Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 45
 Great holiday gift potential here! December 10, 2009
Dean! (Dallas, TX)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
This is the type of gift you give to someone who doesn't really have any tools. It's handy to put in your glove compartment, kitchen drawer or for a college student.
This is not a gift for a contractor/carpenter/mechanic by trade.
The concept is great and I recently used this while installing a outlet-mount surge protector (a surge protector that screws into the faceplate of the electrical outlet). I had to squeeze behind my large TV to get to the dark corner of my living room. I had looked at another electrical face plate and saw that it was a simple Phillips screwhead.
Upon installing the surge protector, the included screw was a flathead. I know this was a minor/trivial task, but let's re-enact what happens in real life if I didn't have the 6 in 1 Autoloader.
The re-enactment:
1. Look at faceplate and see that I need a Phillips screwdriver.
2. Grab a Phillips screwdriver and then squeeze in behind the tv to get to the face plate.
3. Can't see too well, climb back out and search for a few minutes for a working flashlight
4. Climb back in and prop flashlight on wall and begin to take screw out of face plate, knock flashlight over and re-prop it and continue taking screw out, bump the flashlight with my knee in the tight corner and re-prop the round end of the flashlight against a wall that it rolls and falls over on
5. Finally, I've taken the screw out and announce manly-success and grunt like Tim Allen
6. Reach for the surge protector and realize the embedded mounting screw is a flathead and I'm holding a Phillips
7. Climb back out, go find a flathead screwdriver
8. Climb back in and realize the flathead screwdriver is too wide for the hole for the surge protector - need a screwdriver that is 1mm smaller in width
9. Climb back out and go find a smaller flathead screwdriver, but grab 3 extras just in case
10. Climb back in and wah-lah, I have a flathead screwdriver that fits, knock over flashlight and re-prop against wall. Firmly mount the outlet-mount surge protector in place, and though there were a few lost battles, the war is won.
11. Climb back out and realize I forgot to get the flashlight. I say heck with it and the batteries it rode in on.
Now here's what really happened with my Autoloader 6-in-1:
1. I have my Phillips and flathead tips all built into my Autoloader, I simply pull and turn the handle to the tip that I need, no running out to the garage.
2. It got a little dark, so I slide the 'Autoloader-tip-flashlight' over the Autoloader and wah-lah, bright LED lighting exactly where I use the tool and NO KNOCKED OVER FLASHLIGHTS.
3. I don't forget anything behind the TV because all the tools came out of a really nice canvas carrying case.
4. Unfortunately I did burn less calories by being more efficient...
Overall this is a great toolset for household chores, but if handywork were my profession, I'd have an arsenal of expensive tools...and a big toolbelt. ;-)
UPDATE: 12-23-2009: I consider myself a handyman and this Autoloader tool really saved the day today and I wanted to chime in: So today I'm on vacation and painting a vaulted wall that's 20 feet and has 6 windows with blinds. I wrestle an 18-foot extension ladder into place and grab my trusty Autoloader. I remove the highest blinds and I see that the mounting clips are Phillips screwheads, no problem, I remove a set. I move to the next window and repeat - but this time, one of the screws is a flathead - no problem, I adjust my Autoloader and wah-lah, one of the mounting clips is removed. I go to the next clip and it's 2 Phillips screwheads, but one looks a lot different. I remove the regular screw and notice the Phillips bit is too narrow for the different screw - no problem, I adjust my Autoloader and I remove the last mounting clip I can reach.
Why is this even meaningful? Because it saved me from climbing up and down an 18 foot ladder probably half a dozen times today fetching different types of screwdrivers. Who knew the mounting clips would be different? I sure wasn't expecting it, but with my trusty Autoloader, no problem - I was prepared!
A bagful of screwdrivers November 29, 2009
Rex Kullmann
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a neat little gizmo. It's a screw driver that holds six bits in its handle. Instead of opening the handle to trade bits as most multi bit screwdrivers require, you pull the handle back to view the bits encased in plastic, rotate the handle to select the bit you want then push the handle back into place. The bit you selected is pushed into position. The bits stay encased. You never have to handle or risk loosing them. The kit comes with two handles; one that takes standard bits and one for precision bits.
Each handle holds 6 bits. There are 24 additional standard bits and 12 additional precision bits, for 48 bits total. There's a good variety of Phillips, straight, Torx, square and hex bits. There's also a small magnetic led light that can also be attached to the screw drivers as a work light. It all fits in a sturdy zippered case. Neat.
