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Rescue those chipped and bent flat-blade screwdrivers from the trash! With a bench grinder and a little time, you can regrind a damaged flat-blade screwdriver tip to the original shape or thin it to fit eye-glass and other small screw heads.
In all grinding procedures, safety is the most important factor. Grinding without safety glasses is just plain foolish. Grinding wheels throw a steady stream of sparks when they’re in contact with metal. Do not wear loose long sleeves and keep your fingers and hair away from the spinning wheels.
Set the grinder tool rest so it’s as close as possible to the grinding wheel without touching. Butt an index finger into the tool rest and steady the screwdriver blade with your thumb. Use your other hand to push the screwdriver into the grinding wheel (this keeps both hands as far from the spinning wheel as possible).
Photos 1 and 2 show how to repair or modify a damaged flat-blade screwdriver tip.
Grinding will generate heat, so after a few seconds of grinding, pull the tool away from the grinding wheel and let it cool or quench it with water. If the tip of a screwdriver overheats during grinding and turns blue, the metal has lost its temper and weakened. Remove any bluing with short, quick strokes against the grinder.
Click image to enlarge.
1. Set the tool rest so it’s at a right angle to the grinding wheel. Push the screwdriver tip straight into the grinding wheel until the damaged portion is removed and the tip is flat again.
Click image to enlarge.
2. Reset the grinder tool rest to thin the blunt tip. Lift the screwdriver on and off the grinding wheel by pivoting it against the tool rest edge. Grind both sides equally until the tip is thinned to the desired thickness.
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