I Fixed My Entire Laptop Using Only a Leatherman Multi-Tool
The One Tool to Rule Them All
I was on a camping trip when my laptop’s charging port came loose. I was miles from my workshop. The only tool I had was my trusty Leatherman Wave multi-tool. I used the tiny precision screwdriver to open the case. I used the pliers to gently bend the port’s housing back into shape. I even used the knife blade, very carefully, to scrape a bit of corrosion off a contact. It was a crude, challenging repair, but I got the laptop charging again. It proved to me that with enough ingenuity, one good multi-tool can be a complete repair kit.
The “Screwdriver as a Pry Tool” and Other Sins You Have to Commit Sometimes
The Pragmatist’s Repair
I was trying to open a cheap, plastic remote control that was held together by hidden clips. The proper tool would have been a soft plastic spudger. I didn’t have one. I committed a repair sin. I took a small flathead screwdriver and carefully, gently worked it into the seam, using it as a pry tool. I left a few small marks and gouges in the plastic. It wasn’t pretty. But it got the device open without breaking it, allowing me to complete the repair. Sometimes, you have to use the wrong tool for the right reason.
How to Solder a Joint Using Just a Lighter and a Piece of Wire
The Wasteland Solder
I needed to make an emergency electrical repair in my car and had no soldering iron. I used a desperate, “wasteland” technique. I took a thick piece of copper wire and held it with pliers. I heated the end of the wire until it was glowing red using a simple cigarette lighter. I then quickly touched the hot copper wire to the solder and the joint. The heat from the wire was enough to melt the solder and create a functional, if ugly, connection. It’s a dirty trick, but it can work in a pinch.
I Used a “Hacked” USB Cable as a 5V Power Source to Test a Component
The Universal Power Supply
I needed to test a small 5-volt fan, but I didn’t have a proper benchtop power supply. I took an old USB cable and cut the end off. I stripped the red and black wires—the 5-volt power and ground lines. I connected these wires to the fan’s terminals, and then plugged the USB cable into a standard phone charger. The fan spun to life. Any old USB cable can be hacked into a simple, reliable, and ubiquitous 5-volt power source for testing and running small electronic projects.
The “Credit Card” Shim: The Most Versatile Prying Tool You Already Own
The Wallet-Sized Wedge
An old, expired credit card is one of the best prying tools you can have. I was trying to open a laptop case that was held together by delicate plastic clips. A metal screwdriver would have damaged the case. I slipped the corner of the credit card into the seam and slid it along the edge. The thin, flexible, yet strong plastic was perfect for releasing the clips without leaving a single scratch. It’s a free, non-marring prying tool that you already have in your wallet.
How to “Diagnose” a Circuit with No Multimeter, Just an LED and a Resistor
The Humble Logic Probe
I needed to know if a specific pin on a circuit board was outputting a signal, but I didn’t have my multimeter. I created a simple “logic probe.” I took a standard LED and soldered a 1k-ohm resistor to its positive leg. I connected the negative leg to the circuit’s ground. I then used the other end of the resistor as my probe. When I touched it to a pin that was “high” (outputting a voltage), the LED lit up. It was a simple, binary “yes/no” test that told me what I needed to know.
I Used a “Sewing Needle” as a Precision Probe to Reset a Tiny Button
The Point of the Matter
I needed to press a tiny, recessed “reset” button on a router, but the hole was too small for a paperclip. I went into my sewing kit and found the perfect tool: a sewing needle. The incredibly fine, strong metal point fit perfectly into the tiny hole and allowed me to press the button with precision. For any task that requires a delicate, pinpoint application of force in a tight space, a simple sewing needle is often a better and more precise tool than anything in a standard electronics toolkit.
The “Multi-Tool Only” Repair Challenge: Could You Survive?
The Minimalist’s Gauntlet
As a challenge to myself, I attempted to replace the screen on a phone using only the tools on my Leatherman multi-tool. It was an exercise in pure improvisation. I used the tiny flathead screwdriver for the pentalobe screws (a risky move). I used the knife blade, carefully, as a pry tool. I even used the can opener’s hook to lift out the delicate battery connector. It took three times as long and was incredibly stressful, but I succeeded. It was a powerful lesson in how to adapt and push a limited toolset to its absolute limits.
