Swizzle Stick Screwdrivers

[Dan[_12_]]

I am looking for what we used to call "swizzle sticks." They are
screwdrivers for adjusting multi-turn trim pots. They were plastic
sticks with metal blades which were shrouded in a plastic sleeve to keep
them from slipping off the screw. Any idea where to get them or what the
proper term is?

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[Jeff[_4_]]

Dan > wrote in :

> I am looking for what we used to call "swizzle sticks." They are
> screwdrivers for adjusting multi-turn trim pots. They were plastic
> sticks with metal blades which were shrouded in a plastic sleeve to keep
> them from slipping off the screw. Any idea where to get them or what the
> proper term is?
>
> Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired
>

Look for a trimpot tool. Here is the first one Google lists:
http://www.wassco.com/Products/Anti-Static-Trimpot-Tool__WAS-02-758608.aspx

[Dan[_12_]]

Jeff wrote:
> Dan > wrote in :
>
>> I am looking for what we used to call "swizzle sticks." They are
>> screwdrivers for adjusting multi-turn trim pots. They were plastic
>> sticks with metal blades which were shrouded in a plastic sleeve to keep
>> them from slipping off the screw. Any idea where to get them or what the
>> proper term is?
>>
>> Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired
>>
>
> Look for a trimpot tool. Here is the first one Google lists:
> http://www.wassco.com/Products/Anti-Static-Trimpot-Tool__WAS-02-758608.aspx


That's close enough to the critter I used many years ago. Thank you.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[vaughn[_2_]]

"Dan" > wrote in message
...
> I am looking for what we used to call "swizzle sticks." They are
> screwdrivers for adjusting multi-turn trim pots.

I have been using those things for about 50 years, and never heard them
called "swizzle sticks". They come in many shapes, but generically, I have
always known them as "tuning tools" and sometimes "dittle sticks"

Vaughn

[Dan[_12_]]

vaughn wrote:
> "Dan" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I am looking for what we used to call "swizzle sticks." They are
>> screwdrivers for adjusting multi-turn trim pots.
>
> I have been using those things for about 50 years, and never heard them
> called "swizzle sticks". They come in many shapes, but generically, I have
> always known them as "tuning tools" and sometimes "dittle sticks"
>
> Vaughn
>
>

I used them in the early 1970s so maybe I am not remembering right.
At home I have been using a long blade screwdriver with a sleeve made
from heat shrink tubing. The problem is the heat shrink tubing isn't all
that rigid and can get mushy.

As an aside the heat shrink tubing comes in handy when installing
roll pins. Even with the proper type of punch it's handy to slide some
tube over the end of the punch to hold the pin until it is driven.

Old avionics rule: when in doubt, tune for maximum flame and minimum
smoke.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[Dan[_12_]]

Bryan Martin wrote:
> In article >, Dan >
> wrote:
>
>> I am looking for what we used to call "swizzle sticks." They are
>> screwdrivers for adjusting multi-turn trim pots. They were plastic
>> sticks with metal blades which were shrouded in a plastic sleeve to keep
>> them from slipping off the screw. Any idea where to get them or what the
>> proper term is?
>>
>> Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired
>
> Do a Google search for trim pot tool or trimmer adjustment tool.
>
> Digikey seems to carry several types.
>

Thank you. It's a lot easier if one knows the proper term. You can
guess what would happen if one searches for "dykes" instead of diagonal
cutters. :)

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[flash]

"Dan" > wrote in message
...
> Bryan Martin wrote:
>> In article >, Dan >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I am looking for what we used to call "swizzle sticks." They are
>>> screwdrivers for adjusting multi-turn trim pots. They were plastic
>>> sticks with metal blades which were shrouded in a plastic sleeve to keep
>>> them from slipping off the screw. Any idea where to get them or what the
>>> proper term is?
>>>
>>> Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired
>>
>> Do a Google search for trim pot tool or trimmer adjustment tool.
>>
>> Digikey seems to carry several types.
>>
>
> Thank you. It's a lot easier if one knows the proper term. You can guess
> what would happen if one searches for "dykes" instead of diagonal cutters.
> :)
>
> Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

