Screwdriver Comparison: How to Choose the Right Type and Material

If you are purchasing screwdrivers for wholesale, retail or OEM projects, selecting the right materials or types of screwdrivers is vital. The wrong choice of screwdriver may cause slippage and wear during your operation, which will greatly affect the usage efficiency. This article will introduce you to different types of screwdriver bits and materials, helping you determine which one is suitable for your task and find the products according to your target market. 

Different Type of Screwdriver Bit

Slotted Screwdriver:Slotted screwdrivers are one of the most commonly used screwdrivers, which are designed to fit slotted screws. You can always use it in daily carpentry, woodworking, and electrical applications. However  this screwdriver is not suitable for high-torque tasks.

Phillips Screwdriver:Phillips screwdrivers have a tip shaped like the letter ‘X’, which is designed to fit with Phillips screw heads. It’s easier to center than Flathead screwdrivers. If you need to do electronic and hardware installation tasks, this screwdriver is indispensable.

Torx Screwdriver:Torx screwdriver has a “six-point star ” tip and its size follows the T numbering system, typically ranging from T1 to T55(with larger sizes up to T100 available) . This screwdriver has a large contact area, strong torque transmission capacity and is not prone to slipping. Besides, you must use the correct size Torx bit, and it cannot be replaced by standard Phillips or Slotted bits.

Pozidriv Screwdriver: The tip of the pozidriv screwdriver is similar to the cross-shape tip, offset at 45-degree angles. It is easy to confuse with a Phillips screwdriver, but a Pozidriv screwdriver improves stability, suitable for greater torque. If you need high-torque construction, renovation and assembly work, this screwdriver is very suitable. 

Robertson Screwdrivers:Robertson screwdrivers are compatible with square screws and are also called square drives. Compared with other screwdrivers, Robertson screwdrivers have a great torque transmission, less slippage, and you can operate it with one hand in many conditions. But this type of screwdriver’s global adoption is not as good as that of Phillips and Torx. If you target North America as your market, you must purchase this screwdriver.

Hex Screwdrivers:Hex Screwdrivers are also called Allen key screwdrivers, the shape of the blade tip is similar to a hexagon, suitable for hexagon socket screws and some hexagon bolts. It’s commonly used in flat-packed furniture and mechanical applications. If you frequently use hex sockets in your daily life, this screwdriver can perfectly match.

Tri-Wing Screwdrivers:Tri-Wing Screwdriver’s tip resembles a pinwheel. This screwdriver is very small and highly specialized. Tri-Wing Screwdrivers only come in three sizes, if you are engaged in the aerospace industry manufacturing or the repair of electronic devices such as mobile phones or cameras, you can choose it.

Insulated and VDE Certified Screwdrivers:Insulated screwdrivers are made from non-conductive materials such as rubber. VDE certified screwdrivers have undergone high-voltage testing. If you are engaged in electrical appliance repair or industrial equipment maintenance, this type of screwdriver provides insulation protection for you.

How to Select the Right Screwdriver Types for your Business?

The first step in choosing a screwdriver is to identify the screw drive type, the next step is to consider the applications and torque requirement. Finally, you should consider your target market.

1.Identify the screw drive type:

Some screwdrivers have similar shapes, but that doesn't mean they can be used interchangeably. Phillips screwdriver and Pozidriv screwdriver both have a cross-shaped profile, but they are not compatible. They are prone to slipping, getting stuck, and even damaging the screw heads if used interchangeably. In addition, Insulated / VDE certified is not a drive type, so you still need to select a screw drive first before you determine whether you need VDE certification.

2.Consider the application

Slotted screwdriver and Phillips screwdriver cover daily household maintenance and installation; Torx screwdriver are suitable for assembling automobiles, machinery and electronic products; Robertson screwdriver is more suitable for carpentry, decoration and common fasteners in Canada; if the work involves electricians and distribution cabinets, VDE insulated screwdrivers should be given priority. 

3.Torque Requirements

If you have a high torque requirement, you should upgrade from Slotted/Phillips screwdriver  to Pozidriv, Robertson or Torx screwdriver. Those types of screwdrivers are more anti-slip and have stronger torque transmission. As for the scenarios that require both high torque and safety such as breaker panels and control panels, you should choose insulated and VDE certified screwdrivers

4.Consider the target market

In North America,  Phillips screwdriver and Slotted screwdriver are common in home maintenance scenarios, Torx is more practical in automobile maintenance or mechanical assembly. Robertson screwdrivers are indispensable in Canada.

