Is there a non-powered tool that will help me drive a bolt and washer with no risk of dropping.?

Question

I been wondering this for years, so I have to ask.

In my job, I build spacecrafts. Sometimes I have to install a bolt and washer into an insert 3 stories high. If the bolt or fastener is accidentally dropped, it could take hours or more to (hopefully) find it. Not finding it means big trouble.

My ex-coworker had a homemade tool. It looked like a fork with the prongs bent 90 degrees. He would attach it to an allen driver with rubber bands long-ways, and use the driver to push the bolt and washer between the prongs. The threads go through, but the bolt head and washer is held back and compressed by the allen driver.

Using one hand, he can drive the bolt w/ washer into the insert part-way, pull back the allen driver, lower the fork-ish attachment so that it doesn't get between washer and insert anymore, and then use the driver to drive the bolt all the way down. What you get is an accident-resistant process. Do you know of a tool like that I can buy?

Answer 1

A tool like that you can buy: it doesn't ring a bell. But you could spend some time with the catalog from Snap-On, which sells a lot of very specific tools, including ones intended for driving fasteners into blind locations. You get lots of helpful bits in situations like that.



By the description you seem to have a pretty good handle on what this doohickey needs to be, what is stopping you from procuring a thrift store-supplied fork and making one for yourself?



Unless you're using non-magnetic fasteners, wouldn't a strong magnet glued into your wrench do a fine job of holding things in until you got a few threads engaged?

Answer 2

It sounds like you know what it looks like so why not just make one? If yoir friend used rubber bands to attach it to an allen driver it was probably something he made. If you are actually building spacecraft, your friends gadget most likely wasn't written into the procedure and would be written up if It were discovered during an ISO audit.

Answer 3

do they only give you one bolt and washer at a time? take a pocket full of bolts and washers up with you

and you won't need to worry about dropping one. or just tape the bolt to the wrench so it won't fall off.

Answer 4

Paperclips and rubber band. Grips until u pull back in it

Answer 5

are you SERIOUS.. you are smart enough to build aircraft but cant figure out how to magnetize a ratchet.. please tell the world you are dealing with legos..

Answer 6

Why not use a strong magnet...