A cross or double-slot screw drive has two slots, oriented perpendicular to each other, in the fastener head; a slotted screwdriver is still used to drive just one of the slots. This type is usually found in cheaply-made roofing bolts and the like, where a thread of 5 mm (0.20 in) or above has a large flattened pan head.
What is a cross slot screwdriver used for?
screwdriver, tool, usually hand-operated, for turning screws with slotted heads. For screws with one straight diametral slot cut across the head, standard screwdrivers with flat blade tips and in a variety of sizes are used. Special screws with cross-shaped slots in their heads require a special screwdriver | tool | Britannica BrowseSearch
How to choose the best screwdriver?
- Matching it to Screws: The most important considering when buying a screwdriver is that it matches the screws you have. ...
- Materials: The best screwdrivers are strong and durable, so look for materials that provide this. ...
- Intended Use: Think about how you plan to use the screwdriver before buying it. ...
What is a cross head screwdriver?
A crosshead screwdriver is useless on a screw head with a single slot; it is used to drive and remove screws that match its design. Screw heads that feature Phillips drives may be rounded or flat, but like single-slotted screws, they come in a variety of sizes including width and thickness of the intersecting slots.
What size is a #2 Phillips screwdriver?
The most common sizes are #2 and #1, #2 for standard screw sizes, #1 for “miniature”. Likewise, what is the shaft diameter of a 1 Phillips screwdriver? A #2 Phillips will usually have a 1/4'' diameter shaft and a #1 Phillips will usually have a 3/16'' diameter shaft.
What is a cross-head screwdriver?
Also known as cross-head screwdrivers, Phillips screwdrivers are one of the most common types. But what is a Phillips head screwdriver? These tools are designed to fit screws with Phillips heads, which have a cross-shaped recess - hence the alternative name of cross screwdriver.
What are the 3 types of screwdriver?
What are the Screwdriver Types?Flat Head or Slotted Screwdriver. This screwdriver type is probably the most common form of hand tool. ... Phillips Screwdriver. ... Torx or Star Screwdriver. ... Hex Screwdriver. ... Pozidriv Screwdriver. ... Robertson or Square Screwdriver. ... Tri Wing Screwdriver.
What are the 4 types of screwdrivers?
4 Types of Screwdrivers Every DIYer Should OwnFlat Type Screwdrivers. ... Phillips (PH) Type Screwdrivers. ... Pozidriv (PZ) Type Screwdrivers. ... Torx Tamper-Proof (TPX) Type Screwdrivers. ... Teng Tools Screwdrivers.
What can I use instead of a cross-head screwdriver?
Using a coin; Using a kitchen butter knife; Using pliers; Using your thumbnail.
Why are there 2 types of screwdrivers?
Answer: The primary reason for the wide variety of screw head drive types is to ensure the fact that you will never have the proper screwdriver close at hand when you need it.
Which tool is used to tighten and loosen screws with cross slot heads?
For cross head screws, use the correct size and type of screwdriver: a Phillips screwdriver may slip out of a screw head designed for use with the slightly, flatter-tipped Pozidriv screwdriver.
What is a square tip screwdriver called?
What is a Robertson Screw or Robertson Head Screw? Most of us call Robertson screws “square drive” or “socket head” screws. They were invented by Canadian traveling salesman Peter Robertson around 1906.
What is a pointy screwdriver called?
Phillips. A Phillips screwdriver has a head with pointed edges in the shape of a cross, which fits neatly into the cross slots of a Phillips screw.
What is a tiny screwdriver called?
Hex-head screws are typically small and commonly found in doorknobs, towel bars, faucet handles, even some mechanical installations and require a hex key screwdriver (also called an Allen screwdriver) to tighten or loosen.
How do you unscrew a tight screw?
2:503:405 BEST Ways to Remove Stuck Screws - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou have a severely stripped screw. Sometimes your screw extractor just won't work so this failMoreYou have a severely stripped screw. Sometimes your screw extractor just won't work so this fail really is not a big deal. So when all else fails what do you do so what i like to do is use a rotary.
