This is why Tamiya screws get chewed up.

[bigoggy]

Well you learn something new every day.

This may explain why people say Tamiya screws get chewed up easily.

This article is about motorbikes, but is equally applicable to Japanese RC screws.

In short, instead of using posidrive, or phillips, screwdrivers, we should be using JIS headed drivers.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-tools/jis-screwdrivers/

[ChrisRx718]

Yes, this is why you should invest in a tamiya screwdriver - even though I'm convinced they are probably a third-party product with a tamiya logo, at least you can be sure.

[KEV THE REV]

I've been using these screwdrivers for years . I bought 2 some time ago and they are perfect

[InsaneJim69]

As mentioned above, this is why people moan about tamiya kit screws being rubbish etc. When in reality if they actually bother to use the correct screwdriver they will last for ages. They all buy these kits worth hundreds of pounds but no one wants to spend £15 on the right screwdriver?

James

[Sandster]

I don't think it that nobody wants to spend £15 to buy a tamiya screwdriver (mine was less than a fiver). It is more that people do not realise there is a different type of cross head screw and even if they did know, JIS screwdrivers are not readily available in the UK.

[ChrisRx718]

I know what you mean - I only bought my E-clip tool a month ago and it makes life so much easier!

[kontemax]

I always used both kind of screw drivers and I never ruined the screws.

I believe that not all people is adapt to manual jobs, mechanical jobs and modelling.

My 2 cents.

Max

[Gruntfuggly]

I don't know what you're all complaining about. A real enthusiast uses a swiss army knife and nothing else...

[tilstad1]

This probably explains why I have always found those cheap looking screwdrivers that come in the standard toolkit of a Japanese car to work so well. Those have been among my long term favorites, as they always seem to grip.

I especially liked the dual driver one could turn around the metal rod and get a flatblade on the other side. I found good such drivers in old Mazdas and Mitsubishis.

I did not know why they worked so well, just observed that they did. I have to say though, that phillips type screws and screwdivers have always seemed to be an issue, where most of the drivers were marginal at best, expensive or not, and a few have been amazingly good, that I still use 20 years on.

[RichiPuppy]

I use a ratcheting snap on screw driver and have a large variety of screw tips to fit all the different sizes and shapes of screws.

[DBoz93]

I bought a couple of Tamiya screwdrivers prior to building my XV-01 and after using them realized that I should have purchased the screwdrivers over 25 years ago. They just work with the kit screws and don't slip. I got mine at Banzai Hobby and they were pretty cheap. The standard screwdrivers are 74006 - #2 Large for $2.21 and 74007 - #1 Small for $1.89 and the Pro screwdrivers are 74119 - #1 Small for $4.42 and 74120 #2 Large for $5.68 plus shipping which is not much if you use the SAL shipping option. I got the pro screwdrvers because I liked the handle shape better, I thought the handle on the regular driver would hurt my hand after a couple of hours building a kit and the scredriver tips are magnetic.

[Nobbi1977]

I bought a couple of Tamiya screwdrivers prior to building my XV-01 and after using them realized that I should have purchased the screwdrivers over 25 years ago. They just work with the kit screws and don't slip. I got mine at Banzai Hobby and they were pretty cheap. The standard screwdrivers are 74006 - #2 Large for $2.21 and 74007 - #1 Small for $1.89 and the Pro screwdrivers are 74119 - #1 Small for $4.42 and 74120 #2 Large for $5.68 plus shipping which is not much if you use the SAL shipping option. I got the pro screwdrvers because I liked the handle shape better, I thought the handle on the regular driver would hurt my hand after a couple of hours building a kit and the scredriver tips are magnetic.

I just got those two from Banzai as well. Not that I needed more drivers but they had Tamiya on the handle so I feel special building with them. I almost ordered a mini 4WD set from Banzai earlier just to get a Tamiya T-shirt

[kontemax]

And a real man use only his hands to remove the screws.

max

I don't know what you're all complaining about. A real enthusiast uses a swiss army knife and nothing else...

[Nobbi1977]

And a real man use only his hands to remove the screws.

 

max

 

 

Girls use hands, Men use teeth

[Sayer]

Girls use hands, Men use teeth

You actually touch them? I use stern looks and baritone harrumphs!

[sparkysx]

I've never had a Tamiya screwdriver, and never damaged a Tamiya screw, will think about buying a Tamiya set though.

[danb1974]

Any chance to persuade Tamiya to switch to hex? At least there is one type of hex, not 3 of them.

(On my few builds, I put a dab of grease on screw tips, it was the only way to get them to cut thread into plastic)

[bigoggy]

Knowing Tamiya, if they went hex, they would make them imperial, instead of metric.

[kontemax]

This is impossible. Japan uses metric.

Max

Knowing Tamiya, if they went hex, they would make them imperial, instead of metric.

[danb1974]

Well at least there is only imperial and metric and quality drivers don't skip-n-strip

Just saw that I have some tiny hexes in the lb/mp chassis, they hold the ball ends from the steering assembly.

[Cplus]

All TRF kits use hex. Many of the "pro" kits are using them now too.

No idea why they persist with cross head screws for other kits.

Might be a legacy thing, might be a consideration that "everyone" has a Phillips head screw driver and not all have hex keys (well, that's how it was in the 1980's)

Could also be they added a zero to the order from the screw factory back in the day and are still getting through the stock

[kontemax]

The hex heads are more prone to get chewed up than cross heads.

To have a goon hex screw it must made of a good steel and it costs.

Max

[danb1974]

Yeah but you buy quality hex and they will serve you good. It's incredible what difference they make, I only wish I did it sooner. As tips wear, just dremel a bit and voila new screwdriver. When no tip left, buy another tip (mine are not welded to the handle and can be replaced).

Hm, everybody has a philips... that won't fit right. I had to go to the hardware store with a tamiya screw in my pocket and search for the closest fit

[Mad Ax]

As mentioned above, this is why people moan about tamiya kit screws being rubbish etc. When in reality if they actually bother to use the correct screwdriver they will last for ages. They all buy these kits worth hundreds of pounds but no one wants to spend £15 on the right screwdriver?

James

It's funny how people think about economics, my mother would have made the exact opposite argument:

"I've just spent £200 on that kit for you, I'm not going to spend another £15 on a fancy screwdriver. You can have one of the old ones from your dad's shed, he only uses them for stirring paint anyway."