One of the most basic, common, and useful tools when it comes to construction, woodworking, DIY, home repairs, and so much more, is the screwdriver. Now, it may seem like a very basic tool without much variety, but that is not the case.
There are actually many different types of screwdrivers out there, and this is true both in terms of the heads that they have as well as in terms of their operating mechanisms. Let’s take a look at all of the different screwdrivers that you might use throughout your life.
8 Types of Screwdriver Heads
First off, screwdrivers come with all sorts of different heads, each of which has different applications, so let’s take a look.
1. Flathead Screwdriver
The flathead screwdriver is one of the oldest out there, as it was invented in the 15th century. This type of screwdriver features a flat shape with a single slot, and it engages a screw with only that single slot. In other words, this screwdriver head takes the form of a flat line. Due to the cam out effect which may happen, this type of screwdriver head is generally only used in manual screwdrivers and not in power screwdrivers.
There are two specific types of flathead screwdrivers. One is the cabinet flathead screwdriver which is often used for things like jewelry making and watch working. The other type is the keystone flathead screwdriver, which has a comparatively wider shaft tip compared to the cabinet flathead screwdriver, thus making it more ideal for purposes such as woodworking.
2. Phillips Head Screwdriver
Henry Phillips invented the Phillips head screwdriver in the 19th century, with the aim being to allow a bit to function properly in a power screwdriver. This particular type of screwdriver head features a plus sign-shaped head. In other words, it is similar to a flathead screwdriver, but instead of a single straight line, it features two perpendicular lines which intersect to create a cross.
This type of screwdriver head is very commonly used in power drills as it is great at combating the cam out effect. This is one of the most commonly used screwdriver hats out there, and this is true for a wide variety of applications. This is ideal for applications that require a lot of torque without causing the screw head to strip.
3. Pozidriv Head Screwdriver
Moving on, this type of screwdriver is similar to the Phillips head screwdriver. However, instead of just a single cross, it features two crosses that intersect each other. In other words, what you have here is a centered cross and a cross turned at a 45-degree angle. In terms of the visuals, it’s more or less like a plus sign with an X running through it.
Although more commonly used in Europe, this type of screwdriver head is becoming more popular in North America and the reason for it is because it is excellent at resisting the cam out effect. The special shape of the head allows for great hold and torque, and is therefore often used in industrial applications where screws need to be tightened very securely.
4. Robertson Head Screwdriver
Unlike the previous type of screwdriver we just looked at which was very popular in Europe, but not in North America, this one, the Robertson screwdriver, is very popular in North America, but not in Europe. This particular type of screwdriver was invented by a man named Robertson, a Canadian.
This type of screwdriver features a square head with a slight taper to it. A design like this allows for great hold and it completely prevents cam out from occurring. The Robertson head is used in applications that require a lot of torque and is often used for industrial purposes. One of the most common applications of this type is in the automotive sector.
5. Torx Head Screwdriver
This type of screwdriver features a star-shaped head with six circular lobes or points. In other words, it looks like a star with six points that are slightly rounded. This type of screwdriver head is ideal for applications that require high-speed screwing without the risk of the screw head slipping or stripping.
A Torx is an extremely common type of screwdriver used in the automotive industry and it often comes in very small sizes.
6. Spanner Head Screwdriver
This is a very special type of screwdriver head that features two rounded holes on opposite ends of the head. These two holes fit into the corresponding holes on the screws designed for this type of screwdriver. This is most often used by maintenance workers using screwdrivers in subways, bus terminals, elevators, and other such areas.
These are specially designed to work with tamper-proof screws that cannot be removed, besides, with this one particular tool.
7. Tri-Wing Screwdrivers
This type of screwdriver features a head that looks somewhat like a pinwheel, and yes, they allow for great hold. It is not overly common, as it was first designed for aerospace engineering, however, it is now often used in the building of home electronics too.
Keep in mind that the head direction of the pinwheel head may face either way or may be reversible in some cases.
8. Hex Nut Driver
This is perhaps the most unique type of screwdriver on the list today, although also one of the most common. This is the only type of screwdriver that features a concave head, or in other words, the head faces inwards and features a hollow point, as opposed to other screwdriver heads which point outwards.
As you can probably guess by the name, the head comes in the form of a hexagon, one that is hollow, with the point being able to grip onto hexagonal nuts, in order to tighten them onto their corresponding screws or bolts. Whenever the tightening of bolts and nuts is involved, you will most likely need a hex screwdriver.
On a side note, the hex screwdriver is one of the prime candidates for the ratcheting mechanism.
