If everything was Robertson screws, we'd only need 5 instead of 4,398. Actually with Robertson you cover about 90% (I think) with 3 sizes, and 75% with 2 sizes. Oh, if life could only be this simple.....

5 hours ago, Cal said:

And @Grandpadave52 & @Gunny - to bring over info from another thread... how many screwdrivers do you reckon the average guy needs?   

Kind of like pencils and clamps. You never can have enough. BTW, you shouldn't be counting the screwdrivers you use for chisels or prybars in the mix. Those have their own categories.

I have  two screwdrivers that I use 95% of the time.  Well, besides the time I have a driver in my drill or impact drier.   In my travel kit, I have one more that is a slotted long reach one that I need sometimes.  On these two, the bits can interchange.

 

 

Edited February 20, 20224 yr by kmealy

Somehow, I ended up with a box of 1 1/4 square drive DW screws. I really like them. They don't cam out and, they're easier to drive straight. 

On 2/19/2022 at 9:02 AM, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

If everything was Robertson screws, we'd only need 5 instead of 4,398. Actually with Robertson you cover about 90% (I think) with 3 sizes, and 75% with 2 sizes. Oh, if life could only be this simple.....

I use mostly #6 and #8 screws.  Usually a square #2 takes care of them.  But some of the 6s need a #1 drive for some reason.   I have a few #4s and they take a #0 square drive (so I had to buy a driver for them).

 

We use Torx at the theater group (and some for building shop furniture at the furniture bank).  The problem I have with them is they have many different sizes and I can't always tell by looking if it's a #20 or #25.  Other than that, I love them.

 

Oh, and I bought the HF kit of "security drivers" but think I only used it once.  I'm wondering just how "secure" it is if anyone can for $5 get a driver at HF.

 

Thankfully, 90% of the hex drivers I need are (for some reason) 5/32.  A few are 6 or 8mm.

14 minutes ago, kmealy said:

Oh, and I bought the HF kit of "security drivers" but think I only used it once.  I'm wondering just how "secure" it is if anyone can for $5 get a driver at HF.

I bought a couple of their sets. One is standard length bits the other is long reach. I've used mine a few times. Mostly on automotive applications but a few on newer consumer products. IMO, the "security" aspect is to prevent the average Joe, DIY'er from tinkering with something...basically protecting him/her from self inflicted injury.

On 2/19/2022 at 7:38 AM, Cal said:

 

On my list of stuff going to the next auction I've put screwdrivers on it.  I really want to thin the herd to where the screwdriver drawer opens and shuts easily.   And that doesn't even count all those free sets that HF used to give away!

 

Just thinned my driver herd a couple of months ago. I bought a nice set and threw out many old beaten drivers. I couldn't throw out the old Millers Falls drivers so after a little maintenance I shuffle them around to the other shops. The rest ended up with my 14 year old neighbor.

31 minutes ago, kmealy said:

I use mostly #6 and #8 screws.  Usually a square #2 takes care of them.  But some of the 6s need a #1 drive for some reason.  

 

 

 

I use almost all #8s, but I do have some #6 trim head screws, and those take a #1 driver.

I'm all over the place with screws. I use a lot of torque deck screws on my exterior barrel projects, Phillips & Hex  on my lights, also I like the driving power of Square Drives when working with the hardwood pallets.

Last fall I sorted out all my 2" driver tips, ordered a bunch of them and bought a 12" magnet strip to keep them on at the bench, and as long as I put them back I have them close at hand.

 

They're in case in the barn.

I used to use McFeely but cannot navigate the new terminology so have been getting Woodcraft square drive. #8 are my go to but have some others from deals. have a few torique for fence repair and wish I had trashed all the phillips but sometime that is the only size I have to fit in a particular spot.

 

Another thought does everyone do like I do and recycle screws. I am always doing shelves and jigs in shop and when I change I reuse the screws. How bout everyone else?

Guess I'm in the same screwdriver boat. Plenty of choices but 99% of the time use a 4-in-1 (6-in-1 if you count nut driver abilities). This Mac set, found it in the middle of the road, splayed all over. Only one bit was missing. Have only used it once or twice.

13 minutes ago, Gerald said:

I reuse the screws. How bout everyone else?

Not only reuse, (Torque Decks screws are expensive), I used to pull cans of old hardware out the the metal dumpster and sort them out. 

I reuse mine once I disassemble something. But I jut do that with the square drive screws I buy.

1 hour ago, Gerald said:

Another thought does everyone do like I do and recycle screws. I am always doing shelves and jigs in shop and when I change I reuse the screws. How bout everyone else?

Yep. Toss them in containers to sort out when I get a round to it. Worse yet, I cannibalize almost everything that has hardware to be reclaimed. Toss those in different receptacles to sort when I get a round to it. One of these days I may find that round tuit.

3 hours ago, Gerald said:

Another thought does everyone do like I do and recycle screws. I am always doing shelves and jigs in shop and when I change I reuse the screws. How bout everyone else?

We used 35 lb of Torx screws on the fall theater set.  You bet we reuse them when we take things apart.

 

Otherwise, in my own shop, yes, if I disassemble something, I save the screws.  When I got and disassembled the Sam's Club wine rack, I probably got 300 "only used once"  1.5" square drive screws.

Edited February 21, 20224 yr by kmealy

16 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Yep. Toss them in containers to sort out when I get a round to it. Worse yet, I cannibalize almost everything that has hardware to be reclaimed. Toss those in different receptacles to sort when I get a round to it. One of these days I may find that round tuit.

 

Yep, that is my method of operation - right down to the tuit

On 2/21/2022 at 3:43 PM, Grandpadave52 said:

One of these days I may find that round tuit

 

On 2/22/2022 at 7:49 AM, Cal said:

Yep, that is my method of operation - right down to the tuit

 

I have found some of those tuts over the years.  Here is a sample.

 

 

 

 

@HandyDan Looks like you are trying to start your own hardware store to me.

23 minutes ago, Gerald said:

@HandyDan Looks like you are trying to start your own hardware store to me.

A very big, well stocked hardware store.

48 minutes ago, Gerald said:

@HandyDan Looks like you are trying to start your own hardware store to me.

 

25 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

A very big, well stocked hardware store.

 

My brother says he goes to the hardware store but knows where he can go if they don't have it.  He has a couple times and I had what he needed.

 

There is a surplus store downtown which used to buy surplus from businesses and resell it.  They had bins full stuff they sold by the pound.  Years ago I could take $2.00 and come home with 6 or 8 new screws etc to put in those jars depending on how much of each I bought.  Now they just buy Chinese crap and resell that so my stock hasn't grown much in these last few years.