Archive | The EDC Tool Roll

The EDC Tool Roll is a feature on Jerking the Trigger in which we profile various every day carry worthy tools. The tools shown aren’t multi-tools but rather real tools, that by virtue of their compact size, light weight, usefulness, or unique functionality, can find a place in any range kit, emergency kit, or every day carry bag.

Feel free to comment on the tools that you carry so we can all learn! The discussion on these posts has been very valuable so far.

We have spent a lot of words looking at various drivers in The EDC Tool Roll series. The truth is that even the slickest, most EDC-worthy driver won’t help you if you can’t reach the fastener you need to tighten or loosen. Many of the drivers that we have reviewed so far lack the reach of a conventional screwdriver. This is why I always have an extension of some kind in my tool kit for EDC or range use.

The best extension I have used are the Wera Rapidators. I use the 100mm (about 4″) in my own version of The EDC Tool Roll. I used to use a basic magnetic extension most of the time and those still work. However, the quality is often lacking (loose fit, lousy or broken magnets, etc.) and the Rapidaptor line has features that I have grown to like.

First, the quality is excellent. The metal parts of the Rapidaptor line are finished with a matte finish that looks like hard chrome or maybe just a bright stainless. Whatever it is, it seems to hold up very well. The fit is tight and precise both with the bits and with whatever you are using to turn the Rapidaptor. As someone who has had a cheap extension with poor fit locked into an impact driver to the point of needing tools to remove it, I appreciate that precise fit. It also holds up to use in a cordless impact driver.

Second, the design of the bit holding portion of the Rapidaptor is excellent. It actively locks bits into place automatically upon inserting a bit. It is held in place via a good quality magnet and the locking collar. This collar (the green and black part in the picture) spins freely allowing the user to grip when attempting to control a fastener. Pulling up on the collar releases the bit without popping it out to be lost. Installing and removing bits can all be done easily with one hand.

Wera makes shorter versions of this bit holder but the I find the 100mm version to be just right. Short enough to carry in my kit but long enough to reach an AR-15 grip screw or to use in installing/uninstalling a Glock magazine catch spring. I also find myself using this with my power tools somewhat frequently.

Where to Buy:

Maybe you have a local brick and mortar option for purchasing imported tools… but I sure don’t. I purchased my Wera Rapidaptor on Amazon: Wera Rapidaptor 100mm Bit Holder

Other Tools That I Have Used with the Rapidaptor:

Victorinox Swisstool Plus Replacement Wrench

Wera Kraftform Kompakt 10

Engineer DR-07 Twin Wrench Driver

Tekton 14-in-1 Offset Screwdriver (2945)

Replaceable Edition Fix It Sticks

Doc Allen’s VersaTool

Wera Kraftform Kompact 25

VIM Tools HBR5

VIM Tools HBR3

GearWrench MicroDrive Set

See all the reviews for previous tools: The EDC Tool Roll

Do you have bot ratchet that you prefer or another tool recommendation that fits The EDC Tool Roll? Tell us about it in the comments below or drop us a line on the Contact page.

The above URLs may be affiliate links.

The EDC Tool Roll is a feature on Jerking the Trigger in which we profile various every day carry worthy tools. The tools shown aren’t multi-tools but rather real tools, that by virtue of their compact size, light weight, usefulness, or unique functionality, can find a place in any range kit, emergency kit, or every day carry bag.

Feel free to comment on the tools that you carry so we can all learn! The discussion on these posts has been very valuable so far.

A friend of mine first showed me the Wiha PokitPak tools years ago but I only got around to trying one a few months ago. The idea behind these is simple and clever. Normally, you would need to carry both a driver and a selection of bits in some kind of a carrier. The PokitPak serves as both the driver and bit carrier.

The PokitPak is a plastic case with a hinged opening. Inside, it contains 6 standard 1/4″ shank bits and a basic magnetic bit holder. The bits and bit holder are of very high quality as is typical for Wiha. The bottom of the case has a hexagonal hole that can accept the bit holder to turn the entire case into a sort of “T” handle driver.

The bits found in these kits vary based on the kit that you select but the most basic and generally useful is the subject of this review, the 71198 PokitPak. It contains 4.5 and 6 mm flat bits and sizes 0, 1, 2, and 3 Phillips bits. Of course, you can also customize the kit by replacing the bits based on whatever you intend to work on.