I can't see a professional handyman using this. As quick as it is to swap bits, it's even faster to just grab another driver. Also I would say these are meant to be used strictly as screwdrivers and not as some people sometimes use screwdrivers: as chisels and pry bars.
I do have a quibble with the bit exchange mechanism. Once you pull the handle back, it's sometimes difficult to see which bit you're selecting. This is especially true of the precision driver. The bits are encased in heavy clear plastic that distorts your view. Also, there are no instructions. Of course, most screwdrivers don't come with instructions, but it would be nice to know if the batteries in the light are replaceable, for example.
For the layman that needs tools for occasional home repairs, this is just the thing. A whole lot of screw drivers that aren't likely to get lost, that won't take much room and are always handy.
Great idea, high quality November 23, 2009
Peter Reeve (Thousand Oaks, CA USA)
I'm impressed. The idea is that the screwdriver is 'loaded' with 6 bits. To change bits, you move to another chamber. You pull, twist until you see the chamber you want, then push. A new bit is thus fitted in a couple of seconds. The obvious advantage is that you don't need to carry bits or be afraid of losing them. There are two screwdrivers, for the larger and smaller bits respectively, so you can be carrying 12 bits in your toolbelt, ready to use. There are 48 bits in all. Over the course of using the screwdrivers, your 12 most often used bits will tend to be loaded. I think it's a brilliant idea.
There is an attachment to add light, if you want. You twist it to switch it on. It is surprisingly bright. They refer to it as a UFO light, presumably because it is round and therefore resembles a flying saucer, if you are a total nerd.
These are not ratchet screwdrivers. You move your grip at each turn. I'm not sure if there are people committed to ratchet screwdrivers, but if there are, they might give these a miss.
The shafts are quite short - about 2 inches, a little less with the light fitted - which might be a problem in some situations.
The whole thing comes in a zip case. Everything about this product seems well designed and high quality. Recommended.
Great idea and execution November 24, 2009
M. Haddad (Atlanta, Georgia)
The set comes with two quality autoloaders and each holds six bits. The grips are large and very comfortable on both autoloaders. Each autoloader also has a spin collar that helps in holding the screwdriver while spinning screws since the autoloader do not have ratcheting mechanisms. The light is very bright and easy to use but is a bit bulky and can get in the way of precision work. The set comes in a quality zippered case and all parts are held in place firmly by the case.
Replacing the bits in the autoloader is very simple, just select the bit you want to remove and replace it with the new one you want making sure the bit size faces in the same direction so it is visible when you are switching bits.
The classic loader uses standard 1/4" hex shank bits so replacements and addition of specialty bits should not be a problem. The precision loader uses 5/32 hex shank bits. The set comes with a wide variety of commonly used bits in two shank sizes to fit the large and precision drivers including:
For the classic autoloader:
Philips: 0, 1, 2, 3 (also 1, 2, 3 loaded in the classic autoloader)
Flat: 1/4, 3/16, 1/8 (second set is also in the classic autoloader)
Square; 1, 2, 3
Hex: 5/64, 3/32, 7/64, 1/8, 9/64, 5/32, 3/16
Torx: 10, 15, 20, 25, 27, 30, 40
For the precision autoloader:
Philips: 000, 00, 0, 1 (also 000, 00, 0 loaded in the precision autoloader)
Flat: 5/32, 1/8, 5/64, 1/16 (also 5/32, 1/8, 3/32 loaded in the precision autoloader)
Square; 0, 1
Torx: 6, 8
The set is a bit pricy but it certainly fills a void in the market for anyone who requires quick changing of screwdrivers in a compact package and I highly recommend it.
Great tool set! November 24, 2009
C. Day (Central Coastal CA USA)
Pink is not my favorite color, but I'm willing to overlook it in this set - has a light that attaches to the tool, 48 quality bits including star ("torx") bits for computers and stuff, in a compact zippered case that goes anywhere. I may just put it in the car and leave it there - you never know when you might need a screwdriver on the road. This will come in VERY handy!
But the coolest part is how it loads the bits FOR you. You put in all the bits you'll need to use for the job, then when you want to change to a different bit, you extend the screwdriver "bit bay", twist to select the one you want, then push the bay back into the handle - and presto change-o - you've got a different bit loaded. It's very handy and very clever! Both of the screwdrivers in this set work the same way.
The small 3-LED light is also useful - you twist the pink ring to turn it on/off, slide it over the shaft of the screwdriver, and light up your life. Much easier than "Honey, can you hold the flashlight right THERE? NO, over there another 2 inches!" etc.
Nice carrying case too. Overall this set rocks!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 45
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