StarTech – Computer Service Tool Kit

Every enthusiast faces the time when they have to do something to their computer and realizes they can’t find the tool they need to do it.  There have been plenty of times when I scratched a trace on my motherboard and couldn’t find my soldering gun or needed a Torx screwdriver and lost the heads.  It would be nice if I could get most of the tools I need to do what I need to do and keep them safe.  Keeping them stored in a nice zippered vinyl case instead of throwing them in a drawer to fumble through or forgetting them somewhere.  Oh! Wait! There is… Enter the StarTech Computer Service Tool Kit.

The StarTech Computer Service Took Kit is nothing revolutionary, extraordinary, or spectacular.  It is simply a collection of tools that many of us use on a daily basis packaged nicely in a vinyl zippered carrying case.

The tool Kit includes:

• 4-1/2″ Hemostat
• 5-1/2″ long nose plier
• 6″ adjustable wrench
• 8″ wire cutter/stripper
• Assembly tweezers
• Chip extractor
• Chip inserter with pin straightener
• CSA approved soldering iron and solder
• Nut driver – 1/4″
• Nut driver – 3/16″
• Reversible T10/T15 Torx screwdriver
• Slotted screwdriver – #0
• Slotted screwdriver – #1
• Slotted screwdriver – #2
• Slotted screwdriver – 1/4″
• Slotted screwdriver – 1/8″
• Slotted screwdriver – 3/16″
• Spare parts Container
• Three prong parts retriever
• Zippered vinyl case

The tools themselves are of average quality, no worse than you would pick up at your local hardware store.  However, the 3 pronged parts retriever is a bit flimsy and is better used to goose your girlfriend.  It is VERY strong, but just feels flimsy.  The inclusion of a magnetized parts retriever might have been better suited.

The included screw drivers are nice but they are not magnetized.  Including magnetized screw drivers would have really made a big difference in my world and would possibly eliminate the need for the part retriever making this an 18 piece tool kit with a bit more value.

The inclusion of a soldering iron and accompanying solder really helps a lot and having them stored in the case along with all the other tools eliminates the need for me to purchase a new one every year.  I can’t tell you how many soldering irons I have purchased over the last few years because of some really stupid reasons including, but not limited to:

• throwing them in a drawer and having a bunch of other tools thrown on top of them… ruining them.
• leaving them IN a PC and then returning said PC to the customer.
• dog chewing (Bullmastif).
• soldering iron tag with my friends in a drunken stupor.

With all the included parts of this tool kit you can easily spend more money piecing this together yourself.  You will also be doing so without the nifty vinyl case.  All in all, I must say that StarTech has a decent tool kit here.  The needle nose pliers could stand to be a little longer and the lack of magnetized screw drivers do leave me wanting a bit, but for the price… how much can you complain?  I have found them sold for $29.99 online.