Different Types of Screwdrivers

types of screwdrivers

Whenever we heard about the word screwdriver and we have a clear image of different types of screwdrivers. According to researchers, screwdrivers were invented in the 15th century. And today screwdrivers are easily found in every toolbox.

You will find different types of screwdrivers in the tool shop, these screwdrivers are in different sizes, shapes, and styles also. Basically, a screwdriver is depending on the screw drive type or recess type. Now you are confusing between the screwdriver and a screw drive. First, let’s understand it.

Screwdriver is also known as a recess which has a shape or groove made on the head of the screw and the screwdriver is applied to it to drive the screw in clockwise or anticlockwise. In the screwdriver, there is a handle and a groove at the tip of the shaft at another end.

There are many types of screwdrivers available. In this post, we are discussing the most common and easily available screwdriver types.

  Read Also: What is Lathe Machine?

Common Screwdrivers Types 

You can find many types of screwdrivers in your house. And it is good to have some of these.

1. Slotted (Flat blade, Flat head, straight)

types of screwdrivers

Buy At

The slotted type screwdriver was very popular having the chisel-shaped blade having the width of the screw’s head. Many people use the flat blade screwdriver on Phillips head screw. This type of screwdriver is less suitable as it slipping sideways when a lot of pressure is applied. Slotted is not so popular as these days but still, are using for some applications.

2. Phillips Head (Cross Head)

screwdriver types

Buy At

The Phillips head is used in almost every application from furniture to many appliances. Henry Phillips invented in the 19th century to use the power-driven screwdrivers for most industries. With the Phillips head, the problem of sliding out is solved as the screwdriver is fitted in the screw head.

This type of screwdriver never replaces the slotted but not it is a most preferable screwdriver. Phillips head screwdriver is in almost everyone’s toolbox as it is very popular.

3. Torx (Torx plus version, Torx security version, Star)

different types of screwdrivers

Buy At

Torx was initially used for security purpose but now it is found in many applications. The screwdriver head has rounded off star or flower to tolerate high torque. Presently, Torx drives are mainly used in appliance industries and security fields for its efficiency. It is more difficult for customers to take apart the Torx screws.

4. Hex (Allen wrench, hex key, hexagon, security hex version)

Hex type screwdriver

Buy At

Hex is an unusual type of screwdrivers but recently it gains popularity. The hex key has no handle or grip. They are small, six-sided metal shank bent into an L-shape without the head. Hex is often coming at no cost with packaged furniture.

Allen wrenches are commonly found in bike maintenance but now it has also become popular for furniture companies such as IKEA and other appliance manufacturers. The special security version of the hex key is used in high-security fields like prison maintenance. Hex types of screwdrivers have handle or grip which is not in Allen wrench.

5. Robertson (Square head)

Robertson screwdriver

Buy At

Robertson is the least famous screwdrivers and it is very popular in its origin country Canada. This type of screwdrivers has the highest torque than all drive types.

The durability of the square head screw made it most preferable for the automotive and furniture industries. This square head screwdriver head is now commonly seen in screwdriver sets and with the continuously increasing popularity of these types of screwdrivers, it will soon popular in American markets.

Here are some more different types of screwdrivers.

There are many types of screw head types than the slot, cruciform, hex and Torx. Here we have to provide information about some special types of screwdrivers. If you see the screwdrivers, all the screwdrivers look the same just the tip is different.

6. Clutch Head (Bow Tie)

screwdriver type

Buy At

The design of the clutch head screws faces some of the changes in past years. The slots look like a bow-tie and in the older versions, there was a circular recess in the middle. Clutch head screwdriver types mostly used in the automotive industry and very popular with older GM vehicles.

The heads provide better torque and it is also compatible with slotted drives.

Clutch head also had a security version that is slotted one way and it is very difficult to remove it. These screws are mostly used where continuous maintenance is not required like bus stations and prisons.

7. Frearson (Reed and Prince)

different types of screwdriver

Buy At

The Frearson type of screwdriver looks like Phillips but it is not. The first difference is Frearson has sharp point whereas Phillips has a rounded point. Also, the angle of the tip is at 45 degrees which means with a single Frearson screwdriver use on any size of Frearson screw and for many Phillips screws.

The shape helps the Frearson screwdriver to generate more torque than a Phillips which helps to use it in nautical equipment and specified areas where precision.

8. Hex Socket (Hex Screw Drive)

hex socket screwdriver

Buy At

Hex socket is very useful in many manufacturing industries. This type of screwdriver is design as a socket instead of a blade or tip and with that, it works like a socket wrench.

The benefit of using the hex socket is the moment for reaching a recessed bolt. The socket wrench has a handle that moves parallel to the surface where the bolt is embedded and requires additional space to turn. With the straight shrank and handle the bolt requires less clearance to turn. It is suitable for low torque applications but has to use normal ratchet with the socket.

9. JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard)

JIS type screwdriver

Buy At

As a technology leader in the world requires a very high standard. The JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) looks similar to the Phillips head but design to resist to camming out.

You can see the JIS screws mainly in the made in Japan products. It is possible to use this drive on Phillips or Frearson screws. But it may damage the head. The JIS screws can identify with the small mark or dot near the slot.

