New Screwdrivers

[jtking96]

14 hours ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

If the steel is of good quality then at a hobbyist level these blades will last you a good while.  Hats off to the manufacturer in that every driver is made the same just a different coloured top. Cost effective manufacturing compared to the stepped blades ?

Cost effectiveness has got to be one of the main reasons for it. I'd imagine they have an easier time making them concentric and fit well to the 2mm shanks since they're drilling them all the same size.

I've got a friend at work who is an engineer with experience machining. I'm going to see what he thinks about getting 2mm stainless steel stock and making my own screwdriver blades in the future.

[watchweasol]

Hi. Looked after carefully they will last you years,  I have some screwdrivers ( no replaceable blades) with solid blades, back then. No fancy sets you just bought the sizes you wanted. One or two suppliers I think put sets together maybe five, seven drivers of recommended drivers. The suppliers I used then are long gone . A .G Thomas Bradford still exist though.

[Neverenoughwatches]

As WW says, without abusing them they will last you a long time, the smaller sizes would wear out sooner but these tend not to be used so much anyway. And the big ones will be passed down a generation or two unless you get heavily into clock repair. You won't need to think about this again for 10 years.

[AndyGSi]

45 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

As WW says, without abusing them they will last you a long time, the smaller sizes would wear out sooner but these tend not to be used so much anyway. And the big ones will be passed down a generation or two unless you get heavily into clock repair. You won't need to think about this again for 10 years.

Is it just me then that would be concerned about using Steel Screwdrivers?

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, AndyGSi said:

Is it just me then that would be concerned about using Steel Screwdrivers?

I've tried both the plastic and wooden ones Andy, they're shite .

[tomh207]

2 hours ago, AndyGSi said:

Is it just me then that would be concerned about using Steel Screwdrivers?

Steel screwdrivers have been the goto and norm for so long without major issues as long as they are regularly maintained including demagnetise. I think there are some beryllium bronze versions kicking about now for a suitably extortionate fee which could be worth a try but I would expect them to need extra dressing and maybe wear out quicker. I am sure I have seen recommendations from some of the professionals here that you can repurpose old twist drill shanks as screwdriver bits too.

 

Tom

[AndyGSi]

20 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

I've tried both the plastic and wooden ones Andy, they're shite .

So do you use Steel or Stainless?

[Neverenoughwatches]

51 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

So do you use Steel or Stainless?

Tbph Andy I'm not entirely sure, I've never really given it any thought as they don't cause me issues.  The ones I use now are still mostly the cheap ones I bought about 5 years ago. The tips don't seem to magnetism, I dont ever remember having to demagnetise them. I do have almost a full set of bergeon aquired in tool joblots here and there and also 3 sets of old swiss/french drivers but I rarely use anything but the cheap ones. The tweezers I am more picky about. 

[watchweasol]

Hi. I have both and use them equally, first sign of screws sticking they get demagnetise treatment. The older ones mainly on clocks.

[oldhippy]

I bought a set of bergeon screwdrivers back in the 70's  in a nice wooden box and I still have them. I don't think Chinese junk screwdrivers will last as long. 

[watchweasol]

Happy New Year. Old Hippy,   I think you could bet your life on that statement,  I bought a French set  nice screwdrivers but still use my old ones.

[jtking96]

50 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

I bought a set of bergeon screwdrivers back in the 70's  in a nice wooden box and I still have them. I don't think Chinese junk screwdrivers will last as long. 

I would've loved to buy a bergeon set, but I've got too many expensive hobbies to be buying the nicest things for all of them. I think you'd be surprised by the quality of the screwdrivers linked at the top of this thread though.

[oldhippy]

As far as I remember my set cost me around £15 back in the 70's on an apprenticeship  that was nearly 2 weeks wages. I can remember a basic watch clean £2. 10 shillings. No wonder I'm poor, so if you would all like to donate to my benevolent found I would be more then happy.  

Edited January 15 by oldhippy

[HectorLooi]

11 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

As far as I remember my set cost me around £15 back in the 70's on an apprenticeship  that was nearly 2 weeks wages. I can remember a basic watch clean £2. 10 shillings. No wonder I'm poor, so if you would all like to donate to my benevolent found I would be more then happy.  

A Bergeon box set now costs about £170. So if you do the maths, that's about 10X more. But what are watchmakers charging for servicing now?

Shhh. Don't tell Bergeon. They are not charging enough.

[AndyGSi]

Just seen these on Cousins with 2mm Shanks.

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/value-flat-crosshead-steel-stepped?code=S47879

[GuyMontag]

Aliexpress has the Kwong Yuen 2mm shank replacement blades, including hollow ground.

Edited January 23 by GuyMontag