Posidrive screws

[mdutch]

Okay, no electricity on this one.... but please bear with me.

I need a set of Posidrive screwdrivers.

Posidrive are european almost-phillips-head fasteners is used extensively in contemporary cabinet hinges, automotive trim, security devices, etc. It's like a phillips, but has precision machined faces that get incredible torque. You can't loosen or tighten a posidrive properly with a phillips, though they "sorta" fit. They tend to strip out the top of the screw, or ruin the phillips tip.

I've been looking casually for two months, but now have accumulated six different projects I could finish properly if I had the right tool.

Does ANYONE know where I can purchase one? I've had four people send me to the big-box stores, Lowes, HD, etc. I've been to Ace Hardware (even the legendary Elliott's Hardware in Dallas) and have gotten the same slack-jawed "never heard of it" response. Local cabinetmakers have said "Look in the assortment packs and you'll usually find them there." But no dice. Normal phillips-head #0-3, torqx (star) drivers, square drivers, but no posidrive.

I'd happily take them in screw-gun tips, but would prefer an assortment of handheld screwdrivers.

Any sources out there?

[mschrank]

You mention these screws are used for automotive trim...so you might try an auto parts store (but are you sure you aren't thinking of Torx screws?)

I know posidrive screws are used on ski bindings, so you might try a ski shop...except that those probably aren't plentiful in your part of the country.

I typed "posidrive screwdriver" into Google and got a couple of suitable hits (kind of) including http://www.pratt-read.com/ but I don't see an online order form.

Not much help, am I?

[bigsteel15]

You mention these screws are used for automotive trim...so you might try an auto parts store (but are you sure you aren't thinking of Torx screws?)

I know posidrive screws are used on ski bindings, so you might try a ski shop...except that those probably aren't plentiful in your part of the country.

I typed "posidrive screwdriver" into Google and got a couple of suitable hits (kind of) including http://www.pratt-read.com/ but I don't see an online order form.

Not much help, am I?

Clee & Associates
3211 Norton Dr. #`103
Richland Hills, TX 76118
817-589-7161
817-589-7180 fax

[jaybee]

Going a little further, I found:

http://www.pratt-read.com/html_main/dist/salesreps.html

[WayneJ]

Any " Snap-on or "mac tool dealer should be anble to help you. They visit most dealerships on a weekly basis. This is where most techs get there tools. Might also be listed in your yellow pages. HTH
Wayne

[LCHIEN]

http://www.tessco.com/products/displ...&subgroupId=73

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools...e=snapon-store

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/searc...word=posidrive

http://search.ebay.com/search/search...prclo=&saprchi=

[skruffy]

SK makes posidrive tools too and they are often sold at parts stores and some Sears stores. For me they are much more convenient than driving to the local dealership, asking a tech when the Snap-on truck comes in, finding out I have to take a day off work so I can be there on Thursday sometime between 10 and 3, then be ignored by the driver because he'd rather BS with the guys that buy from him regularly instead of making a couple of bucks by selling me something.

SK's dealer locator is at http://www.sktools.com/locator.cfm

[DUD]

When I was a Snap-On Dealer I sold the Pozidrive screwdrivers. I also carried the inserts for a magnetic screwdriver. I had to be careful or I would sell them as Phillips or the other way. Bill

[91FE]

Got one or two in the large 18 or so piece craftsman set I got. I think you can buy 'em loose there too.

[bobevans]

Correct spelling= pozidriv

Amazon.com has a lot of pozidriv screwdrivers listed. Just search under the term pozidriv.

Also check out WihaTools.Com.

Link: http://www.wihatools.com/indexes/indxpozi.htm

[LinuxRandal]

I've seen the tips, in various sets, that are sold as security bits. Most of the employees at the stores where they have these, have no idea what they are called.

[leehljp]

A different direction

Heading in a different direction on this - IF your primary purpose is to use a posidrive screw because - it gets incredible tork without stripping out - then you might should consider something else.

The problem with stripping out in phillips screws is the inherent action of drill drivers. This requires the re-design of screw heads and driver bits. That is why there are so many different designs for screw heads and drivers - and even whole companies built around the "not torqing out" screw/bit design.

The way around ALL of this is the impact driver. An impact driver will take a standard phillips screw, drive with the twice the power and not torq out. No special screw needed. The problem is not with the design of the screw head as much as it is with a drill driver versus an impact driver.

With Drill drivers - the force is veritcal, which causes camming out naturally, and the more torq, the more it wants to cam out.

With Impact drivers, the force is appied horizontal which greatly reduces the camming out even with standard philips head screws.

Since I have learned what an impact driver will do versus a drill driver, I quit looking for special screws, screw heads, bits etc. I don't even look at the McFeely catalog any more.

[John Hunter]

http://www.ehow.com/buy_2442_pozidriv-screwdriver.html

[Stick]

Any " Snap-on or "mac tool dealer should be anble to help you. They visit most dealerships on a weekly basis. This is where most techs get there tools. Might also be listed in your yellow pages. HTH
Wayne

That's where I got mine. No dealers come within 200 miles of my work or home now though. But.....thanks to the age of internet, you can now buy direct from Snap-On online. I imagine Mac as well.

[Stick]

Since I have learned what an impact driver will do versus a drill driver, I quit looking for special screws, screw heads, bits etc. I don't even look at the McFeely catalog any more.

I've been doing that for decades. I use my 3/8" air butterfly impact about as often as a screwdriver as to drive sockets. I still curse phillips head screws though. Posidriv are much better but still not that big an improvement. Mid to late 70's vintage Harleys and jap bikes used them on the engine covers. A mechanic's nightmare! Steel screws in aluminum alloy cases with heads that stripped out the first time a screwdriver passed within 12 feet of them. More often than not they had to be drilled out. Oh well, they made me a lot of money, and made my customers a lot poorer. On mechanical stuff of my own, I change them all out for Allen or Torx. I haven't seen a wood screw other than Robertson in as long as I can remember. My phillips screwdrivers and bits pretty much just rust and gather dust these days. LOL!