I was helping a friend out recently who was in an automotive pinch. He was trying to figure some things out in his garage at home and was getting nowhere, so he called and I went to his house to help out. His wife had just made cupcakes, so I held my talents hostage while I gorged myself on sugary yellow and white ransom, with sprinkles.

Once lured back into the pit, I saw that he just needed some minor adjustments in fueling. I asked where his screwdrivers were, and he handed me this red contraption that consisted of a pile of removable, switchable and otherwise useless pieces of metal. "Is this all you have?" I asked, wearing a classic vinegar-face. "It's universal," he responded. "You just pull the end out and switch it around to what you need."

Without going into the details of why I had to go back to his house the next weekend with a drywall patch, let me say that the only thing universal about this tool was that it was universally miserable. So if you make the decision to do your own repairs and maintenance, do yourself a favor and buy at least an 8-piece screwdriver set. You'll thank yourself in the end, and avoid some unexpected home improvements in the process.

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