A while ago I reviewed the General Tools Ultra Tech 500 Precision Cordless Screwdriver in my search for a precision electric screwdriver that would work well for my computer repair business, specifically for taking apart and reassembling laptops.

While my review was generally positive about this product, it turned out that it was not up to the task and this tool has fallen by the wayside ever since. So I went back to looking for a more professional grade precision electric screwdriver, that wouldn’t break the bank in the process. There are industrial grade electrical controllers made for the assembly line, but these products are very, very expensive. What I was looking for was a more professional grade unit that had a lot more power than the General Tools 500. I didn’t really care if the controller was wireless or not.

What I found was the Proxxon 28690 MIS 1 Micro Screwdriver. My first impression of this product, out of the box, was that there wasn’t much “Micro” about it – it’s a sturdy, heavy tool.

The Proxxon 28690 MIS 1 Micro Screwdriver retails for around $100, depending on where you buy it, and the Proxxon 3874 Heavy Duty Transformer for around $65.00, for a total investment of $165.00 or so. Fairly reasonable. Proxxon offers a smaller, cheaper transformer, but I have no experience with this.

So how well does this product work, in this case for assembling and disassembling laptops?

It makes the job considerably easier and faster. When you consider the fact that the average laptop can have dozens of screws holding it together, that makes a lot of screwing and unscrewing necessary with a precision hand screwdriver. If you work on multiple laptops a day, this can take a toll on your hands and fingers. So any computer repair tool that can take some of the load off your beleaguered fingers is welcome.

A common reservation that many computer repair technicians have about using an electric screwdriver to repair laptops is the increased chance of removing screws. While using such a tool does increase this risk, in actual practice this has not been a problem for me. The tool is large, but still retains the sense of touch when it comes to the tip of the screwdriver. When the bits start to jump, you can feel it and hear it. My advice is that when you first get this tool, practice on a faulty laptop until you get the hang of it. You can adjust the torque on this driver, but not enough to make sure you don’t strip a screw. That said, hundreds of screws later I still haven’t removed a screw with this device.

What I like about this screwdriver:

1. Construction quality. Proxxon is known for producing high quality tools for the hobbyist. The Proxxon 28690 is no exception. It is very solid and durable built.
2. It comes with a generous supply of bits, 16 to be exact.
3. At first I was concerned that the on/off switch, being located on the top of the controller and activated with the thumb instead of the forefinger, would be awkward to use. But it is well designed in this regard, and the tool is too big to operate otherwise. Proxxon offers a footswitch trigger that can be used in conjunction with this tool.
4. It has very good power.
5. It is reasonably priced.
6. The bits are of good quality, hardened metal and should last for years.
7. Adjustable torque.

What I don’t like about this screwdriver:

1. It is too big and bulky. It’s more like a slightly more compact version of a standard electric screwdriver. Once again, there is nothing “Micro” about it.
2. No quick release mechanism to change bits efficiently. You have to use the provided wrench to change the bits. For this 16-bit reason, I only use one for the most common laptop screw sizes. Switch to a manual controller when necessary.
3. While the torque is adjustable, it’s not adjustable enough to ensure you don’t break a screw. At the lowest torque setting, it will still jump.
4. It requires a transformer, which means more $$$. I’m not sure if there is an adapter you can get that will allow you to forgo the transformer. If so, I wouldn’t recommend it. The best thing about the Proxxon 3874 transformer is that it has a dial that allows you to adjust the speed of rotation of the controller.

The “perfect” product would have the following characteristics.

1. Good power, but coupled with the ability to adjust the torque just enough to prevent any chance of stripping the bolts.
2. Durable and strong construction.
3. At a reasonable price.
4. The ability to exchange bits quickly.
5. Ultra-compact design lets you hold the drive between your thumb and forefinger like a pen. This may be asking too much given the first requirement, that it have good power. This is the big flaw of the General Tools 500. It has a perfect ergonomic design, but it needs more power than two small batteries can provide.

Conclusion: All in all, it was a good investment in my computer repair business and well worth the $165.00 I paid for the combo. I’m still waiting for the perfect precision electric screwdriver for laptop repair. Apparently it hasn’t been invented yet.