An old Pentax repair guy told me I was using the wrong size JIS screwdriver

Been repairing cameras for about 8 years now, mostly as a side thing. Last summer I had a Pentax K1000 on the bench with a stuck shutter release. I stripped one of the top plate screws pretty bad trying to get it off. Took it to a retired repair guy I know named Bob over in Albany. He took one look at my bit set and told me I'd been using Philips heads on JIS screws for years. Said the difference is subtle but you'll feel it when you strip a screw. He was right. I ordered a proper set of JIS bits from an electronics supplier for about 25 bucks. Night and day difference. No more cam-out on those tiny screws. Has anyone else had that ah-ha moment with screwdrivers or am I the last one to figure this out?

2 comments

2 Comments

flores.tessa29d ago

Honestly, you're probably overthinking this. JIS vs Philips is one of those things people hype up online to feel like they're in on a secret. I've used the same old craftsman set on a dozen cameras and maybe stripped one screw total. Just go slow and apply even pressure. Feels like a solution in search of a problem to me.

river_bailey229d ago

Have you actually tried a JIS driver side by side with a standard Philips though? @flores.tessa I get what you're saying about it being hyped, but I had a buddy who was rebuilding an old Canon AE-1 and he swore it was a total game changer. He stripped one screw on the bottom plate using a regular bit, then ordered a JIS set and said the new ones came out like butter. He even sent me a photo of the gouged up head next to the clean one he did after. So maybe it's not a big deal for every job, but when you're dealing with tiny screws on vintage gear, it seems like the right tool matters. Just my two cents from hearing him rant about it for an hour.