TriWing Screwdriver

[Porksta]

I need to buy a triwing screwdriver so that I can clean up some controllers of mine. I see sites advertising triwing controllers stating that they work with the DS and Wii. Will they also work with Gamecube?

[Cornelius]

Gamecube controllers are a different size (larger). Same bit shape otherwise, though. Oh, and I just checked a wavebird I had handy, not a regular controller, though I'd assume they are the same.

[BetaWolf47]

If it works with DS and Wii, it'll also work with Game Boy micro. Whether it will work with Gamecube stuff is a touchy question. It might, but a lot of times customers will give negative feedback to sellers because some won't work with systems using a bigger or smaller screw.

[Porksta]

It is a Wavebird I bought, a few of the buttons don't press as easily as they should and the on/off switch is sticky. I need a screwdriver to open it. Do you happen to know the size or can provide me a link to one?

[BetaWolf47]

Argh. When I ordered it off of Amazon, the seller gave me a different screwdriver than the one pictured. I've got no idea which seller I bought it from. Sorry.

[Diosoth]

Probably cheaper overall to find a source to buy both sizes together and ship as one order. Not like you can even find these things in a store. Same with system gamebit screwdrivers.

[Jorpho]

The yellow Pro's Kit 9400-TR1 I got from Starwander (on this board) a while ago works with the screws on the back of my GC controller.

I've read that in a jam, you can dremel a notch into the center of a flathead screwdriver and use that.

[BetaWolf47]

Oh yeah, the 1/16" flathead screwdriver that comes in a set of precision screwdrivers will work in a jam as well. Those are cheap and can be bought in many places. However you need to press hard or you'll strip the screw.

[Diosoth]

The problem with these specialty screws is that they're ONLY used for certain things. I don't think I've seen a tri-wing screw or a gamebit screw outside of the video game market.

Still not the most annoying I've come across. you can at least purchase screwdrivers and bits for them. Worst ones? The triangular screws used in the assembly of fast food toys. I can not find a bit for those. Normally it'd be a non-issue but in a case of a toy using batteries(lights, LCD games) the batteries are often not replacable. I had a Sonic LCD game with a dead batteyr and had to drill the heads off the screws to open the thing up.

[ProgrammingAce]

Still not the most annoying I've come across. you can at least purchase screwdrivers and bits for them. Worst ones? The triangular screws used in the assembly of fast food toys. I can not find a bit for those. Normally it'd be a non-issue but in a case of a toy using batteries(lights, LCD games) the batteries are often not replacable. I had a Sonic LCD game with a dead batteyr and had to drill the heads off the screws to open the thing up.

take the back of a bic pen, take the ink out and heat the back end until it starts to melt. Jam the melted pen end into the screw hole. Now you have a custom screwdriver.

[DarkSlim]

I wanted to get some of these screwdrivers too,
you can find them very cheap on ebay.

[Jorpho]

Worst ones? The triangular screws used in the assembly of fast food toys. I can not find a bit for those.

In my limited experience, those have also been tri-wing screws.

[skaar]

Dealextreme's got em both for like < $2 shipped.

www.dealextreme.com

[kedawa]

Yeah, I was going to suggest dealextreme as well.
I think I bought mine from lik-sang, along with two gamebits.

[darkslime]

You guys beat me to saying dx.
Just be aware that it can sometimes take a few weeks for your thing to get there because it's from china, so its a good deal if you can wait.

[camarotuner]

If you go to lowes they sell a large screwdriver bit set made by some cheap chinese company (Task Force) in a grey box that runs about 12 bucks. It's got a crap ton of bits in it. Here's the surprising thing, including tri-wings, security screws, and pretty much all the impossible to find ones otherwise. It's in their regular tool section. Really helpful when reparing video game related items. It's not a 100% complete set, but I'd still recommend it highly.

[chrissylas]

Thanks for the heads up Camaro! I've been looking into getting some new security bits so that's perfect

[plasticMan]

one more suggestion if i may..
you can find usa made gamebits at newelectronx
they have sizes 3.8mm and 4.5mm..
didn't see any tri-wings tho.. worth a look