Dan, you weren't at 4520th AEMS on Nellis in the 60's were you? They were
called swizzle sticks then, too, among other things. But the issue ones were
a lot slimmer, with only a short, knurled section at midpoint. There was one
little trimmer deep inside (I think it was the ) ARN-14 that, as a line
adjustment, required the full use of the small end. More often than not,
you wound up adjusting it the wrong way, then destroyed the little poor
little swizzle-stick turning it back to the other limit.

Flash

[Dan[_12_]]

Flash wrote:
> "Dan" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Bryan Martin wrote:
>>> In article >, Dan >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I am looking for what we used to call "swizzle sticks." They are
>>>> screwdrivers for adjusting multi-turn trim pots. They were plastic
>>>> sticks with metal blades which were shrouded in a plastic sleeve to keep
>>>> them from slipping off the screw. Any idea where to get them or what the
>>>> proper term is?
>>>>
>>>> Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired
>>> Do a Google search for trim pot tool or trimmer adjustment tool.
>>>
>>> Digikey seems to carry several types.
>>>
>> Thank you. It's a lot easier if one knows the proper term. You can guess
>> what would happen if one searches for "dykes" instead of diagonal cutters.
>> :)
>>
>> Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired
>
> Dan, you weren't at 4520th AEMS on Nellis in the 60's were you? They were
> called swizzle sticks then, too, among other things. But the issue ones were
> a lot slimmer, with only a short, knurled section at midpoint. There was one
> little trimmer deep inside (I think it was the ) ARN-14 that, as a line
> adjustment, required the full use of the small end. More often than not,
> you wound up adjusting it the wrong way, then destroyed the little poor
> little swizzle-stick turning it back to the other limit.
>
> Flash
>
>
>
My experience with swizzle sticks was as a civilian between my Army,
1972 - 1973, and Air Force, 1974 - 1994, time. I don't recall ever using
them in the Air Force. I tried describing them to the powers that be,
but all they ever gave us were the ones without the shroud.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[RST Engineering - JIm]

That's because the proper spelling is "dikes", not "dykes". You get a lot
of stuff about Holland, but you also get the cutters.

Take a piece of 1/8" welding rod. Grind the tip to a screwdriver. Shrink
sleeve (teflon if you can find it) over it. If the shrink sleeve gets all
gnarly, cut it off and shrink another piece on. If the steel gets all
gnarly, you have one hell of a trimpot on your hands.

You want a handle? Take a quarter inch round hunk of lucite or plexi. Heat
the welding rod red hot. Plunge it into the plastic. There you have it.

Jim



"Dan" > wrote in message
...


> Thank you. It's a lot easier if one knows the proper term. You can guess
> what would happen if one searches for "dykes" instead of diagonal cutters.
> :)
>
> Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[Dan[_12_]]

RST Engineering - JIm wrote:
> That's because the proper spelling is "dikes", not "dykes". You get a lot
> of stuff about Holland, but you also get the cutters.
>
> Take a piece of 1/8" welding rod. Grind the tip to a screwdriver. Shrink
> sleeve (teflon if you can find it) over it. If the shrink sleeve gets all
> gnarly, cut it off and shrink another piece on. If the steel gets all
> gnarly, you have one hell of a trimpot on your hands.
>
> You want a handle? Take a quarter inch round hunk of lucite or plexi. Heat
> the welding rod red hot. Plunge it into the plastic. There you have it.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> "Dan" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>
>> Thank you. It's a lot easier if one knows the proper term. You can guess
>> what would happen if one searches for "dykes" instead of diagonal cutters.
>> :)
>>
>> Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired
>
>

As I said, I have been using a screwdriver with heat shrink tubing. I
have decided to get the proper tool.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired