Great tools for your amateur radio toolbox
I recently picked up a 3-pack of multi-drivers, the Picquic® 44606 3 multi-driver Family Pack. This combination combines the SIXPAC Plus™, the Multique™, and the Teeny Turner™ in a single package. I bought my package from Amazon at a great price.
Features of each driver
For all drivers
Precision-machined power bits for reliable bit-to-screw fit
Rare earth magnet firmly holds the working bit in the shank
Manufacturer’s lifetime guarantee
Available in Canadian and American bit loads
SIXPAC Plus™
Comes standard with seven 3” long hex power bits
1/4” hex power bits ideal for use in drills and impact drivers
Aircraft alloy shank with hex bolster that receives a 7/16” wrench for extra torque
Multique™
Comes standard with seven 2 and 1/2” long 3/16” hex insert bits, allowing access into deep recesses
1/4” hex power bits ideal for use in drills and impact drivers
Aircraft alloy shank with hex bolster that receives a 5/16” wrench for extra torque
Teeny Turner™
Comes standard with seven 1” long 3/16” insert bits
Impressions
All your bits are belong to us
I like having all the bits stored in the handle. I have other drivers with multiple bits but they all have some kind of cap that inevitably comes off and gets lost. The Picquic system is different, with the bits secured in the handle by friction.
These three tools feature a common system of storing and switching bits. Each driver handle has a series of slots, open at both ends. The bits are stored in the slots.
Changing bits
Removing a bit is not immediately obvious. The bits don’t stick out enough to easily grab and extract a bit. Instead, you remove the bit that is magnetically secured in the driver and use it to push the bit you want from the storage slot, from the back of the driver toward the shank. Once the first bit is fully seated in the storage slot, it’s easy to pluck the new bit from the storage slot.
My explanation is longer and more complicated than the simple, quick reality of just doing it. Do it once and you’ve learned the system.
One thing to know is that a bit is usually always mounted in the driver. The SIXPAC Plus™ and the Multique™ have long bits so you would think that these two tools would not fit in a pocket or small everyday carry pouch very well. But there is a feature that allows for more compact storage in which you remove the bit from the shank and slide it partway into the storage slot. This makes the overall length of the tool much shorter.
SIXPAC Plus™
The SIXPAC Plus™ has some heft to it. This comes from the long bits in each storage slot in the handle. Even though the plastic handle is slick and smooth, the unexpected amount of heft feels good in the hand.
The other aspect of this tool that I like is the strength of the magnet securing the bit in the driver. There is an audible click when the bit snaps into place. Unlike some of my other tools with bits secured by magnets, I can’t shake the bit out of the driver.
Multique™
The Multique™ is slimmer and lighter. The heft feels slightly heavier than would a normal, similarly sized screwdriver, but the difference is barely noticeable. Just like in the SIXPAC Plus™, the magnet does a great job of securing the bits.
Teeny Turner™
The Teeny Turner™ is the tool I actually wanted, but then I saw the three-pack and decided to add the other drivers to my ham radio toolbox.
The Teeny Turner™ is charmingly petite, with seven precision tips. The handle is fatter than a typical tiny screwdriver, making it surprisingly comfortable to use. If you work on computers, radios, or similar small electronic devices, this is could be a great everyday carry tool.
For $24, I am feeling pretty pleased with this three-pack. It gives me a multitude of common bits and sizes in a condensed form factor. Recommended.
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