Screwdriver Sets

Welcome to our website. Here you will be able to find information and suppliers of all types of screwdrivers and screwdriver sets that will allow you to do the work at hand.

Stripped screw heads are a common problem, but most of the time it's the screwdriver and not the screw that's the problem. With a wide variety of choices and manufacturers, the proper screwdriver set will provide the correct screwdriver for the screw to be tightened or loosened without damage. It is always tempting to make do with the size that's handy but it is always better to have a correctly fitting screwdriver. It is desirable to have several screwdriver sets for the screws most commonly encountered. To avoid damaging the screw, it is important to press the tip hard into the screw when tightening. Screwdrivers come in many different sizes from tiny jeweler's screwdrivers up to those with a tip greater than one inch.

Also, there is no such thing as a "left-handed screwdriver" since a screwdriver can be equally accomodated with either hand. In years gone by, many apprentice has been sent to retrieve a left-handed screwdriver!

Screwdriver Types

Screwdrivers are defined by the type of screw they drive. The screwdriver tip must match the hole shape and configuration in the head of the screw. There are many types of screwdrivers including the following:

• Slotted (flat, straight)
• Phillips screwdriver (Phillips head screwdriver, cross head)
• Pozidriv (SupraDriv, crosspoint)
• Square
• Robertson (square)
• Hex
• Hex socket (Allen)
• TORX
• Tri-Wing screwdriver
• Torq-Set
• Spanner head (snake-eye)
• Triple square
• Polydrive
• One-way-Clutch
• Spline drive
• Double hex
• ACR
• MorTorq
• Bristol

Mortorq®, Torq-Set®, ACR® and Tri-Wing® are registered trademarks of the Phillips Screw Company. TORX® is a registered trademark of Acument Global Technologies' Camcar LLC.

Of all these, the most common are the slotted, Phillips, Pozidrive, Robertson, TORX and Hex socket.

For TORX information: TORX Screwdriver and TORX Screwdriver Sizing.

Screwdriver Construction

HANDLE - Handles are made of wood or plastic. Wooden handles are often used in larger screwdrivers. The most common screwdrivers have plastic handles. The handles are shaped to allow for a greater grip while still being comfortable to the hand. Non-slip or insulating covers of vinyl or rubber are often added to the handle to improve grip.

SHAFT - One end of the shaft fits into the handle while the other end is formed into the tip of the screw driver. Small specialized screwdrivers can have a non-metallic shaft but most screwdrivers have a plated metal shaft. Consumer screwdriver shafts are usually nickle-plated to prevent corrosion. Screwdrivers for professional use usually undergo a nickel flash bath and are electrically chrome-plated with chromium to prevent discoloration and corrosion.

TIP - The tip is actually part of the shaft. It is the part that is shaped to mate with the screw. Higher quality tips are precisely ground and chrome-plated.

Screwdriver Sets

There are many types of screwdriver sets. Some just include a particular type such as slotted or Phillips in various sizes. Other sets include a combination of types such as slotted, Phillips and TORX.

For working on small things, a precision screwdriver set would be required. A TORX screwdriver set would often be needed for automotive work.

The quality of screwdriver sets varies greatly and of course the better quality sets costs more. The key is to know the intended use. An inexpensive screwdriver set may be perfectly adequate for the occasional home repair while the professional user would definitely want several high quality screwdriver sets.