Ryobi launched a new door knob installation driver, A99DID01, looks to be a neat problem-solving accessory.
It’s designed for accessing the Phillips-head screws in residential door knobs, which are typically difficult to reach with general purpose screwdrivers and bits.
The new Ryobi door knob driver features 3 parts – a stubby screwdriver bit, a low-profile bit holder, and a 3.5″ Phillips #2 screwdriver bit with non-marring sleeve to help protect your door knob.
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The longer bit is removable and can be used with cordless power drills or drivers.
This is part of Ryobi’s growing list of door and knob installation tools and accessories.
Price: $7
ETA: April 2025
The new Ryobi tool seems like a cross between Crescent U-Guard bits (see it at Lowe’s) and low-profile screwdrivers such as Anex’s (via Amazon).
It likes looks to be an inexpensive problem-solver to me. Thoughts? Would you buy it, or do you know of something different that might work better?
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Nathan
I don’t know that I’ve had an issue with that but it’s a neat idea. The special bitis probably more important
Lance
Knob protection for $7? Pretty good deal!
Ross
Can you make a dark mode option? Every time I visit this site (which is often) it is absolutely blinding.
Stuart
It’s on my list! I have a few redevelopment steps I need to finish before I can get to that.
Ross
Awesome man. Thanks! Keep up the good work
FixThis
It’s done by going into your web browser and activate the dark mode setting, Brave has a experimental mode that works well with most sites
Bonnie
Seems handy if you’re like an apartment maintenance worker or handyman who does a lot of doorknob installations. Can’t see it being particularly useful for most people.
JJ
Looks great and a compact tool. I have the Anex drivers which have saved me more than once, and I believe they’re even shorter head to tail.
Jared
It’s cheap though. Cheap enough that a person might buy one because they’re installing a doorknob – rather than because they’re a professional doorknob installer.
CMF
Yes, I agree
Nathan
I think I’m more interested in the long bit with the sleeve. But for 7 dollars I’ll buy it anyway when I play with a door knob next.
Which really means 3 years from now I’ll completely forget about it
Scott K
This seems like an inexpensive solution – this made me think of the Anex drivers you posted about. They were on my Amazon wishlist for a while but I never needed them enough and removed them after getting a DeWalt right angle bit holder. Doorknob screws can be annoying – I have an old craftsman screwdriver with a long thing shaft that works well enough for the occasional tightening.
The-Dung
A lot more expensive but this set has been in my toolbox for years, rarely need though:
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/hand-tools/screwdrivers/sets/76800-set-of-3-ultra-slim-screwdrivers?item=88K1111
A W
I like it. Most of those doorknob screws are long and machine threaded, so having a long, non-marring drill bit that fits into a power drill/driver makes a lot of sense.
I have some extra long Milwaukee shockwave bits for that purpose, but I do like this as a versatile problem solver.
Joel
Every time I get ready to mangle a screw head in that situation, I remember that I can remove the knobs to allow unfettered access to the screws. AmIwrong thinking most knobs are removable?
OTOH, I do recognize that using this little tool would be faster, easier, or both ….
Peter
Most are and that is one of those things I discovered on yt after installing quite a few noobs as a noobs noob.;-)
Joel
Well you’re now a yt-certified knob installer LOL
Leo B.
Most knobs are removable, but some of the really cheap ones aren’t, and you do actually have to remove them this way.
MT_Noob
Wow, it is great to see someone manufacture a tool for this specific need. A year or so ago I was helping a lock smith for a couple weeks and changing out lots and lots of door knobs. It was frustrating every time we ran onto one that had been installed incorrectly and you had to fight getting the screws out that were previously cross-threaded and had stripped heads. Using the right tool to get the threads started correctly can make a huge difference to your future self or the next guy that has to remove or service that in the future. So many handymen, homeowners and DIYer’s can’t resist the urge to use their power driver even though they have to approach it at an angle, and invariably eventually cross-thread the bolt. It is great to see someone addressing this (somewhat niche) market.
Jared
I’ve installed a few doorknobs – and often wondered why some have the screw head partially obstructed.
I usually just use a long screwdriver with a round shank, but you’re still a bit off-axis most of the time. It works fine, so I don’t think you NEED something like these Ryobi bits – but why not try them, when it’s cheap?
I have the Anex drivers, but it hasn’t occurred to me to use them for that.
Saulac
No thanks. I don’t want to carry around another dedicate tool.
An ubiquitous 1 inch bit and a long nose vise grip get the job done. They can do many other jobs and I always have them.
Bill
Aren’t most, if not all door knobs of this type, made such that the interior knob is removed first by depressing a recessed pin on shaft of the knob? Once the knob is removed, full access to the screws is available and a right angle screwdriver is not needed.
Peter
Yeah but that would get in the way of justifying an investment into a new tool.
Justin
Ain’t that the truth!
PW
I’ve often used a bit ratchet for this job – but a cheap and dedicated tool makes total sense to me. The non-marring bit in particular seems unique, I don’t recall seeing that before?
Maybe it’s because I’ve been irritated by this exact job/situation many times before, but this seems less gimicky than some of other one-off DIY market tools.
Bonnie
Thinking about it you could probably make most bits non-marring with a bit of heat-shrink tubing.
curtinfarmer
Do most manufacturers have a handle release option which then gives you direct access to the screws? I know some have this option.
Champs
I don’t have many task-specific tools, but somewhere through the years I picked up a cheap screwdriver with a thin shaft that works perfectly and lives in a door hardware kit.
I actually used it just before this article was posted!
Wayne R.
