Screwdrivers dressing

[jdm]

11 minutes ago, nickelsilver said:

In my experience with stones (quite a bit) a hard Arkansas would take ages to reshape a chipped or damaged screwdriver blade, and put too fine of a finish on it. In both the schools I went to in the U.S. and Switzerland we used a medium India stone. But whatever works- everyone has their preference.

This. I use an €2 aluminium oxide slate and it works equally well for my cutlery,  lawn mower, and watchmaking screwdrivers.

Edited December 15, 2019 by jdm

[david]

I pulled this off of the internet:

 

An India Stone is made from the man-made abrasive aluminum oxide. The term India Stone is a trade name for Norton's Aluminum Oxide sharpening stones. Norton's India stones are orange, tan or brown in color. This distinguishes them from Norton's Crystolon (silicon carbide) Stones which are gray in color.

[Dpastl]

On 12/15/2019 at 10:12 AM, david said:

I use waterstones to sharpen woodworking tools such as various cutters and chisels. They are unsurpassed in this application as they are made from a softer material, designed to wear quickly, and will put a mirror finish on a chisel blade. This however is not the goal when shaping a screwdriver tip. Old Hippy is correct in selecting an extremely hard oil stone such as an Arkansas stone. The purpose is to shape the screwdriver tip with the stone, not the stone with the screwdriver tip.   

david

I'd agree as well.  I have some beautiful water stones and if I put a screwdriver near them they'd be damaged.

I use aluminum oxide stones for sharpening screwdrivers and just do it under a microscope.  Even with the harder stones you can easily gouge them or otherwise make the surface uneven.

[rduckwor]

Having just finished a run of four or so Bulova movements (also known as a run of bad luck) with their attendant TINY slots, I would love to be able to find a way to make hollow grind tips work in them .  I can't seem to ever get a hollow grind small enough to reliably fit these **BLEEP** screws.  Maybe its just me.

RMD

[vinn3]

     No,  its not you.   all the new screw drivers are flat.         my secret:    use round hone stones on the flats.  AND its not that important.   just  buy  good drivers.  vin

[lxt123]

One trick I learned is not to use the Arkansas stone. I prefer to have very fine vertical ridges on the tip, as the grooves prevent horizontal slippage.

[oldhippy]

If you use the correct size screwdriver for the job and hold the screwdriver in the correct position the screwdriver should't slip. Many do not use the correct size, not only will it do damage to the screw but also to the movement.  

[jdm]

7 hours ago, lxt123 said:

One trick I learned is not to use the Arkansas stone. I prefer to have very fine vertical ridges on the tip, as the grooves prevent horizontal slippage.

Just a passing note, we have a section in this forum where it's considered polite for new members to introduce themselves.

[lxt123]

On 3/22/2020 at 3:48 AM, oldhippy said:

If you use the correct size screwdriver for the job and hold the screwdriver in the correct position the screwdriver should't slip. Many do not use the correct size, not only will it do damage to the screw but also to the movement.  

This is a different issue

[lxt123]

On 3/22/2020 at 5:18 AM, jdm said:

Just a passing note, we have a section in this forum where it's considered polite for new members to introduce themselves.

Well, welcome to you too.

[peejaywk]

Hi,

    I'm just starting out repairing watches and have found an old set of screwdrivers that I'd like to use. However, a couple of them have chips in the tips. Is it possible to repair the screwdriver tips using a grind stone or should I just buy a set of new tips? I've attached a couple of pictures that show the damage.

Thanks

PJ

[Nucejoe]

There are screwdriver sharpener tool of various designes and price for sale on online portals.

[nad]

Bore da.

Have a gander at the following to give you an idea :-

There are others on there that illustrates, some by members of this forum.

Take care.

Sent from my moto g(6) play using Tapatalk

[Watcher]

Your blades have been hollow ground on a tool like this.

If you use the tool illustrated by nad you will have to flatten each side of the tip. You should replace the blades or buy the hollow ground sharpener.

[watchweasol]

Hi  There is a compete guide on how to maintain your screwdrivers on https://blog.esslinger.com/  web site with easy to understand notes,   cheers

[nad]

Your blades have been hollow ground on a tool like this.

If you use the tool illustrated by nad you will have to flatten each side of the tip. You should replace the blades or buy the hollow ground sharpener.

Hi Watcher

OP's pic's of his blades don't look to me to be hollow ground.

Perhaps you could enlighten us with your observation of the need for that particular tool?

Thank you.

Sent from my moto g(6) play using Tapatalk

[praezis]

Screwdriver sharpener tool, type "Quick Action":

Blade angle and thickness are continuously adjustable… 

Frank

[peejaywk]

9 hours ago, nad said:

Bore da.

Have a gander at the following to give you an idea :-
 

 

There are others on there that illustrates, some by members of this forum.

Take care.

Sent from my moto g(6) play using Tapatalk
 

Thanks for all the information. I've ordered a grindstone and one of the tools in the video above. Will have a go at repairing the tip once evreything arrives.

PJ

[JGrainger]

Maintaining screwdriver tips was traditionally basic maintenance of tools. Usually new sets come with spares, and separate spares can often be bought.. I usually swap then occasionally have a session touching up a few of them. With non-magnetic screwdrivers the tips can last until there's a stubborn screw.

[rodabod]

On 5/13/2020 at 1:37 PM, praezis said:

Screwdriver sharpener tool, type "Quick Action":

Blade angle and thickness are continuously adjustable… 

Do remember that excessive heat will potentially turn your blue steel into softer steel!

[JohnR725]

another video on how to maintain your screwdrivers

 

https://youtu.be/MsyRbKJ_d7c

[praezis]

8 hours ago, rodabod said:

Do remember that excessive heat will potentially turn your blue steel into softer steel!

They don't get hot at all with these discs.
I have to touch up tips nearly daily and no time for ruminant sharpening...

Frank

[Watchtime]

56 minutes ago, praezis said:

They don't get hot at all with these discs.
I have to touch up tips nearly daily and no time for ruminant sharpening...

Frank

daily? are you repairing 24/7?...

[praezis]

2 hours ago, Watchtime said:

daily? are you repairing 24/7?...

Almost, it's my job.

3 hours ago, praezis said:

nearly daily

Frank

[Watcher]

 

On 5/13/2020 at 11:21 AM, nad said:

Hi Watcher

OP's pic's of his blades don't look to me to be hollow ground.

Perhaps you could enlighten us with your observation of the need for that particular tool?

Thank you.

Here is OP's blade shown with one of mine sharpened with the Horotec tool. To me they look alike. It takes just 5 seconds to sharpen a blade and then another ten seconds to deburr (a most important operation).