How to Remove a Tiny Screw with No Screwdriver (Using a Flat-Head Eyeglass Screw)
The Improvised Driver
I needed to remove a tiny Phillips head screw from a gadget but didn’t have a screwdriver small enough. I looked around and found my small eyeglass repair kit. I took the tiny flat-head screwdriver from it. The blade of the flat-head was small enough to fit into two of the opposing slots of the tiny Phillips screw head. With firm downward pressure and a slow, careful turn, I was able to get enough grip to break the screw loose and back it out.
I Used a “Car Battery” and Jumper Cables to Test a High-Power Component
The High-Amperage Test Bench
I salvaged a large 12-volt motor from an old power wheelchair and wanted to see if it worked. My small benchtop power supply couldn’t provide nearly enough amperage to get it spinning. I went to my car. I connected a set of jumper cables to the car’s battery. I then carefully touched the other ends of the jumper cables to the motor’s terminals. The motor roared to life with an incredible amount of torque. It was a crude but effective way to test a high-power component.
The “Paperclip” Un-Jam: The Oldest Trick in the CD-ROM Book, Reimagined
The Manual Override
The tray on my old game console’s disc drive was stuck. The motor was whirring, but it wouldn’t eject. I remembered the old trick from PC CD-ROM drives. I looked at the front of the console and found a tiny, almost invisible pinhole. I took a standard paperclip, straightened it out, and pushed it firmly into the pinhole. This manually activated the eject gear mechanism, and the disc tray popped open. It’s a mechanical override that engineers built in for exactly this situation.
How to “Cut” a Zip Tie with Another Zip Tie
The Plastic Saw
I needed to cut a zip tie but had no knife or cutters. I used a bizarre but effective trick. I took a second zip tie and looped it under the one I wanted to cut. I then pulled the second zip tie back and forth rapidly in a sawing motion. The friction from the plastic-on-plastic rubbing generated enough heat to melt through and snap the first zip tie. It takes a surprising amount of effort, but it works.
I Used the “Vibration” from My Phone to Find a Loose Screw in a Case
The Seismic Screw Detector
I had just finished a repair, but I could hear a tiny, ominous rattle inside the device. I knew there was a loose screw somewhere, but I couldn’t see it. I took my phone, set it to vibrate, and placed it on the outside of the device’s case. The vibrations traveled through the case, causing the loose screw to rattle loudly. By moving my phone around and listening closely, I was able to pinpoint the exact location of the rogue screw without having to completely disassemble the device again.
How to Use a “Safety Pin” to De-Pin a Connector
The Makeshift Extractor Tool
I needed to move a single wire from one spot to another in a plastic Molex connector. The metal pin was held in place by a tiny, internal locking tab. The proper tool is a special extractor pin. I didn’t have one. I took a standard safety pin and, using pliers, I bent the tip into a tiny hook. I was able to slide this makeshift tool into the front of the connector, depress the locking tab, and pull the wire and its pin out cleanly from the back.
I Used a “Hair Dryer” as a Low-Tech Heat Gun to Soften Adhesive
The Gentle Heat
I needed to remove a sticker from a plastic device and knew that heat would soften the adhesive. A proper heat gun would be too hot and would risk melting the plastic. My girlfriend’s hair dryer was the perfect tool for the job. On its highest heat setting, it provided a gentle, diffuse warmth that was just enough to soften the sticker’s glue without posing any risk to the underlying material. It allowed me to peel the sticker off cleanly and safely.
The “Single Screwdriver” Build: Assembling a PC with Only a Phillips Head
The One Driver to Rule Them All
As a challenge, I tried to build an entire desktop PC using only a single #2 Phillips head screwdriver. It was mostly straightforward, as most PC components use this standard. The challenges were the small M.2 SSD screw, which I had to turn very carefully, and the motherboard standoffs, which I had to tighten down with a pair of pliers from my multi-tool (a slight cheat). It proved that while a full toolkit is nice, you can accomplish about 95% of a standard PC build with just one good screwdriver.
How to “Amplify” a Sound to Diagnose a Mechanical Fault Using a Screwdriver and Your Ear
The Mechanic’s Stethoscope
I heard a faint, intermittent clicking sound coming from a mechanical device. I couldn’t pinpoint the source. I used a classic mechanic’s trick. I took a long, solid screwdriver and placed the metal tip directly on one of the components I suspected. I then pressed the plastic handle of the screwdriver firmly against the bone just in front of my ear. The solid screwdriver transmitted the vibrations directly to my inner ear, acting as a stethoscope. The faint click was now a loud, clear “clack,” and I had found my problem.