How do you remove a hex screw without a screwdriver?
By adding a couple of nuts to the threaded end and locking them tightly together, you can place the head of the bolt into the head of the hex bolt and then use a spanner on the nut or grips on the threads to turn the bolt which in turn will spin the hex bolt.
How do you remove Allen bolts without Allen keys?
Use a standard screwdriver that fits the groove you just made snugly. Turn the screw slowly being careful as the screw head is not as strong as it was before it was cut. Your screw should back out nicely without ruining the surface it's screwed into.
How many types of screwdrivers are there?
14 Different Types of Screwdrivers Flat head (Slotted Head) screwdriver. Torx screwdriver. Hex Screwdriver or Hexagon Screwdriver. Pozidriv Screwdriver.
What type of tool is a screwdriver?
ScrewdriverA slotted or "flat-blade" screwdriverOther namesTurnscrewClassificationHand toolTypesSee List of screw drivesRelatedHex key Wrench
What is a common screwdriver?
Flat-Head. The flat head is one of the most common screwdrivers. Slotted screws come in a number of different shapes and sizes, often requiring differently sized heads despite the same general shape.
What is a screwdriver tool?
screwdriver, tool, usually hand-operated, for turning screws with slotted heads. For screws with one straight diametral slot cut across the head, standard screwdrivers with flat blade tips and in a variety of sizes are used.
1. Flat Head (or Slotted Head) Screwdriver
It is one of the oldest types of screwdriver. It was invented in the 15th century in Europe and one of the most common types of screwdrivers. As the name suggest it has a flat shape shaft tip with a single slot which engages with the slotted screw head only.
2. Phillips Screwdriver
As today’s world is moving from a manual driven to power or motor driven, these were the first step towards power driven screwdrivers to save time and do things more precisely and accurately. These were invented in 19th century by Henry Phillips with an aim to introduce the power driven screwdrivers in most of the industries.
3. Pozidriv Screwdriver
The pozidriv screwdriver, unlike Phillips screwdriver, has two cross sign which are offset at 45 degree angles. These are designed and widely used in Europe.
4. Robertson or Square Screwdriver
The square screwdriver also known as Robertson screwdriver, named after a Canadian inventor.
5. Torx Screwdriver
Torx screwdriver is becoming very common and often used by automotive technicians. Many times they are called as star tips by technician. This driver has a star shape tip with 6 rounded lobes. Because of the circular geometry of the lobes there is low radial force in a torx screwdriver, which increases the life of the screw and the screwdriver bit.
6. Hex Screwdriver or Hexagon Screwdriver
It has six straight lobes, like hexagon. These are used to fasten often bolts rather than screws. You must have seen these bits in your ratchet box for tightening up or loosing hex bolts, nuts and screws.
1. Handle
Handle, generally wooden or plastic handles are fixed to the screwdrivers. In order to save the wooden handle from being broken, an iron is fixed to the handle.
2. Shank
The middle part between the blade and the handle is called the shank. On its lower part tip or blade is made.
3. Blade
Blade is the lower part of the shank. It is also known as tip. This part is hardened and tempered.
1. Flat Head
As its name indicates these types of screwdrivers are used for tightening or loosening different types of screws. These are available in small as well as larger sizes.
2. Philips
The tip of these types of screwdrivers is different from that of others. This tip is pointed and is made after cutting four flutes. Philips screwdrivers are used where the screw has T cross-shaped groove at their heads. These screws are available in varying numbers measurements.
3. Torx
Torx screwdrivers are very common and are often used by automotive engineers. Sometimes they are also called star tips by an engineer. This driver has a star-shaped tip with 6 round lobes.
4. Robertson or Square Screwdriver
The square screwdriver is also known as the Robertson screwdriver. A Canadian invented this screwdriver. Engagement of a fairly tapered square-shaped opening screw with a square projection, which involves no angle, neglects the cam-out effect, thus improving centralization.
