The Fenrir is a screw and fastener-gripping attachment that can be used with most cordless drills and locking screwdriver handles.
Described as The First Truly One-Handed Screwdriver, the Fenrir is a unique attachment with “patent pending locking plate technology [that] allows it to hold a screwhead on the tip against over 100 lbs of pulling force.”
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It has a standard 1/4″ hex shaft for use with different driving tools, and it works with common 2″ power bits.
The Fenrir comes with what looks to be a Wera screwdriver bit holder, but it can also be used with power tools (presumably non-impact).
There are two sizes, one for medium-sized fasteners, and one for larger fasteners.
Fenrir Screw Gripper Sizes
- Medium: 0.20″ to 0.32″ head diameters (5 to 8.1mm)
- Large: 0.25″ to 0.40″ head diameters (6.4 to 10.1mm)
How Does it Work?
The Fenrir has a special recess that allows side-entry of a screw head.
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When set with a fastener, it creates a contact force between your screwdriver bit and the screw or fastener you wish to install. You insert the fastener, release the mechanism, and it’s held in place.
The Fenrir looks to be quick and easy to operate.
There is also an alternate use mode in case you want to use the same tool to reach into a recess.
Fenrir is seeking crowdfunding for the initial production run, with the goal of being able to make the product in the USA.
The Indiegogo campaign is set to run until 9/30/2021. At the time of this posting, they are 38% on the way towards meeting their funding goals.
“Perks” range in price from $31 for either size (plus screwdriver handle and 3 bits) to $58 for both sets.
Discussion
I spoke with the inventor, David Levinson, and two things were made clear to me – 1) he believes this will be a time and frustration saver, and 2) he hopes to be able to have the Fenrir made in the USA (there are more details about this on the crowdfunding page.
They claim that with the Fenrir you will never drop a screw again. The design does look to be effective in doing that.
In addition to being useful for securing screws during the installation processes, this can also be used to secure screws that are being removed.
I have dropped screws and fasteners before, during both installation and removal tasks, and could absolutely see this attachment helping me to avoid that.
Additionally, because it promotes contact between the screwdriver bit and the fastener, it should help reduce the potential for slippage. Does that make sense? The contact pressure that helps to retain the screw also looks to help prevent cam-out or slipping that could be caused by insufficient pressure. This could be a big deal when driving fasteners at awkward angles
What about passive or magnetic screw holders? There are various existing attachments that can be used to help secure screws to driver bits. Most work by either using thin plastic prongs to hold onto the underside of a fastener head, or through the use of magnets. I have had a mixed success rate with such accessories over the years.
The Fenrir takes a completely different approach, as it’s more of an active screw retention device, rather than passive.
The product has been in development for several years (I’ve seen coverage of the prototypes dating back at least to 2019), and in my opinion it looks to be a sound design.
I declined the opportunity to check out a test sample, but there might still be time if you guys are interested. Judging from what I have seen so far, I think the Fenrir looks to be effective at what it claims to do. This won’t be a universal type of accessory in the way that bit holders are, but it has the makings of a time-saver and frustration-solver.
Early prototypes show the Fenrir having what looks to be an integrated handle. I think it was smart to launch as an accessory that can work with locking handles as well as cordless drill chucks.
I would hesitate to use this in tight spaces, as it does add quite a bit of length your screwdriver or drill, but that’s the price of active screw retention. I’ve knocked fasteners off of passive screw holding attachments before, but I can’t see that happening with this design.
I think there’s a lot of promise here.
Jared
At first I was thinking – “this is just an oversized screw-holding screwdriver, but with a hex at the end instead of a handle”. E.g.: https://www.grainger.ca/en/product/SCREWDRIVER-HLDNG-PHILLIPS-%231X5IN/p/WSWSPH15R
But… it does seem to have enough differences to qualify as something new.
My only gripe really is that it is kind of bulky – that’s probably needed for strength and the spring mechanism though. Overall – neat invention!
