Types of Screwdriver and Their Uses (With Pictures)
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Iman SadeghiTypes of Screwdriver and Their Uses (With Pictures)
Uploaded by
Iman SadeghiTypes of Screwdriver and Their
Uses [with Pictures]
Types of Screwdriver
What is a Screwdrivers?
Types of Screwdriver and Their Uses [with Pictures] :- A
screwdriver is a mechanical tool which is used for turning screw.
It consists of a metal rod with a flat or cross-shaped end that fits
into the top of the screw head.
14 Different Types of Screwdrivers
Following are the different types of Screwdrivers:
1. Phillips screwdriver
2. Flat head (Slotted Head) screwdriver
3. Torx screwdriver
4. Hex Screwdriver or Hexagon Screwdriver
5. Pozidriv Screwdriver
6. Robertson or Square screwdriver
7. Clutch head or Bow tie screwdriver
8. Frearson (Reed and Prince Screwdriver)
9. JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard)
10. Hex socket or hex screw drive
11. Magnetic screwdriver
12. Battery operated screwdriver
13. Right angle screwdriver
14. Ratcheting screwdriver
1. Phillips Screwdriver: ( Types of Screwdriver )
A person named Henry Philips, in the 19th century invented the
Philips screwdriver. The main aim behind the invention of this type
of screwdriver was to introduce a new variety of screwdrivers in
the industries, that is, the power driven screwdriver.
Phillips screws can be identified by a plus on their heads, are
widely used for construction and woodworking purposes. It is also
known as the crosshead screwdriver as the X-shape blade fits
into the head cavity firmly so it provides better traction when
tightening or loosening the screw. These drivers are such
designed to slip out of the head when a certain torque limit is
exceeded, which depends upon strength and weakness of the
screw.
2. Flat Head or Slotted Head Screwdriver: ( Types
of Screwdriver )
As the name suggests a flat-head screwdriver has a wedge-
shaped flat tip which is used to tighten or loosen screws that have
a linear notch on their heads. This is the most common tool on the
mechanical field.
It can be manual driven or power driven, however, not mostly
power driven because slotted head has ‘cam- out effect’. Cam-out
effect is a process by which the screwdriver slips off from the
surface of the screw head, when the torque applied on the
surface of the screw head exceeds a certain limit or sometimes
due to lack of centering, which eventually causes the damage to
the screw head or screwdriver tip.
The flat head screws are commonly used in furniture
construction, small cabinetmaking projects, and in some
electrical applications but are not extensively used in residential
construction anymore.
3. Torx Screwdriver: ( Types of Screwdriver )
Torx screwdriver has a star shape tip with 6 rounded lobes. Torx
was initially used for security purpose but now it is found in many
other applications also. Because of the circular geometry of the
lobes there is low radial force required in a torx screwdriver, which
increases the life of the screw and the screwdriver bit.
Presently, Torx drivers are mainly used in appliance industry and
security fields because of its efficiency.
4. Hex Screwdriver or Hexagon Screwdriver: (
Types of Screwdriver )
It has six straight lobes, like hexagon. These are used to fasten
mostly bolts rather than screws. It requires a hex key screwdriver
also known as Allen key screwdriver to tighten or loosen.
No slipping effect takes place while driving this hence most of the
power driver tools can be fitted with hex arrangement bits and
thus makes the production fast and easier with minimized error.
5. Pozidriv Screwdriver: ( Types of Screwdriver )
Pozidriv also is known as “Pozidrive”. Unlike Phillips screwdriver,
the pozidriv screwdriver has two cross sign which are offset at 45
degree angles from the main blades.
This type of screwdrivers have blunt tips and small ribs on the
blade between the main edges which increases the torque and
reduces the risk of cam-out effect. This drive is extremely popular
in manufacturing because of its self-centering design.
6. Robertson or Square Screwdriver: ( Types of
Screwdriver )
The square screwdriver also known as Robertson screwdriver is
named after a Canadian inventor.
