Screwdrivers

[Giff]

I am renovating some old window frames. The brass screws have very narrow slots. The only screwdriver that I have that works is a 5.5mm (wide) electrician's insulated one. Can anyone recommend good quality fine slotted screwdrivers. Thanks Geoff

 

[Jacob]

You can get all shapes and sizes but yes old screws tend to have thin slots so you may need to take a bit off the faces of the tip.
I've found over the years thats it's good to keep every screwdriver that comes your way. I've got dozens but still have to search through every now and then for one which will fit an old screw.

 

[Paul Chapman]

There are so many different types of screw heads now that it seems impossible to have enough screwdrivers to fit all the ones you come across. Much better, in my experience, to use screwdrivers that take the various hexagonal bits that are used in cordless drill drivers. Werra make some good ones like this http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/s ... /WER056653

If you're into Yankee screwdrivers, it's possible (with some difficulty) to get bit holders to fit them

Yes, I have a bit of a Yankee problem :lol:

Or if you are into wood turning, make your own

Hope this helps.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Andrewf]

Paul am impressed with the collection, I only have 3 of the big yankees.
Have never thought of looking for the adapters.

 

[DTR]

Have never thought of looking for the adapters.

Make some yourself! Just take a magnetic drill / screwdriver bit adapter and file the end to match a Yankee bit. I found I had to use a longer than usual adapter though because the normal ones are a fraction too short.

 

[nanscombe]

Just spotted this. I don't know if this link would be of any use to anyone here?

131B Stanley Yankee Screwdriver 1/4" Hex Bit Conversion Adapter Adaptor 131A 131

£9.99 (+£2 p&p), 5 currently available.

If nothing else it's got a good closeup picture.

 

[Saint Simon]

I have one of these:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/wiha-wiha-to ... prod19532/

which has lasted quite a few years now and which I think is the king of screwdrivers. Obviously a bit expensive but gives a lot of torque, a secure ratchet and generally works a treat.

Simon

 

[woodbloke]

Or if you are into wood turning, make your own

Hope this helps.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

Made one of they this afternoon...English Walnut handle - Rob

 

[TrimTheKing]

I am renovating some old window frames. The brass screws have very narrow slots. The only screwdriver that I have that works is a 5.5mm (wide) electrician's insulated one. Can anyone recommend good quality fine slotted screwdrivers. Thanks Geoff

Not being funny, but if an electricians driver works then why do you need anything else?

Cheers
Mark

 

[Paul Chapman]

Or if you are into wood turning, make your own

Hope this helps.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

Made one of they this afternoon...English Walnut handle - Rob

Where's the photos - you know the rules? :lol:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[woodbloke]

Or if you are into wood turning, make your own

Hope this helps.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

Made one of they this afternoon...English Walnut handle - Rob

Where's the photos - you know the rules? :lol:
Cheers :wink:

Paul

I knew some smarter$e was going to come up with that one :lol: For your info Chappers, the second coat of oil is a-drying even now as fingers fly across the keys and when the third coat has dried off tomorrow and it's been waxed I'll take a pic :wink: - Rob

 

[Giff]

I am renovating some old window frames. The brass screws have very narrow slots. The only screwdriver that I have that works is a 5.5mm (wide) electrician's insulated one. Can anyone recommend good quality fine slotted screwdrivers. Thanks Geoff

Not being funny, but if an electricians driver works then why do you need anything else?

Cheers
Mark

The electrician wouldn't like it if I kept using his screwdriver. :wink:

 

[TrimTheKing]

Fair do's.

Cheers
Mark

 

[nanscombe]

It may be a daft suggestion but ...

Could you grind down the tip on an ordinary screwdriver to fit?

Or is the steel not suitable?

Just don't try and get it as sharp as your chisels. :shock:

 

[Midnight]

Not being funny, but if an electricians driver works then why do you need anything else?

just speculating, but I believe the OP was saying that the sparkie's 5.5 was the only one where the tip was narrow enough to enagage the slot... I doubt very much it would have the width to span the full width of the slot, resulting in tear out of the screw head and possible damage to the driver tip too. Wood screw heads tend to be a lot wider than machine screws and can require a hellova lot more torque to get them turning.

 

[woodbloke]

As PaulC was casting nasturtiums on my spiny activities yesterday afternoon, this is my effort:

...at one of those screwdriver thingies with the magnetic holder. Handle in English Walnut, three coats of finishing oil, wax over the top. Someone may get one of these as a SS prezi in a few months time - Rob

 

[Giff]

Back to the question.....I was asking about suitable screwdrivers for older brass screws as I use this one, which I inherited, and does really well but was too wide for the 5.5mm heads I was removing. The old / painted brass screws are quite delicate and are easy to gouge.Jacobs suggestion about keeping and sourcing old screwdrivers seemed a good idea but do the still make smaller versions of this one ? Thanks Geoff

 

[AndyT]

Back to the question.....I was asking about suitable screwdrivers for older brass screws as I use this one, which I inherited, and does really well but was too wide for the 5.5mm heads I was removing. The old / painted brass screws are quite delicate and are easy to gouge.Jacobs suggestion about keeping and sourcing old screwdrivers seemed a good idea but do the still make smaller versions of this one ? Thanks Geoff

That sort - with a solid metal body and wooden scales riveted on - is called a 'perfect handle' screwdriver. They were made for a long time, and are collected and appreciated by those of us who understand these things - see this thread for example:
https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/all-for-a-screwdriver-t50937.html.

As far as I know there is no current commercial manufacture of them, so you'll need to get up early and haunt the car boot sales, or take a punt on eBay.

 

[jimi43]

The Perfect Handle screwdriver is ideal for this application and they are regularly available on FleaBay but expensive as they are quite collectible.

They are quite easy to find at bootfairs too....

...but tend to be pretty grubby...as I said in the other thread...they were very popular with mechanics as they are virtually indestructible.

You can fairly easily replace the scales though...this is Wych elm burr...

...which makes it pretty and useful!

Or you can just clean off the scales if the wood is good using lighter fuel to get rid of the grease and grime and then polish with Tru-Oil...

As you can see...the tip is very wide on this one though the screwdriver is quite small and useful.

Jim

 

[Jacob]

.......they were very popular with mechanics as they are virtually indestructible......

And with joiners - not least because you can hammer them, as the steel goes right through. This is sometimes handy for loosening old screws.
You can (or used to be able to) get plastic handled screwdrivers with the tang going right through, which are useful for the same reason.