Screws tools

We noticed you are accessing from Canada. Change to Lee Valley Canada website to see content specific to that region and the best shipping options. Our selection of good-quality wood screws offers plenty of options for interior and exterior woodworking applications. External hex screws have a hexagonal head shape that protrudes from the surface. Some have built-in flanges, whereas others only have the hexagon shape as the full head.

You can get good leverage on these screws since you turn the full head, rather than just an internal portion of the head. See more about hex bolts here.

A Phillips screw is one of the most common. This screw has a cross-shape that helps self-center the screw to avoid it drilling at odd angles. You can also use a drill with a Phillips screw because its self-centering design allows it to remain in place when you apply force from a drill.

However, too much force can strip the head quickly. Pizodrive screws look similar to the Phillips shape, except that they have a few more grooves in them that create a shape resembling a star.

You can tell the difference between a Pozidrive and Phillips screw by looking at them from the side. The Quadrex head drive, also known as a Phillips square drive, is a combination of Phillips and square recess.

It looks much like the Phillips design, except that the middle of the cross shape is squared rather than pointed, which can help prevent stripping when you apply more force. Slotted head screws are what most people refer to as flathead screws, because they have one narrow opening for a flat screwdriver. In fact, slotted screws are supposed to strip , by design, to prevent you from overtightening them. Slotted screws are best for projects that require a few screws that you can screw manually, rather than with a powered drill, which will often cause the screw to strip or cam out.

These have a square center point that prevents cam outs. Triple squares are most commonly used when you need a high level of force without stripping the screw.

TORX screws have a 6-point star shape in the middle and are often used on electronics items , like computers and DVD players. One of the reasons these screws are becoming more popular in recent years is because of their ability to prevent cam out, which is especially helpful when building electronics. Source: OEM Fast.

TORX Plus screws have shallower grooves between the star points to allow a screwdriver or bit to have more contact with the screwhead, which will enable you to put more force on it. Source: Global Industrial. Tri-Wing screws are a somewhat recent invention of the Phillips Screw Company, which offer both the ability to apply more force than you could to a regular Phillips screw and more security than other screws.

The Tri-Wing design needs a special driver to install and remove it, and its deep grooves allow for more torque from a drill. These screws are beneficial for use in public places that might fall victim to theft, like public restrooms, where expensive fixtures can be tempting for some. There are various types of tamper-resistant screws, all of which offer multiple levels of security:. The most common type of tamper-resistant screw, the pin screw will have the same design as what their regular versions have, such as a cross-shape for a Phillips screw, but with an additional layer of security to prevent easy removal.

Frequent Questions. Search our organized FAQs for answers to product, purchasing, and shipping questions. Pocket-hole screws pull it all together Specially engineered with your projects in mind. Build This.

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Outdoor Wine Caddy This outdoor wine caddy not only looks great, but is very functional and will definitely keep your wine safe! Angled Cedar Planter Turn simple 1x2s and fence pickets into a beautiful new planter. These types of screwdrivers are not popular, as they must be tethered to a nearby power source. However, corded screwdrivers give out a constant power supply and are extremely efficient.

These screwdrivers are equipped with a rechargeable battery, which means they come with the benefits of both electrical and battery-powered screwdrivers. Unfortunately, this also makes them bulkier and heavier, and as battery charge wears down, cordless screwdrivers lose torque as well.

Magnetic screwdrivers have a magnetic tip that holds the screw in place, allowing users to put in or pull out the screw with one hand. More and more manual screwdrivers are being built with magnetic tips. Also known as watch or eyeglass screwdriver, these are precision devices that work the tiny screws on pocket watches and eyeglasses. A ratchet screwdriver allows you torque to be applied in one direction.

Turning the torque in the opposite direction will allow the ratchet to disengage, allowing free rotation. This type of screwdriver allows the user to keep hold of the screwdriver while turning it until the wrist reaches its maximum twist. Then the driver head can be left in the screw, and once the wrist is ready, can be twisted back again. The rachet screwdriver is extremely useful for projects where removing the screwdriver and then finding the screw head again is a challenge.

The screwdriver is one of the most commonly found tools across the world. The first screws and screwdrivers likely came into being around the same time in the first century A.

We also know that the first Phillips head screwdriver only dates back to the s, and was invented by Henry Phillips in the United States. Given the sheer number of different models of screwdriver in the world, it is virtually impossible to come to any kind of consensus answer regarding whether screwdriver handles are insulated.

The truth is that most screwdriver handles are insulated, with typical industrial models insulated up to one thousand volts. That said, one should never trust that a screwdriver is insulated until the fact has been confirmed with its manufacturer. A screwdriver is actually one of the simplest tools with one of the most unique tool functions. This tool is composed of a simple piece of metal, usually attached to a handle, that has a uniquely shaped head.

The user inserts the head of the screwdriver into the slots on a corresponding screw and turns. The solid metal construction of the device prevents it from bending or spinning, so the object on the other end moves instead. A screwdriver can probably be used as a chisel in a pinch, but doing so is not recommended. Remember, a screwdriver is not made to be hit against an object repeatedly, so it could very likely break or splinter upon repeated contact.

As such, a screwdriver should only be used as a chisel in an emergency. Both the length and width of a screwdriver can vary wildly, with some screwdrivers being only millimeters wide, while others might measure almost an inch wide.

Magnetizing a screwdriver requires a few steps. First, ensure that the screwdriver is clean. Next, run a strong magnet from the bottom of the screwdriver shaft to the top of it.

Do this a few times, then rotate the screwdriver a quarter turn. Continue running the magnet along the screwdriver until the magnet has gone all the way around the tool. For most people, the biggest factor when it comes to buying a screwdriver is the price. Cheap screwdrivers from unknown brands often have problems with their tips.

Sometimes the tips do not fit into any type of screw properly. Cheap screwdrivers can also be made of soft material that cracks easily under increased torque.

These can also damage the screw to the point that it becomes extremely difficult to remove it without damaging the work surface. When shopping for screwdrivers, always make sure to buy from credible brands. Take a few of the screws needed to work with to see if they properly fit the screwdriver.