I don’t understand how it can exert 100lbs of force to hold the screwdriver to the fastener, yet have a weak enough spring to press down with your thumb.
Stuart
Hmm – Greenlee makes single-size screw-holding screwdrivers, e.g. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001SF5WWC/?tag=toolguyd-20
The Fenrir design looks similar in core functionality, but with the ability to be used with different bits and types of locking or clamping drive tools.
Jared
Yes, that’s the style of was thinking of right away – but I think you’re right about there being something novel here.
I don’t know of any in that style that use multiple bits and aren’t attached to handles.
On the other hand, if someone came out with a set of screw-holding screwdriver blades with hex ends, they could be a heck of a lot skinnier.
fred
There are screwholders that you can attach to drivers (perhaps to longer style bits too) like these from Wiha:
https://www.amazon.com/Wera-05073680001-Screwgripper-Attachment-4-5-6-0mm/dp/B004VMWXQ2/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=B004VMWXQ2&qid=1631190502&s=industrial&sr=1-1
But the Fenrir looks interesting – and might be worth a try if and when it actually gets to market
Jared
I haven’t seen those Wera screwholders before. Interesting idea. Clearly not as heavy duty or sturdy as this Fenir unit, but might be more applicable to someone who just wants to keep something (small) in the tool bog as a problem-solver for the occasional tricky screw.
fred
My mistake that I attributed these Wera items to Wiha
These screwdrivers have gripper tips too – but seem to be out of production:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/5-PC-Electricians-Screwdriver-Set-with-Gripper-Tips-Right-Tool-model-E-109-/303884008146
Leo Bauer
Looks interesting! It’d be an interesting accessory to have on hand for when a torn up Phillips screw needs to come out and is in a hard-to-reach space. That seems to be when I have the most trouble, since I pretty much only install Torx head screws, and they hold pretty well on long extensions. It’s great to see this kind of innovation, and I commend Mr. Levinson on his invention. Thanks for the spotlight on it!
Jorn
Not big and awkward enough.
Stacey Jones
Does it work with an impact driver?
Stuart
I don’t believe so, or at least there’s no mention of impact compatibility and so I would assume it’s not.
SAM
I will wait until it hit the real market and see what the reviews are.
The waiting until April 2022 seems ridiculous to me. And the thing is too long!
John Lobert
“indiegogo” is slang for “kiss your money goodbye.” I do not trust crowdfunding. Period.
Paul C
I notice from the video that you can’t drive the screw in all in one motion. You have to stop to release the screw from the clamp, extend the bit out, and then reengage the bit to the screw to drive it in completely. I wonder if that will limit it’s use cases but it does look interesting as a starter screwdriver. Continuing that thought, I wonder if using this in a drill would be a good idea if you that to seat the head flush. Especially in those hard to reach situations with limited access. I hope I’m wrong and they thought of this already.
itsgalf
it would be nice if they could figure out a design so that once the front of the Fenrir contacts the surface of whatever you’re fastening into it would then disengage and allow you to continue to drive the screw all the way in. But would probably complicate the design and lead to too high of manufacturing costs.
Jimmy
I noticed the same thing, and to me that’s a deal killer for general use.
Brent C
I completely agree. Good idea, but if you have to disengage the device to completely set the fastener you’ve negated any advantage to setting the hard to reach fastener.
Dave the tool
I noticed this right away ie it can’t drive the screw flush and the video confirms this. Having to go back and drive the screws flush eliminates the “time saving” feature of this unit. Sorry but that’s a NO from me to purchase this accessory when available.
MM
I noticed the same thing. It seems that the Fenrir is unable to work in the two situations where you need to apply the most torque–breaking a tight screw loose and final tightening.
You would have to disengage the lock on the Fenrir or use a traditional screwdriver to bust a screw loose before the Fenrir could be applied to it. And likewise for tightening you’d have to disengage the Fenrir before you got the screw fully tight. In my opinion this is a major flaw. I would love a tool that would help keep a screwdriver held into a damaged head to prevent camming out or further damage to the fastener. But if the tool cannot be used on a tightened fastener then it’s useless.