I Used “Nail Clippers” to Snip a Wire When I Had No Cutters
The Grooming Tool That Cuts
I was doing a small electronics repair and needed to snip a thin wire, but my wire cutters were in my other toolbox. I looked around my desk and saw a pair of nail clippers. The curved, sharp blades are designed to cut through tough keratin, so they worked perfectly for snipping the thin, 22-gauge copper wire. It’s not the right tool for the job, but in a pinch, a standard pair of nail clippers can be a surprisingly effective wire cutter.
The “Stanley Knife” as a Precision Prying and Scraping Tool
The Razor’s Edge
A utility knife, or Stanley knife, is more than just a cutting tool. Its thin, sharp, and strong blade makes it an excellent precision tool for repair. I’ve used the tip of the blade to carefully scrape away hardened glue or corrosion from a flat surface. I’ve also used the flat of the blade to gently pry apart two very thin, tightly-fitted plastic pieces where a thicker tool wouldn’t fit. It requires a very steady hand, but sometimes the sharpness of the blade is exactly what you need.
How to Determine “Polarity” with Just a Potato and Two Wires
The Spud-Powered Voltmeter
I had a power adapter with no markings, and I needed to know which wire was positive and which was negative. I had no multimeter. I used a potato. I cut the potato in half and stuck the two bare wires into the flesh, about an inch apart. After a few minutes, the area around one of the wires started to turn a greenish-blue. This chemical reaction (oxidation) happens at the positive terminal (the anode). I had built a simple, organic battery to identify the polarity of my wires.
I Used a “Staple” as a Makeshift Fuse in an Emergency. (Don’t Do This!)
The Extremely Temporary, Very Bad Idea
Disclaimer: This is dangerous and should not be done. I was in a situation where a critical device had a blown fuse, and I had no replacement. The fuse was rated for 1 amp. I knew that a single, standard office staple has a very thin cross-section and would likely burn out at a similar amperage. I carefully bent the staple and wedged it into the fuse holder. It completed the circuit and allowed the device to power on for the few minutes I needed it. It’s a terrible, risky idea, but it illustrates the desperate nature of some improvised repairs.
The “Minimalist” Travel Repair Kit That Fits in a Mint Tin
The Pocket-Sized Workshop
My travel repair kit is an exercise in minimalism. It all fits inside a standard Altoids mint tin. Inside, I have a tiny pen-sized screwdriver with interchangeable bits, a small roll of electrical tape, a few zip ties, a razor blade, a sewing needle, and a small tube of super glue. This tiny, pocket-sized kit has been enough to handle about 80% of the minor repairs I’ve needed to do while on the road, from a broken pair of sunglasses to a loose wire in a gadget.
How to Use a “Magnet” on a String to Fish Out a Dropped Screw
The Magnetic Fishing Line
I dropped a critical steel screw into the deep, dark abyss of a desktop PC case, where my fingers couldn’t reach. I couldn’t see it, but I knew it was down there. I took a small, strong magnet from my fridge, tied it to a piece of dental floss, and lowered it down into the case. I gently swept the “magnetic fishing line” back and forth across the bottom of the case. After a moment, I heard a satisfying “click” as the screw jumped onto the magnet.
I Used the “Flashlight” on My Phone to Spot a Cracked Solder Joint
The Power of Raking Light
A circuit board I was repairing had an intermittent fault. I suspected a cracked solder joint, but they can be invisible to the naked eye. I took the flashlight on my smartphone and held it at a very low, oblique angle to the circuit board. This “raking light” caused the light to catch the edge of the microscopic crack in the solder, casting a tiny shadow and making the otherwise invisible circular crack stand out clearly. This simple diagnostic trick is invaluable for finding physical connection failures.
How to Create a “Third Hand” for Soldering Using a Heavy Book
The Literary Helping Hand
I was trying to solder two wires together, but I didn’t have a “helping hands” tool to hold the wires steady. I needed a third hand. I took a large, heavy textbook and placed it on my workbench. I then used the weight of the book to pin one of the wires to the desk. I used a small piece of tape to hold the other wire in place. The heavy book acted as a perfect, stable clamp, freeing up my own two hands to hold the soldering iron and the solder.
