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'Sharpening' phillips screwdrivers
Slimy38 - 25/7/18 at 05:42 PM

Some of my Philips screwdrivers have seen better days, and are as good at chewing up screws as they are actually screwing them in. They've all gone the same way, the four 'blades' have worn but the pointy bit is still there. This means that the screwdriver head hits the bottom of the screw before it touches the sides.

So, is there a way of restoring them? My first thought would be enthusiastic use of a fine file to dress the blades and bring it back to more 'screwdriver-like'. Alternatively, I could probably get them working again by just filing the point down a bit and allowing them to sit in the screw a bit better. I've recovered a few flat drivers but they're infinitely easier.

Any ideas?


fazerruss - 25/7/18 at 06:46 PM

Bin. Nothing else you can do and not worth it. If the shank was removable then the tip can only be re cut accurately on a tool cutter grinder. Problem is the handle prevents it going in the collet.


SJ - 25/7/18 at 07:31 PM

quote:

Some of my Philips screwdrivers have seen better days,



Buy your Philip some new ones for his birthday?


adithorp - 25/7/18 at 07:54 PM

Are you sure the screws are phillips heads? Most are Pozi-drive and using a phillips driver on a pozi screw will mess it up.


nick205 - 25/7/18 at 07:56 PM

Throw them away and buy some new ones.

Buy some decent ones and look after them.

Make sure you use Philips and Pozi-Drive screwdrivers on the correct fasteners. My wife for one is terrible at assuming one will work on the other and not hurt the tool or fastener.


Slimy38 - 25/7/18 at 09:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
Are you sure the screws are phillips heads? Most are Pozi-drive and using a phillips driver on a pozi screw will mess it up.


That's the word I was after, thanks. I use Phillips because that's what I could remember, but they are actually pozidrive.


adam1985 - 26/7/18 at 01:25 PM

Ive often found cheaper screwdrivers cause the end to point after time. Buy a decent set and they will last well. My weapon of choice is the stanley fat max screwdrivers.


nick205 - 26/7/18 at 01:35 PM

WIHA screwdrivers are one of my favourites at the moment.

Available from Screwfix, not bad price and work/last really well.

Many of them have a hex section at the top of the metal part so you can use a spanner to apply more torque if required.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/wiha-softfinish-screwdriver-ph-2-x-100mm/758 7g

[Edited on 27/7/18 by nick205]


nick205 - 27/7/18 at 07:59 AM

Another screwdriver brand I'm quite keen on is WERA

http://products.wera.de/en/screwdrivers.html

Got several WERA screwdrivers and they work very well - they last too!

[Edited on 27/7/18 by nick205]


ReMan - 27/7/18 at 08:44 AM

I like these:
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/3100355/?grossPrice=Y&cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_Tools-_-Screwdrivers_And_Screw_Extractors%7C Screwdriver_Bits_And_Bit_Sets-_-PRODUCT+GROUP&matchtype=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-er-4_G-3AIVir_tCh1SlAqFEAYYCCABEgKQPfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds