itself about the same size as a bit holder. Each driver opens up and locks along the centerline of the tool body. For more torque the drivers on the opposite side can be folded out to the side and used for leverage. Nice rounded corners and quite pocket and keychain friendly.

For keychain use the concept is a little harness that is permanently connected to the keychain, and from which the tool itself can easily be disconnected from. So one doesn't have to mess around with an entire keychain when one wants use it.

(It still needs to get the rivets on. I'm on the fence about polishing it? The locks are clunky without polished surfaces, but then again the slightly rough surface is actually nice to grip.)

It's been a fun one at least. 

[Max Stone]

They have turned out really well Vidar 

It’s still difficult to grasp just how small these are. I know you have them shown next to SAKs and other tools, but maybe a comparison to a matchbox will also help. These tools are really tiny!

My preference is the folding tool. 

[Don Pablo]

Both of them are sweet.
I think I prefer the cross driver over the folding one because of budget concerns.
But I can see the usefulness of the folding one.

[Vidar]

They have turned out really well Vidar 

It’s still difficult to grasp just how small these are. I know you have them shown next to SAKs and other tools, but maybe a comparison to a matchbox will also help. These tools are really tiny!

My preference is the folding tool. 

Thank you! I think they would look better polished, but the grip would be worse off. Maybe some middle ground. Either way, these are just for proof of concept and adjusting tolerances so not sure how much I'll put into looks at this point.

I thought about matchboxes, but my matchboxes around here were different sizes. So I figured not a good reference? Either way the folding one is 35 mm long, while the cross one is 19mm. Next time I'll put them next to a ruler.. 

[Vidar]

Both of them are sweet.
I think I prefer the cross driver over the folding one because of budget concerns.
But I can see the usefulness of the folding one.

They are both silly expensive for what they are!    Then again functionality is far from everything.

The folding one is clearly the winner for usefulness. The drivers having reach, torque and being at the centerline do make a difference.

[Mechanickal]

And maybe one can open the opposite driver to 90 degrees for extra torque?

[Vidar]

And maybe one can open the opposite driver to 90 degrees for extra torque?

Yes, that is part of the concept.

I put in some temporary rivets to check how it works and the opening closing mechanisms are fine. Yay! 

Here are some more picture with more scale items, a picture with the tiny flat driver active, and one showing the reach.

[Mechanickal]

That's eenyweeny

[Vidar]

That's eenyweeny

For those everyday small problems. 

[Mechanickal]

Eenyweeny problems

[Vidar]

Eenyweeny problems

 

Those with big real problems probably don't look on weird screwdrivers anyway.

[Don Pablo]

Brilliant-looking!

[magentus]

Brilliant-looking!

Super neat! 

[Vidar]

Thanks!

It is actually kind of cute. Then again I think the same about my excavator so I might be damaged goods.

The mechanisms to keep the drivers folded in when not in use works, and the locks work too. The springs I got for the locks are on the weak side though. I need to get or make some stronger ones for a proper snappy feel.

In the meantime I'll give it some pocket time, and maybe do the keychain harness for it.

[McStitchy]

Super neat! 

 

[in_sympathy]

Just a suggestion:  make the centre hole a 1/4" hex so it could be used as a bit driver as well (might as well add more functionality)

Thank exactly what I was itching to write

[Vidar]

Thank exactly what I was itching to write

It is still way too small for that. With a hole for a 1/4" hex in the middle there would be next to no middle left.

In general my design thinking is that if some feature is added it has to work properly. There are too many tools around aiming to do all kinds of stuff and ending up doing very few properly. I'd rather focus on fewer features but have them working well. I do get that for many multitools have a long list of "functions" is a major selling point, but I'd like to focus on actual use and the end user.

Adding features usually add costs as well so that has to be justified too. (This one in particular though is more of a fun project so I've already utterly disregarded all cost considerations and design for assembly practices I even considered making the main body of the larger one in titanium ).

[pfrsantos]

That's eenyweeny

 

[pfrsantos]

Thank you! I think they would look better polished, but the grip would be worse off. Maybe some middle ground. Either way, these are just for proof of concept and adjusting tolerances so not sure how much I'll put into looks at this point.

I thought about matchboxes, but my matchboxes around here were different sizes. So I figured not a good reference? Either way the folding one is 35 mm long, while the cross one is 19mm. Next time I'll put them next to a ruler.. 

Like the folding one. I'd go for the rough / stonewashed look. It's perfect to be carried in a keychain. Being polished, it would get scratched in no time and end up looking bad.

 

[Vidar]

Like the folding one. I'd go for the rough / stonewashed look. It's perfect to be carried in a keychain. Being polished, it would get scratched in no time and end up looking bad.

 

I have to admit the current look, being fairly close to stonewashed, is growing on me. I've been carrying it in pockets for a while now, but it really needs a keychain just to keep track of it. I'm thinking of maybe doing the keychain connector to match the pins. Maybe some bronze. Or alternatively a stainless steel similar to the main color.

It might do fine polished as well as it hardened steel throughout. Softer things like keys, coin and such should not be a problem with regards to skratching. That said the hardness of this one is softer than it ought to be for a long life of screwdriving, so that needs improving if I'm ever to make more of these.

Functionality is actually good. It works pretty much as a stubby screw driver, so it is easy to keep pressure down while turning. I got lucky there! 

[SirVicaLot]

That folding one is really neat! 

[Etherealicer]

They are both silly expensive for what they are!    Then again functionality is far from everything.

The folding one is clearly the winner for usefulness. The drivers having reach, torque and being at the centerline do make a difference.

