#Screwdriver bits driver#

The heads of PZ screws are less deeply recessed than Phillips versions, which means the corresponding Pozidriv screwdriver bits are less sharply tapered.

#Screwdriver bits driver#

The trade-off is that the individual driver blades themselves are thinner, and so more prone to damage or shearing under heavy use. This gives the Pozi bit more points of contact with the screw head, and thus allows for application of higher torque with less risk of cam-out.

They essentially copy the basic cross shape of the Phillips drive, but with the addition of an additional cruciform groove overlaid at a 45 degree angle to the main one. Pozidriv screwdriver bit sets are often abbreviated to ‘Pozi’ or PZ, and were initially conceived as a development of the basic principles that made Phillips head bits so successful. The extremely popular Phillips head (cross or cruciform) shape is the most notable example - the original intent was to help avoid damaging workpieces through excessive torque or ‘overdriving.' Various other sorts of screw heads and screwdriver bits are explicitly manufactured to prevent cam-out, including both Pozidriv and Torx alternatives. It’s a fairly common issue when the torque of the driver tool suddenly exceeds the bit’s grip in the screw head, and if you’re unlucky enough it can easily result in damage to adjacent surfaces.Īlthough cam-out is generally seen as an undesirable outcome, some types of screw heads and screwdriver bits were in fact designed specifically to allow for it. ‘Camming out’ is the technical term for when a screwdriver bit slips out of the recessed slot in the head of a screw. Either way, the likelihood of either problem occurring is dramatically reduced by ensuring you select the right bit for the job at hand. The latter is most often caused by using the wrong size or type of screwdriver bit for the screw, although excessive wear to either part can also be a direct cause. The two most common complaints users tend to experience when using screwdriver bit sets are slipping or ‘camming out’, and stripping/damaging a screw head (or, less frequently, the bit itself). We have more thoughts in our guide to precision screwdrivers.Common user errors and problems with screwdriver bits But for a general-use kitchen-drawer tool, this screwdriver makes a nice companion piece to the larger MegaPro 13-in-1. The only significant downside of this model is that it has trouble with recessed screws because of the way the replaceable bits fit into the stem.

Among all the other precision screwdrivers we tested, none offer as much as the MegaPro 24-in-1 in a single, compact, easy-to-use package. It doesn’t have a ratchet, but given the size of the screws it handles, we don’t think this is an issue. The rear cap spins much more freely, making delicate work easier. It offers a teardrop handle similar to that of our main pick, as well as the comfort that goes with that shape. The bit selection is also impressive, but it represents the smaller spectrum of sizes, including Apple’s pentalobe bit. In many ways, this is the little sibling to our main pick, as it has the same smart bit storage and the spinning cap. Tinier screws and delicate projects require a smaller tool, and for that we recommend the MegaPro 24-in-1 Multi-Bit Precision Screwdriver. We recommend buying whichever tool is cheaper or easier for you to get. Other than the color, they’re the same tool MegaPro confirmed to us that it manufactures the Channellock on a private-label basis. We tested the MegaPro 13-in-1 alongside the Channellock 13-in-1 Multi-Bit Ratcheting Screwdriver, and they performed identically. If you don’t lose it, this is probably the last screwdriver you’ll ever need to purchase. Paying around $30 for a screwdriver may make your jaw drop, but in the eight years we’ve been recommending this model, we’ve received more positive feedback on it than just about any other Wirecutter pick. Those bits store in its handle, a comfortable rubberized grip with a unique feature: a free-spinning rear cap, which lets you turn the tool with one hand while using the other to press it into a screw (without the friction burning a fiery hole into your palm). What sets this model apart is the excellent bit storage, which makes it easy to find, store, swap-and never drop or lose-the tool’s six unusually tough double-sided bits.

The MegaPro 13-in-1 works as well at actual screwdriving as many other high-quality tools.