Used to think those cheap plastic spudgers were a waste of money.

I was fixing a sticky aperture ring on an old Nikon lens and kept using metal picks, which just scratched the brass. A guy at a shop in Phoenix told me to try a specific 0.5mm nylon spudger from iFixit. I was sure it would snap, but after two tries, it popped the retaining ring free without a single mark. Now I keep a pack of five in my kit. What's your go-to for prying delicate parts without damage?

3 comments

3 Comments

elizabeth_martin1mo ago

Totally get that. I've left so many little scratches on old camera parts trying to be careful with a metal tool. It feels awful, especially on something you're trying to save. I switched to using old guitar picks for prying open battery doors and small plastic clips. They're stiff enough to get some force but won't mar the surface. What thickness pick do you find works best?

thompson.brian1mo ago

Guitar picks can still leave marks though. I just use plastic spudgers from a cheap repair kit.

the_miles24d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah those thin picks are fine for light stuff but if you're prying on something stuck you gotta watch out. The thinner ones can snap off and leave a little piece inside. I've found the medium ones around 0.73mm are a good middle ground for most electronics.