REVIEW – Some hobbies start cheap and then quietly begin eating the checking account. Gunsmithing, at least for me, skipped the quiet part. I like shooting as a sport, I like learning how the equipment works, and I especially like the tools that make the whole process cleaner and more precise.
That is where Fix It Sticks comes in. The Chicago based toolmaker builds compact, modular tools for firearm maintenance, along with a separate cycling line. The Works gun field maintenance kit is its broad, ready made answer for rifle, handgun, and shotgun owners who want one portable setup instead of a drawer full of mismatched tools.
The kit costs $280.00, which is not casual money for a field maintenance set. After using it before a range trip, during sight and hardware checks, and through cleanup afterward, I think the price makes more sense than it first appears. The tools feel durable, the case is genuinely well thought out, and the whole Fix It Sticks system can be expanded as your needs change.
Overview
At heart, The Works is a firearm focused driver and maintenance system built around the Fix It Sticks T-Handle Wrench and a set of Miniature Torque Limiters. The T-Handle accepts standard 1/4 inch bits, while the kit adds cleaning pieces, firearm specific wrenches, punches, scrapers, and a soft carry case that keeps everything together.
Fix It Sticks sells several gun maintenance kits, and you can also build a tool roll one component at a time. The Works is the option meant to cover the common jobs most gun owners are likely to run into without forcing you to start from scratch.
What is included
- Fix It Sticks T-Handle Wrench
- 4 Miniature Torque Limiters
- 65-inch lbs
- 45-inch lbs
- 25-inch lbs
- 15-inch lbs
- 1/2″ Socket and Bit Adapter
- Universal Choke Tube Wrench
- 1911 Bushing Tool
- Glock Front Sight Bit
- Mini Pry-Bar
- Bolt Carrier Group Scraper
- Metal Pin Punch
- Castle Nut Wrench
- Bronze Scraper
- Steel Pick
- Non-Marring Plastic Pin Punch
- Cleaning Brush Bit
- A2 Front Sight Adjustment Bit
- 2 Brass Cleaning Rods which accept 8-32 threaded attachments
- 2 Bit adapters for 8-32 threaded components
- 24 Chrome Plated 1/4″ Bits: Hex 2.5mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 0.50, 5/64, 3/32, 1/8, 7/64, 9/64, 5/32, 3/16, 1/4, T8, T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30, P1, P2, Slotted 3/16, 3/32
- Magnetic Patch
- Soft Carrying Case with Velcro and MOLLE straps
Case and organization
The case is a big part of why the kit feels worth defending. It is tough, compact, and much more useful than a basic pouch. Closed up, it is small enough to live in a range bag, but it does not feel packed to the limit.
One side has MOLLE straps, so it can ride on compatible bags instead of disappearing into the bottom of one. The opposite side has a Velcro panel for patches.
The included patch is not just decoration. It is magnetic, and that is exactly the kind of small feature that becomes useful the first time you are dealing with tiny screws, detents, springs, or loose bits at a bench.
I used the magnetic patch every time the kit came out. It held active bits and small parts in one place, which is a simple but very welcome way to avoid losing pieces during disassembly or adjustment.
The case also leaves room for growth. There are open spaces, elastic slots, and mesh storage areas that make it easy to add more Fix It Sticks parts or other small tools without turning the kit into a mess.
The dual zippers let the case open almost flat, and the removable bit rails are another smart touch. At home, I like taking the rails out and setting them on the bench. In the field or at the range, I leave them in the case so fewer things wander away.
The T-Handle system
The Works revolves around the Fix It Sticks T-Handle Wrench. It is steel, it feels solid, and all three ends are magnetic 1/4 inch bit holders. That means the included bits are not the only bits you can use. If you already own standard 1/4 inch bits, they can join the kit too.
Fix It Sticks also makes a ratcheting T-Handle Wrench. I wish that version came standard here, because it would help the $280.00 price feel a little easier to accept. The regular T-Handle is still excellent, but the ratcheting model feels like the one omission in an otherwise premium kit.
