Today's screwdrivers

[squonk 43,492]

I am overhauling the mechanisms in the pneumatic tube system at the hospital I work at. These are similar to the systems banks use in their drive up windows but larger and more complex.

 

The older versions are a welded frame and just removing a motor is a matter of simply removing 2 11/32" nuts in the front and loosening 2 in the back. 

 

On the new extruded frame models which we have 6 of they changed the design. The 2 screws in the back are accessible with a tiny no. 2 Phillips and even tinier No. 2 hands. So I got a no. 2 bit, 15" 1/4 dr. extension and a 1/4" flex socket. Epoxied the bit into the socket and put the handyman's 2nd secret weapon (Electrical Tape) around the flex joint of the socket to stiffen it. I only need to turn the screws about a turn and a half to get the motor out. This way I can replace the motor with out removing the entire motor and dispatcher plate out of the wall. There is no way to get your hands in there with it inside the station.

Edited January 1 by squonk

[ebinmaine 71,951]

6 minutes ago, squonk said:

This way I can replace the motor with out removing the entire motor and dispatcher plate out of the wall

Neat trick! 

[squonk 43,492]

2 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Neat trick! 

Save about 2 hours and the nurses don't get as cranky!! I'm swapping out entire assemblies and overhauling them and putting them back in another station. Saves about 8 hrs. of downtime

Edited January 1 by squonk

[adsm08 3,059]

2 hours ago, squonk said:

I am overhauling the mechanisms in the pneumatic tube system at the hospital I work at. These are similar to the systems banks use in their drive up windows but larger and more complex.

 

The older versions are a welded frame and just removing a motor is a matter of simply removing 2 11/32" nuts in the front and loosening 2 in the back. 

 

On he new extruded frame models which we have 6 of they changed the design. The 2 screws in the back are accessible with a tiny no. 2 Phillips and even tinier No. 2 hands. So I got a no. 2 bit, 15" 1/4 dr. extension and a 1/4" flex socket. Epoxied the bit into the socket and put the handyman's 2nd secret weapon (Electrical Tape) around the flex joint of the socket to stiffen it. I only need to turn the screws about a turn and a half to get the motor out. This way I can replace the motor with out removing the entire motor and dispatcher plate out of the wall. There is no way to get your hands in there with it inside the station.

 

That reminds me if a rig I built about 10 years back to take rear door panels off the Gen 2 Escapes with the door closed.

 

The latches would work themselves screwy and get stuck halfway between child-lock and child not-lock which meant the door wouldn't open from the inside or outside, and the only way to open it was to remove the panel and pop the latch from inside the door. Problem is there is one big #2 screw holding the bottom of the panel, and it goes in vertically.

 

I ground down a bit and taped it into a very thin wrench I had. I was slow and not fun, but the customer's usually preferred paying the extra 1/2 hour labor to buying a $350 panel that I now didn't have to destroy.

[Retired Wrencher 5,737]

On 3/17/2023 at 8:05 PM, wallfish said:

I tend to use abuse and loose screwdrivers pretty quick. For me they're chisels, pry bars punches etc etc and consider most of them throw always for that reason. So I buy the cheap ones but always keep an 11 in 1 Klein that doesn't get used for any of that abusive stuff and it's everything there in one nice tool.

https://www.amazon.com/Screwdriver-Multi-bit-Klein-Tools-80027/dp/B0912BW9HP/ref=asc_df_B0912BW9HP?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80264463741084&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583863993771673&psc=1 

Wow John I still have my first Craftsman set my parents bought over 50 years ago go. Still working.

[rmaynard 16,234]

The biggest problem with screwdrivers today is that they are not made to exact size. A #2 Phillips from overseas is not the same as a #2 Phillips made by Craftsman in the 1970's. Also, the steel in the shaft and tip is softer. 

[HyperPete 832]

Japanese parts use JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screwdrivers.  Phillips heads are designed to strip (torque limiting) while JIS are not.

Using a Phillips screwdriver in JIS fasteners is almost guaranteed to strip the fastener.

Edited June 8 by HyperPete

[lynnmor 7,730]

53 minutes ago, HyperPete said:

Japanese parts use JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screwdrivers.  Phillips heads are designed to strip (torque limiting) while JIS are not.

Using a Phillips screwdriver in JIS fasteners is almost guaranteed to strip the fastener.

I guess that explains the need for an impact driver when working on Japanese motorcycles.

 

I just bought an old Craftsman #2 at a yard sale and will buy any in good condition in the future till I have at least one in every drawer.  Those #2's have better legs than 10mm sockets.

[cafoose 3,441]

@Sarge sold me on the Vessel screwdrivers. I ordered a few on amazon several years ago. Shipping was really slow but totally worth it 

 

 

[Retired Wrencher 5,737]

21 hours ago, rmaynard said:

The biggest problem with screwdrivers today is that they are not made to exact size. A #2 Phillips from overseas is not the same as a #2 Phillips made by Craftsman in the 1970's. Also, the steel in the shaft and tip is softer. 

I can agree to that Bob. I am thinking also wrenches. If you pick up a wrench made in USA as to over the big pond you can feel the difference. Just my 

[HyperPete 832]

20 hours ago, cafoose said:

@Sarge sold me on the Vessel screwdrivers. I ordered a few on amazon several years ago. Shipping was really slow but totally worth it 

 

 

 

That's the brand of JIS screwdrivers I bought.  They come in a very nice foam "tray" that I put in my toolbox.  They grab not only JIS fasteners, but, in my opinion, Phillips heads better than Phillips head screwdrivers.

They are not inexpensive, however.

 

https://a.co/d/e1vuCaf