Customer Reviews

TKC Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The instructions say that to gain access to the screw driver bits you pull the two halves of the unit apart.
I did just that and managed to pull the circuitry right out of the housing and the tiny electrical wires with it.
So now the LED is useless but the sound still works.

So, if you are opening this device up for the first time, take it apart very very slowly and gently.

If on the other hand you've managed to pull the circuit board as I did, you can repair it by first opening the battery compartment, taking the circuity out, soldering the wires back, and then applying superglue to hold the circuity in the plastic casing. As an additional precaution you should consider applying epoxy to ensure that it remains in place in the future. In fact, even if your screwdriver is not experiencing problems, you may consider adding some epoxy anyway.

Oh, 1 more major design flaw I discovered today (March 15, 2010): the tiny spring loaded ball that secures the two halves of the screwdriver popped out and went flying across the room when I pulled the unit apart today. Try searching for that!!!! So watch out. It could happen to your unit too!

If you are a fanboy: This is a great little device. I love it and carry it around all the time. The LED is magnificently detailed, and it is incredibly bright. It will definitely light up a dark room. The sound is very loud and very High pitched, it's not lifted from the show thats for sure but I still like it, I think it has a cool sound. The weight of it is absolutely brilliant. The entire bottom half is completely metallic and there is a metal core that runs all the way up the device, which gives it a nice feel. Overall a great device.

If you are a super collector: Everything above still stands. But the annoying manufacturing throws off the accuracy to the show device. The speaker grill is obnoxiously obvious, and the button is in the wrong place. The screwdriver from the emitter half however is detailed beautifully, but the plastic claws are a bit unfortunate. The fact that they don't extend is a bit unfortunate but I came to terms with that very early. I am very impressed with the box it came in, great for a collection. I am also impressed with the durabillity of this thing I have dropped it on many occasions and it still functions fantastically.

The Screwdriver: I am very happy with the screwdriver. The bits are detailed amazingly and the fact that it is stored in the body of the sonic is brilliant. They function amazingly no complaints here.

Overall: I am pleased. If your not looking for perfection and are a fanboy this is awesome. But if you want dead accurate show material, listen to my words very carefully ; BUY THE TOY REPLICA!

My teens got my husband one of these for Christmas, and he loves it. He played with the light a bit, then used it to put batteries in electronic toys the teens got. I'm tickled by the idea of a real screwdriver sonic screwdriver. It's just fun to say!
3 tip sizes that have both flat and Phillips screwdriver heads and they fit in the body. Lights up, makes sounds and feels fairly substantial and heavy.

This is an awesome nerd tool for my computer tool bag. I can always tell who the Whovians are when I whip this out.

My only complaint is that is is sometimes hard to get the screwdriver bits out of the inside of the tool.

Length:: 3:04 Mins

A video review of the Sonic Screwdriver that's actually a screwdriver.

On the outside this sonic screwdriver looks very nice. It has both light and sound effects.
Instructions are hidden in the bottom of the packaging.
You don't twist it apart you pull it apart.

Theres a little ball bearing like those on ratchet wrenches that holds the two parts together.
The driver bits are ridiculously small for a handle that size.
There is only one driver bit in the set that you might be able to use with a handle that big.
You have to extract the bits out of the handle with some difficulty.
They are small and sit deep inside the magnetized handle.
You also unplug the emitter from the powered base when you do this.
A tiny plug sits in the center that makes the connection when the handle is closed.

When pressed the light comes on and it makes one sound as far as I can tell.
The tiny button sits near the bottom of the handle.
Its only easy to use if you are holding the sonic screwdriver backwards and using it as a screwdriver.
It is a collectors item not a toy or a screwdriver.
There is a notice on the box that states "This is not a Toy".
For ages 14 and up.

The claim as to it being metal is misleading.
There is some cast metal in the lower portions, and the bits are metal but the entire driver is more than 75% plastic.
The design of this driver would not allow for larger bits because the driver could twist apart during normal usage.
Its only safe to use on very small screws and the size of the handle makes that clumbersome.
Buy it for the right reason and you won't have any regrets.

If you need a tool, skip this, as a tool this is a joke, something you would expect to see a clown pull out of his pocket in a circus.

Your want a toy? Get the workable prop version.
This is a collectors item for display, to pick up and demonstrate only.

UPDATE: I paid [...] for this piece of junk on Amazon and now I see it marked down to [...].
I won't be falling for the free shipping gimick anymore, best to search around for the best price.

I bought this version of the sonic screwdriver since it really can be used as a screwdriver. Seemed a better deal that one which you can just look at and makes blinking lights and funny noises. However, didn't last a day before the small spring and ball bearing assembly that holds it together went "Sprong!", and the parts went zinging out someplace, so now has this tendency for the 2 half to fall apart. A shame, because the screwdriver heads actually are the sized that I use routinely. So back to being just a "for show" item.

A must have for anyone who has ever looked at a screwdriver and thought "this should be a little more sonic!"

It is what it is: A toy and a screwdriver. I bought it as a gift for someone who loves Dr. Who and they really liked it. Don't expect it to open doors to anywhere or fix the Tardis, but it will unscrew other toy's battery doors and at the same time the kids run around the house with it making that "sonic screwdriver" sound. It is not very well made, and I had to glue the PCB back in, but I still think it was a good deal for a Dr. Who lover.

I purchased this item from ThinkGeek.com for my husband for his birthday, and he's excited to have it. Unfortunately, his lights up but has no sound when the button is pressed. I wondered for a moment if this was the norm, but after checking multiple reviews and re-reading the product description and instructions we've determined that it simply doesn't work as was intended. We'll be shipping it back, and hopefully we can get a replacement that works properly. Stay tuned...

EDIT: Sorry for being so late in updating this. We got a replacement screwdriver, and it's working fine. Rating has been adjusted accordingly.