HAND TOOLS
SCREWDRIVERS
STUDY
GUIDE
MODULE
3of 14
PAGE
1 of 3
Basic Training Course in Hardware Retailing
PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE TRAINING
Learn the common features and uses of each product.
PK Descriptions
1. Standard Slotted Tip Screw d river
• For driving
and removing
s t a n d a rd, slotted screws
• Slots generally range in size from 1/6" to 1/4".
• Tip is fl a red at shoulder of blade so it is
wider than the driver bar.
• Blades should not taper too sharp ly fro m
the tip, because an impro p e rly tap e red tip has
a tendency to rise out of the screw slot.
• Can have a square or round shank.
2. Cabinet Slotted Tip Screw d river
• Similar to
s t a n d a rd slott e d, but tip is
straight and has no fl a re.
• For use with small screws and counters i n king screws wh e re regular tips with a fl a re
would mar the wood or material on the side.
3. Phillips®
Tip
Screw d river
• Used on cross-slotted screw heads with
modified U-shaped slots of unifo rm width.
• Sizes ra n ge from 0 to 4, with 0 being the
smallest.
• Similar tip confi g u rations include Fre a rs o n
tips that have cross slots that are V-shaped
slots with tap e red sides, and Pozidriv® with
additional, smaller slots at 45-degree angles
to the main cross slots.
4. Star (Torx®) Tip Screw d river
• Designed fo r
use with star
head screws
and bolts to reduce slippage.
• Tips have six lobular drive surfaces to provide additional contact surface with the
screw head.
• Vertical sides transmit torque perp e n d i c ularly to the driven element so there is no slipping or cam-out.
5. Square Tip (Robertson) Screw d river
• Has square
tipped head to
help grip the
screw on all four sides to provide more
torq u e.
• Range in sizes from 0 to 3 and jumbo.
• Popular with decking projects.
6. C l u t ch-Head Screw d river
• Tips have four
points of contact.
• It locks into the screw head when turn e d
counter-clock - w i s e.
• The driver is unlocked by turning it in the
opposite direction.
• Because of the many contact points, the tip
will not damage the screw head under high
t o rque situations.
7. H ex Nut Driver
• Similar to a
screw d river, but
has a tip like a
wre n ch socket.
• Used mainly on small hex nuts and in confined areas such as electronic equipment, car
ignitions and plumbing jobs.
• Ava i l able in seve ral sizes and styles, with a
fi xed-size or vari abl e - s i ze “ s o cket” at the end
to adjust to various nut sizes.
magnetized tips to guide screws into holes or
otherwise inaccessible areas.
• Others have split-points that can be ex p a n ded in width to fill the screw slot and hold
s c rews when guiding into inaccessible areas.
A spring clamp that fits over the screw head,
holding the bit in the slot, s e rves a similar
purpose.
9. Ratcheting Screwdriver
• Fe at u res a
reversible
ratchet mech anism in the handle that eliminates the need to
grip and re - grip during the driving process.
• Usually comes with interch a n ge able tips.
10. Spiral-Ratchet Screw d river
• Also called
Yankee
S c rewdriver or
8. O ffset Screw d river
• Designed fo r
removing and
inserting
s c rews in places wh e re it is impossible to use
a straight shank screw d river.
• Ava i l able in two- or four- blade varieties,
with one end slotted and one end Phillips
• Some models available with reversible
rat cheting mechanism to turn screw tip and
Ya n kee Push Drill.
• Drills and removes screws using a rat chet
mechanism similar to a push-pull drill, with
driving action provided by pushing stra i g h t
down on the handle.
• It has an adjustable ch u ck to permit interch a n ging diffe rent size driver tips and drill
points.
NOTE: ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL CODES
HAND TOOLS
SCREWDRIVERS
STUDY
GUIDE
MODULE
3of 14
PAGE
2 of 3
Basic Training Course in Hardware Retailing
11. Hex (Hexagonal) Tip Screw d river
• Also called a hex key or
hex wre n ch.
• It is used to tighten socket set (hex head) screws
and usually comes in sets.
• Some hex sets are
at t a ched to and fold into a metal carry i n g
c a s e.
• Other va ri ations include T- s h aped hex tools
with vinyl grips and L-shaped keys fo r
gre ater torque power.
12.Multi-Bit Screw d river
• Allows the user to
have a number of diffe rent types of tips in
one tool.
