Screwdrivers are one of the most common and frequently used tools by professionals and DIYers for driving or removing screws.
Screwdrivers come in many sizes, shapes, and types. Aside from the size differences, the screwdrivers differ in the handle, the shaft, the tip (or head) of the screwdriver, and the means by which to power driving. Each screwdriver type is designed for the specific job, so it is important to select the best one for your needs.
Most screwdrivers are made to be operated manually; however, there are some types of screwdrivers that have an internal motor and use battery power or a plug into an electrical outlet, and they drive the screws for you.
Continue reading about the different types of screwdrivers and discover some ideas for which screwdrivers you should have in your toolbox.
What Is a Screwdriver?
A screwdriver is a simple tool used for driving or removing screws. It has a handle, a shaft, and a head or tip, which features the appropriate slit or notch to fit into the screw. There are both manual and electric screwdrivers and they come in many different types.
A screwdriver is used for either tightening or loosening the screw. A screwdriver is simply a round rod, with a flat end; The flat end is called the head, the other end is referred to as the handle.
The length of a screwdriver is measured, not including the handle. The most common length of screwdrivers ranges from 50 millimeters, or 2”, to 18”.
The screwdriver is one of the greatest tool inventions ever created. They were invented in the 15th century and did not become common until the 21st century, and you will find a screwdriver in almost every toolbox.
If you have ever gone to a hardware store you have seen a hundred screwdrivers in various designs, various sizes and various other features. Ultimately, the type of screwdriver you need to use, is determined by the type of recess or screw drive you use.
I assume you become confused between a screw and a screwdriver drive? Just keep reading, all of your confusion will be unconfused.
Parts of Screwdriver
A screwdriver mainly consists of three parts:
- Handle
- Shank
- Blade
#1. Handle.
Handles are usually made of wood or plastic to hold onto. In order to prevent breaking of the wooden handle, iron is added to the handle.
The shank is the middle part between the blade and handle. The lower part of the shank has the tip, or blade, applied.
On the upper part of the shank, either a wire is run through a hole, or by being flat it will allow it to fit securely to the handle so the shank won’t move independently. They are typically made of carbon steel.
#2. Blade.
The blade is the lower part of the shank, which is known as the tip. This is the part applying heat and typically hardening.
#3. Tip/head.
The head is the top portion of the shaft or blade, and engages directly into a screw.
The Function of Various Types of Screwdrivers
Screwdrivers are for inserting and removing screws and nuts. You will not use the same screwdriver to replace a watch battery as you would when hanging a shelf on a wall. Different kinds of screwdriver functions are described below.
- Manual Screwdriver: A screwdriver with a thick handle and cylindrical rod is a basic design. The working end of the rod will insert into the screw heads it is designed for.
- Powered Screwdriver: A screwdriver powered by electricity or a battery is considered powered. Power drills with flat or Phillip’s heads are commonly used, along with multi-bit screwdrivers.
- Ratchet Screwdriver: Ratcheting screwdrivers contain an internal ball-bearing for easy and repetitive turning of the screw without removing the screw’s driver head.
- Magnetic Screwdriver: A magnetic screwdriver can use a standard screwdriver with a magnetized tip to hold screws in place for easier installation and removal.
- Yankee Screwdriver: A Yankee screwdriver applies a spring-loaded mechanism instead of a ball bearing. Rather than twisting/turning the screw with the wrist, you take the screw head and put it against the screw and push it to tighten.
Types of Screwdrivers
Here’s a list of the various types of screwdrivers, which are described below:
- Flat Head
- Philips
- Torx
- Robertson screwdriver or square screwdriver
- Pozidriv
- Hex screwdriver or hexagonal screwdriver
- Offset
- Watchmaker
- Clutch head
- Frearson
- Tri-point
- Tri-angle
- Tri-wing
- Carpenter
- Bolster
- Multipurpose screwdriver
- Special types of screwdrivers
- Electrical
- Torque
- Corded
- Cordless
- Magnetic
- Jeweler’s
- Battery
- Ratchet
#1. Flat Head Screwdriver.
Flathead screwdrivers, true to their name, are used for tightening or loosening screws, and come in small and larger sizes. Flatheads have a wooden or plastic handle attached to them – depending on the size and types.
They can be based on needs into light duty and heavy duty. Flathead screwdrivers always have a flat tip. They can be either powered or manual, but due to the “cam-out effect,” powered options are not as common with flathead screwdrivers.
