Filed under: Hardware, Odds and ends
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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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Erica Sadun said 3:17PM on 6-20-2008
I bought my two at Stanley a few years ago and have been very happy. Shipping put it at about $10 for the pair if I remember correctly.
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Paul said 3:36PM on 6-20-2008
I can confirm that powerbookmedic's black sticks are the official ones.
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jared said 3:46PM on 6-20-2008
indeed. those are the mac genius ones. they have the pointy end that comes in handy for opening zif connectors and such.
Larson said 3:40PM on 6-20-2008
I could've used one of those a few months ago.
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riouxr said 3:40PM on 6-20-2008
I used a guitar pick to open my iPod. Works great. No damages at all.
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Mark said 3:44PM on 6-20-2008
I have tons of these that I grabbed before I left the apple store. Best tool ever to open anything Apple created.
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niclet said 3:50PM on 6-20-2008
I also use a guitar pick for some light parts but for others I use a plastic chopstick with a buffed end (like a flat screwdriver), works very well.
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Jon Eric said 3:51PM on 6-20-2008
I believe it's Menda part number 35622 and is available from this URL... http://www.mendapump.com/MendaCatalog/Tools/Probes/WoodenAndNylon/
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Herr T. said 4:06PM on 6-20-2008
My spudger is from T*pperware. It is sold for peeling oranges.
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Ex-Genius said 4:08PM on 6-20-2008
The real black stick, as used in the Genius Rooms at Apple Stores...
http://www.mendapump.com/MendaCatalog/Tools/Probes/WoodenAndNylon/35622/
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Narles said 4:09PM on 6-20-2008
When I was working for Apple on the Genius bar I would go through those things like crazy. They're a Geniuses best friend. We always had a cup of them nearby during any repair. Whenever we got a new shipment of them in the Store, we would get pretty excited because they're awesome when they're brand new. So sharp.
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Ken Spencer said 4:31PM on 6-20-2008
IFixIt not only has great take apart guides, they have the stick
http://www.ifixit.com/Apple-Parts/Heavy-duty-Spudger/IF145-013
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punkassjim said 4:27PM on 6-20-2008
These guys had some ok alternatives:
http://cnn.cn/shop/blue-cell-phone-case-opening-tool-p-2400.html
Also, knowing a few genii, I was really amused when a friend of mine dressed up as a Black Stick for halloween last year. Nobody but the Apple Store employees got it.
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punkassjim said 4:29PM on 6-20-2008
By the by, most tools of this sort are "disposable." You'll be lucky to get more than two uses out of them. The Apple ones are great, though.
DennisQ said 4:48PM on 6-20-2008
For gadgets/iPods I generally use the classic plastic gadget-openers you find all over. I particularly recommend dealextreme.com which is extra cheap and free shipping, though it does take 10-14 days from Hong Kong to the states.
This one has 2 of the openers, 2 "guitar pick" tools, and some screwdrivers: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11839
I suggest ordering some of the Torx screwdrivers ( 6 & 8 are most common) as well to tinker w/ other cellphones, gadgets, etc.
These openers always give before the casings you open so you don't scratch anything.
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DennisQ said 4:48PM on 6-20-2008
For gadgets/iPods I generally use the classic plastic gadget-openers you find all over. I particularly recommend dealextreme.com which is extra cheap and free shipping, though it does take 10-14 days from Hong Kong to the states.
This one has 2 of the openers, 2 "guitar pick" tools, and some screwdrivers: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11839
I suggest ordering some of the Torx screwdrivers ( 6 & 8 are most common) as well to tinker w/ other cellphones, gadgets, etc.
These openers always give before the casings you open so you don't scratch anything.
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Ziggi said 5:19PM on 6-20-2008
These are the exact "Black Sticks" Apple uses:
http://www.stanleysupplyservices.com/product-detail.aspx?pn=411-785
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Howie Isaacks said 5:26PM on 6-20-2008
I bought two of them from this website:
http://www.macrecycling.com/apple-nylon-probe-tool-black-stick-p-100693.html
These are the same that I used at the Apple Store Willow Bend when I worked as a Mac Genius there.
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Blaktornado said 5:38PM on 6-20-2008
"My beautiful girlfriend Michelle"
Thanks for rubbing it in :(
heh.
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b-rat said 5:41PM on 6-20-2008
The one at PowerbookMedic.com is the correct one that apple uses. They are Awesome tools.
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