You called? I want one of those folding drivers

That concept I like a lot. Just for comparison, maybe have a look at Big Idea Design prices... expensive is the right price for EDC gear

[Vidar]

I do think if it can come down to their price levels it would be marketable. Still some way to go to get there. There was just no concern about costs when I made this. Just getting the springs for the locking mechanisms in place is quite the trick.

To some extent this one is to me as I suspect avant garde is for fashion designers - made more for the process itself and where it can lead to later rather than a marketable end product. I picked up quite a few tricks with the locks and springs making this one, and I can certainly see those be used elsewhere too later.

I could have this factory made within a few weeks, but the costs as of now just doesn't make sense. The costs are coming down though. We'll see where it goes eventually, but hopefully I have the more serious EDC designs ready well before then. 

[pfrsantos]

I do think if it can come down to their price levels it would be marketable. Still some way to go to get there. There was just no concern about costs when I made this. Just getting the springs for the locking mechanisms in place is quite the trick.

To some extent this one is to me as I suspect avant garde is for fashion designers - made more for the process itself and where it can lead to later rather than a marketable end product. I picked up quite a few tricks with the locks and springs making this one, and I can certainly see those be used elsewhere too later.

I could have this factory made within a few weeks, but the costs as of now just doesn't make sense. The costs are coming down though. We'll see where it goes eventually, but hopefully I have the more serious EDC designs ready well before then. 

Have you thought about size variations? Slightly bigger tool, stronger, longer reach, more torque...

Would this make the cost change in the same degree? Increase in 10% size of tools = ??% in production cost?

 

[Vidar]

Have you thought about size variations? Slightly bigger tool, stronger, longer reach, more torque...

Would this make the cost change in the same degree? Increase in 10% size of tools = ??% in production cost?

 

This was intended as a keychain so I haven't really considered other sizes. The size, weight and gadget factor is one the drivers for this one. Once you go up a bit in size entirely other design routes makes more sense I think, and can be made for a lot less. The screwdriver head standards don't scale at all so there is that factor too.

As for costs it is an aggregate of many factors. Some of these are quite exponential (part volume^3), some depend on surface area and complexity, while other operations are almost the same regardless of size in these ranges (assembly, packing, some handling), while yet others are quite linear (weight/ material use). Key factors are also production volume overall and to the extent one makes specialized solutions/ fixtures/ jigs - basically the extent of investing up front to achieve lower unit costs later.

If I were to spend more time on it I could likely cut a fair bit of the costs. It would still be silly expensive though. (Consider that as a quick rule of thumb the prices the consumer ends up paying are usually 4 to 8 times higher than the production cost. The multiplier might even be higher for products with some unique position due to patents or marketing. So if production cost is high to start with compared to similar offers, that difference will be seriously increased by the time it is on the market.

(I often find myself looking as some product prices, divide by 4 to 8, and just be impressed how mass production can make certain objects for so low costs!)

Another key issue for me with this design is that as of now the screwdriver heads can't be made as hard as the ISO specifications call for. That is just unacceptable for me - things should work as good or better as the buyer has reason to expect. I do think that particular issue will be solved in due time though. 

[Wessaen]

Any update on these? If the project has fallen through I would still be interested in buying any prototype you have laying around.

The flat quad bit you have is similar to a Schnelle Engineering Pygmy that I have had on my main keychain for something like 7 years now that I use quite frequently. I'd love to have something similar for my work keychain as I haven't been able to obtain another Pygmy.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2044861232/pygmy-titanium-micro-multitool

Thanks,
-Wes.

[PitCarver]

I'm in love with the 4 way version.
It'd be perfect on a keyring.

[Vidar]

Sorry, didn't notice the new posts here. Vacation time so less online these days. I guess an update is well overdue though. 

These were really just fun side projects from the development of the more proper tools. That said they work pretty well so I'd consider doing some in the future although pricing would have to be in the exclusive region. (Being fun projects these were not designed with much consideration concerning costs). The flat 4 way one can certainly be mass produced at a sensible price anyway, but in low volume that is still basically prototype costs.

There were basically two main issues that paused these and other development. Covid to some degree in various ways, and material technology. Screwdrivers have official standards describing not only their exact sizes and shapes but also their hardness. At the time that hardness could not be achieved with the way these were made, and I certainly don't want to sell a screwdriver that doesn't actually work as well as it should.

Around the same time I was offered to do another rather interesting project so I said yes to that while biding my time.

These days the issues mentioned above are mostly solved or manageable. I have been revisiting these projects regularly, and they still make a lot of sense to me. I will hopefully have time again this autumn to finish the more proper tools for production and maybe look at these fun ones again too. 

[pfrsantos]

Sorry, didn't notice the new posts here. Vacation time so less online these days. I guess an update is well overdue though. 

These were really just fun side projects from the development of the more proper tools. That said they work pretty well so I'd consider doing some in the future although pricing would have to be in the exclusive region. (Being fun projects these were not designed with much consideration concerning costs). The flat 4 way one can certainly be mass produced at a sensible price anyway, but in low volume that is still basically prototype costs.

There were basically two main issues that paused these and other development. Covid to some degree in various ways, and material technology. Screwdrivers have official standards describing not only their exact sizes and shapes but also their hardness. At the time that hardness could not be achieved with the way these were made, and I certainly don't want to sell a screwdriver that doesn't actually work as well as it should.

Around the same time I was offered to do another rather interesting project so I said yes to that while biding my time.

These days the issues mentioned above are mostly solved or manageable. I have been revisiting these projects regularly, and they still make a lot of sense to me. I will hopefully have time again this autumn to finish the more proper tools for production and maybe look at these fun ones again too. 

Keep us posted!