Thread: Woodworkers screwdrivers?

Hey Steve
Have you tried Bunnings? I can bet you my life they would have them in stock!

Joseph

probably the easiest way to get screw turners (wood snob proper term) that fit woos screws properly is to grind them yourself from baught ones.
You will need to find a decent driver in the firts place that has some depth of temper in the blade.
Slot screw drivers should be ground as standard maintence when the tip gets worn.
many of the new cheap drivers are only case hardened & don't hold an edge once they are ground much. I include some of the "good" brands here too.

As far as brass screws grab a coppy of either of the ausie wood mags & there will be adds. there is a dude who is bringing in nice brass hinges & screws. Anton gerner I think.
cheers

Auld Bassoon

Try here

http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/M...tegory_Code=TI

This isn't an Aussie site, unfortunately, but I've bought several different items from them (including some woodworkers' screwdrivers) and their product quality and service is very good.

Hope this helps.

Col

Col

Those Marples screwdrivers are very nice to use. Better after the tips have been filed a little flatter. I bought a vintage set in as-new condition on eBay a few years ago.

<div><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Screwdrivers/image002.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />

Alongside the Marples are a set of Perfect Handle screwdrivers. These are also flat blades (I am still to restore these ones).

For Philips heads, I tend to use Yankee screwdrivers (I don't extend them, but the reverse and forward winding is very handy when you don't want to release the screwdriver). I have three sizes, the #30 (in the picture below), a larger #130, and a smaller #135. I have fitted two of these with multi-tip ends so that I can swap bits.

<div><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Screwdrivers/Yankee30Ascrewdriver1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />

Here is a very nice creation (not mine, but I plan to make one) based on a multi-tip (buy the ends cheaply at Bunnies):

<div><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Screwdrivers/Multitipscrewdriver1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> <br />

There is nothing like wood handles. I reserve the rubber ones for working on my cars.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Steve,

In Hawthorn at Glenferrie Primary School the Handtool Preservation Society holds a swap meet every few months. You name it, it is there as far as handtools.

Dangerous place for someone like you, take your wallet :eek: It costs $5 or thereabouts to get in but the tools - mmmmmmmm I am sure a screwdriver or two will be for sale. Al I and went there once and purchased some items.

http://www.htpaa.org.au/index.php

November 13, 2005 is the next one.

It is a Darksiders heaven.

I second Wood Borers sugestion of checking out a HTPAA tools sale, both in terms of your chance of finding some crewdrivers and also that they are detrimental to your bank balance.

If you are lucky you can find cabinet makers screwdrivers at 2nd hand shops and markets. I picked up a good one at the Camberwell Market just last weekend.

cheers,

Oz Man

Steve I have more screwdrivers than I could possibly justify. In my pile o screwdrivers is an electricans set. The set has a couple of screwdrivers that fit brass screws really well. This is not really suprising as a lot of screw terminals are brass.

Cannot recall the brand but can remember that they seemed expensive at the time.

Here's what I use:



(see http://www.bosch.com.au/content/language1/html/1421.htm).

For darksided screwdriving I use rubber or plastic handled jobbies. Must be why I bought the 'lectric one: could never find wooden handled screwdrivers.

Hi Col,

That's exactly the sort of thing I was looking for; have just ordered a set of from them!

The standard stuff just can't take a grind to get the right angle for "real" LoL woodscrews - none of that Philips or other nonsense for exposed screws (as in hinges, etc).

Only downside: I'll have to make another drawer for them, which means another cabinet....

Cheers!

Thanks Rob!

I'll make a note of that and go along - with a padlock on the old wally - LoL

Cheers!

Hi Soundman!

I've bought some glue before from Anton (good stuff!) and reckon I'll give him a go for some real brass woodscrews as well. Thanks mate!

Cheers!

Steve

I'm glad the link was helpful. I'm sure you won't be disappointed in those screwdrivers.

Derek - I've got a couple of Yankees: an old Stanley that I bought years ago (30 years ago?) and a newer Schroder (see photos) that I bought from the toolsforworkingwood website last year. If you have a look at the chuck arrangement, you'll see that it has a set-up that allows you to use standard type removeable bits. This means you're not limited to using bits that fit the normal Yankee chuck. I've used this screwdriver with Phillips head, Parker-Kalon and Robertson square-drive screws.

I've been doing a bit of reno work at home today. My son was helping me. At one point, the cordless drill he was using to drive some screws died on him. I offered him the Schroder Yankee. He had seen it before but never used it. After 5 minutes - another Darkside convert!

It really is a useful tool for carpentry work in particular. It's a bit brutal for fine woodwork. One slip when you're pushing it hard and you could cause a bit of unintentional distressing :eek:

Col

I've taken to using a stanley yankee when installing gear in equipment racks. A bit more control than a bat drill and the customers seem to like it.

Seems to add that flourish of craftsmanship.
It even sounds technical.

cheers

Today they have arrived, and are little beauties; four days from New York is pretty good.


But and drat, another drawer, and another cabinet to put the drawer into... I'm having to build vertically as I'm running out of floor space

Minor(ish!) whinge: Two cartons nominally arrived yesterday from Lee Valley, but AP-man just left a card. Went to the Post Office referred to, to pick up goodies, only to be told that they weren't there As I had to leave work early to get from the CBD to the 'burb where I live before the PO closes, I was just a tad miffed...

After going through IVR-hell on AP's "help desk", I eventually got through to a helpful chap who, though he 'phoned several POs and sundry depots couldn't find any trace He did 'assure' me that they'd find the items and deliver them to a PO in the CBD conveniently close to where I work; we'll see, I suppose. This is going to be one very pi$$ed of Bassoon if my L.V. goodies have gone AWOL...

Cheers!