A couple of brands make “demolition screwdrivers,” which are super-robust screwdrivers designed for heavy use and abuse.
You will often find demo screwdrivers sold in pairs, with one being a Phillips #2 screwdriver, and the other slotted, in 1/4″ or 5/16″ sizing.
In response to our post about Klein’s demo drivers, Jason mentioned:
I don’t really get the use of a demo Phillips. My Phillips need all the help they can get to keep their shape. I found some random brand demo Phillips and ground it down flat to use as a beater.
Jason doesn’t get the purpose of a Phillips-tipped demo driver? Me neither.
For what it’s worth, I do like my Stanley FaxMax demo drivers, and use the Phillips quite often.
I suppose that a Phillips demo driver can be used for knocking out punches in outlet boxes and light fixtures. And… things like that?
I have never used the striking cap, but I do know that some users will hammer on their Phillips drivers to help shock-loosen really stubborn and stuck fasteners. That’s also part of what makes hand-operated impact drivers so useful.
Or… what if needed to seat a Phillips screwdriver inside a painted-over fastener with a thick coating? A few taps should help the driver cut through softer paint, for better fastener engagement.
If you have used a Phillips demo driver, or hammered on any other Phillips screwdriver, how, when, where, or why?
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In addition to demo drivers, you will often see striking caps on heavy duty screwdrivers, which also often have hex bolsters for turning with a wrench for extra torque. Wiha is the first to come to mind, but there are several brands offering this style of screwdriver.
See Also(Heavy Duty Drivers)