Screwdriver Types
There are many types of screwdriver available and in recent years many specialist drives have been developed such as Tri-wing, Torq-set and Hexalobular however you are unlikely to come across most of the specialist drives unless you are working in very specific industries.
We will concentrate on the three mainstream screwdriver types that are in use for general purpose and in the automotive industry that are slotted, Philips and Pozidriv.
Slotted Screwdrivers Slotted or also knows as flat head screwdrivers are the oldest of the drive types and was in use by the early 1800s and is one of the most common drive you are likely to see.
The flat blade of the head should match a grove in the slotted screw.
When using a slotted screwdriver it is always advisable to find the right size driver for the screw the tip of the blade should be the same width as the screw head and fit snugly in to the slot.
If the wrong size is used the potential for slipping out of the grove in the slotted screw is greatly increased and you will damage or strip the screw head making very difficult or imposable to screw in or remove.
Philips Screwdrivers Philips or cross screwdrivers are the second most common drive.
Invented by Henry Phillips in the 1930s it was first adopted by the automotive industry and remains the dominant drive type in the industry to this day.
Philips screwdrivers have an X shaped head that matches an X shaped grove of screws.
The Philips screwdriver is designed to purposely cam out (slip out of the screw) once a certain level of torque has been reached to help prevent damaging the screw and striping it.
Pozidriv Screwdrivers Pozidriv screwdrivers are similar to Philips screwdrivers but improves on them.
Where Philips drive are designed rounded and angled flanks so they will cam out the Pozidriv screwdrivers have straight flanks and has a second set of cross features set at 45 degrees from the centre cross, they also have a small squared tip.
This gives the Pozidriv less chance of slipping out of the screw.
One disadvantage of using Pozidriv is that it looks very similar and need Pozidriv screws.
It can be very easy to mistake the different screws and if the wrong driver is used it can damage the screw head.
We will concentrate on the three mainstream screwdriver types that are in use for general purpose and in the automotive industry that are slotted, Philips and Pozidriv.
Slotted Screwdrivers Slotted or also knows as flat head screwdrivers are the oldest of the drive types and was in use by the early 1800s and is one of the most common drive you are likely to see.
The flat blade of the head should match a grove in the slotted screw.
When using a slotted screwdriver it is always advisable to find the right size driver for the screw the tip of the blade should be the same width as the screw head and fit snugly in to the slot.
If the wrong size is used the potential for slipping out of the grove in the slotted screw is greatly increased and you will damage or strip the screw head making very difficult or imposable to screw in or remove.
Philips Screwdrivers Philips or cross screwdrivers are the second most common drive.
Invented by Henry Phillips in the 1930s it was first adopted by the automotive industry and remains the dominant drive type in the industry to this day.
Philips screwdrivers have an X shaped head that matches an X shaped grove of screws.
The Philips screwdriver is designed to purposely cam out (slip out of the screw) once a certain level of torque has been reached to help prevent damaging the screw and striping it.
Pozidriv Screwdrivers Pozidriv screwdrivers are similar to Philips screwdrivers but improves on them.
Where Philips drive are designed rounded and angled flanks so they will cam out the Pozidriv screwdrivers have straight flanks and has a second set of cross features set at 45 degrees from the centre cross, they also have a small squared tip.
This gives the Pozidriv less chance of slipping out of the screw.
One disadvantage of using Pozidriv is that it looks very similar and need Pozidriv screws.
It can be very easy to mistake the different screws and if the wrong driver is used it can damage the screw head.
