XOOLTool notes
We wrote these six guides for the moment before you pick a tool. They explain what to look for when you have an odd fastener or an unfamiliar task and want to be sure you grab the right piece.
Precision kits
Tiny screws round out when the tip only almost fits
Learn how to read a tiny screw head before you strip it, why nearly right driver tips slip, and how to feel for a true fit without turning.
Nut drivers
Why a standard Torx bit will not seat on a post
Find out why a post inside a Torx fastener blocks ordinary drivers and which hollow bits slip over the center pin without ruining the recess.
Screwdrivers
Colored rubber grips tell you nothing about insulation
A bright or rubbery handle is not proof of insulation. Learn why handle color tells you nothing about electrical ratings before choosing a driver.
Punches and grommets
Leather tears at a grommet when the cut was forced
Find out why leather pulls out around a new grommet, how torn hole edges ruin the hold under tension, and what a clean punch cut looks like on a bench.
Nut drivers
Near matches in hex keys strip the socket
Learn why near matches between metric and inch hex keys slip inside a bolt head and how to tell when a tool seats correctly.
Car fans
Clip on car fans move air but leave the cabin heat alone
Find out what a small clip on fan changes in a parked vehicle, how airflow moves across hot seats, and what our car cooling fans shelf does for a cabin.