A spudger is an electronics probe and soldering aid, typically made from plastic so as to not damage delicate components.
I bought two of these 6-inch 3M SP3010 spudgers a while back, and have gotten quite a bit of use out of them, and not just for electronics work.
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- Glass-filled ESD-safe nylon plastic construction
- Temperature resistant
- Pointed tip (but be careful, it can break off)
- Screwdriver-shaped blade and gentle prying tool
- Wire notch
Generally, spudgers are used to manipulate or hold parts into position for soldering, but I find them to be quite useful for random here-and-there applications.
For instance, my wife came into the room yesterday and needed help opening the side flaps of a new box of McCormick ground black pepper. I didn’t want to use a precision screwdriver for the job, so I reached for my spudger and gently pried both flaps open in all of three seconds.
I have also used this spudger for prying batteries out of small devices or enclosures, scraping some glue from a wood joint, and for other such tasks. Spudgers’ uses aren’t endless, but they are quite handy. I have metal scrapers, probes, hooks, and other sorts of parts manipulation tools in my tool box, but sometimes a plastic tool works best.
The 3M spudger is fairly rigid but, and this is my speaking from experience, the pointed tip can snap off if you’re too hard on it.
I have two of these 3M spudgers – one for electronics use, and one for general purpose use. The next time I place an order from All-Spec, I will likely buy a few more as spares.
The 3M SP3010 is made in the USA and is priced at about $2. Nylon spudgers from other brands typically cost between $1.50 and $2.25 or so.
Buy Now(via All-Spec)
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Data Sheet(PDF via 3M)
If you don’t care about brand, you can buy spudgers for cheap via ebay. Generally, they’re sold as spudgers, but also as iPod/iPhone/iPad disassembly tools.
I purchased the spudgers via All-Spec, but you can generally find these at any electronics supply shops.
Stan says
I absolutely love this all American made 3M spudger. I’ve used this multiple times when I’ve done electronic work, such as opening a friend’s mac products, but also when I cleaned out an TI87 calculator as well.
But this makes for an excellent pry bar when opening soft paper pill packets, spice packets and even scraping off glue or residue as well.
Now I should point out whilst this is ESD safe, this isn’t the same as legitimate CAT IV protection, so one should wait 15 minutes, maybe longer before working on any electrical device that has been powered off. I literally can’t stress that fact enough.
But again, what really is selling point with this product as this is 100% American made.
Stuart says
The ESD safety protection is not to protect the user, but to help protect static-sensitive components. It should in no way be thought of as any kind of high-voltage or high-current protection for users.
I am in complete agreement that equipment should always be powered off and left to rest to completely discharge before being worked on.
Stan says
Stuart, oh I know that, but I just wanted to stress the point that even though this states ESD safe, that this doesn’t mean protection to the end user.
Safety comes first, at least in my opinion, when working on any electrical components.
Stuart says
You and I are on the same page, but readers less familiar with the topic might see “ESD safe” and then “CAT IV protection” and might get the wrong idea without the added clarification.
My reply was intended half as a direct reply to you, and half as a general reminder for others.
fred says
I-V products is another USA source for inexpesive non-metallic electronics tools:
http://www.ivproducts.com/
Jerry says
Are they non marring as well? I could see a use for positioning delicate items to solder or glue.
Stuart says
I want to say yes, but cannot guarantee it. The plastic is hard and rigid, but *should* be non-marring. If the pointed tip or chisel-shaped end are too sharp for your liking, you can always file them down.
jet_tech says
Those would probably work wonders for prying sealed access panels off of planes at work…after removing the fasteners of course 😛
fred says
Bojo pry bars are and alternative – made in USA – and come in lots of different styles and kits:
http://www.handsontools.com/Bojo-Soft-Touch-Pry-Tool-Kit_p_2160.html
Hang Fire says
Gee, thanks. Another tool I didn’t know I needed until the moment I saw it. Ah, well,at least it doesn’t cost very much!
John says
Ran across this set on Amazon seems like a quality kit
http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Laptop-Spudgers-Non-Mar-Plastic/dp/B00BHLVHVC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Javier says
I had a question, I found something that looked like this but made of metal and about 5ft long maybe 4.5ft, didn’t measure it, weighs about 25-30 lbs. Could anyone tell me what it is and what its used for, to nice to throw away, I will probably sell it.
Stuart says
Sounds like it’s just a heavy duty pry bar.
Dan says
Or known as a digging bar and are most useful for breaking and levering concrete and for hard ground, I have an 8′ one but its really a bit too heavy for me.
Allen says
We call’em spud bars. When men were men and horses were scared.