If I were to buy a door knob specific sort of solution, I think I’d want a swivel headed #2 Phillips bit (similar to a swivel socket), or maybe a short flex shaft, for this low-power job.
As it is today, I’d just use a bit ratchet if a plain screwdriver didn’t get it. For me, offset screwdrivers are last-ditch solutions.
A piece of shrink tube over a bit would work as a protection scheme, but that very slim bit here (with a piece of the same tubing already on it) is appealing. Might pick one of these up just for that!
Then again, we replaced the crappy plain round knobs in our house with lever handles, and the screws went straight in.
Jason T.
I’ve used offset screwdrivers for years for this very task.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Offset-Screwdriver-2-Pack-H2PCOSSDS/302346928
And they have made this style of screwdriver for a long time. Bit ratchets also work sometimes depending on the size and shape of the door handle, but offset screwdrivers work 100% of the time.
Wayne R.
Not to argue, exactly, but whenever I’ve tried to use one of those things, they roll in my fingers and after a couple of times of that, they usually got chucked across the room.
Maybe if the handle was flattened…
Jason T.
The Craftsman ones have flats on their shanks, The Husky and other brands I have used have light knurling.
Hoser
It’s not a problem solver if it doesn’t solve a problem. This is a tool marketed to homeowners making them think they need a special tool to tighten the screws on a door handle. You fell for it.
JoeR
Pretty sure I read it here, the Engineer mini offset ratchet? I believe you reviewed it Stuart. For the side garage door knob, which need a tighten at least yearly due to frequent use, it has saved me from stripping the head. Just another option.
I might check this Ryobi offering out at HD when it arrives though.
Stuart
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/engineer-low-profile-right-angle-ratcheting-screwdriver/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Now $14 at Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B4TECTQ/?tag=toolguyd-20
Blocky
maybe a dab o thread locker on the next round. But sure is fun having the right tool!
Matt
Was thinking I would see how this tool is nice but unnecessary, but didn’t. I’ll use the term most because I guess there are some that don’t, but the handle on *most door knobs comes off very easily so that you can use a normal screwdriver.
Made me feel silly when I realized this.
John
I use a 1/4″ ratcheting wrench and hex bit to tighten the handle on our sliding patio door. The handle brackets are metal, but the handle itself is wood and the screws always loosen over time. There is less than 2″ of clearance between the door handle and frame and a tiny ratcheting wrench and bit was the only solution I could come up with to tighten the screws. Klein has a small ratcheting wrench with bits (65200) that might work on door knobs, but it’s pricey compared to the Ryobi driver.
ElectroAtletico
I’ve owned a Harbor Freight ratcheting right-angle, multi-bit, screwdriver, for years (currently priced at $3.30). It does the job.
Farmerguy
I realized this is the use of the Icon racheting bit set meme tool. 10x the price
its_jake
long sleeved bit seems cool but that thing not ratcheting is a head scratcher for me.
The harbor freight meme tool ratchet or the bicycle themed topeak ratchet rocket are great for this sort of thing- low torque, super low profile installing- the topeak with a 1/2″ bit is only about 2 mm more stack height than the bit itself https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/1075-RATCHET-ROCKET-LITE-DX
CMF
For $7, it is a great tool and idea.
What really surprised me is the link Stuart put for the Anex drivers. I watched the video and they ratchet, yet are very small head. Probably very good quality, being made in Japan.
What surprised me even more is when I clicked on Anex, the brand, they have hundreds of tools! I never heard of them but will definitely check them out.
Anyone know if all their tools are made in Japan?
fred
I’m a fan of the Anex drivers. I’ve been installing grab bars here and there in my houses. The ones that I’ve standardized on come from Deta and they use a long SS set screw that passes through the bar assembly to secure it to the base bracket. My wife wanted many of the bars close to entryway casings so clearance between the casing and the bar mounts meant that there was no space to get the Allen (hex) key into the socket head screw. Without the stubby Amex hex wrench – I’d either need to remove then reinstall the casing or figure out if I could modify the Delta mounting system to allow the screw to enter from the other side. Even with the stubby Anex – I often had to get the screw started into the mount with a small pair of Knipex Cobras to get enough clearance to slip in the hex driver
For application of the Ryobi tool – I never recall that our Carpenters said that they needed anything special – and for me I Long ago replaced all the doorknobs in my places with lever locksets (much easier on arthritic hands)
Roberto
I’ve got a couple of these:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/I9YAAOSwwn1n1KcX/s-l1600.jpg
One is PH1 + PH2 and the other is PH2 + standard. Too bad Craftsman doesn’t sell them anymore.
fred
They were made by Chapman for Sears.
Here’s one of their updated versions:
https://www.amazon.com/Chapman-MFG-2021-Pocket-Category/dp/B014JB0UOG
They sell it without bits too:
https://chapmanmfg.com/products/famous-midget-ratchet-cm-13
I’ve had a set (Phillips and Flat) for ages – and they work – but find that the Anex ones fit screws better.
TonyT
I have a Chapman set running around somewhere. I haven’t used it a lot.
Note that Chapman is still Made in USA, and seems to be popular for gun smithing.
The Anex is on my to buy someday list.
Dave Leeds
Sounds useful and clever…also out of stock at home depot. Amazon doesn’t show it.
Stuart
It’s OOS because it didn’t arrive at the warehouse yet; ETA is April.
Dave Leeds
Very well, thanks.
Tony
I picked one up at my local Home Depot today. It was stored in a box at the very top of the shelves. An employee had to go get a ladder in order to get it for me.