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ELECTRONICS REPAIR

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Electronics Skills Tutorial

Assess it all

Before you start driving any screws, take a few seconds to assess the situation. First, identify the type and size of screw you’re dealing with. Different screw heads call for different driver types. Whether it be Phillips, Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS), Pozidrive, Torx, Triwing, or plain old Flathead, use the correct driver for your application. Using a driver that’s “close enough”—such as by turning a Phillips screw with a Flathead driver—can sometimes get you out of a bind, but mostly it’s a recipe for trouble.

What’s that, you say? That sounds like a lot of drivers to keep track of? Try using a set of interchangeable bits, like the 64 Bit Kit for electronics repair or the Universal Bit Kit for larger applications.

A correctly sized driver should “fill up” the screw head, utilizing both the full depth and width of the socket. Beginners commonly make the mistake of using a driver that’s too small. An undersized driver slips easily, damaging the screw head and making it difficult to turn afterward—even with a correctly-sized driver. This is known as a stripped screw.

An oversized driver fits into the screw only shallowly, if at all. When you find a driver that fits about right, compare the next size up as well as the next size down before you proceed. In general, use the largest driver size that fits snugly into the screw.

Keep your drivers in good working condition by using them only as designed

Avoid using screwdrivers as improvised pry tools or chisels. Prying with a screwdriver can bend or break the tip, making it useless for turning screws.

Chiseling with a driver can deform the tip. A damaged driver like this one no longer fits snugly in the screw head, resulting in slippage (and stripped screws).

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