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It might be a technique thing, although you are correct that those maligned "modern" screw designs do not strip as easily. It is crucial to get the right type

It might be a technique thing, although you are correct that those maligned "modern" screw designs do not strip as easily. It is crucial to get the right type and size of screwdriver - look for the markings on the screw to differentiate Philips from Pozidrive (mixing them up will chew up screws). Give a test wiggle before trying to turn the screw - there should be minimal slop, and the bit shouldn't immediately try to "cam out". Apart from that, the trick is maximal downward force. Push the screwdriver into the screw as you're turning - most cross-head designs will try to "cam out" due to tapered sections of the interface, and that's what chews up the screws. I rarely strip screw heads, even on cheap consumer products.

bfirsh 5y ago
I learned the difference between Philips and Pozidrive at school, thank goodness, and this has saved countless stripped screw heads. I am surprised how few people know about it, even professionals. It’s particularly important when using power tools. An electric drill with Philips bit will instantly munch a Pozidrive screw. It is the 45 degree markings you’re looking for, in case that isn’t clear: https://shop4fasteners.co.uk/blog/pozidriv-vs-phillips/ https://shop4fasteners.co.uk/blog/pozidriv-vs-phillips/
- steverb 5y ago
  Thank you for this. As an amateur I knew the difference existed, but I was never sure how to tell them apart. And if I had ever actually thought about it I would have googled, but it's one of those things that never occurred to me until I was knee deep into a repair.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
formerly_proven 5y ago
JIS is still a thing as well. Look a lot like Philips except that it's way easier than normal to cam out.
- aidenn0 5y ago
  Easier to cam out than Philips? Yuck!
  - eropple 5y ago
    It's generally better to cam out without wrecking the head than to cam out only under sufficient force as to tear up the slots.
    - aidenn0 5y ago
      Philips usually damage the head when camming out because as they cam out the total contact surface slowly goes to zero, so at some point the pressure exceeds the strength of the metal.
      - eropple 5y ago
        Right. In my experience, JIS screwdrivers lose contact faster if you're off-angle so they don't have the same opportunity to trash the head.
      - ya_throw 5y ago
        Exactly this - camming out as a protective feature is hugely over-blown and possibly totally false. In my experience, only the very cheapest of cheese-grade screws (a la Aliexpress) chew up without camming out.
        aidenn0 5y ago
        camming out wasn't to protect the screws, it was to protect the sheet metal...
- ya_throw 5y ago
  It's supposed to be much harder to cam out with JIS, unless you try to use a Philips screwdriver on a JIS screw (which will most definitely cam out and chew up). I treated myself to a JIS screwdriver, for the rare occasions I adjust my (Japanese) bicycle groupset. JIS, as far as I know, is the technically superior cross-head design.
disruptiveink 5y ago
Thanks for the tips and for the more or less confirmation of my terrible technique. You're right that I pay no attention to Philips vs Pozidrive, will definitely need to start taking that into consideration. When following a guide, I do pay attention to exact bit sizes when they are mentioned , but for guide-less jobs I just go with "this looks like it fits". Will try out wiggling before committing. I imagine it'll take a while to start to get a feel for it, wonder what's the best way to get a good amount of practice without damaging (useful) things.
- ya_throw 5y ago
  Damage useless things? Seriously though, practice and experience are necessary, go and get some! Sadly that sometimes also includes learning how to figure out when you're out of your depth, which can be an annoying lesson to learn when you break something nice.
- ProZsolt 5y ago
  If you doing a lot of small screws I would suggest getting a Wiha precision screwdriver set. The iFixit set has great cost/value ratio, but there are much better tools on the market.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
Shared404 5y ago
> Give a test wiggle before trying to turn the screw - there should be minimal slop, and the bit shouldn't immediately try to "cam out". This is the number one trick I've learned working at a repair shop. If you learn to do this, you can almost always get the screw out. In a worst case scenario, I've found that a flathead can sometimes get out a stripped torx screw, though don't try this unless there's no other option.

bfirsh 5y ago

I learned the difference between Philips and Pozidrive at school, thank goodness, and this has saved countless stripped screw heads. I am surprised how few people know about it, even professionals. It’s particularly important when using power tools. An electric drill with Philips bit will instantly munch a Pozidrive screw. It is the 45 degree markings you’re looking for, in case that isn’t clear: https://shop4fasteners.co.uk/blog/pozidriv-vs-phillips/ https://shop4fasteners.co.uk/blog/pozidriv-vs-phillips/

steverb 5y ago
Thank you for this. As an amateur I knew the difference existed, but I was never sure how to tell them apart. And if I had ever actually thought about it I would have googled, but it's one of those things that never occurred to me until I was knee deep into a repair.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

formerly_proven 5y ago

JIS is still a thing as well. Look a lot like Philips except that it's way easier than normal to cam out.

aidenn0 5y ago
Easier to cam out than Philips? Yuck!
- eropple 5y ago
  It's generally better to cam out without wrecking the head than to cam out only under sufficient force as to tear up the slots.
  - aidenn0 5y ago
    Philips usually damage the head when camming out because as they cam out the total contact surface slowly goes to zero, so at some point the pressure exceeds the strength of the metal.
    - eropple 5y ago
      Right. In my experience, JIS screwdrivers lose contact faster if you're off-angle so they don't have the same opportunity to trash the head.
    - ya_throw 5y ago
      Exactly this - camming out as a protective feature is hugely over-blown and possibly totally false. In my experience, only the very cheapest of cheese-grade screws (a la Aliexpress) chew up without camming out.
      - aidenn0 5y ago
        camming out wasn't to protect the screws, it was to protect the sheet metal...
ya_throw 5y ago
It's supposed to be much harder to cam out with JIS, unless you try to use a Philips screwdriver on a JIS screw (which will most definitely cam out and chew up). I treated myself to a JIS screwdriver, for the rare occasions I adjust my (Japanese) bicycle groupset. JIS, as far as I know, is the technically superior cross-head design.

disruptiveink 5y ago

Thanks for the tips and for the more or less confirmation of my terrible technique. You're right that I pay no attention to Philips vs Pozidrive, will definitely need to start taking that into consideration. When following a guide, I do pay attention to exact bit sizes when they are mentioned , but for guide-less jobs I just go with "this looks like it fits". Will try out wiggling before committing. I imagine it'll take a while to start to get a feel for it, wonder what's the best way to get a good amount of practice without damaging (useful) things.

ya_throw 5y ago
Damage useless things? Seriously though, practice and experience are necessary, go and get some! Sadly that sometimes also includes learning how to figure out when you're out of your depth, which can be an annoying lesson to learn when you break something nice.
ProZsolt 5y ago
If you doing a lot of small screws I would suggest getting a Wiha precision screwdriver set. The iFixit set has great cost/value ratio, but there are much better tools on the market.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

Shared404 5y ago

> Give a test wiggle before trying to turn the screw - there should be minimal slop, and the bit shouldn't immediately try to "cam out". This is the number one trick I've learned working at a repair shop. If you learn to do this, you can almost always get the screw out. In a worst case scenario, I've found that a flathead can sometimes get out a stripped torx screw, though don't try this unless there's no other option.