How to Get the Screw Bits You Need
As you know, both drivers and bits can be purchased individually and in sets. For the best deal, we recommend purchasing a good bit set to build a robust screwdriver fastener collection. One set we really like includes the Wurth Zebra Universal Bit Assortment but you can find less expensive screw bit solutions as well.
Screwdriver Bit Types Explained
The various drive tips are made for a variety of reasons. Some are patented because they offer a unique solution to keeping a driver bit in place—others are simply better for the application they are intended for. In our opinion, the biggest reason for going with a particular screw bit type is getting a good grip on the fastener.
Phillips Head Screw Bits
The most common type of fastener has got to be the #2 Phillips head bit, but we’ve even seen adaptation here. The name “Phillips” comes from its inventor Henry F. Phillips in the 1930s. These types of screwdrivers have a pointed cross-head tip that matches a self-centering, cross-head screw.
Slotted or Flat Head Screwdriver Bits
Slotted or flat heat screwdrivers, one of the oldest types of screwdriver, started in the early 1800s. This type of screwdriver bit works with slotted screws that have a cut through the top of the head.
Hex or Allen Head Screws and Bits
We refer to hex head screws as Allen screws. These are a useful type of fastener because of how effectively they limiting the amount of slip. An Allen or hex screw bit often makes its way into furniture but even automotive applications use them. We also find these types of screwdriver bits on bicycles.
Torx Bits and Torx Plus Bits
TORX head screws and bits also commonly get referred to as Star bits. These-six-pointed bits resist slippage or cam-out better than slot head or Phillips head designs. In fact, TORX head bits and screwdrivers were specifically designed to prevent it.
Torx vs Torx Plus
An adjustment to Torx, Torx plus took that star design and squared off the edges. That resulted in more surface-contact area. Of the many types of screwdriver bits on the market, Torq Plus might just be the most grippy and stable. To make things even more complicated, Torx Plus security bits have just 5 lobes instead of 4.
Slotted drives
Slot screw drives have a single horizontal indentation (the slot) in the fastener head and is driven by a "common blade" or flat-bladed screwdriver. This form was the first type of screw drive to be developed, and for centuries, it was the simplest and cheapest to make.
Cruciform drives
The following are screw drives based on a cruciform shape; i.e., a cross shape. Other names for these types of drives are cross recessed, cross-head, cross tip, and cross-point. A double slotted screw drive is not considered cruciform because the shape is not recessed, and consists only of two superimposed simple milled slots.
Square drives
A Robertson screw, also known as a square or Scrulox screw drive, is specified as ANSI Type III Square Center and has a square -shaped socket in the screw head and a square protrusion on the tool. Both the tool and the socket have a slight taper.
Multiple-square drives
The LOX-Recess screw drive was invented by Brad Wagner, and fasteners using it are distributed by licencees Hitachi, Dietrick Metal Framing, and Grabber. The design is four overlapping square recesses, with 12 contact points, and is designed to increase torque, decrease wear, and avoid cam-out.
Internal hex drives
The hex socket screw drive has a hexagonal recess and may be driven by a hex wrench, also known as an Allen wrench, Allen key, hex key, or inbus as well as by a hex screwdriver (also known as a hex driver) or bit. Tamper-resistant versions with a pin in the recess are available.
Pentalobular sockets
The pentalobe screw drive (often mistaken for 5-point torx screw drives) is a five-pointed tamper-resistant system being implemented by Apple in its products. Apple's first use of the pentalobe drive was in mid-2009 to secure the battery in the MacBook Pro.
Hexalobular (Torx)
The hexalobular socket screw drive, often referred to by the original proprietary brand name Torx ( / ˈtɔːrks /) or by the alternative generic name star drive, uses a star-shaped recess in the fastener with six rounded points. It was designed to permit increased torque transfer from the driver to the bit compared to other drive systems.
