Impact screwdriver

[Phil C]

I've lost mine (the kind you hit with a hammer to loosen stuck screws.) Bit fed up about that, as I'd had it a long time and though only used once in a blue moon it always served me well when needed. So anyway I think I'm going to have to buy one ( then I'll find it, of course.) I'd like to get the same make again, if it's still made, but can't remember what make it was. It was in an oblong blue metal tin, the shaft was chromed, and it had about a dozen bits. I think it was a common brand. Anyone know the make, and if they still do them?  Thanks in advance. Philî

[DerekAnderson8]

It might have been Hilka



https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hilka-Impact-Driver-In-Tin-Case/193447896945?hash=item2d0a64a771:g:8NgAAOSwXnVercvZ

[berniej]

I've had several and in general the main bodies seem to stand up to a good thumping pretty well.

The main problem I 've found with these is that the supplied bits are made from poor quality high-carbon brittle steel and also there are no good fits for Pozidrive - they tend to be a generic Phillips type cross head that doesn't actually fit anything well.

From memory, I think the bits are either 8mm or 10mm hex shank and I've found it very difficult to obtain quality bits in that size in order to get some replacements for the ones that have either chipped off a corner or munged up my Pozidrive screws.

Cheers,
Bernie

[Blackthou]

Mine of over 40 years is Draper

[Pete C]

I have a couple and they are excellent for taking apart ancient engines, only problem being the lousy quality of the bits which break/twist very easily.

If anyone knows where to get quality replacement bits I would be very interested!!!

Cheers
Pete

[Blackthou]

I think the durability of bits is the commercial quality/price bracket for occasional use. My old Draper bits are still all serviceable and I used them professionally for many years. I used to make wider and different shaped bits out of 5/16 Allen keys - i.e. heat them up beat to shappe etc. I've never had a problem with the cross point bits.

I also found the 1/2" drive on the end was great for using sockets as impact tools on stubborn nuts.

[Phil C]

Thanks for help everyone. Ordered a Draper in the end. I noticed my old one was missing when trying to undo the drain screws on my ( B40) forks. One doesn't want to play, and the slot is starting to chew up a bit. The new driver is on it's way to me already. So the old one should turn up anytime now. Phil

[Blackthou]

Always the way!

[Phil C]

Impact driver arrived this morning. Looks good, but the bits were too thick to fit the slot in the fork drain plug screw. Anyway, at least I've got an impact driver again ( and a lighter wallet of course.) Got the screw out easily with a little aluminium drift.  Phil

[chaz]

just found a pair of mine, both Hilka , my first bought 40 years ago, the second identical found at a car boot sale 3 years ago.
never seem to get on with them, I always seem to get the stuff that does not move so a bit of gentle heat needed. corner gone on one of the flat blades and the smallest cross head has a ring of wear around 2mm from the end, most common one to stick

[Rog1]

Do some British bikes have Pozidrize headed screws? I ask because Pozidrive was mentioned below.

But for 'Phillips' screws I do not use Phillips headed screwdrivers. Instead I use drivers made by the Japanese Vessel tool company. These are made to exceed the Japanese Industry Standard (JIS) and are the ones to use for any Japanese cross headed screws. Phillips screwdrivers do not fit these properly and damage them badly. On the other hand, JIS drivers fit Phillips screws well.

The Phillips system is designed to cam out if you twist hard; it's to prevent workers in one of the USA car factories (I forget which one) doing up screws too tight. The JIS system is not designed to cam out.

Getting hold of JIS impact bits isn't easy in the UK, but they do sell a screwdriver that is designed to be hit on the head with a hammer; this turns the blade about 12 degrees and it all works much like an impact driver. I have one and it works. They are available with Pozidrive or JIS tips, though the JIS ones are often described as 'Phillips'.

There's a couple of flat bladed Vessel impact bits here, but I don't know if they'll fit other impact drivers:
https://www.onlyqualitytools.com/catalog/Vessel/Impact_Screwdrivers.html

[berniej]

Rog, that's interesting, I hadn't realised that there were any other cross-head standards other than Pozi or Phillips.

Outside of bikes it can be difficult to know what bit to use when trying to fit some new piece of kit that has a cross-head with no guidance as to the proper bit to use.

Having a head that is designed to 'cam out' is also a new one to me. I first heard this term back in the 70s when I was working for Hawker Siddeley.

They used Dzus fasteners to secure inspection panels on the Harrier and, if I remember correctly, the slots in the heads were formed by plunge milling. A tapered bit was 'plunged' into the head and then rotated each way about 5 degress. This created an undercut in the slot. The driver was also tapered so that as it torque was applied, the bit was drawn tighter into the slot.

(I may have mis-remembered that so please put me right if your memeory is better than mine!).

Funnily enough I've just ordered a new Dzus fastener for my Dommie 99 - they used them to fix the seat to the rear mudguard!

Cheers,
Bernie

[Phil C]

I was reminded of this discussion from May 2020 today when I was searching for something in the garage, having recently moved house. Look what I found in a toolbox! Two impact drivers, which I couldn't find back then so got a new one. That's three I've got! Must have missed them because of the colour match, esp given the gloominess of the garage I was in. Or maybe I'm getting old. I would send one to anyone who needs one but they're pretty heavy so the postage would probably cost more than they're worth!

Happy New Year.  Phil

[Jhg1958]

After many year of drilling out cross head screws on Jap motorbikes that had rounded I was recently told about JIS screwdrivers. Buying a set was not difficult and since I have never mashed up a cross head screw on my Honda. The original reason for buying an impact screwdriver was this problem.

Not very fair on us selling us bikes and not telling us about their screwdrivers.

Not sure how they work on pozi drive though I guard them closely to make sure they do not get spread about the house.  Next time I will give them a go.

I bet you cannot get a JIS bit for an impact screwdrivers.

John

[Phil C]

I'd never heard of them until I read your post here, John.  But then I've never had a Japanese bike. I just googled them and it appears the difference between JIS and Phillips is the head angle. How do you tell the difference? I mean, if you were looking to buy one or the other at a jumble, would it be easy to know?   Phil