From time to time we get inquiries about choosing the right screwdriver bits for different types of screws. In this article, we will briefly review some of the strains most commonly used in Finland and their possible uses. This is just a scratch on the subject, and by no means serves as a completely exhaustive source of information, but works perfectly as a basic information bank for the homeowner.
At the very beginning, it is good to remind you that tip selection starts with the turning tool. Do you use a machine to rotate the screwdriver bit, and if so, what kind of machine or do you do everything with a manual screwdriver handle ?
Two different main types are available for cordless drills: machine bits and screw bits. The machine tips are intended for cordless drills with an impact function, i.e. a striking screw rotation method. This does not mean the same kind of impact drill that is used to drill holes in concrete, but specifically an impact function designed for tightening thick and long screws, which hits the tip a little every time it turns. The easiest way to recognize this is by running the machine at idle speed. An impact drill usually makes a rattling sound as it rotates, while a standard cordless drill just rolls steadily. An example of a machine tip.
The other main type is the standard screwdriver bit . Standard tips can be used without worry with a normal cordless drill and with the hand handle when turning screws. The most significant difference between the two tip types is simply the hardness. Machine tips are designed to withstand continuous impact while rotating, while regular tips can easily break.
The most common cross-head bits in Finland are Phillips and Pozidriv. Both are embarrassingly similar to each other, especially when viewed poorly, but crosswise work very poorly. Who hasn't once tried to use the wrong kind of chisel to turn a poorly visible adjusting screw and wondered why the tip was spinning empty on top of the screw. The tip type is often printed on the side of the screwdriver bit.
The base of the Phillips screw is completely cross-shaped. Phillips is shortened at the tips, and the screws PH and tail have a size marking. For example PH0, PH1 or by far the most common PH2. PH2 has established itself as a base for, for example, drywall screws and chipboard screws.
The pozidriv screw has a cruciform base, but it also includes additional "star teeth". This is sometimes called a star head, but that can be misleading because Torx bits look more like a star. Pozidriv is abbreviated PZ on tips and screws and there is also a size marking on the back. For example PZ0, PZ1 and perhaps the most common PZ2 . Pozidriv head screws are very often used in kitchen furniture and hinge mechanisms.
A flat head is a straight line across the head of a screw. This is often abbreviated with just a number and sometimes a line-like symbol and a number. The number indicates the width of the groove in millimeters. The use of flat-tipped screws has decreased considerably since recent years, when better-holding alternatives have entered the market. The flat tip is still used in some adjustment areas and of course, for example, in old furniture and kitchens. If the base of the old flat-point is worn, and the chisel does not want to stay in its groove, you can try, for example, a piece of blue sticker between the base of the screw and the chisel. Sometimes, when opening really rusty screws, the only option is to saw a new groove with a hacksaw into the base or to cut off the base completely.
As the name suggests, hex socket tips are symmetrical hexagons. They are usually abbreviated only with numbers that indicate the distance between two opposite sides in millimeters. The most common sizes are 5, 6 and 8. Hex socket bits and screws are commonly used, for example, in self-assembling furniture and some adjustment screws.
When you buy screws from a hardware store already in their packages, the right tip is often printed on the edge of the label, and for bulk screws on the shelf card. If you get to choose the socket for the item in use at any given time, I would advise you to prefer the Torx socket due to the good grip during the screwing phase. At least you can't get plasterboard screws with Torx sockets yet. If, on the other hand, it is a screw that needs to be adjusted, for example, the choice could very well be a flat tip. There is often no choice in the store, so the choice is focused on what is available. In those situations, it is much easier to do if you own a comprehensive range of tips .