I Used “Aluminum Foil” to Create a Makeshift Soldering Tip
The Disposable Tip
The tip of my cheap soldering iron had corroded and wouldn’t transfer heat properly. I didn’t have a replacement. In a moment of desperation, I took a small piece of aluminum foil and folded it tightly into a sharp, pointed cone. I clamped this makeshift foil tip over the end of my soldering iron’s heating element. It was not efficient, and it only lasted for a few joints before it disintegrated, but it transferred just enough heat to let me complete one last, critical repair.
The “Bare Hands” Repair: What Can You Fix with No Tools at All?
The Primal Fix
I was on a trip with absolutely no tools, and the battery cover on my camera came loose. The tiny screw had just backed out a bit. I didn’t have a screwdriver. I was able to use the edge of my thumbnail, pressed firmly into the slot of the screw, to get just enough grip to turn it the half-turn it needed to be tight again. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most fundamental tools we have—our hands, our fingernails, our ingenuity—can be enough to solve a simple mechanical problem.
How to Use the “Reflection” in Your Phone Screen as a Makeshift Mirror
The Dark Mirror
I needed to see behind a component on a circuit board but didn’t have a small inspection mirror. I locked my smartphone so the screen was black and glossy. I then used the dark, reflective surface of the phone’s screen as a makeshift mirror. By angling it just right, I was able to get a clear reflection of the hidden area, which revealed a loose connector that I wouldn’t have been able to see otherwise.
I Used a “Rubber Band” for Extra Grip to Remove a Stripped Screw
The Elastic Solution
I was faced with a Phillips head screw that was partially stripped. My screwdriver would just spin in the head. Before resorting to more destructive methods, I tried the rubber band trick. I placed a wide, flat rubber band over the head of the screw. I then pressed my screwdriver firmly into the rubber band and the screw head. The rubber compressed and filled the stripped gaps, providing the extra friction my screwdriver needed to get a grip and back the screw out.
How to Use a “9V Battery” and Your Tongue to Test for Voltage. (Again, Don’t!)
The Tingly Test
Disclaimer: This is a classic “don’t do this at home” trick. As a kid, the way we would test if a 9V battery was good was to briefly touch the terminals to our tongue. If you felt a distinct, sharp “tingle” or a metallic taste, the battery still had a charge. It’s a crude, bio-electric voltmeter. While it works for a harmless 9-volt battery, it’s a perfect example of how, in the absence of proper tools, humans will use their own senses to diagnose a problem, sometimes in very inadvisable ways.
The “Resourcefulness” You Learn When You’re Stranded with a Broken Gadget
The Mother of Invention
Being stranded—on a trip, in a remote area—with a broken but essential piece of gear is a crucible that forges incredible resourcefulness. You are forced to look at the world differently. A paperclip is no longer a paperclip; it’s a potential jumper wire or an eject tool. A credit card is a pry tool. Dental floss is a high-strength cord. This mindset, the ability to see the hidden potential in everyday objects, is the core of the tinkerer’s spirit. Necessity truly is the mother of invention.
I Used a “Can of Compressed Air” Upside-Down as a Freeze Spray
The Instant Chill
I needed to find an intermittently faulty component on a circuit board. A professional trick is to use “freeze spray” to rapidly cool individual components; when the faulty one is cooled, the device will often start working. I didn’t have any freeze spray. I took a standard can of compressed air, turned it completely upside down, and sprayed it. Instead of air, a jet of super-cold liquid propellant shoots out. By giving a tiny blast to each chip, I was able to find the one that was failing when hot.
How to Make a “Continuity Tester” from a Battery, a Bulb, and Some Wire
The Simple Circuit Checker
I needed to know if a long cable had a break in it, but I didn’t have a multimeter to check for continuity. I built my own. I took a AA battery, a small flashlight bulb, and two pieces of wire. I taped one wire to the bottom of the battery and the other to the bulb. I now had two free ends. When I touched the two free ends together, the bulb lit up. I could then touch the two ends to either end of the suspect cable. If the bulb lit up, the cable was good.
