I just learned that their are actually two different types of Phillips style type screw drivers. Can someone chime in and tell me more. What are the best type/brand to buy? Ya learn something new every day if ya look hard enough...

Unless you're working on a lot of older Japanese cars and especially motorcycles (they were fond of using those on crankcase covers), I don't think you'll find much use for a JIS. On the few that remain, for example, screws holding brake rotors to a hub or the Nissan VG engine (which they stopped making 20 years ago) valve covers, I've never had any trouble using a #3 Phillips.

There's also Pozidriv. It's not as quite as similar to Phillips as JIS is, but it's a lot more common, and Phillips screwdrivers do a really bad job on them.

3 types, actually. PoziDrive. It's what almost all of the screws in the machines I service at work use.

I really like the Vessel ball type drivers. Failing that, it's really hard for me to give up my Wiha DriveLoc tools.

edit: maladat beat me by thaaat much.

You might find this interesting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives

As for Pozidriv, I do see these a lot on older GM car interior trim screws. And yes, standard Phillips don't work for crap on them.

The good news about Pozidriv is that the screw heads are (supposed to be) obviously marked with little lines radiating out between the slots, so at least you don't have to wonder which it is.

JIS screws are different than Phillips screws are different than posidrive screws. etc. etc. On Japanese machines you are most likely to find JIS screws. and not just older ones. You can get decent JIS drivers in lots of places but amazon has them as imports for not too much money. I have some that I was gifted via a Japanese mechanic friend many years ago but also the amazon ones and not much quality difference. Phillips sucks.

Vessel Megadora Jawsfit

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
You might find this interesting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives

As for Pozidriv, I do see these a lot on older GM car interior trim screws. And yes, standard Phillips don't work for crap on them.

Thx for the link. Always learning stuff on here.

Don't forget the old Reed and Prince aka Frearson. Externally, the heads of fasteners look somewhat similar to a JIS head but the internal angles are different. They have a distinctive pointed tip which helps distinguish them from Phillips, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
Unless you're working on a lot of older Japanese cars and especially motorcycles (they were fond of using those on crankcase covers), I don't think you'll find much use for a JIS. On the few that remain, for example, screws holding brake rotors to a hub or the Nissan VG engine (which they stopped making 20 years ago) valve covers, I've never had any trouble using a #3 Phillips.

I respectfully disagree.

JIS fits Phillips MUCH better than the other way around. In fact, I rarely even pick up my Phillips drivers since I got my JIS set.

Admittedly, some of that may just be the better quality of my Vessel drivers as compared to my old Crapsman drivers.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
Unless you're working on a lot of older Japanese cars and especially motorcycles (they were fond of using those on crankcase covers), I don't think you'll find much use for a JIS. On the few that remain, for example, screws holding brake rotors to a hub or the Nissan VG engine (which they stopped making 20 years ago) valve covers, I've never had any trouble using a #3 Phillips.

I respectfully disagree.

JIS fits Phillips MUCH better than the other way around. In fact, I rarely even pick up my Phillips drivers since I got my JIS set.

Admittedly, some of that may just be the better quality of my Vessel drivers as compared to my old Crapsman drivers.

Nope, it is the design of the JIS phillips drivers. The make better contact in a standard (USA) phillips screw head than the regular phillips screwdrivers do. Of course, they also make excellent contact in JIS screws, which are most of the time marked with a raised bump or X on the head. I carry a Vessel ball head driver with 3 JIS double-ended bits in my Tacoma tool kit.

I work on Japanese manufactured medical instruments and they use JIS fasteners.

I use a Wiha exchangeable bit driver and 5 years ago there were not many places carrying JIS bits.

I order all of mine from here Motion Pro they sell parts and tools for working on Japanese motorcycles.

Looks like they're available more places now,but I've had good luck with the ones from here.

I find the JIS screwdrivers very handy when working on cheap electronics too. Such as toasters, clocks , radios, cameras etc...

What type of screws are generally used in Europe (Italy mostly)? I see them on all of the Italian yachts, and half of the U.S. philips tips will work, but the angles are slightly different that the tip goes into.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
What type of screws are generally used in Europe (Italy mostly)? I see them on all of the Italian yachts, and half of the U.S. philips tips will work, but the angles are slightly different that the tip goes into.

Pozidriv

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...330062274#4330062274

Thx, I missed this somehow. I avoid Amazon these days, so I'll look elsewhere to get a few quality ones.

Check vesseltools.com / JDV Products or Frankstools. You can order from Rakuten Japan but you'll need to use a translation plug in your browser to view in English.

 
You can buy a limited selection of Vessel tools on Amazon, as well. This is the set I mentioned above that I carry in my Tacoma. I includes JIS 1, 2, 3, 6mm slotted, and PoziDriv 2, 3.