Screwheads, was: 5" floppy?.

[Ian King]

Isn't it ironic that guns were one of the first beneficiaries of mass production techniques that allowed for interchangeable parts?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-
> bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Paul Koning
> Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 11:43 AM
> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
> Subject: RE: Screwheads, was: 5" floppy?.
>
> > > Correct screwdrivers can be found in one of two ways, depending on
> > the
> > > size you need.  For the small sizes, get watchmaker screwdrivers.
> > For
> > > larger sizes, get gunsmith screwdrivers.  Both have hardened tips,
> > > hollow ground so the point that fits in the slot of the screw has
> > > parallel sides, not tapered sides.  With those you can work those
> > screws
> > > without damaging them, even if they are quite tight.
> >
> > Another way to find larger HG sizes is to get a (good) set of power-
> > drive bits that will fit a screwdriver socket handle.  Although this
> > has its problems with getting into tight spaces, sets of hollow-
> > ground hardened power bits are comparatively easy to find.
>
> Good point.  However, those (and hardware store flat bits in general)
> come only in a few sizes.  You get a choice of width but not (as far as
> I have seen) a choice of thickness.  By contrast, a decent gunsmith
> screwdriver set has a lot more widths, so you can more closely match
> the
> screw diameter, and it will also offer a given width in 3 to 6
> thicknesses, so you can find the bit that is a nice snug fit for the
> screw head you're working on.
>
> It may be that slotted screws are well enough standardized that this is
> overkill, but I suspect not.  Certainly not in guns, where the
> nonstandard is usual.  :-)
>
>         paul
>