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Tracking the mysterious 'black stick'

In its hardware repair instructions and videos, Apple frequently mentions the "black stick," a plastic tool that can be used to pry things apart without damaging our precious glossy exterior finishes (or the sensitive electronics inside). The problem I've found is that nobody seems to have these, instead opting to use credit cards, pens, screwdrivers, chisels, circular saws, or whatever else is handy to crack open the case.

My beautiful girlfriend Michelle is a chemist, and she brought home a giveaway nylon lab spatula (pictured) from a trade show. I found it perfect for use as a black stick. Best of all, it was free.

Other companies sell black tools online. PowerbookMedic offers black nylon "flat probe tool spudgers" for $2.90 apiece. These, they claim, are the same style as Apple uses in its repair videos and documentation.

Stanley also offers a nylon soldering tool that works just as well, and it's less than half the price at $1.30 each.

If anyone else knows of any other ESD-safe, non damaging pry tools (especially for cheap!), feel free to share in comments.



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Hardware Odds and ends

In its hardware repair instructions and videos, Apple frequently mentions the "black stick," a plastic tool that can be used to pry things...
 

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Kyle

i love how the ex-genii come out of the woodwork to geek out over there lovely black sticks or spudgers or nylon probe tool or just simply "the thing"

July 04 2008 at 7:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JC

Those stanley sticks are actually _exactly_ what Apple uses. I wrote about this more than a year ago on Ungenius.

http://ungeni.us/section/the_queue/disassembling_ipods

I order these by the bushel for my repair business... we go through several dozens each month.

June 23 2008 at 11:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nathan L. Walls

When I had to replace the HDD in my wife's Powerbook, I hit the local AC Moore and bought a $3 set of plastic clay tools. There was a nice wedge tool that made getting the optical drive latches up, successfully.

June 22 2008 at 4:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
RyanM

I have not seen one of these tools, however black color does not mean it is loaded with carbon or ESD safe. From an ESD side, the plastic would have a resistivity in the static dissipative (E5 to E11 ohms) range to be most safe. Insulative can hold a charge due to tribocharging over time. You can transfer that charge to components. Best if everything and everyone is at the same ground. There is a ESD (E7 ohms) coating out there you can apply to make sure. I have dipped a few of my tools in this coating and works great.

June 22 2008 at 1:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brendan Porter

When I worked at the MOA and Southdale Apple Stores the geniuses called them 'Widgy Prys'. I have no idea why. Sharp as hell though. I thought on many occasions that one particular genius was going to slip off the edge of an iPod with his pry and stab himself in the heart. (He always held them against his chest for leverage... not so genius)

June 21 2008 at 7:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
noah

I work at an AASP and we used to order "nylon probes" directly from Apple because they were way stronger than the cheaper Menda Chino ones that you get other places. They were wicked sweet. Also I liked that the words on them were carved instead of embossed. Now Apple just sends us the same ones as everyone else. If anyone knows where to get the good ones I would be super grateful!

June 21 2008 at 3:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Alex

One advantage to using the actual Apple recommended black stick (the one that's the same width from top to bottom with a pointed end) over a guitar pick or credit card is that when you're putting a top case back on a MacBook Pro or Powerbook, you can use it to support the optical drive slot to reattach the internal latches. Back before I was a tech, I opened my own Powerbook with a metal tool and it scratched it up pretty badly.

June 21 2008 at 2:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Colin

Keep in mind, if you own banged-up Apple equipment, you can simply laugh at the black stick.

I, for one, pried apart my ancient iBook using the tried-and-true "dinner knife". As a bonus, my iBook now occasionally tastes like butter.

June 21 2008 at 1:09 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dan

Dell includes an almost-identical tool whenever you get a replacement laptop keyboard.

June 21 2008 at 12:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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