• Some models store
the interch a n ge able tips
in a self-contained unit.
13. Jeweler's Screw d river
• Has a ro t ating
head that is held
by the fo refinger
to steady the
screw d river
while the thumb and middle fi n ger turn the
s c rewdriver to remove or install small
s c rews.
• Mainly used by jewe l e rs and hobbyists and
others who often wo rk with ve ry small
screws.
• Genera l ly manufa c t u red in sizes ra n gi n g
from .025" to .1".
• Usually ava i l able in sets with Phillips and
slotted tips.
Anat o my of a Screwd r iver
• The business end of any screwdriver is its
TIP, wh i ch is ge n e ra l ly either slotted, Phillips
or one of a variety of specialty tips.
• When using any screwdriver, the BLADE
must be mat ched with the type and size of
fastener.
• A quality HANDLE generally includes a
comfo rt able GRIP that is slip proof with
rounded ri d ges for more gripping powe r.
• The SHANK is either round or square.
OTHER TRAINING TIPS
Designed to give you confi dence on the salesfloor!
This section is for retail skills
training specific to this core
product category.
FAQs
Q: Wh at size straight-slot screwdriver
should I buy?
A: Th at depends on the size of the fastener.
A screwdriver is most effe c t ive when the
width of the tip of the driver matches the
width of the slot in the head of the fastener.
Q: Can I get by with just one slotted and one
Phillips screwdriver?
A: If you are going to buy just one of each,
get a number two Phillips tip screwdriver and
a quart e r- i n ch slotted tip. However, you re a lly should get at least two or three sizes of
e a ch. In fact, you should have a complete set
of screwdrivers in your wo rkshop to mat ch
the va riety of jobs that occur around the
h o u s e.
Q: I’ve been told that using a pair of pliers
on the shank of the screwdriver can help
loosen fasteners that are stuck. Is this tru e ?
A: No. Pliers are prone to slip, even on
s q u a re shank screwdrive rs. It is OK to use a
w re n ch , but only on square-shank screwd rivers.
Upselling Techniques
• Always remind the customer that there are
many diffe rent types of and sizes of screwd rivers because there are many diffe rent
types and sizes of screws, and that they
should always use the right size and type of
s c rewdriver for the right job. Th e re fo re, a
complete set of screw d rivers is pro b ably the
best buy.
• Quality screwdrivers are judged by the kind
of metal in the bl a d e, finish and amount of
grinding on the tip.
• If blade metal is poor quality, it will chip
and cru m ble under pressure. If the tip is
impro p e rly ground and fl a res too mu ch , it
will rise out of the screw slot.
• Recommend higher- grade screwdrivers
wh e re the shank penetrates deep into the
h a n d l e. If the blade is not attached fi rm ly to
the handle, it will eve n t u a l ly loosen and slip
in the handle.
Add-On Sales
• Complete Screwdriver Set or Combo Pack
• Screws
• Safety Glasses
• Screwdriver Orga n i zer (holder)
• Gloves
• Tool Po u ch with Screwdriver
Compartments
• Pe n e t rating Lubricant for Loosening Frozen
Fasteners
Safety Tips
• When using any tool, always wear safe t y
glasses for eye protection.
• Screwdrivers should only be used for their
intended purp o s e — d riving or removing
s c rews. Screwdrivers should never be used
for pry i n g, punch i n g, chiseling, scoring or
s c raping.
• While both slotted and cross-slotted screw-
NOTE: ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL CODES
HAND TOOLS
SCREWDRIVERS
STUDY
GUIDE
MODULE
3of 14
PAGE
3 of 3
Basic Training Course in Hardware Retailing
drive rs will fit many fastener sizes, it is best
to use screwdrivers of the proper sizes that fit
snugly into the slot or recessed portion of the
fastener head.
• Plastic handles should be made of fi re- and
heat-resistant mat e rials. If pro p e rly designed,
they give excellent grip. Rubber or vinyl is
often used as a non-slip or insulating cover
on plastic handles.
• Typical screwdriver handles will not insulate the user from electric current.
• It is time to discard the tool when the handle of a screwdriver becomes wo rn or breaks,
if the tip is damaged or if the shaft is bent.
• Screwdriver slippage can cause injury.