Jared
I don’t think it’s necessarily intended to fix those high-torque situations you mentioned.
E.g. it seems like the primary purpose is just to hold a screw to the screwdriver tip so you can position it one-handed. The key features are that it works with bit-holding drivers (be it a hand tool or a drill) and that you can put any type of bit in the end.
Because of the way it’s designed, it can be used to drive off-center – but only until you have to disengage it.
It also holds screws more securely than typical screw-holding screwdrivers because of the stiff spring and metal construction. Maybe that would be handy if you needed to work your way around obstructions.
All that to say it has shortcomings if the desire is to drive screws rapidly or flush in one motion. However, it also seems to have utility and offer something different than a traditional screw-holding screwdriver.
I agree it’s unique utility might be a bit narrow though – but it is novel.
MichaelHammer
I’m with you guys, not driving the screw all the way is a no go, especially if using a powered driver. How many times do you think you would pin the end of the screw holder to the substrate before this thing ended up at the back of the drawer eventually making its way to the garage sale? Even the size of the thing is going to preclude its use in certain situations. How often would you use such a tool? For me it as important for the thing to let go as it is to hold on.
MM
I can’t think of a single situation I’ve encountered where I would have used this tool. Not one.
There have been many times I wish I could have held a screwdriver tightly into a damaged screw head, but every time the screw was either already tightly fastened, or the screw was in a narrow recess, in which cases the Fenrir wouldn’t have helped anyway.
Sometimes I’ve wanted a screw-holding device for driving screws in awkward positions but I’ve never found a basic magnetic tool inadequate. In fact I’d even prefer the magnetic type because I can drive the screw all the way in with one motion, rather than having to drive it partway in, fiddle around to disengage the Fenrir, re-align the bit with the screw, and then finish driving.
Fred G
Some advice for Fenrir – If you’re running a crowd funding campaign, you really ought to spell-check your videos. It would make you look a lot more professional.
Paramount
This, or something like this, would be mighty nice for ceiling fan installs…especially for those annoying canopy screws.
IronWood
Interesting design, even if it’s pretty bulky. There are quite a few types of “screw-holding” or “screw-starting” bits and drivers, but the ability to use any driver bit with this is pretty clever. The need to retract it and re-engage the fastener to finish driving isn’t great, particularly because the whole idea is to be using it in confined or awkward spots. I’d consider this a screw starter and finish driving with a hand driver or long power bit that you can see around.
Might be handy, but I can’t see using it enough to take up space in my bag. BUT, I’m going to pay attention for a while and see if I find tasks where I wish I had this. Maybe I could use it more than I think.
Jerry
I want one I want one I want one!!!!!
I do repairs and maintenance on farm equipment and this would be a great help. Often you have screws, usually machines screws holding some assembly or shield on something high up and hard to reach. I could break the screws loose, then have them secure for final removal. Then on assembly I wouldn’t be dropping the dang things into a sandburr patch from 10 feet up (yes it has happened). It might seem ‘slow’ but is still faster than climbing up and down a ladder to hunt for dropped screws. Many times security is much favored over speed. That it can use interchangeable bits completes the package. With manufacturers now seeming to feel the need to have a piece of trim held on with Phillips screws but with the bracket underneath being hex or Torx, that would be a real help. Not a daily use thing but a glad I have it when I need it thing. USA made would be a nice bonus.
Koko The Talking Ape
I’ve always thought that there could be some way to hold a screw more tightly to the bit. A strong magnet might hold the screw to the bit with an ounce of force, 1/16th of a pound. Meanwhile, the workpiece is pulling on it (in effect) with TEN THOUSAND POUNDS OF FORCE. So something that held the screw with even one thousand pounds of force would still release the screw when driven.
But this thing is all or nothing. It holds the bit, or it doesn’t. So you have to disengage it to finish driving the screw, like other people are saying. No fun. And slow.