This type of screwdrivers constitutes the highest torque than all
drive types. Square head screws are mostly found in the
automotive and furniture industries because of their durability.
Slight Taper shape at the front of the tool provides a good locking
with the screw and thus makes it more comfortable for use and
also neglects the cam out effect.
7. Clutch Head or Bow Tie Screwdriver: ( Types of
Screwdriver )
The slots look like a bow-tie and in the older versions there was a
circular cavity in the middle.
Clutch head also have a security version that is slotted one way
and it is very difficult to remove it. These are found mostly in
places where maintenance is not frequent, such as bus stations or
prisons.
Clutch head screwdriver types mostly used in the automotive
industry and are very popular with older GM vehicles.
8. Frearson or Reed and Prince Screwdriver: (
Types of Screwdriver )
The Frearson type of screwdriver is similar to Phillips. The first
difference is Frearson has sharp tip whereas Phillips has a
rounded tip. Also, the angle of the tip is at 45 degrees which
means a single Frearson screwdriver can be used on any size of
Frearson screw and for many Phillips screws. Its advantage is that
it avoids typical problems such as shattering and premature bit
wear.
The shape helps the Frearson screwdriver to generate greater
torque than a Phillips screwdriver which helps to use it in nautical
equipment and specified areas where precision is required.
9. JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard): ( Types of
Screwdriver )
JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard)is one of the most recognized
types and probably the most commonly used driver in the toolbox
for fastening cross-point screws. It looks similar to the Phillips
head but it is designed to resist camming out.
Its main advantage over the Phillips screwdrivers is that it has
self-centering and quick tool and screw engagement.
It allows torque and over-tightening to be controlled by the
operator and not by the head of the screw.
10. Hex Socket Screwdriver: ( Types of
Screwdriver )
Hex socket drivers have a socket instead of a blade or tip, thus it
acts as a socket wrench. The hex socket screw driver has a
hexagonal cavity driven by an Allen key, hex key, or hex
screwdriver. Socket wrenches have a handle that operates
parallel to the surface of the bolt, requiring additional space to
turn. With the straight handle in Hex screw drive the bolt requires
less clearance to turn. These screwdrivers can make the process
of loosening and tightening hex nuts, bolts, and screws much
faster and easier.
11. Magnetic Screwdriver: ( Types of Screwdriver
)
The magnetic screwdriver has the magnetic tip which holds the
screw and with that you can place or extract the screw single
handedly. It is applicable in small electronic industries when
trying to place screws in hard-to-reach locations. Its use is easy
as they stick to our screwdriver.
We can magnetize our existing screwdriver easily using a earth
magnet instead of buying new sets of magnetic tipped
screwdrivers.
12. Battery Operated Screwdriver: ( Types of
Screwdriver )
There are many electric drives that use a battery as a power
source which makes them very compact. This tool is not ideal for
heavy driving or drilling, it is perfect for general light screw
driving tasks. These types of screwdrivers don’t have the power
as other power tools have but it is a space saver.
For example, we can use it to fix screws in computers without
disassembling it.
13. Right Angle Screwdriver: ( Types of
Screwdriver )
As the name suggests, it is a right angled screw driver. These
type of screwdrivers helps to work where there is no space for
straight handle. They are very useful in automotive and similar
fields.
The ratcheting mechanism provides enough torque for tightening
and loosening hardware.
14. Ratcheting Screwdriver: ( Types of
Screwdriver )
Ratcheting screwdrivers reduce the lift as well as save operation
time. It repositions the screwdriver tip automatically after every
turn. Ratcheting screwdrivers consists of an internal ball bearing
mechanism that allows the user to make multiple turns of the
screw with an easy back-and-forth wrist action.
By switching a button on the screwdriver the ratcheting action
can be changed from one direction to the other so that it is
applicable to insert screws in clockwise directional motion and
remove screws in the counter-clockwise direction motion.
