advice on screw bits

[OWC Jamie]

I've seen just as many stripped out SS phillips as square drives.

In the hands of someone who does not know how to use a drill driver carefully, one is no better than the other.

[Mike Johnson]

mikebw wrote, In the battle between a screw and a bit there will always be a loser. And that's true, I guess. But the battle should be between the bit & screw on one side, and the wood on the other. The cheap junk screws sold at the big box stores are so soft you practically have to drill a pilot as long as the shaft, and just as wide, or the bit will strip the screw. And then one good whack will pull the pieces apart.

I don't have any square drive stuff myself, but I've used it, and it does work a little better than a phillips. I have some unplated steel screws from McFeelys with a combo head that accepts a phillips driver, and they're a world apart from the junk at my local hardware store. Call me crazy, but if I'm driving a #6 screw into pine on some little knockup job, I don't want to dick around with drilling a pilot hole first. Plus, then I can disassemble things and reuse the screws I pull out. I can use them three or four times before the bit gets to dull to selfpilot.

Anyhow, I too like Dewalt drivers. But I have dozens, maybe hundreds of cheap bits rattling around. It seems like every time I have to buy some goofy new security bit, it only comes in a set with every other variety, so they just keep accumulating. If one of those gets mushed, it just goes in the recycling bin.

Also, I have a little bottle of pumice stuff called GraBit or something like that. If a screw is a little stripped, a drop of this goop gives you a better grip.

[bazookaman]

I was putting on some hinges this past weekend and I popped the heads off 3 screws. I drilled pilot holes. I was using a hand screwdriver. Just got to the end and "POP". Off came the head. I guess I don't know my own torque.

[Grateful11]

BGnR has the answer. I used to do a lot of woodwork and I always bought square drives even if it meant ordering them.