[Milsurplus] German fasteners, screwdriver slot

[Michael Hanz]

They are commonly used in gunsmithing, Hue. The screwdriver tips are 
hollow-ground, not tapered like a normal screwdriver.  I bought a 
selection of them at Brownells, but Amazon has them as well:

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/general-gunsmith-tools/screwdrivers-sets/magna-tip-bits/magna-tip-thin-bits-prod425.aspx

 From the Brownells website: "Super-Thin Bits For Narrow, European-Style 
Slots:  Eighteen incredibly thin bits to fit the extra-narrow screw 
slots often encountered in the gun shop. Take great care when using 
these bits. The blade MUST fill the slot from side-to-side and 
edge-to-edge or it will most certainly break on a firmly seated screw. 
Freeze spray, heat, penetrating oil, a few taps, regrinding the bit for 
an even better fit - all these tricks can help give success."

As to why Europeans use them more often, I can only conjecture that they 
simply have a long history of preferring them.  The common tapered 
screwdriver is more forgiving of misuse (wrong size for the screw head, 
etc.), but it occasionally buggers up the screw head - take a look at 
some of the used screws on your radios with a good magnifier...😁

          73,
- Mike  KC4TOS.

On 2/12/2021 12:20 AM, Hubert Miller wrote:
>
> My brother was removing an incorrect voltmeter from a German 20W.S.c 
> transmitter, but the
>
> screws would not remove. As you may know, for some reason German 
> fastener screw heads
>
> often have a much thinner slot than U.S. – British standard. He 
> marinated the screw back with
>
> penetrating oil. Then he twisted out two jewelers screwdrivers trying 
> to turn it. We really did
>
> not want to ding or gore this machine ! Finally he went and bought a 
> cheap screwdriver and
>
> ground down the blade to fit the screws. Success!
>
> But why did the Germans use such fasteners, such thin slots on the 
> screw heads ? That means
>
> you are just more likely to damage your screwdriver and the screw 
> head, both.
>
> -Hue Miller
>
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