Hollow ground screwdrivers vs. tapered

[Edward Mitton]

Do any of you prefer the use of hollow ground screwdrivers for slotted screws over tapered. I know there are mechanical advantages present in such drivers that prevent damaging the screw slots while providing more torque. I was at a Cabela's sporting goods store the other day where I saw a set of Grace hollow ground drivers. Apparently these are a mainstay in the gun repair business.

[Jim Koepke]

Do you recall the price?

There are a few different kinds of drivers. Some have parallel faces to avoid the cam out effect of tapered faces.

jtk

[David Barnett]

Do you recall the price?

There are a few different kinds of drivers. Some have parallel faces to avoid the cam out effect of tapered faces.

jtk

Cabela's catalog lists the 8-piece Grace set for $39.99 (http://www.cabelas.com/product/Grace-USA-Gun-Care-Screwdriver-Set/739938.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3D searchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProduc ts%26Ntt%3Dgrace%26x%3D0%26y%3D0%26WTz_l%3DHeader% 253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=grace&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products), Midway's price is $33.99 (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/621146/grace-usa-8-piece-gunsmith-screwdriver-set).

[David Barnett]

Do any of you prefer the use of hollow ground screwdrivers for slotted screws over tapered. I know there are mechanical advantages present in such drivers that prevent damaging the screw slots while providing more torque.

I prefer hollow or parallel ground on most everything; cabinet hardware, guns, cameras, clocks and watches, electronics and so on. I use tapered on paint cans.

The Grace sets are okay.

[William Adams]

I was thrilled to find a Starrett 559A w/a nicely hollow ground tip in stock a while back, and added it to the toolset for my Shapeoko milling machine:

293498

(bottom middle tool --- I also got a scribing point, center upper left --- the insert was milled out of basswood after being designed using OpenSCAD)

Sad they're no longer made, and wish I could find a 559B....

Agree w/ David, tapered ground screwdrivers are about fit for use as pry tools, but nothing beyond that.

[bill tindall]

Check Lee Valley
Our friends at Lee Valley now sell non-tapered drivers the perfectly fit screws. They work great on brass screws.

[Edward Mitton]

William,
Love the re-purposed cigar box!

[Brett Luna]

You could also check another vendor of gun and shooting supplies: Brownell's. I have one of their Magna-Tip master sets (http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/skus/l_080112081_1.jpg) and use it about as much for woodworking and DIY as I do for gun work. I've been thinking about buying/building a kit to dedicate to woodworking so I can rededicate the original kit back to the gun bench.

[Joe Tilson]

Some time back (3-4 years) Rockler had a set of electrician screw drivers from Germany which did not come up to code in the U.S. If I remember right they sold this set for like $7.99. They were parallel ground and have been a very nice set to work with.

[David Weaver]

If they were red and yellow, I believe LV had something similar and I got them - they've been nice screwdrivers to have.

For anything else, I don't mind getting HF screwdrivers and grinding them. Who knows how many different chinese factories they come out of, but most of the ones I've gotten have been well hardened and have stood up well to modification. When they're marked down, they're $1 each in the stores, or a set of 10 for something like $8.

[William Adams]

Love the re-purposed cigar box!

Thanks! It came from my Dad's estate, so I wanted to use it for something lasting. It was an interesting project and drawing up the parts was fun and it was my first try at flocking --- the fit is a bit tight, need to see what I can do to fix that....

A minor correction --- got the Starrett part numbers reversed I think, (have a 559B (larger / 6" o.a.l.), want a 559A, smaller (4" o.a.l.)), not that it matters much since they're discontinued....

[george wilson]

I ONLY use my Brownell's gun screwdriver set on my fine guns. They have widths that snugly fit all the screws. Plus,they are hollow ground. Any fine mechanism,and they are what I use. I have had sets of Grace screwdrivers. While they are nice and traditional looking(wish their handles were less reddish),their tips are freehand ground looking. Not as precise as the Brownell's with the interchangeable magnetic tips. you can buy extra tips,and if one ever breaks,they'll replace it(though I doubt it's worth the shipping!)

[Edward Mitton]

I have a love for cigar boxes. I use them extensively in my shop, anywhere from storing Altoids tins full of small parts to tool storage. I frequently visit a tobacco shop here that sells cigar boxes for $2 apiece. (I don't smoke, so I only go there for the boxes.) They even have really attractive ones made from finished wood with hinges and clasps. These are great for storing sets of tools.
Given my (anal) propensity for not allowing anything plastic in my handtool shop, cigar boxes fill the bill nicely!

[Doug Hobkirk]

If they were red and yellow, I believe LV had something similar and I got them - they've been nice screwdrivers to have.

For anything else, I don't mind getting HF screwdrivers and grinding them. Who knows how many different chinese factories they come out of, but most of the ones I've gotten have been well hardened and have stood up well to modification. When they're marked down, they're $1 each in the stores, or a set of 10 for something like $8.

How do you grind them? Just the first inch or so? And do you make the side parallel also?

[William Adams]

Back when I was in shop class one of the assignments was to make a screwdriver --- everyone else in class did chisel style ends, but I carefully ground mine into to make a parallel edge w/ a curve leading up to the straight portion (which began just shy of where the sample screw would reach).

Got an A+ (only one in the class) and the teacher took mine home w/ him to heat treat --- but somehow he never could remember to bring it back to school for me. Ran into him at a funeral a year or so ago, but couldn't bring myself to ask after it.

I guess it worked out though, since I'll still grind a spare screwdriver to the right size to fit a screw rather than booger one.

[David Weaver]

How do you grind them? Just the first inch or so? And do you make the side parallel also?

I've been grinding them for things like making them thin to fit old cap irons, or shepherd in this case (my shepherd cap iron has a very thin slot), or grinding them thin and then cutting out the center to make a screw driver to split nut saws. Which I've had to do twice, not because the first one broke, but because i lost it.

I just use a bench grinder, and if needed, a hack saw. at $1, you don't have much to lose when experimenting.

[george wilson]

That was pretty low down,William!! Grabbing a student's project. That would never have occurred to me as a shop teacher. It must have been a nice job,though!