Spudgers - The types, uses, and kits available

Posted by Spudger on January 24th, 2019

Do I need a spudger?

The answer to this question is: it depends! If you’re already in the know and are working with electrical components, you probably already know what a spudger is and have already used one. If you’re new to repairing devices, electrical equipment and the like, then a spudger will certainly come in handy.

I don’t know which type of spudger to buy, what should I do?

There are many different types of spudger. These are:

• Metal Spudgers
• Plastic Spudgers
• Nylon Spudgers
• Fiberglass Spudgers
• Wooden Spudgers

They all do similar things. Choosing which type of spudger to get really depends on what you’re wanting to do with it. If you’re going to be poking and teasing inside devices with electrical components, you will want an insulating spudger. Nylon and wood spudgers are good for this as they won’t carry any charge and, therefore, you don’t have a problem with static shock.

Plastic spudgers are often used in the prying open of devices like smartphones and tablets. By using plastic, you won’t scratch a delicate and expensive item. Plastic spudgers, however, aren’t very robust so if you’re opening a device that has been secured using a glue or adhesive, you will be better using a metal spudger. Some metal spudgers are available with heavy-duty stainless steel.

Should I buy a set of spudgers?

You can buy sets of spudgers or spudger toolkits that contain a variety of spudger types. Many contain duplicate spudgers too – plastic spudgers, for example, are often only good for single use. Some of the spudger toolkits have extra items like tweezers included. At first, you might think you might not get much use out of an entire spudger toolkit, but, once you have one in the home, it’s surprising just how many times you reach for it!

I don’t have time to buy a spudger, what should I use?

Obviously, using a spudger is best but if you don’t have one to hand then there are many alternatives that you might have lying around the house. Cocktails sticks, butter knives, bank cards, skewers, flat screwdrivers or pens easily become makeshift spudgers. It’s best to take extreme care though! You really don’t want to damage a device or injure yourself.