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Ever find yourself needing to attach a jumper or something like a fan power connector to a motherboard, but your fat fingers can't quite squeeze into the available space? Enter the Kelly Forceps, aka a Hemostat. These are available and either medical supply stores or electronic stores. I think I got mine at a Radio Shack.
These are better than needle-nose pliers for the job of attaching tiny plugs or fishing a screw out of a small crevice, because they can clamp shut. That means they can hold said tiny plug rigid while you're trying to insert them. I don't use this daily, but it's saved my bacon on multiple occasions. At the very least, it can minimize the need for serious PC disassembly if you just need to attach a power connector.
I use Logitech cordless mice and keyboards, which use AA batteries for power. In particular, the G700 I use tends to eat batteries for lunch. If I used alkaline AA batteries, I'd quickly go broke and have to give up my monthly MMO fees. So I keep my mouse fed with rechargeable NiMH batteries using this device. (Yes, I can connect my G700 to the PC via a USB cable to charge it. But that sounds so…gauche somehow.)
Of course, those batteries also power my Nikon external flash units, various remote controls and those LED flashlights, so it's not like I'm keeping this around just to charge mouse batteries.
Whether you use a sitting or standing desk, an adjustable keyboard tray makes typing so much more bearable. I actually use slightly different heights depending on whether I'm typing or gaming. This Workrite model weighs about 20 pounds, but the spring-loaded mount makes adjustment easy. You can also slide it under the desk surface when you don't need it.
If you've got one PC that's your main go-to system, and it crashes, how do you figure out how to troubleshoot it? In my case, I fire up a search engine on a smart phone and start trolling for solutions on the web. I can do the same with my iPad, but that tends to live upstairs, while I always have my phone with me.
So while a smart phone can be your music player, let you play games while you're standing in a checkout line at the grocery store or read ebooks, it's one of the more useful troubleshooting tools. It can even be used as an ersatz flashlight in a pinch.
What you see here is Milwaukee 6546 cordless screwdriver. It's my most used tool. In fact, I use it so much, I have two of them, as well as backup batteries. While it's only rated at 2.4v, the amount of torque this thing can produce is startling.
It also costs about $90. There are other, less expensive cordless screwdrivers out there, but the key thing you need for a cordless screwdriver to be useful for PC building and upgrading is an adjustable clutch.
Let me be clear: do not use a cordless screwdriver on PC gear unless it has an adjustable clutch. I keep the clutch set to the minimum setting most of the time, so I never strip screws—even those awful potmetal screws and mounts in most PC cases.
Comments are closed on this article
tampatip
December 22, 2011 at 4:01pm
Couldn't clean up the props first huh .... dust .. finger prints .. scratches .. lol...
furiousdc
December 15, 2011 at 1:09pm
Aluminum little league bat. those small little bats are much easier to swing should anyone try to come in and steal your computer :)
majorsuave
December 15, 2011 at 7:43am
"If you've got one PC that's your main go-to system, and it crashes, how do you figure out how to troubleshoot it? "
Ha! My wife's PC is just next to my gaming PC, if not there's my laptop, and then some other PCs or laptops at home, most are decomissioned but still functional enough to google "error code something something"
Of course, if I am lost in the woods with no Wi-Fi, AC voltage and spare computers, I will be glad to know that I can tap on my Optimus' tiny screen to fetch a solution to my PC problem. ;)
Yes I do have an Android phone, but there's is more to it than troubleshooting, especially when there is always a laptop near. However, using it as a flashlight to lit the insides of the beast is cool.
Jox
December 14, 2011 at 5:28pm
Just for the record (and because it's germane to the industry in which I am employed), the term PoweredUSB refers to a proprietary standard patented by IBM for retail point of sale systems. It consists of a standard USB (which is the connector type you describe above) coupled with additional wiring for extra power output. The resulting connector, while USB, will not work in your home PC without a PCI expansion card. The voltage output for PoweredUSB systems is typically 5V, 12V, 24V or 0V. Interestingly, 0V is not actually 0V, it's the standard 5V that would be output by the USB channel. It just disables the seperate power source which would permit even flow of power should the USB channel be overloaded.