I think what might work better is something that uses flexible jaws or fingers made of plastic or some such. It holds the screw securely, but allows the screw to slip out when actually driven into a workpiece. It might not last forever, but you could sell replacements for pennies.
Also, it only needs to hold the screw for the first few turns. After that, the workpiece has got it, thank you.
So actually, those bitholders with a sliding sleeve to hold the screw should do. They have a magnet for the screw, and the sleeve protects it from being knocked off the bit. And you can drive the screw completely in one step.
Jacob
The Worx electric screwdriver has something like this. You press down on the front and the jaws open. Insert the screw onto the bit, release and the jaws close around it. As you screw into your work piece, it presses against the plastic piece, opening up the jaws. It has worked well enough when I was doing overhead work with smoke detectors.
Stuart
Magnets are a lot like suction cups, where they provide very directional force.
Strong magnets can also be safety hazards.
Jerry
If I had a dollar for every screw a magnetic driver dropped I could retire 5 years early. I understand a lot of people might say a magnet is good enough and it probably is for many.
JoeM
Saw this on YouTube a while back. Top5s or something. Seems interesting, though they really stressed it was for embedding the driver bit into the soft head, then screwing the sheath part down over the fastener, whatever the type, and the combo then removes the screw/bolt/fastener with ease.
Certainly something I’d recommend for someone who does restoration work, or manufacturing… but not something a small scale operation is likely to need often enough. Even if it’s $1 for a full set (It’s markedly higher than that, this is just an example) how often is this going to get used? In Restoration, I would think a whole lot, making it worth the time, money, and space it takes. In Machine Shop settings, where stuff needs to be moved, removed, and replaced regularly? Same. Definitely a usable tool.
When I saw it I thought “Well that’s clever” and then the video moved on to another tool. So, Thank you for the write-up, Stuart! More details, Happy Me!
Al
Hex head self tappers and minimize the size
Koko The Talking Ape
Yep. Also, I’ve heard of old-timers putting pine tar on the tips of their Phillips drivers to hold screw better. But a sleeved magnetic bitholder works better.
Peter Fox
While this is an interesting adaptation of existing methods to hold screws to their driver. The bulk, length and in ability to start and driver the drive the screw completely without stopping to disengage void any real usefulness.
Stanly used to make a set of 3 screw holding clips that could be fitted to most screwdrivers of longer bits. Although quite hard to find these days they are much more compact and useful. They still need to be disengaged before fully tightening but they are really more for starting screws in otherwise impossible locations. https://www.amazon.com/stanley-clip-screw-holding-attachments/dp/images/b00en25qgo
Otherwise I have used various diameter of small tubing sleeved together to make screw holders for 2″ long torx bits before. A few longitudinal slits in the tubing to allow it to expand over the screw head work well. When run down these small flaps just bend out of the way. allowing you to start and fully tighten without stopping. They are also cheap to make and easy to replace.
Koko The Talking Ape
What was the tubing made of, Peter?
Peter Fox
I have used polyethylene and polyurethane but I see no reason clear vinyl or PVC would not work as well. as look as you have appropriate sizes and it is flexible it should work.
If I get a chance I will take some pictures of some of the screw holder I have made for odd jobs
MM
I can confirm clear vinyl works.
Peter Fox
Here are pictures of some
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Fag19tWHgdC5rqcHA
Koko The Talking Ape
Excellent, thanks!
Nathan
I just don’t see it. Seems too much and hassle over a quality mag collar bit.
MM
Neat idea but I don’t think I would find it all that useful.
For driving screws I have never found a magnetic holder or one of those telescopic tube type bit holders to be inadequate. They’re simple, they don’t have any extra bulk, they just work.
