Fixing glasses, controllers and battery covers: the tiny-screw guide

Kelvin 07 spinner tightening a pair of glasses
Kelvin Tools

The screws that cause the most grief are the smallest ones: the hinge screw on a pair of glasses, the battery cover on a remote or a toy, the back of a game controller. They are soft, they are tiny, and a normal screwdriver is the wrong size in three dimensions at once.

Rule one: the bit must fill the head

A tiny Phillips head driven with a PH1 instead of a PH0 will strip in one turn. Use the smallest bit that fits snugly, and press down more than you turn. If the head is already damaged, a flathead bit that spans the whole slot often still works.

Rule two: work over a tray

A shallow lid or a dish towel laid flat catches the screw when it jumps. It will jump. A magnetic bit, like the heads on the Kelvin 07 spinner, holds the screw on the way in and out, which is the single biggest help with screws this size.

Glasses

Hinge screws are usually tiny flathead or Phillips. Tighten until the arm folds with light resistance; too tight and the hinge binds. If the screw keeps backing out, a dab of clear nail polish on the thread acts as a thread locker.

Battery covers

Toy and remote battery covers use a captive screw, which stays in the cover. It only needs to be loosened, not removed. If a cover is stuck, it is usually a snap tab, not the screw.

Game controllers and small electronics

Many use Torx (T6 to T8) or tri-wing security screws specifically to discourage opening. Torx is fine with the right bit; tri-wing needs a dedicated driver. Check the warranty before you open anything that is still covered.

Laptops

Phillips #0 and #00, Torx T5, and a strong tendency for every screw to be a different length. Lay them out on tape in the pattern of the holes.

The two pocket tools for this

  • The Kelvin 07: two flat, two Phillips and two Torx heads, all magnetic, on a chromoly body with a ceramic bearing. It is a real screwdriver that happens to spin, and it lives on a desk or a keyring.
  • The Retractor Mini: a 6-in-1 driver small enough for a laptop bag or a travel kit, with the bits stored in the handle so none of them go missing.

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