Vent: tried JIS screwdrivers vs standard Phillips on a Pentax K1000

I spent 2 hours stripping screws on a Pentax K1000 with regular Phillips bits before a buddy loaned me his JIS set. The JIS bits grabbed instantly and I had the top plate off in 5 minutes flat. Has anyone else found that using the wrong screwdriver type adds way more time to a repair than it should?

2 comments

2 Comments

mark7318d ago

Honestly, the first time I ran into JIS screws was on a late 80s Yamaha motorcycle. I spent a whole afternoon fighting with a standard Phillips and ended up with cam-out and a stripped head. After switching to a proper JIS bit, I had the carburetor off in maybe 10 minutes. It's crazy how much difference the right tip makes, especially on older gear like that Pentax. Ngl, it's one of those things you don't realize until you've wasted hours on it.

jake_martin168d ago

Eh, I don't buy it. People blame the screwdriver when the real problem is they just don't know how to use a Phillips properly. JIS is just a marketing gimmick for people who like buying specialty tools they don't really need. A standard #2 Phillips with good tip engagement and downward pressure works fine on any screw that isn't already corroded or painted shut. I've torn down dozens of old Japanese cameras and motorcycles with nothing but a normal Craftsman screwdriver and never had an issue. You're just making an excuse for your own technique.