Are there any high-quality third-party screw drivers or bit sets that work with the skrews used in the laptops that anybody made good experiences with yet?
I feel like the default Framework screw driver is kinda…“okaaayyy”…and I currently have 3 stripped screws along my estim. 20 other skrews I managed to successfully unscrew and insert again without issues so I suspect the default one might cause some problems sometimes (more than the user in average).
Already tried searching for some myself but am not well experience and read some disappointed reviews about the iFixit kits claiming their bits are rather low quality and bending quite easily.
Oh and as it also fits in here quite well: Do screws of higher quality that fit into the Framework laptops and don’t strip as easily exist as an alternative to the default ones? Or is Philips the only company that actually manufactures those types of screws used in the laptops?
I thought about maybe replacing those default screws by ones with higher quality (if possible).
I do beileve there are multiple screw manufacturers. And Framework provides the exact sizes. Trouble is, sourcing a small amount of screws in the sizes you need is hard. You pretty much can’t get small quanities, so it’s going to cost you quite a bit more than it should. This is why Framework made replacement screw sets available. frame.work/marketplace?search=Fastener. People were asking for sets pretty much from day one, but it took Framework awhile due the to trouble sourcing, getting them packaged etc.
Also, umm, it’s “screws”.
I’ve seen several screwdriver bit brands tested. If I recall Wiha tested pretty good. Tho they tend to be more expensive than others. Wiha Torx set
Yeah I saw those replacement screw packs in the marketplace already and I gotta order a pack anyways as like I said I’ve got some stripped screws. But thought before I do maybe there’d be a chance to get better ones. But thank you for letting me know.
Thank you also for your screwdriver recommendations! I wouldn’t mind buying a more expensive one if it would survive several years though I don’t repair things often.
Ah thank you for correcting me! I was confused due to the term “screw it” which I believe is like saying “f* it” or so if I’m not mistaken so I thought the tools are written with “k” and to prevent using unintentional inappropriate language.
Ooh @Morpheus636, I didn’t know that. Thank you! I always thought they’d actually manufacture those but thanks for letting me know otherwise.
It’s worth considering that the stripped screws may be a feature. If you over-tighten a screw, one of 4 things are going to break:
the contact surface of the screwdriver
the surface on the head of the screw that the driver contacts
the threads on the screw
the threads on the thing you’re screwing into (the Framework body).
Replacing the screw is quite cheap. Replacing the bit of the screwdriver is a little more expensive, but still cheap. Replacing the laptop body is very expensive. So it’s good engineering to make sure that the screw is the weakest point.
I’d argue, very much no, for any critical screws in sensitive locations.
If the screw head strips on a mainboard mounting screw, the user may very well not be able to get the screw out anymore. So no simply replacing the screw, Do Not Pass Go, Do Not collect $200, Go Directly To Jail replacing your laptop. Hopefully under warranty. But not cheap, whoever is paying for it. Multiple users have reported screws heads breaking off, Framework has taken care of users facing that afaik.
Framework screws should be at least as strong as the driver bit that Framework includes. Framework could include an extra driver bit or two. And I think they should consider molding “Do Not over tighten screws” into the screwdriver handle.
I love Framework, but it does seem they have a problem with at least some of their screws that have shipped out. Quality control needs to be higher on them. And they may need to be stronger as well. Hopefully they have already put improvements in place. It may be a very small number of screws, but considering the cost to them of warranty replacements, it may be too high. Plus the bad look & user anxiety wondering if they also have screws with heads waiting to break off.
User error could contribute to as least a small number of issues. Given that some people do not read instructions, I think molding a warning right onto the screwdriver is the best option. They should also include a warning label, because 1) molding won’t be as ledgible as a black & white / high contrast label, 2) new molds are crazy expensive, who knows when they’ll want to do that, if ever.
Good point. I stand corrected: the bit on the screwdriver should be the weakest point.
One major problem is the warning “do not over-tighten screws” is kind of useless without some definition of “over-tighten”, and a way to measure it. If they specified the correct torque (and provided a precision torque-driver) that would work, but it would change the cost of the free screwdriver from $1.50 to $100, so that’s not gonna happen. Because without a torque driver, the only way to actually know you’ve over tightened it is when something breaks, which is too late.
I have a kit from iFixIt I had to buy in a hurry at a local Best Buy and their bits have been a great fit. They are a little more precise than the tool that comes with the Framework. Special bonus are the little spudgers and other content in the kit as well.
The Framework tool is good but precision bits do have a little different feel and give better feedback if one is putting a little too much pressure tightening screws down. In general, most people overtighten screws the smaller they are.
Phillips (and Robertson) screws/drivers are purposely designed to cog out so as not to overtighten them. The History Guy did a cool YouTube video explaining the Robertson (widely found in Canada) and Phillips screws.
