Interesting Doug. I haven't tried any of the JIS drivers. I can't say what the factory is using (I'm 600 miles north on the Oregon Coast), but I have noted powered screwdrivers when visiting the facility. Eric says that they are high-quality drivers that provide a very wide range of fine adjustment down to very low torque levels.
In writing assembly manuals, I use ONLY those tools called for in the manual to ensure that a typical builder can actually do the assembly without difficulty. I have an assortment of Phillips screwdrivers dating back to some Proto tools I bought for my first job as a Radio and Radar Technician at Lockheed Aircraft in the late 1950's. Both of the Proto screwdrivers still hold the screw solidly after 50 years of hard use. That may be because, just like a screw head, if the driver is a good fit and doesn't wobble or "cam", one made of quality steel will outlast its owner. I seldom take a short-cut and use a driver that doesn't fit solidly. More recently I bought a set of "StaySharp Change-A-Blade" drivers that fit into a common handle. The claim to be true Phillips driver heads. The PH1 and PH2 feel solid with no "play" in the fit and, like the Proto screwdrivers, I can hold the screwdriver horizontally without the screw falling off. 73, Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604 Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2012 4:43 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Elecraft] Screwdrivers for assembling Elecraft products- JIS suggested I saw this topic when reading older message off-line with no connectivity, but want to put in my two-bits. I bought some JIS screwdrivers and bits, and have used them recently on my Elecraft gear, and find them far superior in fit to the screws to any of my high-quality Phillips drivers. I'm traveling, so can't see what the brands involved, but found them using a search engine. I strongly recommend using JIS bits on Elecraft gear. What do they use in the factory? 73, doug ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