Never hold the piece you’re working on in
your hand while driving or loosening screws
or bolts. Place it on a work surface and use a
vice or a clamp to hold the material, wh e n ever possibl e.
• Never use pliers for added turning leve rage
on the shank of a screw d river. However, a
w re n ch may be used on square-shank drive rs.
• Never carry a screwdriver in your pocket.
metry than conventional tip screwdrivers and
provide better fit and torque without the danger of slippage.
Merchandising Tips
• Cross merchandise screw d rivers in the
plumbing, e l e c t rical and building materials
department.
• Multi-bit screw d rivers make excellent
impulse items for merchandising at the
checkout counter.
• Screw d river sets should be merchandised at
eye-level.
• Low-end, entry-level screwdrivers are gre at
promotional items that can be merchandised
in dump bins or in tempora ry vendor display
ra cks.
• If you have a separate checkout for pro fessional customers, be sure to merchandise contractor-grade screw d rivers nearby.
PRO Corner
• To avoid strain with rep e ated use, re c o mmend a rat cheting screwdriver for pro cust o m e rs.
• Quality screwdrivers with regular tips
should be accurat e ly ground for unifo rmity.
• Precision tips have a more consistent sym-
NOTE: ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL CODES
CANADIAN IMPERIAL AND METRIC MEASUREMENTS
Canadians generally use a
mixture of measurement units.
Liquid volumes are typically
based on the metric (SI) system. Temperatures and distances are commonly specified
using metric terminology.
Weights, depending on the
type of product, use either the
metric or Canadian Imperial
system. Lengths and dimensions of construction products,
particularly for residential use,
are generally in Canadian
Imperial measurements. And
many of the products we use
are manufactured in U.S.
measurements.
Canadian building codes are
written using metric units.
But the construction trades,
particularly those in residential
construction, typically use the
Canadian Imperial system.
This mixture of measurement
systems frequently results in
many product manufacturers
providing information using
both systems. Unfortunately,
the approaches used in presenting the “converted” measurements are not consistent.
Some information is based on
“exact” conversion measurements, whereas other information is based on “rounded”
measurements.
From your perspective and
in communicating with your
customer, it is important to
recognize that in some
instances the exact conversion
is necessary and in other
instances a more “rounded”
conversion is appropriate.
CONVERSION FACTORS
1 inch (in.)
=
25.4 mm
32 fluid ounces - US (oz.)
=
1 US qt.
1 foot (ft.)
=
0.3048 m
40 fluid ounces - Canadian (oz.)
=
1 Canadian qt.
1 yard (yd.)
=
0.9144 m
1 mile (mi.)
=
1.609 km
1 fluid ounce - US (oz.)
=
29.6 mL
1 fluid ounce - Canadian (oz.)
=
22.8 mL
1 ounce - avoirdupois (oz.)
=
28.35 g
1 cup - US (cup)
=
236mL
1 pound - avoirdupois (lb.)
=
0.454 kg
1 cup - Canadian (cup)
=
227mL
1 quart - US (qt)
=
0.946 L
1 pound per square inch (psi)
=
6.895 kN/m2
1 quart - Canadian (qt)
=
1.136 L
1 pound per square foot (psf)
=
0.04788 kPa
1 gallon - US (gal.)
=
3.785 L
1 gallon - Canadian (gal.)
=
4.546 L
Celsius temperature = (Fahrenheit temperature - 32) / 1.8
SOME TYPICAL MEASUREMENTS FOR HARDWARE AND FASTENER PRODUCTS
(“rounded” conversions)
Length
in.
1
/32
1
/8
Length
mm
in.
0.8
1 /8
3.2
6.4
3
/8
Length
Weight
in.
m
ft.
m
lbs
kg
35
48
1.2
7.5
2.3
1
0.45
1 /2
38
60
1.5
10
3.0
10
4.5
2
51
72
1.8
12
3.7
50
22.7
3
1
1
/4
Length
mm
9.5
4
102
84
2.1
18
5.5
100
45.4
12.7
12
305
90
2.3
25
7.6
750
340
15.9
18
457
120
3.0
50
15.2
1250
567
19.1
24
610
156
4.0
75
22.9
1900
862
/8
22.2
30
762
216
5.5
100
30.5
2650
1202
1
25.4
36
914
312
7.9
5000
2268
1
/2
5
/8
3
/4
7
NOTE: ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL CODES