Even if you’re not the DIY type, someone who fixes and disassembles his home electronics all by himself, you still need a set of precision screwdrivers at some point. I personally bought and tested the iFixit Mako, a 64-piece set that I think you’d like very much.
You don’t necessarily have to be a service technician to use a screwdriver. And no matter what DIY level you are you still need a screwdriver in your house. With today’s electronics, more and more types of screws are being used. This is why precision screwdriver sets with interchangeable parts have become very popular.
CONTENTS
iFixit Mako: Who Is It For?
iFixit has designed the Mako kit for both service technicians and DIY (Do It Yourself) repair enthusiasts, whether we are talking about gadgets and computers or home appliances, watches, glasses, remote controls and so on.
The 64-piece precision set offers interchangeable 4 mm long-neck heads that allow you to open mobile phones, consoles, smartwatches, laptops, desktops, tablets, and small appliances. The parts also cover gadgets that use atypical screws such as iPhones, iPads and MacBooks.
Precision Screwdriver Set Details
- Price: ~$40
- Magnetic clamping lid, compartmentalized for sorting screws.
- Screwdriver with 4 mm magnetized head, textured profile for grip, rotating head
- 150 mm flexible extension
- 64 S2 steel parts (including Philips, straight, triangular, square, three-point, Torx, Pentalobe, JIS, Hex, SIM eject, magnetic head, ¼” adapter)
- Lifetime warranty
What I Like About iFixit’s Set
From the moment you open the box, you’ll see that the 64 heads are set out in neatly spaced-out holding holes marked and specially cut to the correct size in the foam covering the base of the box. The screwdriver and the 150 mm flexible extension fit the 64 pieces in rows of 7-8.
The dense foam head is secure enough to keep the heads from falling off even when you turn the box upside down and give it a shake.
For durability, the box closes magnetically, so there are no hinges to break over time. Perhaps that’s why iFixit offers a lifetime warranty on this kit. The lid is compartmentalized so you can separate screws of various types and sizes when disassembling something.
The magnetic lid can also be attached to the bottom of the box, so it doesn’t get in the way when you’re working.
The 64 heads cover enough screw types, but if that’s not enough, there’s the extended iFixit Manta kit (Amazon link), which offers no less than 114 pieces. There’s even a special magnetic head in the set that you can use to retrieve those tiny screws you dropped by mistake.
The screwdriver has a magnetized head, which makes it very easy to change heads. Extension, however, requires pushing the current screwdriver head with a little force into the secure, but non-magnetized, clamping mechanism.
The first time I used the screwdriver I found the rotating head strange, but I understood that its purpose is to secure the screwdriver in the palm of your hand while you rotate it with your fingers.
That way you have better accuracy and can easily avoid the screwdriver head slipping out of the screw, at which point you can scratch something or destroy some sensitive small component.
What I Don’t Like About Mako
The iFixit Mako is not among the most compact precision screwdriver sets because of the way the parts are organized. The box isn’t very big, but it definitely doesn’t fall into the category of accessories you carry with you in your laptop backpack all the time.
I would have also liked to see a magnetized lid to hold the screws securely in case you accidentally bump the lid (I am a bit clumsy, I have to be honest).
Final Words
Even though there are other, cheaper screwdriver sets, as the owner of at least a few of these alternatives I can say that the first impression when working with the iFixit Mako is one of rare quality. It remains to be seen how the iFixit set will perform over time, but I personally don’t mind paying $40.
Update: it’s been more than three years since I’ve owned the iFixit Mako. For me is the best precision screwdriver set and I don’t need anything else. It still looks brand new, like the day I took it out of the box for the first time, and works as expected. What more can you wish?