In Europe, you should consider the pozidriv screwdriver first, it’s common in European furniture hardware, Euro screws, cabinet installation and some decoration scenarios.

In Asia, Slotted, Phillips, Torx and Hex screwdrivers can cover general home repair, appliance maintenance, electronic equipment and common hardware scenarios. 

5.Standards and Certificates

Screwdrivers generally do not require mandatory certificates. The key to a screwdriver lies in whether it can pass the performance test. These include hardness testing, torque testing, and the strength test of the combination between the shank and the handle. Some screwdrivers will also undergo impact tests, solvent resistance tests, etc.  Insulated screwdrivers or high-risk products will be subject to specialized safety certification and testing.

6.There are several standard systems for screwdrivers：

ASME / ANSI：It is often collectively referred to as the American standard system and is more commonly used in the US market. 

ISO：This standard is widely used internationally, and many European customers refer to these requirements.

BS：The British standard system is suitable for the needs of customers in the British market. 

VDE / IEC 60900：It is mainly used for safety requirements of live-line operations such as insulated screwdrivers 

4 Type of Screwdriver Material You should Know

The criterion for judging whether a screwdriver is of high quality is not "the best materials used". Therefore, instead of choosing the best materials, it is better to select the "most suitable materials" based on your actual usage scenarios. Let me introduce to you four common materials for screwdrivers and tell you how to choose the most suitable material.

Chrome Molybdenum Steel (Cr-Mo)

If your screwdriver is to be used in auto repair and industrial-grade high-torque operations, this high strength, high toughness and hard-wearing material is the best choice. It includes 4130 steel, 4140 steel and 4340 steel. 4130 steel is often used in structural components, 4140 steel is often used for wear-resistant parts, 4340 steel is often used in aircraft and power plants.

Chrome Vanadium Steel (Cr-V)

Cr-V is composed of two metals, chromium and vanadium, it is wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant. If you only need furniture repair and general auto repair, you can consider this material.

Carbon Steel (CS)

This material is easy to process and suitable for ordinary entry-level screwdrivers . There are 4 types of carbon steel. Low-carbon steel is the most widely used. Medium-carbon steel provides a certain degree of ductility and is easy to process. High-carbon steel has extremely high hardness and great brittleness. Ultra-high-carbon steel is even harder and more brittle, but the processing difficulty is also greater. You can choose different grades of CS according to your torque requirements .

S2 Tool Steel  

This material has good hardness and toughness properties. Compared with other materials, it’s easy to machine and can be drilled, milled, and tapped relatively quickly. If you need a screwdriver which is used in  high-torque, industrial-grade high-frequency scenarios, S2 steel can match your requirements.

FAQ

1.How do I maintain screwdrivers to extend their service life?

You have to select the correct groove type before use, clean the tip and put your screwdriver in a dry place after using. Long-term incorrect use will cause the screwdriver tip to wear out, and long-term storage in a damp environment will cause the screwdriver to rust 

2.What screwdriver types are essential in a basic screwdriver set?

A basic screwdriver set includes at least four types of screwdrivers: Slotted screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, Hex screwdriver and Torx screwdriver.If you are going to use it for electronic repair or industrial repair, you can supplement precision screwdrivers, etc 

3.What type of screwdriver should I use for basic home repair tasks? 

For most home users, Slotted screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver can almost cover your daily house maintenance. If you want to improve universality, Hex screwdriver and Torx screwdriver can adapt to more assembly scenes. 

4、How can you magnetize a screwdriver​? 

You should rub a magnet along the screwdriver shank repeatedly for about 10 to 20 times, and then test the magnetic property of the screwdriver tip with a screw. If the magnetism is weak, repeat it several more times. If you want a faster way, try to use specialized magnetizers, let the screwdriver pass through the magnetized slot for a few seconds. 

5. Are all insulated screwdrivers suitable for electrical work? 

Not all insulated screwdrivers are suitable for electrical work, you need to check the rated voltage, applicable scene and information labels before purchasing, rather than just looking at the appearance. 

Final Thoughts

This article provides you with detailed guidance on choosing a screwdriver. As a professional hardware tool supplier and wholesaler in China, we have more than 25 years experience in screwdriver manufacturing and provide high quality tool sets to customers worldwide. Diversitech's screwdrivers are made of high-quality raw materials and undergo heat treatment processes and strict inspection procedures to ensure that each screwdriver meets the standards. 

Diversitech provides OEM/ODM service, private-label packaging and customized tool box design. Contact us and tell us your requirements. Let our professional team help you stand out in the international tool market by our stable production capacity and professional export services.