Question About Making My Own Slotted Screw Drivers

Mutt

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Sears hates me. I've been bringing back their screw drivers for decades. They suck in my humble opinion.

I guess I'm not into big business/big money, but I can see absolutely no reason for making a tapered freakin' slotted screwdriver, except it is "universal" (it FITS nothing in the universe !!!) Most brands tips are too brittle too.

I restore antique motorcycles, 1930's thru 50's, for a living. Tapered screwdrivers tear up screw slots. I want to make a set of my own. I can't find enough sizes to cover all the different size screw slots I use. I like them to fit snug and cover the full length and full height of the slot.
So my questions are, has anyone made their own hollow ground screw drivers, what type of steel is best for them, how hard on the Rc scale is hard enough, but not too brittle and and how did ya go about doing the grinding?
 
This may be stupid to ask, but have you looked at the Chapman screwdriver kits?
 
haven't heard if them. I'll check them out. Thanks
 
Yeah, what they said. Plus, for special size and shape needs, you can buy older, decent US made screwdrivers and then grind them to the shape you need. Garage sales are loaded with candidates. Cheap.
 
Reground many over the years. Not the square shanked ones . Just the round. Just don't over heat.
Dave
 
I sometimes regrind my screwdrivers as hollow ground. My favorite one is a hollow ground regrind of an old Sears Craftsman screwdriver.

Regarding breaking tips as opposed to corkscrewing them, I prefer them to break. At least I haven't messed up the screw if the driver fails. If you find them prone to breaking, you can always retemper them, A deep straw to bronze color when drawing the temper should be about right.
 
Yeah, what they said. Plus, for special size and shape needs, you can buy older, decent US made screwdrivers and then grind them to the shape you need. Garage sales are loaded with candidates. Cheap.



So what's the best way to hollow grind them?
 
i have a set of
brownell's screwdrivers. You can get them in any width and thickness of tip. And,they are guaranteed for life-if it's worth sending a screwdriver bit back for a new replacement !

They are the ONLY screwdrivers I will use on my expensive guns as they do not burr the slots if you select the tip that fits the screw.
 
I've put some 1/4" insert screwdriver bits on a drill press vise then into a Kurt vise for custom grinding.
I put a small Dremel round grinding bit in a collet and grind down the thickness to what I need.
It's not always easy to find the correct width/thickness of hollow ground screwdrivers for every slotted screw.
European slots can be very narrow., so I just grind my own. Can be a bit tricky to avoid faceting.
 
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