http://www.poweredusb.org/whatispusb.html
Jox
JohnP
December 14, 2011 at 12:48pm
I found that it is much better to have the DESK at the right height for typing rather than tucking the keyboard and mouse under it. The only reason I can see for keyboard trays is so that the wif will not complain about the "clutter" that a computer makes. By having the desktop at 27 inches, the keyboard and mouse are right at hand, the monitor is not stuck so far up in the air that you have to crane your neck, and writing is a breeze. I am totally at a loss why anyone would settle for layered desks, towers on the floor, printers in a drawer, and the bottom of monitors at the level of your chin. Take a slab of 3/4 inch MDF 4 foot by 3 foot, glue laminate on top and add 4 26 inch legs to it. The perfect computer desk. Add a smaller desk on wheels that height for a roll around printer...
Ayeohx
December 14, 2011 at 12:09pm
Nice article Loyd. I like your writing style - very personable and natural. Thanks!
audiomatron
December 14, 2011 at 9:18am
Interesting you mention the smartphone or tablet. Just yesterday, one of the draftsmen and I (the IT Manager) had to completely rip apart an HP Designjet 800 42" plotter to replace a belt. My iPad loaded with a searchable PDF of the plotter's service manual was crucial to getting the job done. I've also used a smartphone to watch a youtube video on how to take apart a Dell laptop and replace the CPU fan when my PC wasn't near enough to my work table to watch the video there. Good stuff!
bling581
December 14, 2011 at 10:54am
I agree. Any 2nd device would do the trick though, including a 2nd computer or laptop. Before I had a smart phone if my computer had a serious issue I'd have to try and look it up at work or go to a friend's house and use their computer. Now I just grab my phone and get online for some troubleshooting.
scoop6274
December 14, 2011 at 5:28pm
my opinion is the screen (even on large smartphones) is to small and tablets are still to expensive (for a quality one) thus, my netbook has been my go to piece for IT trouble shooting. Small, light, portable with a decent size screen and a keyboard. I pull out my netbook whenever I need a second computer to access the internet when my main machine is down. Sure, it is a little slow, but it has never failed to get the job done.
Keno5net
December 14, 2011 at 8:24am
I have everything but the Calibrator. I can't justify the expense. For workning in tight places I have a bent nose needle nose plyer that I find invaluble for things like placing scerws in holes and plugging in fans to MB headers. The bent tips let me see what I am doing easier and allow easier accsses to tight places.
For a hard drive dock I have one that is either USB2 or ESATA, USB 3 hadn't come out yet when I got it.
Athlonite
December 14, 2011 at 4:53am
1: I have an HDD dock from Vantec
2: I have forceps
3: I have an Soldeering station with udjustable temp
4: I have a 4x aa/aaa batery charger
but what I really want is for MaximumPC to put out another mouse pad as the one I have is now yeas old and very worn so hows about it MPC new year speacial
smashingpumpin
December 14, 2011 at 1:41am
This article is Awesome!, But....
Any chance MaxPC would do a single AA or AAA only, or anything in the portable keychain flashlight roundup review?
Now that would be Awesome!... Awesomer!
Wily_One
December 16, 2011 at 1:27am
Yeah I've tried the cheap LED flashlights and they don't last, if they work at all.
Coldrage
December 13, 2011 at 11:09pm
Fantastic article Loyd, keep this sort of stuff coming.
If you find any more useful peripherals, feel free to make another article.
Ghok
December 13, 2011 at 10:54pm
What exactly does a monitor calibration puck do, and how does it work?
Mortal_M
December 13, 2011 at 11:18pm
Forgot about Google? :P
Basically it calibrates your monitor so that the pictures in your monitor look like the ones out of the printer.
Ghok
December 14, 2011 at 2:18pm
I figured that part out, thanks. I'm looking for more than a basic explanation.
There are google results, sure, but nothing I found that would explain how it does so to someone who is faily technical, yet has no experience with such a device. Most are just trying to sell something. I can find some instructions on how to use the device... but they don't really say how it work. It's just, plug the device in somewhere, put it on your screen, and voila your screen is now configured? That doesn't tell me much, the thing could be using magic for all I know.