When it comes to removing screws the Fenrir is useless unless there is clearance under the head of the screw for the locking part to grab under. That means you cannot use the Fenrir for the initial loosening of a screw, you can only use it once you’ve gotten the fastener backed off enough for the Fenrir to slip under it. And in my opinion that’s a huge disadvantage because it’s always the initial removal of a damaged screw which is a pain. Once it’s backed off a little it’s quite likely to come out easily in the case of machine screws, and if it’s still being stubborn like a big wood screw there is now room to grab the head with vise grips or pliers.
As others have mentioned it’s big and bulky. For precision uses of screw-holding, like assembling electronics, I prefer the old style split blade drivers because they are slender. Sure you can’t put as much torque on them but for starting screws a couple of turns that doesn’t matter.
I’m also not sure what is new about this tool exactly, this same sort of design has been around for years. Look up a Wiha 39702 or Greenlee 0453-18C.
Matt F
“The First Truly One-Handed Screwdriver”…
…proceeds to use TWO hands to load the screw.
Kent Skinner
I could see it being useful from time to time, but it would never be my daily driver. It’s just too slow, long and bulky.
I’d like the inventor to explain to me how it holds with 100 pounds of force, yet I’m able to easily insert screws into the bit holder.
DAVID PERKINS
I see needing 3 hands to use this on electric driver. 1 One to hold the driver, 1 to push the thumb mechanism, because my thumb is not that long, and 1 to insert screw.
Or reposition your hand from the handle to the top so you can engage the thumb mechanism, insert screw and reposition your hand to the handle.
With all that, it will become a specialty tool when you can’t secure the screw in hand when driving.
Paul C
I’ve had the flat blade screw holding screwdrivers for years. These have two flat blades and a sleeve. As you move the sleeve up the two blades spread apart and put tension on the screw to hold it. If you move it down it squeezes them together to release the screw or get it on. Works great in either direction (insertion or removal). BUT high torque is impossible. It’s great for starting screws not tightening/finishing.
Coming from my perspective what makes this interesting is that it can do screws other than the flathead types.
OldDominionDIYer
To big, to complicated, not worth it. those are my thoughts on this. Now obviously I don’t have a real need for something like this otherwise I might be more intrigued.
Philip Proctor
Gimmick.
Norm Huizenga
Not that I’m promoting these, just some other products that hold screws.
https://www.newrevolutiontools.com/collections/autolock
https://www.zieh-fix.com/en/specials/zieh-fixr-einschraubhilfe-1-4-mit-bit-schraubendreher-tx20.html
https://screwclaw.com/
https://www.screw-products.com/screw-holder/
http://www.frets.com/HomeShopTech/Tooling/CapScrewHolder/capscrewholder.html
https://fhelm.com/
Even 3D print your own.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1430725
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4353723
High & Mighty
This certainly isn’t the first of its kind nor is it a new design or concept. I bought one of these screwdrivers over a decade ago at advanced auto or auto zone. I can’t remember which one. Made by Thorsen. I still have it. It even came with different length tips for different depth fastener heads & screw diameters. Does the exact same thing as this does. Although mine doesn’t have the ability to be used with a drill. So they might be the first to add a hex shaft & removable handle to an already existing design & concept.
It’s not one handed. Neither is this one. It takes both hands to place the screw in the tool in order for “one handed” functionality. And there’s no way that it can have a 100 lb pull on the handle spring. In order to use one of these, you have to pull the handle back far enough to load the screw in the cupped end of the shaft in front of the drive tip. At least that’s how mine works. And the overall functionality of it sucks which is why I don’t use the one I have.
But it’s been so long since I last used it that I might just give it a shot to see if I can find a purpose for it. Yeah so this isn’t anything that hasn’t been done before aside from the ability to be used with a drill. But how often do people use a screwdriver without holding the screw?
bobad
The advertisement states “More exposed for tight spaces”.
Really? The Gripper makes your drill 12-14″ long!
But, it could be very handy for reaching out from a ladder and driving a screw in an awkward position. I swear I have dropped over half a dozen screws before successfully driving one.
65caliente
Annnnd the campaign failed…won’t be seeing this on the market anytime soon.