Have you ever heard of a “JIS” (Japanese Industrial Standard)  screwdrivers? -
not Philips and not Pozi.

No wonder I have slightly stripped out the heads of so many screws when
repairing Japanese products:
cars , motorbikes, TVs, fridges - you name it.
And they are not available from Bunnings and most tool places -
even in those super large screwdriver bit packs with 100 or more bits.

Video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXWSn8rMeEo



This place sells them.

https://rhinotools.com.au/product/jis-vessel-screwdriver-set/

https://rtstools.com/jis-vs-phillips-screwdrivers-and-where-to-buy-a-jis-screwdriver/


How can you identify the screw head?

The Philips has no marking.
The JIS has a dot.
The Pozi has a star.

https://rtstools.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/JISPhilipspozi.jpg

Bobby. wrote on Jan 29^th, 2025 at 9:58am:

Have you ever heard of a “JIS” (Japanese Industrial Standard)  screwdrivers? - not Philips and not Pozi.

No.





Bobby. wrote on Jan 29^th, 2025 at 9:58am:

No wonder I have slightly stripped out the heads of so many screws when repairing Japanese products: cars , motorbikes, TVs, fridges - you name it. And they are not available from Bunnings and most tool places - even in those super large screwdriver bit packs with 100 or more bits.

Hi bobby,

I have probably encountered these [non-Philips] screw heads without realising it !


bobby,

POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION [i don't know if this would work]

If you take a regular Philips head screwdriver.......

Would grinding [the first] 2-3mm off the tip of a Philips head screwdriver,
enable the remaining blade, to better engage in JIS and Pozi screw heads ?

As i said.......i don't know if this would actually work.

But you could 'sacrifice' an Philips head screwdriver [easy to find], to try it.



p.s.
I have also encountered 'trident' [3 tongued, 'Philips' type] screws.

I managed to find a screwdriver bit pack which contained one.

Quote:

Would grinding [the first] 2-3mm off the tip of a Philips head screwdriver, enable the remaining blade, to better engage in JIS and Pozi screw heads ?

Yes - but it's better to use the proper tool.

They are expensive and not in the cheap screwdriver bit packs.

The last couple of projects I have done I used the robertson screw only because they came in the length I wanted for treated pine. Having them I started using them but I don't think I will get any more unless its my only option. They have the square head and are a good snug fit. They usually come in packs with a driver so I have plenty of robertson drivers.

Leroy wrote on Jan 29^th, 2025 at 10:40am:

The last couple of projects I have done I used the robertson screw only because they came in the length I wanted for treated pine. Having them I started using them but I don't think I will get any more unless its my only option. They have the square head and are a good snug fit. They usually come in packs with a driver so I have plenty of robertson drivers.

Sure - there are good alternatives.

This is more about trying to open up or work on a Japanese product.
They only use  JIS screws.

Look at this image of Bunnings largest screwdriver bit 100 piece set.

It's $29.98  here:

https://www.bunnings.com.au/craftright-100-piece-screwdriver-set_p0585870

It has PH0,  PH1,  PH2  and PH3 Philips head types but no JIS bits.

It has PZ0,  PZ1, PZ2 &  PZ3  bits which are the Pozi drive type bits.


Craftright 100 Piece Screwdriver Set

https://i.ibb.co/RpQ1MJwH/Bunnings-100-piece-screwdriver-set.jpg