A standard screwdriver set is the mainstay of anybody’s toolbox or repair set. Whether doing maintenance or repairs around the house, at one time or another you’ll need a screwdriver. Drivers come in all shapes and sizes and lengths. The most common screwdrivers you will use will be what is called a flat blade, and a Phillips head screwdriver. (below)
The Break down
A phillips head screw driver comes in multiple sizes ranging from a #1 to a #4. The most common one you will use is a #2. This one fits just about any phillips head screw that you will use around the house. One thing to remember is FIT. Always check your fit before you commence. On a phillips head screw it is real easy to strip the head on the screw if it is not the right fit. So before you try to drive that bad boy home with a double fisted torque twist, try this simple test…. take a NEW screw that you are going to drive and put it on your phillips head driver. If it teeters or you can move it back and forth, its not the right fit. Check that your screw driver is not worn out first. (they do wear out). If all is good and you have minimal (if any) movement, your ready to drive that screw.
Next is the flat head screw driver. When we measure these we actually measure these by fractions. Like 1/2″, 1/4″ ect… When we measure these we will use the head of the screw. If the screw measures 1/4″ wide across the top, we use a 1/4″ wide blade. We will then use the same test as we used on the phillips head. If it wobbles when you place the screw on the blade….. say it with me….. wrong fit. Check your driver blade for wear and if all is good and the wobble is minimal, drive away!
A Little Extra Stuff
The first thing I want to try to drive (no pun intended) into everyones head is SAFETY. Its real easy to use a worn out flat blade screw driver as a pry bar or a chisel. Please do not do this! The tips of a decent screw driver are hardened and will snap off while sending shards of steel into your face or eyes. This would be embarassing as a DIY to have your wife or husband (or worse yet the ER) picking screw driver shards out of your body. So stay safe.
Tip for screw drivers (people and tools)
One of the best things you could have in your bag or box is what DIY peeps call a 6 way. This little gadget has a #1 Phillips, a #2 Phillips, a 1/4″ flat blade, 3/16″ flat blade, a 5/16″ nut driver, and a 1/4″ nut driver. Nut drivers will be discussed at a later time, but the screw driver sizes are all you will ever need all in one little tool! These are great.
