A screwdriver is in some cases more convenient to use than a screwdriver. She does not need electrical energy, the tool allows you to get to hard-to-reach places. And the screwdriver is much cheaper, so it perfectly replaces the screwdriver, unless, of course, you have to assemble furniture on a truly industrial scale or overhaul.
You can talk a lot about the types of screwdrivers, but itโs much easier and clearer for you to imagine the following diagram:
Flat or straight slot is designated by letters SL. A well-known and very simple flat-slot screwdriver. A flat blade is used when working with the simplest fasteners, which are often found in fasteners for locking hinges, sockets, wooden shelves. Widely used in everyday life.
Phillips โ a Phillips screwdriver that is marked with letters PH. Great for most screws and self-tapping screws, currently the most common.
Marking PZ (Pozidriv)also used for Phillips screwdrivers, but with a deep slot and four smaller additional edges. Such tools are also widely used when assembling furniture, working with drywall, installing various wooden structures..
The hexagonal screwdriver is marked with letters HEX. To work with a hexagonal slot, special screwdrivers with a high torque are used. Their main difference is the rods bent in the shape of the letter โLโ. Hexagons are actively used in the repair of electrical equipment, as well as where you need to unscrew the fasteners on an energized object. Hexagonal splines with a pin in the center are called protected.
TORX.The slot is in the form of a hexagonal star. This is a fairly highly specialized screwdriver; such fasteners are rarely used in everyday life. However, torcs are indispensable in service centers and various repair shops..
There is a variety of TORX splines with a center pin. They are called secure, Security T.
As you can see in our laughter, there are more varieties of screwdrivers, we have given only the most common options. There are highly specialized ones such as the Torq-Set with an asymmetric cruciform section. These splines, which allow the screw to be tightened powerfully, are used in the aviation industry..
Tri-Wing, or โtrefoilโ, is needed where the connection must be reliably protected from self-untwisting, and the two-pin slot (spunner or Snake-eye) is used in public places, for example, in elevators, because it cannot be unscrewed with improvised means.
The size of the screwdriver will also be of great importance. The size is always indicated on the marking, but it is often difficult to understand this point. DIY home craftsmen often just say โ a flat screwdriver, large or small. Meanwhile, it will not be difficult to understand such markings:
- The number 0 implies that the diameter of the tool shaft is 4 millimeters and its length is up to 80 millimeters..
- Number 1 โ the diameter of the rod is 5 millimeters, the length is up to 100 millimeters.
- Number 2 โ diameter 6, length โ up to 120 millimeters.
- Number 3 โ 8 and up to 150 millimeters, respectively.
- Number 4 โ the largest screwdrivers, have a rod diameter of 10 millimeters and a length of up to 200 millimeters.
The marking itself is usually written like this: PH3 x 150mm. That is, a Phillips screwdriver, number three โ a diameter of 8 millimeters, the length in this case is already indicated, but this is an optional parameter.
In addition, screwdrivers can have the following capabilities:
- Dielectric coated screwdrivers will be very useful for electricians, which will protect against electric shock.
- Also an option for electricians โ a screwdriver with a device for detecting hidden wiring, as well as the presence of electric current in the outlet. Such instruments are also called probes and testers..
- Flexible shank screwdrivers, which are required for hard-to-reach places.
- Ratchet reversible screwdrivers. They are needed in case of prolonged work with fasteners..
- Rods with magnetized holders. Hold a self-tapping screw or screw, it is very convenient to work, especially with small fasteners.
Various screwdriver sets with interchangeable bits are now available. It is convenient that they do not take up much space; you can always choose an option for one or another slot. Screwdriver sets can be sold in suitcases or in such compact stands.
When it comes to selecting a screwdriver, the text mentions understanding slots, crosses, and torxes. However, Iโm curious to know if there are any specific factors or tips one should consider while choosing a screwdriver? Are there any other types or variations of screwdrivers that we should be aware of?
What would be the best type of screwdriver for precision work, where small slots or crosses are typically found, versus larger torx screws?