If you found a good result, you are better at this than I am. Please link it here. I'm only curious. I'm sure the information exists somewhere.
wrigleyjames
December 15, 2011 at 2:00pm
Ghok, we use these all the time at work as I am a graphic artist. I wouldn't go as far to say what you see on the screen is what prints, but they definitely help. They are extremely simple to use. You set it on the screen and it uses colored boxes to find out where the 'eye' is. Once it does that it runs through the spectrum then adjusts your monitor. It is a program that always runs in the background. There are advanced features, but we usually just use the basic auto calibration. Hope that helps some. =)
mesiah
December 13, 2011 at 10:29pm
Loyd, You just made my life so much easier. I have been going back and forth over replacing my desk for a year now. The platform for my keyboard broke and I had to screw it in so it does not slide. I love my desk but the keyboard tray was killing me. I was finally about to replace it until I saw this article. I never even considered an adjustable keyboard arm. Hell, I didn't even know they made them! Now I will be playing the old republic and typing term papers in comfort. Thanks!
fygquas
December 13, 2011 at 10:07pm
I don't understand. Why do you need two different keboard heights for gaming and typing?
compro01
December 14, 2011 at 7:42am
Presumably as you're using different hand positioning.
When typing, you're using both hands and if you type "properly" both hands are around the home row.
When gaming, you probably have one hand on WASD and thereabouts and the other hand on the mouse.
Windbreaker
December 13, 2011 at 7:04pm
May I suggest a new makeup blusher? The bristles are stiff enough to get dust out of everything (like on the USB HDD dock you've got pictured) yet gentle enough to use on laptop/tablet/big-ass TV screens without fear of scratching the surface.
Trooper_One
December 13, 2011 at 6:17pm
Hehe, I pretty much got everything in the above list, with the exception of the hemostat; the needlenose plier out of my Leatherman seems to do the trick, even though its radius could be a bid big sometimes. Yes, i concur with Alexw1234 - magnetic screwdrivers are a must.
EDIT: oops, i don't have the monitor calibrator either... but I don't really do photopraphy or video editing so doesn't really matter to me.
biggiebob12345
December 13, 2011 at 5:00pm
For screwdrivers I recommend getting ones with free-spinning tops. This makes it so you can nestle it up against your palm and twist it using just your fingertips. Awesome for working in tight spaces. There's a few generic brands but the name brand is "Wiha Precision Screwdriver Set". The problem with the "electric" screwdrivers and multi-bit screwdrivers are they're WAY too fat to work inside a lot of cases.
Hemostats are also great for soldering wires to stuff. Holds them springy buggers down. Hemostats don't work for everything though...especially when you just want to grab something without "locking" on it. Thus I have some "extra thin" 8" needle noses on hand.
My last builders tip is to have a pair of fine point angled tweezers. VERY helpful for placing really tiny screws or fishing screws that slipped out and are about to roll under the mobo.
RUSENSITIVESWEETNESS
December 13, 2011 at 4:30pm
This is an AWESOME article.
Just built inside a black case, and it sucks, for sure. I try holding a flashlight between my teeth, but then I'm drooling and slobbering like a vegetable. I thought a headband light would work, but they're all too weak. Anything less than 100 lumens is a waste of money.
Someone needs to sell a tall (18-24"), articulating LED lamp that you can clamp to a case or stand nearby on a table.
And peripherals that are on forever....I turn my PC off, my scanner, printers, and external hard drives stay on. I will have to look into these green power strips. Didn't even know there was such a thing.
I recommend screwdrivers with magnetic tips for any build. Sometimes, it's hell when you lose a screw under a bay or board.
praetor_alpha
December 13, 2011 at 7:19pm
http://koncept.com/products.php
I've had one of their I Bars for almost 2 years. It's about 18" tall or so. I recall it came with a screwable clamp, but I've just had it with the flat base, sitting on my speakers. It's so bright that it's usually the only light on in my apartment.
alexw1234
December 13, 2011 at 4:35pm
Magnetic screwdrivers are great, but using them near that new that new $300 videocard is a little touchy.
compro01
December 14, 2011 at 7:45am
Your videocard doesn't care about the piddling magnet inside a screwdriver. Your hard drive doesn't care about them either (there's a big freaking pair of them inside it for the frictionless bearing).
Slurpy
December 13, 2011 at 4:17pm
I second the Fenix LD15. It's pricey, but it's amazing, and takes a beating.