3 Types of Screwdrivers by Operating Mechanism
What we want to do now is to take a look at the different types of screwdrivers by operating mechanism, or in other words, in terms of how they actually function, not the type of bit or head they have on the front. Screwdrivers can generally be divided into three basic categories.
These include manual screwdrivers, ratcheting screwdrivers, and power screwdrivers. Let’s take a closer look.
1. Manual Screwdriver
The first, most basic type of screwdriver out there is the manual screwdriver. This is your basic screwdriver as it has one head attached to the front. There are absolutely no moving components on this type of screwdriver. The only thing that powers the rotation of the manual screwdriver is your hand. This is a type of screwdriver commonly used in a wide variety of trades and construction jobs.
There are at least three different types of manual screwdrivers out there:
- Standard Manual Screwdriver: The first type of manual screwdriver is the standard type, which has one head attached to the front, no moving components, and the only thing that powers it is your hand. These are great for basic and quick jobs that require one specific screwdriver head.
- Compartment Manual Screwdriver: The second type to think about is the compartment manual screwdriver, which is the exact same as the standard one in terms of operation, but with one huge difference. Instead of having one bit attached to the front of it, the bits are interchangeable, with a variety of bits being housed in a special compartment in the rear of the screwdriver. This is a convenient option to go with if you need a manual screwdriver with interchangeable bits. This is a fairly old type of screwdriver, one that uses a screwing locking mechanism to keep the driver heads in place, not magnets.
- Magnetic Manual Screwdriver: The third type of manual screwdriver is the magnetic kind. This screwdriver is characterized by the magnetic bit holder on the front. Bits may be housed in a compartment on the rear, or in a separate bit box. The magnetic head holds the bits in place while you manually turn the screwdriver. This is also a convenient option to go with if you need to constantly change driver heads or bits.
2. Ratcheting Screwdriver
The second type of screwdriver that you need to know about in terms of function is the ratcheting screwdriver. The ratcheting screwdriver features a special mechanism on the inside, a so-called ratchet.
The difference between a standard manual screwdriver and a ratcheting screwdriver is that with a manual screwdriver you need to keep letting go with your hand to reposition it so you can keep turning whereas with a ratcheting screwdriver, the ratcheting mechanism allows you to turn the screwdriver in both directions, while only one direction will cause anything to happen.
In other words, you can turn to the right to tighten the screw, and when you go to turn to the left to get more leverage, instead of having to remove your hand from the handle and then turn your hand, you can keep hold of the handle and simply turn it to the left. The ratcheting mechanism causes the handle to disengage every time you move it in a certain direction, and to then reengage when moved in the other direction. This ratcheting mechanism can usually be adjusted so that it activates in either direction.
Just like with normal manual screwdrivers, there are also a couple of varieties of ratcheting screwdrivers:
- Standard Ratcheting Screwdriver: The first type of ratcheting screwdriver is the standard kind, which features one specific bit or head on the front. These do not feature interchangeable bits. These are often used for basic construction jobs, as well as for mechanic-related purposes.
- Magnetic Ratcheting Screwdriver: The second variety is the magnetic ratcheting screwdriver, which features a magnetic head to hold the bits in place. This type features interchangeable heads and is therefore far more versatile in terms of applications it can be used for.
3. Power Screwdriver
The third and final type of screwdriver to consider in terms of operating mechanism is of course the power screwdriver. This is a power tool that uses electricity and a motor to function. Therefore, instead of using your hand to manually turn the screwdriver, all you have to do with pull a trigger which causes the motor to engage the screwing mechanism.
This is, of course, the most efficient type of screwdriver because you don’t have to use your hands. This type of screwdriver allows for great speed and versatility, as well as the fact that it can be used for a wide variety of applications. Yes, there are different types of power screwdrivers or drills based on the power source, so let’s take a quick look:
- Corded: The first type of power drill or power screwdriver is the corded variety which as you can probably tell uses corded electricity. In other words, this type of drill needs to be plugged into a power source. These are great for stationary work where you need a tool that will last for a long time without dying on you.
- Battery-Operated: The second type to consider is the cordless power screwdriver, which is quite a bit newer than the corded variety. The cordless power screwdriver, instead of having to be plugged into a power source, uses a battery pack. These are of course very convenient due to their portability but do keep in mind that you always need to be worried about battery life.
- Pneumatic: Although much less commonly used besides in large-scale factory operations, pneumatic or air-powered screwdrivers do also exist. That said, this is not the kind of thing you would find on your average construction site or use for home repairs.
Summary
As you can see, both in terms of the type of head that the screwdriver has as well as the different types of operating mechanisms which screwdriver features, there are many different types out there to consider. Of course, the exact type of screwdriver you get will depend on your application, so choose wisely.