For those looking for a REAL screw driver (not the short one) on Ebay. I have the same, in green:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Screwdriver-Screw-Driver-Bit-W-Magnetic-End-to-Open-Nintendo-Virtual-Boy-System-/310530417832?pt=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item484d0e24a8

i’ve wanted to get my ribbons soldered, for awhile now. this would be very nice but $45 (with shipping) just seems really high to me.

I made a very functional vb screwdriver from a pawn-shop philip’s driver. It was very damaged, stripped; they couldn’t believe I wanted to buy it, only charged me a quarter or something.

I ground the end flat, drilled an appropriate hole 1/8″ deep (same size as the screw heads), and then hit the edge with a chisel in six places. The “metal spikes” the chisel created grab the dents in the screw-heads just fine.

🙂

That is quite the rip off if you ask me! It will certainly work, but $40 excluding shipping?! If he sells a few he will be laughing his ass off.

People really overestimate how easy it is to buy a bit and grind it down. If you have a vice and any kind of grinding tool, a dremel will even work great, you can just make one yourself quite easily for only 1/4 or less of that price.

Hey,

I just used this one: http://www.ebay.nl/itm/One-4-5mm-GameBit-Game-Bit-Hex-Security-Tool-7-5cm-nintendo-sega-n64-mega-drive-/390526807103?pt=UK_VG_Replacement_Parts_Tools&hash=item5aed362c3f#ht_2238wt_1151

Altough its not a whole screwdriver (just a bit). And you have to push to reach the deepest holes. It did a great job in opening the VB.

If you look around a bit I am sure you´ll find a cheaper one. I didn´t pay more than 20 USD incl shipping.

Lester Knight wrote:
i’ve wanted to get my ribbons soldered, for awhile now. this would be very nice but $45 (with shipping) just seems really high to me.

I took a Dremmel cutter wheel after a flat-head screwdriver. Cost me like $15, and that includes the price of the screwdriver.

I found some Philips-head screws of the same length, thread density and shaft size, and stuck those in to put it back together.

I’ve got the same one in green too.
It is really better then the small one.
I use it mostly for my gamecube ore for my game gears.
VB

I bought the appropriately-sized GameBit (which might be this one; I don’t remember if VBs are 3.8 or the 2.x size) and used a Dremel to cut the thick part off. Then I ground a flathead slot into it — I drop the mutilated gamebit into the hole, then use a flathead screwdriver to turn it.

In retrospect, Guy Perfect’s solution is much better, haha.

Yeah, I bought that one too, before I found out that it wouldn´t fit the gameboy. But was quite handy using it for GameGear…

Just wanted to mention… I picked up this set recently: http://www.ebay.com/itm/161006872043 . I was getting sick of using the bits I ground down and notched, so I figured I’d grab a real driver, and decided to give the cheap set a try first.

My first impression is that they’re actually pretty nice, especially for the price. The driver is deep enough to get the deepest two screws, though the very bottom edge of the plastic handle slightly hits the side of the VB (the bump up where the cartridge goes in). You can still get the screw out, but I decided to grind the bottom edge of the handle down, so it didn’t hit at all.

The quality of the metal seems good. I’ve only taken a few screws out to test it, so I’m not sure how it’ll last after lots of use… but so far it seems to be holding up, with no noticable damage to the driver or screws. It’s also got a magnetic tip, which is nice.

Anyway, I’m not sure if anyone else had tried that style, but I figured I’d post just in case anyone’s looking for a set.

DogP

DogP wrote:

Anyway, I’m not sure if anyone else had tried that style, but I figured I’d post just in case anyone’s looking for a set.

I know of a couple people on here who have posted in the forum about using this type of screwdriver:

http://www.planetvb.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=23331#forumpost23331

However, nobody has posted about how well this type of screwdriver holds up over time, at least not that I am aware of.

If anyone can ever verify that these do, in fact, hold up well even after many uses, it sure would make these screwdrivers stand out as the ones to get, when considering the quality and the price.

Please, I don’t mean to bump this thread but
DogP Welcome Back:) it’s so good to have you here w us after being gone so long.

Benjamin Stevens schrieb:

If anyone can ever verify that these do, in fact, hold up well even after many uses, it sure would make these screwdrivers stand out as the ones to get, when considering the quality and the price.

I am using it, and it holds up very well. So far I have taken apart my VB several times, and neither the screws nor the screwdriver have been torn or damaged so far.

I can recommend it.

I’ve only ever used the “bit” one, which I use with a IKEA handled screwdriver. It’s actually worked out great and I’ve used it non-stop for about 2 years now.

Wyndcrosser schrieb:
I’ve only ever used the “bit” one,

I wonder how you want to do that w/out modification…
I own the same bit (wrong purchase on ebay, I know), which doesn´t protrude deep enough because of the “hexagon” sized end.

And with an IKEA screwdriver it would be too thick to fit into the holes…

I would step away from recommending this thingie, since so many people here actually had troubles using it.

not at all. The bit I have is 3.5 inches long and fits nicely inside the multi-bit screwdriver in the kit.

The nice gripe on the handle is great when you’re opening and cleaning 20+ games at one time.

Wyndcrosser schrieb:
not at all. The bit I have is 3.5 inches long and fits nicely inside the multi-bit screwdriver in the kit.

The nice gripe on the handle is great when you’re opening and cleaning 20+ games at one time.

Looks like there is a re-worked version of the bit available. Like I said, mine doesn´t go in deep enough…

Benjamin Stevens wrote:
However, nobody has posted about how well this type of screwdriver holds up over time, at least not that I am aware of.

If anyone can ever verify that these do, in fact, hold up well even after many uses, it sure would make these screwdrivers stand out as the ones to get, when considering the quality and the price.

I’m actually pretty impressed… I opened and closed 7 VBs with that screwdriver last weekend, and it seems to be holding up just fine. At that price, I expected it to start falling apart after a couple VBs. 😉

DogP