Can you renew a Phillips head screwdriver?

[ericm]

It's not too hard to sharpen a flat head screwdriver that's gotten a little rounded off. But can it be done for a Phillips head? I have a couple older ones that I have had for many decades where the edges of the business end have gotten a little rounded off or damaged over the years. A new screwdriver works much better. But I'd like to keep using the old ones if there's a way to fix up the points.

 

[RoninB4]

Renew? Yes. Same dimensions? Not exactly. Type of Phillips (several) required affects outcome. Equipment needed? Decent bench grinder and a means to dress the wheel. Can you do it? Depends upon your experience grinding and your eye for detail.

 

[The Cobbler]

probably not with any precision or efficacy

 

[rust in the eye]

I've "dressed" many by hand using just a file. Eyeballed angles that approximate original. The filing ridges seem to offer some improved grip. A few I'm quite proud of, a few more not so much but nothing to loose once the tip is worn.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I have thought of this but have not done it yet. Spin weld a insert bit onto an old Phillips shaft. Should work in a midsize metal lathe. Somebody try it and let us know. I have several Klein #2 Phillips that worked great until they started slipping and had to be replaced

 

[larry_g]

I have more than a few times ground a few thousands off a damaged tip so that it will seat deeper into the screw head for a better bite.

 

[vwpieces]

Buy one with lifetime warranty.

 

[driftpin]

What with all the suppliers of decent tools, at decent pricing, why would you want to spend the time trying to do that? Me personally, I'd throw it into the scrap pile or exchange it if there's a warranty. If it needs to be replaced, do that.

 

[rust in the eye]

What with all the suppliers of decent tools, at decent pricing, why would you want to spend the time trying to do that? Me personally, I'd throw it into the scrap pile or exchange it if there's a warranty. If it needs to be replaced, do that.

A few minutes with a file isn't a big investment. Anyone who cares to send worn pro quality screwdrivers my way raise your hand.

 

[F-22]

Not very viable. My worn ones become picks. Screwdrivers are relatively cheap anyway. If you wear through them a lot, get a quality bit driver with a long engagement and replaceable bits. With that I mean something like a Vessel 230W and long bits like the Vessel PH2x110. The long engagement of the bit down in the handle makes it feel a lot like a fixed screwdriver, and the hefty "impact bit driver" handle is a lot more substantial in hand than most bit drivers (feels solid). I got a pack of 75, 110 and 150mm long ph2 bits, all together some 30 bits. They were about 1€ per bit, but they're high quality and much cheaper than constantly swapping screwdrivers. I still own some fixed screwdrivers too, but I generally grab this for stuck screws cause the point is always "fresh".

 

[honcho]

In a pinch I've done some file work to a cheap phillips driver to get something done but, for the most part, screwdrivers are consumables. As others have mentioned the worn out ones are good for custom picks and such.

 

[Bubba Fett]

I've done it with a flat ******* and some needle files. Take a little off, and test it with several Phillips screws.

 

[Jolomite]

I like using an upright belt sander so I can rotate the blade in my hand and maintain pretty even angles on the tip. If you have to grind off very much, you may need to thin the individual blades to fit in a screw properly. I do this with a *Very* light touch from a cut off wheel in a dremel. You've got to have everything completely lined up before touching the cutoff wheel to the screwdriver blade.