Small - torque limiting electric screwdriver?

DMS General
1

By any chance, do we have a small torque limiting electric screwdriver at the space, or a small gauge for measuring screw torque?

I need to remove and replace several dozen lids, a few times each, and I’m looking for a way to do it quickly and without striping the plastic. This is the enclosure:
https://www.polycase.com/lp-35f

Any suggestions for:

  1. how to select an appropriate torque?
  2. make/model of relatively inexpensive drivers?

I was thinking to empirically pick a torque using a manual driver like this (hopefully we have something like this at DMS):
https://www.amazon.com/Capri-Tools-CP21075-Certified-Screwdriver/dp/B00VPPJWLW/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1506691003&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=torque+screwdriver&psc=1
or this

or this
https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Torque-Screwdriver-Drive-Shank/dp/B01D0P5N4O/ref=sr_1_6?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1506691003&sr=1-6&keywords=torque+screwdriver

Then I was thinking to get one of these and somehow pick a setting which was close enough
perhaps something like:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074SW6H6S/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2NDT5IL8P4VI&psc=1
or
http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-STOCK-Electrical-Torque-Power-Screwdriver-Screw-Driver-Power-Supply-2-plug-/292146104491?hash=item440543c8ab:g:rroAAOSwrzpZeYmA
or

2

We have a 1/4 torque wrench in the automotive kit, and technically the drills have torque settings, no idea how accurate they are.

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3

you probably need a low torque screwdriver in inch pounds or fractions of inch pounds - I used to use them for repairing night vision for pilots and infantrymen in the military.

In the civilian world of aviation - we used the “Verstorq” system by Snap On (see link). That was years ago - so I am sure you can find something more affordable. this had adapters down to fractions of inch pounds up to thousands of pound feet
https://store.snapon.com/VERSATORQ-153-ELECTRONIC-METERING-DATA-ACQUISITION-SYSTEM-C629546.aspx

as for “store bought” ones, you might want to get whatever you buy, calibrated so you know how accurate the torque actually is.

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4

@DaveG is known to have exactly such a screwdriver. I don’t know if he’s active on talk but I often see him up here on thursdays.

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5

Cool thanks all - that helps get me going :smiley:

6

I currently have a HIOS CL-6500 on loan to Vector. Its torque may be too high for your application, but it may not be. I would probably need to see what you’re working on to be sure. If you decide to try it, make sure you turn the torque limit way down on the first attempt.

I also have a Duratool CL-3000, which may be more appropriate for softer plastics. In the event the plastic you’re working with is easily stripped, I also have an Utica TS-30 and TS-100 I could let you use one of. I’m not as keen on loaning them out, but I would be willing to bring them to DMS when I’m going to be there for a while.

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