I Used a “Pencil” to Draw a Conductive Line Over a Small Circuit Break
The Graphite Bridge
I was repairing a simple remote control, and there was a tiny, hairline crack in one of the black, carbon traces on the circuit board. The proper fix would be a conductive ink pen. I didn’t have one. I used the next best thing: a soft, number 2 graphite pencil. I carefully and heavily scribbled over the broken trace. The soft graphite deposited a layer of conductive carbon into the crack, which was just enough to bridge the gap and restore the electrical connection.
How to Use a “Piece of Paper” to Measure a Tiny Gap
The Makeshift Feeler Gauge
I needed to adjust the gap on a mechanical part to a very specific, tiny distance, about the thickness of a few hairs. I didn’t have a set of feeler gauges. I knew, however, that a standard piece of printer paper is about 0.1 millimeters thick. By folding the paper once, I had a 0.2mm gauge. By folding it again, I had a 0.4mm gauge. This allowed me to set the gap with a surprising degree of accuracy using an object that was already on my desk.
I Used the “Edge” of a Coin to Turn a Large Flat-Head Screw
The Pocket Change Screwdriver
I needed to open a battery compartment that was sealed with a large, wide, flat-head screw. I didn’t have a screwdriver big enough. I dug through my pocket and found a quarter. The edge of the coin fit perfectly into the slot of the screw. With a firm grip, I was able to use the coin to turn the screw and open the compartment. It’s a classic example of using a common, everyday object as a tool when you don’t have the “proper” one on hand.
The “MacGyver” Challenge: Fix This Device with These 3 Items
The Ultimate Test of Ingenuity
My friends and I play a game we call the “MacGyver Challenge.” We’ll take a simple, broken electronic toy. Then, we’ll choose three random, unrelated items from a junk drawer—say, a paperclip, a rubber band, and a piece of aluminum foil. The challenge is to fix the toy using only those three items. It forces an incredible amount of creative, out-of-the-box thinking. It’s a fun game that hones the exact kind of improvisational problem-solving skills that are essential for any real-world repair enthusiast.
How to “Desolder” a Component with Just a Lighter and a Puff of Air
The Brute Force Component Removal
Disclaimer: This is a destructive method. I needed to salvage a chip from a scrap circuit board but had no soldering tools. I held the board upside down. I used a lighter to heat the area on the back of the board, directly underneath the chip. When the solder on the other side melted, I gave the board a sharp smack against my workbench. The molten solder flew off, and the chip fell out. It’s a crude, messy, and dangerous way to do it, but it demonstrates the basic principle of “heat and force.”
I Used a “Drill Bit” as a Makeshift Punch to Remove a Pin
The Wrong Tool for the Right Job
I was trying to remove a small metal pin that was press-fit into a hole. The proper tool would be a “pin punch.” I didn’t have one. I found a drill bit in my toolbox that had the exact same diameter as the pin. I put the back end of the drill bit (the non-cutting end) against the pin and gently tapped it with a hammer. The hard steel of the drill bit was perfect for the job and allowed me to safely drive the pin out of the hole without damaging it.
The “Improvisation” Mindset of a True Repair Enthusiast
There is No “Can’t”
A true repair enthusiast with limited tools doesn’t see a problem and think, “I can’t fix this because I don’t have the right tool.” They think, “What do I have that could become the right tool?” It’s a mindset of improvisation and adaptation. A screwdriver isn’t just a screwdriver; it’s a potential pry tool, a punch, or a lever. A piece of tape isn’t just tape; it’s a potential clamp, a gasket, or an insulator. The world becomes a toolbox, and every object has a hidden potential.
I Used “Dental Floss” to Clean a Tight Crevice
The Minty-Fresh Clean
I was trying to clean a narrow, grimy crevice on a piece of electronics where a Q-tip wouldn’t fit. I took a piece of waxed dental floss, wrapped it around my fingers, and used it like a tiny saw to get deep into the crevice. The floss was thin enough to fit, the wax helped to pick up the grime, and the strength of the floss allowed me to apply a good amount of pressure. It was the perfect tool for cleaning a very hard-to-reach spot.