10. Pozidriv (Pozi or Pozidrive)

Pozidrive type screwdrive

Buy At

Pozidrive is an updated version of Phillips head and it has four additional lines radiating from the center. This type of screwdrivers has a blunt tip and small ribs on the blade between the main edges which increases the torque and reduces the risk of cam-out.

The Pozidriv and Phillips look similar in design but increase the risk of damaging the screw head. Pozidriv screwdrivers have less chance of camming out but the process of manufacturing the screws requires almost double steps. Which makes it hard to replace Phillips head.

11. Spanner (Drilled Head, Pig-Nose, Snake-Eyes)

spanner type screwdriver

Buy At

The Spanner type of screwdriver is design for tamper-proof functions. The flat-headed screws have two rounded holes on opposing ends of the head which makes it very difficult to remove it without the proper tools.

With the high-security feature, you can see the Spanner type of screwdriver for maintenance purposes like in subways, bus terminals, elevators, public restrooms, etc. It has a flat blade with two-prong tips protruding from the end.

12. Tri-angle (TA)

Tri-angle type screwdriver

Buy At

It has a triangular shape and mostly used in electronics, toys and also in appliances. The design makes it more difficult to tamper it and add more security. It can be turned by hex drive and this makes it less popular screwdriver types.

The other variant of Tri-angle is tri-point-3 and it has rounded edges that overcome the security problems. The size of this tri-angle drive-by TA prefix.

13. Tri-Point (3-Prong, Y-Type, Y-Tip)

Tri-Point type screwdriver

Buy At

Tri-point has a three-edged blade that has Y set and all are at a 120-degree angle. This type of screw is very popular in handheld electronics and it is very hard to turn it without the correct driver. The Tri-Point screws are mostly use in Apple products, Nintendo handheld gaming systems, and other similar devices. You can rarely find in large electronics or in non-electronic.

14. Tri-Wing

Tri-wing type screwdriver

Buy At

Tri-wing has a pinwheel and screw heads have a triangular socket with three straight wings following each edge in a clockwise direction. It is originally developed for aerospace engineering but now it is used in home electronics. There is another variation that has left-handed threads and the same driver is used for thread direction.

This is the list of different types of screwdrivers. In this list, we have included various types of screwdrivers.

Now let’s see the various types of the shank or handle design. It is not necessary to have them all. To have or not, depends on your hobby or profession and it is always helpful to know about it.

Electric Type Screw Drivers

There are many types of electric screwdrivers available in the market. Every electric type of screwdrivers has its own advantages like there is no need to apply manual torque. The screwdrivers like a screw gun, power screwdriver or automatic screwdriver can make tough jobs like a snap when the head is damaged.

15. Battery Operated

electric screwdriver

Buy At

There many electric drives that use a battery as a power source which makes them very compact. These types of screwdrivers don’t have the same power as other power tools and it is a space saver.

16. Corded

corded screwdriver

Buy At

Corded types of screwdrivers are not commonly used as it is required the power supply via corded. You can easily find the corded type screwdriver in busy workstations.

17. Cordless

cordless screwdriver

Buy At

Cordless types of screwdrivers use a rechargeable battery pack. It has advantages of both corded and battery-operated drives. But it also has a disadvantage of being bulkier and slow-down when the battery is low.

The bits of electric drives can be used in a cordless drill. The most power drills are not reacted to change in resistance with the same efficiency which can easily damage the screw head.

18. Magnetic

magnetic screwdriver

Buy At

The magnetic types of screwdrivers are gaining popularity and used in many industries. The magnetic screwdriver has the magnetic tip which holds the screw and with that, you can place or extract the screw with the single hand. Having such advantages more and more manual screwdrivers have a magnetic feature.

19. Ratcheting

Ratcheting screwdriver

Buy At

Many types of screwdrivers have a feature of a ratchet. With that, the driver has to turn the screw in one direction (clockwise or counter-clockwise) only and the direction is set on the job which saves the time.

20. Right Angle

Right Angle type screwdriver

Buy At

As the name suggest many screwdrivers have to work on the right angle. This type of screwdrivers helps to work where there is no space for straight handle. It is very useful in automotive and similar fields.

21. Jeweler’s (Eyeglass, watch)

jeweler type screwdriver

Buy At

These types of screwdrivers are suitable for working with tiny screws in the eyeglasses or pocket watches. The Slotted and Phillip sizes are in most of Jeweler’s cases.

22. Computer (Electronic)

types of screwdriver

Buy At

This is the same as jeweler’s types of screwdrivers. Computer sets screwdrivers are very precise and also have a wide range of blade types. The famous and non-famous blade types like tri-point and Torx can found in a computer screwdriver set.

The use of a screwdriver depends on the application. Some of the screwdriver types are famous and some have limited use.

🔔We hope this information will help you. For more new information click on the notification button and get regular updates from Unbox Factory.

Now if you find this information helpful, share it with your friends, family, and colleagues.

If you like this post, let us know by comment below, if you want to add-on information about this topic, comment the information. We will consider the information if it is relevant.

Thank you for reading.