# Does the pattern of this screwdriver have a formal name **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 15, 2004, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959 "2004-12-15T13:09:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/1 "2004-12-15T13:09:02Z")
I’ve got a little crosspoint screwdriver that I keep on my keyring; being an IT support guy, it’s very handy and fits PC case and drive mounting screws perfectly (in fact I think it might have come free in the pack with a component at some point). It is made of a single piece of metal; at the opposite end from the point, the metal shaft is bent round into a triangular handle, a bit like the key for a sardine tin, I suppose. Trouble is, the point is now very worn and it doesn’t work all that well; I’d like to replace it and I’m sure I could find another one if I just knew what this particular format or _patttern_ of tool was called… Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/2 "2004-12-15T13:29:33Z")
Do you mean a Phillips screwdriver? ---
**Author:** ![matt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@matt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/3 "2004-12-15T13:33:03Z")
Apparently it should be a No. 2 Phillips driver! [http://www55.dixiesys.com/~bunker/sg03.html](http://www55.dixiesys.com/~bunker/sg03.html) [http://www.tvrna.com/tech-m04.html](http://www.tvrna.com/tech-m04.html) ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/4 "2004-12-15T13:44:45Z")
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw) Can you get an idea from [here?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/screw) Scroll down for a few piccies. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/5 "2004-12-15T13:46:38Z")
Nonono… Sorry, I’ve probably mislead you; I mean the pattern of the _handle_ - bent to a triangular shape - the whole tool is made from a single metal rod. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/6 "2004-12-15T13:58:48Z")
[Here](http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/mangetoutpictures/images/0-picture.jpg?0.5573751161710592)’s a picture of it… ---
**Author:** ![TwoTrouts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@TwoTrouts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoTrouts)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/7 "2004-12-15T14:21:22Z")
Here’s something similar. [Keyring screwdriver set](http://www1.electusdistribution.com.au/productView.asp?ID=5954&CATID=29&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&SUBCATID=189). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/8 "2004-12-15T14:36:35Z")
That’s the sort of thing I’m after; not sure if they’ll ship to the UK… I might see if I can get someone to cut off the tip of this one and braze a new hardened screwdriver bit on the end. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/9 "2004-12-15T14:37:02Z")
Not totally sure if it is correct, but I think it is called a gimlet… [http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=32206&category=1,43411,43422&abspage=1&ccurrency=1&SID=](http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=32206&category=1,43411,43422&abspage=1&ccurrency=1&SID=) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/10 "2004-12-15T14:39:17Z")
Gimlet refers to the point; a gimlet is like a cross between an awl and a drill bit. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/11 "2004-12-15T15:17:33Z")
As long as **Mange** started this thread, let me ask: A flathead screwdriver head has a cross section like this: \_\_ A Phillips screwdriver head has a cross section like this: + When I get a set of screwdrivers, I end up with a couple that have head cross sections like this: \* (That’s a six-point asterisk; I’ve forgotten whether Verdana posts it as a five-pointer or not.) What are screwdrivers of that head-style called? ---
**Author:** ![Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji_Kitakyusho)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/12 "2004-12-15T15:23:31Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > As long as **Mange** started this thread, let me ask: > > A flathead screwdriver head has a cross section like this: \_\_ > > A Phillips screwdriver head has a cross section like this: + > > When I get a set of screwdrivers, I end up with a couple that have head cross sections like this: \* (That’s a six-point asterisk; I’ve forgotten whether Verdana posts it as a five-pointer or not.) > > What are screwdrivers of that head-style called? Flat sided hexagon is a hex or Allen head. Lobed star is a Torx head. ---
**Author:** ![caymus28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@caymus28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caymus28)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/13 "2004-12-15T15:24:05Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > When I get a set of screwdrivers, I end up with a couple that have head cross sections like this: \* (That’s a six-point asterisk; I’ve forgotten whether Verdana posts it as a five-pointer or not.) > > What are screwdrivers of that head-style called? They are called **Torx** screwdrivers. ---
**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/14 "2004-12-15T15:25:47Z")
[Torx driver.](http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00941475000) ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/15 "2004-12-15T15:26:23Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > As long as **Mange** started this thread, let me ask: > > A flathead screwdriver head has a cross section like this: \_\_ > > A Phillips screwdriver head has a cross section like this: + > > When I get a set of screwdrivers, I end up with a couple that have head cross sections like this: \* (That’s a six-point asterisk; I’ve forgotten whether Verdana posts it as a five-pointer or not.) > What are screwdrivers of that head-style called? Probably Torx, look at my link above. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji_Kitakyusho)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/16 "2004-12-15T15:27:22Z")
…and before anyone asks, the square ones are Robertson heads. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/17 "2004-12-15T15:33:06Z")
Ah! I found a few results (nothing promising) on searching the term _bent wire screwdriver_… ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/18 "2004-12-15T18:17:05Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Gimlet refers to the point; a gimlet is like a cross between an awl and a drill bit. Ahh, I see. I read Gimlet Auger and thought the Gimlet referred to handle. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/19 "2004-12-15T18:29:56Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > That’s the sort of thing I’m after; not sure if they’ll ship to the UK… > > I might see if I can get someone to cut off the tip of this one and braze a new hardened screwdriver bit on the end. If they don’t ship to UK, I would act as the US address and forward it on, if you like. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959/20 "2004-12-15T22:32:00Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > If they don’t ship to UK, I would act as the US address and forward it on, if you like. Thanks; that’s a really kind offer (and is the sort of thing that makes this board such a fantastic place, I think). Howver, I think I’m going to use this as an excuse to ask Santa for one of [these](http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-ProductSpec?SWTPLUSBX), which are available all over the place. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-pattern-of-this-screwdriver-have-a-formal-name/279959.md?page=2)