All for a screwdriver

[AndyT]

:lol: =D> :lol:

 

[Carl P]

Can't quite make it out from the picture, but whatever it is, that reputation's screwed now!

Cheerio,

Carl

 

[Henning]

And a little tip for anyone not able or willing to do fantastic restorations and find gems amongst all the rocks...

I have a set of these: http://www.graceusaguntools.com/screwdrivers.htm which i use for my guns and also for brass slot head screws. Absolutely great for both!

 

[condeesteso]

They look rather nice Henning - no prices I note, and what is Maine hardwood, is it different to Kent hardwood at all

 

[Henning]

They look rather nice Henning - no prices I note, and what is Maine hardwood, is it different to Kent hardwood at all

Not sure what Maine hardwood is at all, it looks suspiciously as oiled Beech, or similar.
They are rather nice, though, and pricewise not to bad i think. They do make a cabinetmakers set as well, IIRC.
Look at that: http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodw ... rewdrivers
An assortment specifically for woodscrews! I didn't know, but now i "need" one...

Edit; Also says the handles are birch.

 

[Shrubby]

Strange that it took 5 pages before the subject of parallel tips came up
Most slotted screwdrivers have a tapered blade which is a poor fit and tends to damage slotted brass screws by camming out of the slot.
better designs are the hollow ground gunsmith type or the parallel Swiss VSM standard - these also have docked corners so they don't ride up out of the slot as the screw goes into the countersink
Matt

 

[jamesicus]

.......... So the arrow means military, learn something new everyday, so guess its a WMD as issued to the Home Guard ..........

.......... It means to a military contract/specification, often accompanied by the numbered spec. against which it was made ..........

.......... It's easy to understand the demise of many tool making firms at that point - they would have been in full-on wartime production, to cover losses from enemy activities, etc., then, when peace was restored, many of the military tools were re-used in civilian life, so sales would have collapsed. The late 1940s and 1950s must have been tough for them, despite the need to rebuild infrastructure, etc. ...........

I discuss this here -- a caveat, many of my notes are based on long ago remembrances. Here is an example of a WD marked chisel (broad arrow) from the WWII years:

James

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Strange that it took 5 pages before the subject of parallel tips came up
Most slotted screwdrivers have a tapered blade which is a poor fit and tends to damage slotted brass screws by camming out of the slot.
better designs are the hollow ground gunsmith type or the parallel Swiss VSM standard - these also have docked corners so they don't ride up out of the slot as the screw goes into the countersink
Matt

Agreed!

A couple of years ago, I refiled the tips of my cabinet screwdrivers so that they neatly fitted the slots of numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 screws. It was surprising how much thicker the tips were after treatment, and how much more they 'gripped' the screw - putting a screw in is far easier, now.

I think the earliest screws - the 17th and 18th century hand-filed ones - had taper slots, put in with a special screw slotting files. (You can still buy screw-slotting files for such specialist trades as clock and watch making and gunsmithing.) The first turnscrews were thus presumably tapered to suit, but when machine-made screws with parallel slots became more common in the late 18th and 19th century, the toolmakers didn't really catch up - and in some instances, still haven't caught up!

(Additional tip - find one manky old screwdriver with a ragged-out tip, and designate it solely for opening tins, poking crud out of corners and such like jobs. Doesn't half save your decent screwdrivers!)

 

[Tony Spear]

(Additional tip - find one manky old screwdriver with a ragged-out tip, and designate it solely for opening tins, poking crud out of corners and such like jobs. Doesn't half save your decent screwdrivers!)

Been there, done that - problem is when I need to open a can of paint I can never find the bl**dy thing!

 

[condeesteso]

(never a dead thread!)... Just got a set of the perfect handle cabinet screwdrivers from Workshop Heaven. These:

Not tried them yet but needed some parallel drivers for ages and these look excellent - nicely made (in China, for Chestnut Tools Canada). Excellent value I think. I'm very confident they will work really well, complete with nice instructions on burnishing the ends and with a small basic burnisher included.
It reminds me, why on earth doesn't a company like our own Crown Tools realise that parallel tips are what we want. I have a set of the Crown ones, surely it would be easy for them to offer a parallel option. A shame we have to import but at these prices I doubt anywhere else could compete.
Anyway, look excellent, feel quite good. I'll report back once I have used them. Nice find Matthew =D> =D>

 

[jimi43]

You could have a butchers at my set next time you're over Douglas....needless to say...fantastic value and quality!

Jimi

 

[condeesteso]

I expect they'll look a lot like mine Jim? btw, is there actually anything left in the WH catalogue you have missed :lol: :lol:

Just wondering... why the adoption of the perfect pattern for these? They are not for striking or opening tins or removing rusty sods. I do like them and they feel quite nice, but technically intruiged a bit. Must say I do like the size and lower mass of the trad wooden handle. I'll get along with these fine, but any thoughts?

 

[jimi43]

I expect they'll look a lot like mine Jim? btw, is there actually anything left in the WH catalogue you have missed :lol: :lol:

Just wondering... why the adoption of the perfect pattern for these? They are not for striking or opening tins or removing rusty sods. I do like them and they feel quite nice, but technically intruiged a bit. Must say I do like the size and lower mass of the trad wooden handle. I'll get along with these fine, but any thoughts?

Oooops sorry mate...didn't quite read your post properly...and I kind of thought that they were on the "might buy list" as you hadn't mentioned them during our recent capers though I think I know why that may have been.

We can have a long chat about the merits of the design...they seemed to be more favoured by auto guys simply because of their virtual indestructible design...a few taps and you have a poor man's impact driver. Certainly the (many) old examples I have picked up in my field wanderings around Kent indicate their longevity!

I have used them quite a bit in anger...on e-BORE mostly as you would appreciate...they are excellent in tightening Asian cable terminals which otherwise seem to defeat most European screwdrivers.

I think they are a sound investment and keenly priced. I certainly don't regret buying them...and I have to say...I am SO glad I occasionally have the breaking strain of a Kit Kat when tool lust sets in...in the direction of Workshop Heaven rather than the rather rutted path of another UK supplier who seems to have lost the plot...(again!).

Speak soon...today actually! LOL!

Jimi