How to Use “Tweezers” as a Heatsink While Soldering a Sensitive Component
The Heat Siphon
I was soldering a wire to the leg of a delicate, heat-sensitive component, like a transistor. I was worried that the heat from the soldering iron would travel up the leg and destroy the component itself. To prevent this, I used a pair of metal tweezers. I clamped the tweezers onto the leg of the component, between the solder joint and the body of the component. The metal tweezers acted as a “heatsink,” absorbing and drawing the excess heat away before it could reach and damage the delicate internals.
I Used a “Wall Charger” and a Cut Cable to Power a 5V Project
The Ubiquitous Power Supply
I built a small electronics project that needed a 5-volt power source. Instead of building a complex power supply circuit, I just went to my drawer of old chargers. I took an old phone charger, cut the end off the USB cable, and stripped the red (+5V) and black (ground) wires. I soldered these wires directly to my project. Every old USB wall charger is a simple, reliable, and pre-regulated 5-volt power supply, making it the perfect, ubiquitous power source for a huge range of hobbyist projects.
The “Foraging” for Tools: What Can You Find in a Standard Office Drawer?
The Cubicle Repair Kit
If I were stranded in an office and had to fix something, what tools could I find? A paperclip can be used to eject a SIM tray or short a connection. A binder clip can be used as a clamp or a makeshift heatsink. A staple remover has a sharp point for prying. The metal file from a pair of nail clippers can be used for light abrasive work. An office drawer is a surprisingly well-stocked, unconventional toolbox for anyone with an improvisational mindset.
I Used the “Camera” on My Phone as a Magnifying Glass
The Digital Loupe
I was trying to read the tiny, microscopic part number on a small integrated circuit. My eyes weren’t good enough, and I didn’t have a magnifying glass. I took out my smartphone, opened the camera app, and used the digital zoom to get an extreme close-up of the chip. The image on my phone’s screen was a massive, clear, and well-lit view of the component. I could easily read the tiny lettering. My phone’s camera has become one of my most frequently used magnification tools.
How to Use “Gravity” to Help Seat a Difficult Component
The Invisible Helper
I was trying to re-seat a large, complex processor into its socket on a motherboard. The hundreds of pins had to align perfectly, and it was being finicky. Instead of trying to force it, I used gravity. I held the processor by its edges and positioned it over the socket. I then just let it rest there, under its own weight. I gently wiggled it back and forth a fraction of a millimeter. After a moment, I felt it settle as all the pins fell perfectly into place. I let the force of gravity do the delicate work for me.
The “One Tool” That’s More Important Than Any Other: Patience
The Master’s Virtue
I have a workshop full of fancy tools: soldering irons, multimeters, oscilloscopes. But the single most important tool, the one I use on every single repair, is patience. Patience is what stops me from prying too hard and breaking a plastic clip. Patience is what allows me to hold a soldering iron steady for a perfect joint. Patience is what gives me the fortitude to troubleshoot a problem for hours without getting frustrated. Without patience, all the other tools in the world are useless.
I Used a “Guitar Pick” to Open 10 Different Devices
The Plectrum Pry Tool
A medium-gauge guitar pick is the best, cheapest, and safest prying tool for opening modern electronics. It’s made of a soft plastic (Delrin) that won’t scratch the device’s case. It’s thin enough to slip into the tightest seams, but it’s strong and flexible enough to pop open hidden clips without snapping. I have used the same, trusty 0.73mm Dunlop pick to open phones, tablets, laptops, and game controllers. It’s the first tool I reach for when I need to get inside a device non-destructively.
The “Desert Island” Repair Scenario
If You Could Only Have One…
If I were stranded on a desert island and could only have one tool to repair a washed-up radio, I would choose a good quality multi-tool, like a Leatherman. It contains the essentials for both mechanical and electrical repair. It has pliers for gripping and bending, wire cutters for snipping, a knife for stripping insulation, and a set of basic screwdrivers. While it’s not the perfect tool for any single job, it’s a “good enough” tool for almost every job, which makes it the ultimate survivor.
Proving That the “Brain” is the Most Important Tool in Any Kit
The Processor Between Your Ears
You can have the most expensive toolkit in the world, but if you don’t have the right mindset, you’ll fail. The most important tool is your brain. It’s the tool that allows you to be observant, to think critically, and to creatively problem-solve. It’s what allows you to see a paperclip as a potential jumper wire or a credit card as a pry tool. The ability to stop, think, and approach a problem from a different angle is more powerful than any soldering iron or oscilloscope.