A "slotted flat blade screwdriver" is a long standard hand-tool dating back to the 1500s. It has a flat-bladed tip used to turn, fasten or loosen screws and bolts. The flat blade screwdriver is an extremely versatile tool and is used for fasteners of all sizes, providing significant leverage.
A flat-head screwdriver is a screwdriver with a wedge-shaped flat tip, used to tighten or loosen screws that have a straight, linear notch in their heads.
The tool used to drive a slotted screw head is called a standard, common blade, flat-blade, slot-head, straight, flat, flat-tip, or "flat-head" screwdriver. This last usage can be confusing, because the term flat-head also describes a screw with a flat top, designed to install in a countersunk hole.
A flathead has a single blade, and a Phillips has two blades in the shape of a cross. Attempts to use a flathead tool on a screw designed for a Phillips usually won't be successful, and a Phillips screwdriver could never be used on a slotted screw.
Everyone knows what a flathead screwdriver looks like, but that is actually not the correct term. This type of driver is technically known as a standard or slotted screwdriver. It's known as standard because it was the original form of driver head.
Only straight flathead screwdrivers will work. Don't try to sharpen both sides of the screwdriver. It might be tempting, but it will compromise the edge, making it too thin, and you can't maintain the 30 degree bevel angle unless only one side is flattened.
Henry Frank Phillips (June 4, 1889 – April 13, 1958) was an American businessman from Portland, Oregon. The Phillips-head ("crosshead") screw and screwdriver are named after him.
The reason for the different styles is cost and torque. Phillips screws are self-centering, making powered screwdrivers possible. They're somewhat more expensive to produce than slotted-head. They tend to 'cam-out' easily under torque, making it hard to apply much torque.
Phillips screw heads allow a tighter fit than a flat head screw, which is why most factories and handymen use them. The screws tend to be lightweight and relatively small. The trick is to match your screwdriver to the type and size of screws you're using.
Torx or Star Screwdriver
Torx is the trademark for a type of screw head with a six-point star-shaped intrusion, hence the generic name star screwdriver.
Flat Head Screwdriver
Never use a screwdriver as a pry bar. If you cannot remove a component, check to see if there is a clip or latch that is securing the component in place. CAUTION: If excessive force is needed to remove or add a component, something is probably wrong.
SCREWDRIVER TYPE: Phillips
Phillips screws, identifiable by a flared “+” on their heads, are widely used for construction and woodworking purposes.
Slot. Slot screw drives have a single horizontal indentation (the slot) in the fastener head and is driven by a "common blade" or flat-bladed screwdriver. This form was the first type of screw drive to be developed, and for centuries, it was the simplest and cheapest to make.
4.81–4.85. A Robertson screw, also known as a square screw or Scrulox, is a type of screw with a square-shaped socket in the screw head and a corresponding square protrusion on the tool. Both the tool and socket have a slight taper.
The Star (also known as Torx) has a six-point, star-shaped drive that was developed mainly to enhance tamper resistance and ensure snug fits. The star design drivers cut down on the risk stripping the screw heads, slippage, or cam-outs, with tight, specific fits.
To counteract these disadvantages, J. P. Thompson patented a screw with a cross recess in 1933. He sold the patent to the Phillips Screw Company. It improved the profile and introduced the screw to the market in 1936/37.
The new series of demolition screwdrivers were designed to take and deliver a beating. Engineered, manufactured and tested for prying and chiseling, the unique screwdriver design transfers impact force directly to the work surface. A plated metal strike cap protects the handle from hammer blows.
Screwdrivers are often misused as chisels. This can be dangerous. The chiseldriver is the solution when not only screwdriving is required. For fastening, chiselling and loosening seized screws. Wera chiseldriver: the screwdriver whenever the going gets tough!
1. Phillips screw - a screw with a special head having crossed slots. screw - a fastener with a tapered threaded shank and a slotted head. trademark - a formally registered symbol identifying the manufacturer or distributor of a product.
Phillips. A Phillips screwdriver has a head with pointed edges in the shape of a cross, which fits neatly into the cross slots of a Phillips screw. Phillips screwdrivers are available in five different sizes, from zero to four.
Square – The square “Robertson” tip was introduced in the early 1900s to avoid the driver slippage professionals experienced when using a flat head. This screwdriver design is self-centering and enables easy one-handed driving with a secure fit.
Torx screws are used in all manner of applications, primarily in the automotive and electronics industries. TA and TP3 are two different types of screw drive, but they look fairly similar. They're triangular drives, which is fairly unique. The TA has straight walls, while the TP3 has walls that curve.