Comments on: Highly Recommended: Grace USA Screwdrivers

By: keltor

keltor — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:40:44 +0000

It’s odd, but the only screws I normally have that destroy themselves are Phillips – even though of course they shouldn’t since their designed to cam out. I’ll stick with Pozidrive, Robertson, Torx, Hex or Slotted. (Generally speaking I only use slotted in furniture, Pozidrive for exposed, and Robertson for Carpentry.)

By: MikeC

MikeC — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 19:47:54 +0000

In my opinion, Phillips are the worst of all. They were specifically designed for the driver to cam out of the screw recess for use on assembly lines. Posi-drive screws are much better if you want to use a cross point type screw (so was the Reed Prince, but it’s now commercially extinct). Square recess (which actually predate the Phillips) are far superior as are Torx types. I still prefer slotted screws for my wood working, but it’s getting very difficult to find good ones. Chris promised in this article to tell where to find some, but I have yet to see that information.

By: MikeC

MikeC — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 19:29:39 +0000

The screwdriver blades are tapered, but typically not as much as a modern one. The screw slots are parallel sided. On multi-blade tools it’s common for the outside blades to be only tapered on one side. Also, the narrow blades are not curved to conform to the screws like the larger ones. I assume that’s because they wouldn’t require much curve over a short distance so it isn’t worth the time to create the curve.

By: Danny H.

Danny H. — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:03:38 +0000

I obviously don’t build period furniture or do much repair or restoration of such, so I avoid the use of slotted screws. In fact I have always said that the inventor of slotted screws should have been shot and hung. No offense to the purist , but I much prefer Phillips or square head screws and the reason for that may just be because I’ve never had a good enough fit with the screw drivers I’ve used in my lifetime. Perhaps the good preachers at Grace Tools could convert me, as I’ve been defiled .

By: dknott

dknott — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 01:19:38 +0000

Chris,
Can you point out the differences between this new set of Grace screwdrivers, and their 8-piece gunsmith set? I recently bought the gunsmith tools, but haven’t had a chance to give them a good workout. Thanks.

By: robinmcc54

robinmcc54 — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 21:55:13 +0000

You can spurn these Christians because they use their business to promote their religion, but cutting off your nose to spite their religiosity might be short sighted. As an Agnostic, I’ve done the same thing in the past, but I’ve found over the last 10 years that many Christian businesses deliver better products and service for a fair price. And the ones I’ve dealt with have stellar customer service. I don’t share their religious beliefs, but I sure admire their values!

By: MikeC

MikeC — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:19:03 +0000

Chris

How about those sources? I have no problem finding marine or brass screws, but no luck with quality machined steel screws. I long since used most sizes and lengths from my old hoard of Swedish steel screws and I can’t bring myself to use the current rolled-thread junk coming from Asia.

Mike

By: Publius Secundus

Publius Secundus — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 01:19:56 +0000

Perhaps we’re talking semantics. Are your original drivers parallel-sided? That would seem surprising. Or are you saying that the screwdriver blades are tapered and did not conform to parallel-sided slots in the screws? I meant to suggest that a way to get maximum engagement between driver and woodscrew slot is to taper the slot to conform to a tapered driver. On to Friendship.

By: MikeC

MikeC — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 17:34:02 +0000

Original screws from the early-mid 1800s typically to NOT have tapered slots. The wood screws do have tapered threads, but the slots generally have a curved bottom. In addition to a large collection of flint and percussions muskets and rifles from that era, I also have quite a number of original gun tools. The screwdriver blades are flat sided with curved ends that match the curve in the bottom of the screw slots.

By: Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:47:48 +0000

Man…I have got to talk him into giving me a heads-up before he writes about any tools I might need!