The “cam-out effect” is when the screwdriver tends to drive itself out of the surface of the screw head when applied torque exceeds a set limit or sometimes due to improper centering, often damaging the screw head or screwdriver tip.
Keystone and cabinet types are the two categories they fall into based on use.
Keystone has a slightly wider shaft tip than cabinet types, which makes it better for uses such as woodworking and other relevant tasks, while cabinet types are used for jewelry making, watch making, and other tasks.
#2. Philips Screwdriver.
The tips of these types of screwdrivers differ from other types because they are pointed and made by cutting four flutes.
Philips screwdrivers are used when the screw head has T cross-shaped groove. These screws are identified by numbers and sizes.
Henry Phillips invented these screwdrivers in the 19th century intending to use power-driven screwdrivers in most industries. The tip of these screwdrivers appears cross-shaped from the front.
These screwdrivers also exhibit cam-out behavior, but only when the torque is overtightening the screw; this is designed to not damage the screw and screwdriver profile and obviously extends the life of the tool.
#3. Torx Screwdriver.
Torx screwdrivers are famous and commonly used by auto engineers, and sometimes called star tips, by engineers too. The driver has six round-shaped lobes on its star tip.
The Torx screwdriver have low radial force because of the lobes have a spherical geometry, this way gives better life to the screw and screw driver tip.
Unlike with Philips or Pozidriv screwdrivers, the torque is transferred without a risk of slipping when working on powered devices, even at high speeds causing more safety.
Torx-type screwdriver tips come in different sizes and have a numbering system like T8, T10, T15, T25, etc. As the number gets larger, torque tip gets larger.
#4. Robertson or Square Screwdriver.
The Robertson screwdriver, or square screwdriver, was invented by a Canadian.
Utilizing a somewhat tapered square-shaped opening screw that has a square projection and no angle does not facilitate cam-out and promotes centralization.
A near-taper shape at the front of the tool provides superior locking with screws, making it more practical.
These types of screwdrivers were put into use by the Ford Motor Company for industrial reasons. The drivers increase production, reduce loss, and provide reliability.
#5. Pozidriv Screwdriver.
The pozidriv screwdriver consists of two cross marks that form an angle of 45 degrees. They are commonly found in most European countries.
While this shape does not eliminate the cam-out effect, it does reduce slippage. As such, this screw drive shape can take advantage of applications that require greater torque to tighten the screw.
#6. Hex or Hexagonal Screwdriver.
It has six flat sides like a hexagon. A hexagonal driver is commonly used to fasten bolts instead of using screws. You might have seen these bits in your toolbox to tighten or loosen hex bolts, nuts, or screws.
Because there is no sliding or cam-out effect when driving it, the strongest driver tools can be fitted with hex drive bits, and thus it’s quicker and less error-prone.
#7. Offset Screwdriver.
Offset screwdrivers have a flat blade but no handle. The shank is turned at 90 degrees at both ends, and both ends have bits.
This tool is mostly used when a narrow or slanted space does not allow for the use of a regular flat screwdriver.
#8. Watchmaker Screwdriver.
Watchmaker screwdrivers come in sets of six, numbered 0 to 5, and the lower number designates a thinner, smaller bit. Instead of incorporating a handle, a cap is attached to the shank.
The cap is attached to the shank in a way that allows the cap and the shank to move independent of each other, the use is the same as the other screwdrivers the tip is placed on the head of the screw first and using one finger to press slightly on the end of the cap while the trainer rotates one finger clockwise or counter clockwise based on the directions needed to tighten or loosen the screw.
A watchmaker screwdriver is usable in all types of instruments and watches, to look at one, it is best to see.
#9. Clutch Head Screwdriver.
These types of screwdrivers are widely used in the automotive industry or repair and are especially common in older GM cars. The clutch head screwdriver is also a bow-tie driver, which is a type of driver for a screw that has a bow-tie-shaped slot.
The clutch screwdriver starts with more torque and can withstand greater rotational force. However, clutch screws are often tight, unlike slotted screws that may be tight or loose, but can be turned with a slotted driver in a clockwise manner to fasten the clutch screw safely. They cannot be loosened with a slotted driver though.
#10. Frierson Screwdriver.
The tips of these types of screwdrivers have a point facing upwards as the Phillips style of screwdriver has a rounded point; the angle of the tip is more toward 45 degrees being made to operate on both Frearson and Phillips fasteners.