A rotating sleeve near the top of the T-Handle lets it spin freely in your hand. It is a small design choice, but it makes the driver more comfortable when you are doing repeated turns or working carefully around expensive parts.
I also like being able to load bits into the ends of the handle. The long shaft is usually the default, but the side positions can give better leverage or a better angle depending on the job.
The bit selection is broad enough for the firearm jobs I expected to handle. You get screwdriver, hex, and Torx options, and I quickly fell into the habit of keeping my most used Standard screwdriver, Phillips, and T10 Torx bits parked in the handle ends while I worked.
Torque control
The Miniature Torque Limiters are the most valuable parts in the box. The Works includes 15-inch lbs, 25-inch lbs, 45-inch lbs, and 65-inch lbs limiters. Snap one between the T-Handle and a bit, and it limits how much torque you can apply.
When the marked torque value is reached, the limiter clicks and stops applying more force. That matters when installing optics or working on components where too much torque can damage expensive gear.
I would not complain about having more torque values in the case, but the four included limiters covered most of what I needed. Fix It Sticks sells many other torque limiter ratings separately, so the kit can be tailored later.
Firearm specific tools
The Works earns its firearm maintenance name with the specialty tools. I used every one except the 1911 Bushing Tool, and that is only because I do not own a 1911 yet.
For cleaning, the kit includes picks, scrapers, a brush, and two brass cleaning rods. The rods accept 8-32 threaded attachments and connect to the T-Handle using the included adapter bits.
There are also practical items like punches and sight tools, plus pieces I did not know I wanted until I had them, such as the Bolt Carrier Group Scraper that also cleans the firing pin.
Using it before, during, and after the range
The Works did not sit around as a neat looking kit. It helped me prep firearms before range day, make adjustments while shooting, and clean up afterward.
Before heading out, I like checking my firearms and accessories. With the 15-inch lb Torque Limiter, I confirmed optic torque and discovered that one optic had been installed tighter than necessary. Correcting that took very little time and may have saved the optic from damage.
I used the same limiter to mount a red dot sight on a handgun for range testing. The T-Handle felt comfortable and steady, which made the work feel controlled instead of fussy.
The Castle Nut Wrench let me check the rifle stock without dragging out a large Armorer’s Wrench. That is exactly the sort of job that makes a compact field kit appealing.
The front sight adjustment bit also worked very well. It felt far better than the plastic adjustment tool that came with my sights.
As I moved around the rifle, the T-Handle made it easy to snug up important connections, including sling hardware. Being able to move bits to the end of the handle helped when I needed more leverage.
After a long day at the range, The Works came back out for cleaning. The magnetic patch immediately proved useful for keeping bolt carrier group parts from spreading across the bench.
The brush, rods, and picks behaved like good standard cleaning tools. The standout was the Bolt Carrier Group Scraper, which made quick work of carbon buildup once attached to the T-Handle.
The same scraper also works on the firing pin. Drop the pin into the hole until it sits flush with the back, then spin it against the plus sign shaped blades to scrape away carbon.
The best compliment I can give The Works is that it made me want to keep using it. I eventually pulled out firearms I had not even shot that day just to run them through their usual maintenance with the kit. I would still add the Ratcheting T-Handle, a few more Torque Limiters, and some extra bits from the Fix It Sticks site, but the standard kit already feels like a keeper.
The good
- Great quality tools and a smart, durable case
- Modular setup makes it easy to add, remove, or swap components
- The case has room and slots for extra tools
The not so good
- Expensive
- For the price, the ratcheting T-Handle should be included as standard
Verdict
I love The Works, and it has earned a permanent place in my gear. Fix It Sticks built an all in one kit that handles most of what an average gun enthusiast is likely to need, and it does so in a package that is compact, organized, and easy to expand. At $280.00, it will be too expensive for some buyers, but the quality, range of tools, and modular design justify the cost for me. Fix It Sticks also sells a version of The Works with an All-in-One Torque Drive instead of the individual Miniature Torque Limiters for $220.
Price: $280.00
Product Link: Fix It Sticks for The Works kit with an All-in-One Torque Drive for $220.
You can also grab it on eBay for $254.60.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Fix It Sticks.