Overall, I have found the PokitPak to work well in anything short of high torque applications. The interface between the bit holder and case has surprised me with how strong it is but I can start to make it deform a bit if I start to lean into it. I suppose it would be nice if there was some kind of metal reinforcement in this area. I also tried this in my range bag for a while and found that it was too short for tasks like tightening an AR-15 grip screw.

I think PokitPak is best used as a companion to another tool. I like to use it with some other kind of driver like some of the ratcheting drivers we have discussed in previous editions of The EDC Tool Roll. In this role, it can serve as both your bit carrier and an extension. This way you don’t have loose bits knocking around in your kit and you have the bonus of the “T” handle driver functionality.

Where to Buy:

Some of you might have access to hardware or electronics stores that carry Wiha tools. I don’t have a brick and mortar store near me that carries them so I purchased this online at Amazon: Wiha PokitPak at Amazon

Alternatives:

The PokitPak is pretty unique compared to other tools we have already review but you can use it as a driver or a companion to a dedicated driver or ratchet.

Drivers:

Victorinox Swisstool Plus Replacement Wrench

Wera Kraftform Kompakt 10

Engineer DR-07 Twin Wrench Driver

Tekton 14-in-1 Offset Screwdriver (2945)

Replaceable Edition Fix It Sticks

Doc Allen’s VersaTool

Wera Kraftform Kompact 25

Ratchets:

VIM Tools HBR5

GearWrench MicroDrive Set

Chapman MFG 1316

See all the reviews for previous tools: The EDC Tool Roll

Can you think of another useful way to carry driver bits or another tool recommendation that fits The EDC Tool Roll? Tell us about it in the comments below or drop us a line on the Contact page.

The EDC Tool Roll is a feature on Jerking the Trigger in which we profile various every day carry worthy tools. The tools shown aren’t multi-tools but rather real tools, that by virtue of their compact size, light weight, usefulness, or unique functionality, can find a place in any range kit, emergency kit, or every day carry bag.

Feel free to comment on the tools that you carry so we can all learn! The discussion on these posts has been very valuable so far.

JTT reader Trent R. suggested that I take a look at the Klein Tools Electrician’s Scissors for The EDC Tool Roll and I absolutely agree with him. They are great scissors. In fact, I already owned a pair that I’ve been using for years!

We’ve already covered two other pairs of scissors in this series – Victorinox SwissCard Scissors and SLIP-N-SNIP Folding Scissors. Both of those scissors give up some size and functionality in favor of being easy to carry. That isn’t really the case with the Klein Tools Electrician’s Scissors which are still compact and will fit in any EDC Tool Roll but are more tool-like and functional like full size scissors.

These scissors are billed as an electrician’s tools but really they are just solid all-around scissors. I find that they fit well in adult sized hands and cut well. They are ground with thicker edges than some scissors so that they can be used to cut wire and other tough materials without damage. Klein Tools also takes care to very slightly blunt the tips of these so that the point is very robust.

I have a few older, US and European made scissors that I received from my grandfather and these USA made Klein Tools Electrician’s Scissors remind me of those in build quality. They have forged steel construction with a nickle plated finish. The screw hinge is adjustable but not removable so the scissors can not be taken apart. You have to love that companies like Klein Tools are still forging tools in the USA.

These have been my go-to workshop scissors for years and they often find their way into my range bag as well. I use them for cutting tape into target pasters (or pasters into smaller pasters). They are also great for cutting cardboard boxes to shape for use with my target stands or cutting cardboard to shape for targets like the KBATs from Kit Badger. They are the perfect size for tons of applications like these when you want performance like full size scissors but space is at a premium. These offer something close to full size performance and compact ease of carry.

Where to Buy:

I have the model 2100-5 which lacks the wire stripping notches but has the scraper/file on the backs of the blades. The price varies but sometime the model with notches (2100-7) actually costs a little bit less. You can probably find these at a local home improvement store or electric supply house. They are quite common. If you are like me, they are already in your tool chest waiting to be added to your EDC Tool Roll!

Klein Tools Electrician’s Scissors on Amazon

Alternatives from Previous Reviews:

Victorinox SwissCard Scissors

Original SLIP-N-SNIP Folding Scissors

See all the reviews for previous tools organized by type: The EDC Tool Roll

Do you have scissors that you prefer or another tool recommendation that fits The EDC Tool Roll? Tell us about it in the comments below or drop us a line on the Contact page.