Screwdrivers for Guns

HAIRY

April 21, 2003 04:15

Trying to learn something. I purchased Brownells "hollow ground" screwdrivers for my guns per my gunsmith's recommendation. What in heck is the difference between a regular screwdriver and a hollow ground? Is it that important? Just curious.

It's not what you know that gets you in trouble, it's what you know that just ain't so!
Resident Pyrrhonist

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  rjpeacock

  April 21, 2003 04:33

  Hairy, a regular screwdriver has a constant taper clear to the tip, whereas a hollowground is cut to be parallel to the screw slot. The hollow ground will perfectly fit the screw slot, but the regular one will be tight at the top of the slot,but be loose at the bottom and have a tendency to slip or twist out of the slot. Russ

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  RancheroPaul

  April 21, 2003 04:36

  Regular screwdrivers are made in such a way as to "taper" slightly at the tip. The flat sides are in a plane that would cause them to become knife sharp if they didn't have the very end "ground" off to be flat. This leaves the tip used to turn a screw with the end of the driver actually being thinner at the very tip than it is going away from the tip. This provides a rather "loose" fit into the slot of the screw and allows it to slip out of the slot much easier sometimes damaging the edges of the screw slot.
  
  "Hollow Ground" tips means that a "round" grinding wheel is used to shape the flat appearing sides of the screwdriver. What this does is "dish" the sides leaving the actual tip thicker at the end than the sides of the screwdriver tip. The tip has a greater tendency to "pull" itself into the bottom of the screw slot and holds firmer which in turn, minimizes the tendency of the screwdriver to "slip" out of the slot and possibly damaging the sides of the screw slot. These fit into the slot much better and hold better.
  
  In summation, you are looking at a better tool allowing a better job while minimizing the possibility of "tool slippage" leading to possible damage to the slot......creating an "eyesore" on your gun!
  
  "Life is FRAGILE!" Handle With Care!

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  HAIRY

  April 21, 2003 11:14

  Thanks guys--this is an excellent forum for us who need info (even of the most elementary kind.)[:D]
  
  It's not what you know that gets you in trouble, it's what you know that just ain't so!
  Resident Pyrrhonist

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