There’s no one right way to build a tool inventory. You can start small by buying a few screwdrivers, a hammer, a tape measure, and that might be all you need. The more jobs you do around your house, the more likely you are to accumulate more tools.
Having to purchase tools for specific jobs is another way to get some unique tools. I was given an old belt sander and have used it mostly to polish the spark plugs on my lawnmower each year. I had to unclog my kitchen sink, so I purchased my own snake and did it myself. You find ways to build up your inventory and can look back and try and remember what you needed that tool for in the first place. As I’ve gone on my own journey to build out my tool bench, I’ve been lucky enough to pick up an old Craftsman toolbox and all the tools inside at a sale. It did take me some digging to figure out what some of the screwdrivers are for.
Torx screwdrivers are a priority for security
This is particularly important for electronic devices
Given away by its six-point, star-shaped tip, a Torx screwdriver is meant for a Torx screw. The most typical types of screw that you’re going to find are flathead screws and crosshead or Philips head screws. Flathead screws had just one indentation for your screwdriver to fit into. Philips head screws have a cross shape that work with screwdrivers with a T-shaped tip.
Torx screws have a six-point indentation in them. You may not notice these screws out throughout the day, as they are used for situations that need more torque to open them. It takes a good amount of effort to tighten and loosen a Torx screw and there’s good reason for that.
Torx screws are mostly used on electronic devices, such as appliances, consoles, monitors, computers and more. If you’ve ever taken apart a computer and had to reach the hard drive, you’ve likely needed a Torx screwdriver to gain access.
Beyond regular Torx screws that have a six-point head, there are Torx security screws that have a small point in the middle of the star. These provide an extra layer of security, making it harder for an average person or tool to remove. Torx screws are a type of tool that you didn’t know you needed until you used one.
You might also see Torx security screws inside automobiles and parts of the engine. These are meant for high-security purposes and while they aren’t incredibly common, they aren’t outrageously rare either. The screw that you’re dealing with is likely a bit smaller but harder to budge, as they need to be tightened extensively to prevent any tampering. In the Craftsman toolbox, I came across a few different Torx screwdrivers, making me realize the previous owner used these quite a lot.
A stubby screwdriver is perfect for hard-to-reach places
Get in there and get the screw out
You’ve seen flathead screwdrivers before and they are some of the most valuable tools you have in your toolbox. Many of them have long handles and are great for single-slit screws. But if you happen to see one that’s incredibly short and squat, it’s meant for areas where you might not be able to put a standard screwdriver in.
Because the handle is so thick and the tip of the screwdriver is long, it’s meant for standard screws. But you can actually get more grip and torque when you have a stubby slotted screwdriver this size. A longer one can slip out more easily as you don’t have as close of a hold on the screw as you do with one this size.
Not every screwdriver set comes with one this size, so it probably makes sense to consider having one, especially if you have had to tighten screws on furniture. If you aren’t the person who put the furniture together, such as shelving, chances are you don’t want to remove the shelves from where they are in order to tighten them.
You can get stubby screwdriver that has a Philips head tip or a Torx tip as well. There are also screwdrivers that come with changeable tips that you can swap out depending on your need.
Load up your next screw in place
An additional tip makes a load of difference
When I took this screwdriver out of my toolbox, I had no idea what it was for. Was it for some kind of valve replacement work inside an automobile? Was it a specific fastener for a special screw?
Eventually, I realized that it was a tip made to load a new screw and keep it in place as you’re trying to insert it into a material. Nowadays, there are magnetic-tipped screwdrivers that can hold your metal screws in place as you’re trying to get them to go in. But before that was a thing, there were add-ons such as this that held the screw in place as you tried to fit it into a hole.
This one was affixed to the end of a long-handled flathead screwdriver. You basically open up the tip and slot a screw onto the end of the flathead screwdriver. Then, you can close it around the screw and it stays in place. Once you’ve got the screw started, you can remove it from the tip.
It solves a frustrating problem that can happen when you’re trying to hold one screw in one hand and line it up with a hole as you guide the screwdriver in at the same time. I got very used to using this and have found the massive benefits to having this tool. I haven’t found it to be something I didn’t want to keep using, to be honest.
Thin screwdrivers can tackle smaller screws
This one can help with tinier pieces
As someone who has worn glasses for much of my life, I’m incredibly aware of the situation when the arms become loose. Getting the glasses to fit perfectly can be a tough task and the arms should be one of the easier parts of the equation.
There are incredibly small screws that hold the arms of glasses on. They are usually screwed in with small flathead screws. You need to have a thin flathead screwdriver with a small tip.
This is not a normal screwdriver found in a screwdriver set. These are typically more specialized and must be just the right size to fit glasses. You might find screwdrivers that are slightly bigger and more common.
These kinds of screwdrivers are not meant to be used with a lot of force. The bodies of the screwdriver are thin and fragile, so if you are trying to turn a screw too aggressively, it might break. Be cognizant of the size of the screw head that you’re trying to turn before knowing if this is a good fit for you.
I had fun trying to figure out what some of the screwdrivers I inherited were for
There are dozens of types of screwdrivers from hundreds of manufacturers. You can find specialized screwdrivers because many specialized screws need tightening or loosening. If you don’t have the right screwdriver for a specific job, you can bet you can find one that will solve your problem. It’s all a part of building a tool inventory.