The Frearson driver is also referred to as Reed or Prince screwdrivers. The driver is designed very similarly to the Phillips but with modifications.
The different design allows the driver to take out higher torque than the Phillips driver and its ability to operate on Frearson screws in all sizes as well as a large number of Phillip screws.
#11. Tri-point Screwdriver.
In the electronic industry, types of screwdrivers like these are well-seen. Companies like Nintendo and Apple use them for their phones, gaming consoles, and similar consumer electronics.
The tri-point driver features a three-blade tip that sits at 120° to form a Y-shaped end; it is a Y-tip or 3-prong driver as well. Tri-point drivers do also have safety concerns that come from compatibility with the tri-angle driver and hex drivers.
#12. Tri-angle Screwdriver.
Tri-angle screwdrivers are used mostly in the toy, electronics, and appliance industries and added to enhance safety. But, a hex screwdriver can also hold TA screws, which is why many DIY kits don’t have tri-angle drivers.
It is also called a three-angle screwdriver. It has a triangle shaped tip for slotted on the screw head with triangle shape.
#13. Tri-wing Screwdriver.
The tri-wing driver tip is similar to some pinwheels and is intended for use on screws with triangular sockets that have three different sizes of wings. Because the tri-wing screw slots are all varied, it is difficult to remove the screws without a tri-wing driver.
Tri-wing drivers are expensive and not as widely available like every other driver. Driver tips made early on were designed for aerospace engineering but are now readily available in home electronics for consumer use.
#14. Carpenter screwdriver.
The carpenter screwdriver is a round rod with a flat tip. The handle is flat on two sides, allowing the worker to exert full force or leverage of the screwdriver.
#15. Bolster screwdriver.
The bolster screwdriver has a type of nut that is welded to the top of the shaft under the handle.
If the screw is tight on a surface, the screw can be loosened by applying additional torque by turning the welded nut with the use of a wrench. The bolster screwdriver is capable of handling maximum pressure loads under any condition.
#16. Multipurpose screwdriver.
The multipurpose screwdriver has a shank with a hexagonal hole at the end of the shank where drivers can be fit either side for various drivers if someone is using the multipurpose screwdriver or just regular screwdrivers.
They are very common to most toolsets among those with additional device, primarily due to their versatility and economy of space.
#17. Special Types of Screwdrivers.
There are many screwdrivers that also change the design of their handles and the design of their shanks. The optional design increases the torque and gives a little extra clearance.
Here are some special types of screwdrivers:
#1. Electrical Type.
These are charged with electricity and do not require any muscular action to exert the torque. It takes away all the fight and gives you torque on a screw as quickly as possible, even with a broken head. It might be referred to as power screwdrivers or screw guns.
#2. Torque Type.
This type is generally known for its application on cars, but what it considers is the equipment it needs the pressure. It can offer highly specific uses and can do everything from military repair to aircraft.
#3. Corded Type.
These types of screwdrivers are electric cord driven. They are not particularly common because it can be a hassle to have to transport to a power source, but when plugged in, it provides constant power and works well.
#4. Cordless Type.
This screwdriver is powered by a rechargeable battery, so it has the benefits of both electric and battery powered screwdrivers. By virtue, it makes them heavier, and as the battery is used, it will also decrease the torque.
#5. Magnetic Type.
It has a magnetic tip to hold the screw, and it allows you to insert the screw in or out with only one hand. More manual screwdrivers are being manufactured with magnetic tips.
#6. Jeweler’s Type.
These are precision instruments and employ small screws on items like pocket watches and eyeglasses, often called a watch driver or eyeglass driver. It is generally Philips and flathead screwdrivers.
#7. Battery Type.
This type of screwdriver is run with small batteries and will have the compact design. It won’t be as powerful as other types screwdrivers, but it will fit in your toolbox.
#8. Ratchet Type.
In these screwdrivers, there is a spring or ratchet fitted to the handle, completed with a button that sits on the handle.
When the button is pressed, the shank of the ratchet screw will revolve through the use of the spring, and once freed the shank returns to its original position. That being said, screws can be either quickly tightened or loosened.
Conclusion
A simple screwdriver has a handle and shaft that is fastened to the screw head before and turns the handle for tightening or loosening screws. If you want to buy a screwdriver checkout the image resources.