flat screwdriver set for my Lie Nielsen hand planes?

[Assaf Oppenheimer]

Hi everyone,

I just got my first decent hand plane, a LN number 4

as excited as I am about it, I quickly realized that my flat screwdrivers are inadequate -I can tell that if I keep using them, I will damage the brass screw heads.
the screwdrivers sold by LN are beautiful but way out of my budget. for the price of one of them I can get a set from Grace USA gunsmith style screwdrivers (does anyone know if they are a good fit for the LN planes?). so my question is, does anyone have any experience with alternatives to LN flat screwdrivers? If so what sizes do I need? ? I know that the planes are tools but they are beautiful tools and I really want to do right by them and get a decent screwdriver set.

Thanks,

Assaf

[Bob Jones 5443]

Assaf, I said the same thing for years about the expense of the Lie-Nielsen screwdrivers. Then one day I just got fed up with seeing the screws’ vulnerability to my standard drivers. I broke down and spent the $25. It helped that I was at one of their hand tool events, so there was no shipping (even though they had to ship it to me because they ran out at the event). Now I just regard it as a part of my sharpening kit, a dedicated tool for a specific step.

Karma footnote: after it shipped but before it arrived the order receipt listed the wrong size. I called them and they shipped out the correct one and asked me to return the other one. It turned out that the first one actually was the right size, just mislabeled. So then I had two of them. I chose to keep (and pay for) both, because I noticed that the Hock set screws are slightly narrower and the L-N driver doesn’t fit them. So I ground one of the drivers down. Now I have one marked “L-N/Stanley” and one labeled “Hock.” A luxury, I know, but so are my 8000 waterstone and granite surface plate.

But just try to convince me to swap my $15 Eclipse honing guide for the fancy ones. No need.

[Scott Winners]

I used to be a recreational pistol shooter before the arthritis got really bad. I still have in my shop a gunsmithing screwdriver set like this one (no affiliation):

https://www.amazon.com/Wheeler-Engin.../dp/B07NDFW974

So far I have a bit in stock to fit every screw on every woodworking tool. Those LN screwdrivers sure are pretty though.

[Assaf Oppenheimer]

LOL I just got the LN honing guide yesterday (ordered with the plane)

[Stephen Rosenthal]

I have many, many LN planes and believe in supporting them, but would never buy their overpriced screwdrivers (one for every tool!). Check out Chapman gunsmith screwdriver kits. One appropriate for your needs will probably cost less than $50. Family-owned and in business since the 30s. Made in USA. If they’re good enough for Wilson Combat pistols and other custom firearm manufacturers, they’re good enough for LN planes. Disclaimer: I have no affiliation whatsoever with them, just a very satisfied customer.

[chris carter]

I had this exact dilemma. Looking and looking it seemed like the only option was to get a giant screwdriver. I've seen plenty of folks with their giant 15" in long or whatever it is screwdriver taking off chip breakers because that's the only way to get a flat head wide enough. I have seen people buy one of those beasts, cut it down, and then fashion on a new handle. I considered that and various other hacks. In the end, I gave up and got a LN screwdriver. Except I was smart and put it on my Xmas list! I will say, it's a great screwdriver.

[Thomas Wilson]

About the L-N screwdrivers, they are lovely and fit the slots precisely. I have 1 through 9. On several of mine, the shafts came loose from the handles. I called L-N, they did not offer replacements. They advised me to re-glue them. I got some Gorilla epoxy, acetone, and rough sandpaper and did so. I also rolled my eyes. So far, the repair has held. I read that they have changed the handles since I bought mine. Perhaps, the gluing issue was a reason.

[Jim Koepke]

Most of my screwdrivers have come from suppliers of automotive tools.

For chip breaker screws my largest cabinet maker's screwdriver works fine. There are a few other large screwdrivers that may be a better fit, but they are a few feet further away.

Many of mine are over 40 years old so not even sure if they are still made.

Stanley and Craftsman used to offer a short screwdriver with a blade about 1/2" wide but only about 1-1/2" long out of a regular handle.

If you are one who likes to work metal, a nice screwdriver could be made out of a 1/2" spade style drill bit.

jtk

[Michael Fross]

About the L-N screwdrivers, they are lovely and fit the slots precisely. I have 1 through 9. On several of mine, the shafts came loose from the handles. I called L-N, they did not offer replacements. They advised me to re-glue them. I got some Gorilla epoxy, acetone, and rough sandpaper and did so. I also rolled my eyes. So far, the repair has held. I read that they have changed the handles since I bought mine. Perhaps, the gluing issue was a reason.

Same thing happened to me. They also told me to re-epoxy it. I won't buy another of their screwdrivers, although I do love their tools. On the other hand, if they have changed their design to correct this, maybe they are worth another try.

[Bob Jones 5443]

LOL I just got the LN honing guide yesterday (ordered with the plane)

OK, Assaf, with the money you spent on the honing guide you could probably buy five of their screwdrivers.

Update: I just noticed the ones for the chipbreaker and honing guide are $30 now, not $25 any longer. So you could only buy four of them.

And by the way, the L-N #4 driver fits both their chipbreakers and the Eclipse and generic Taiwan/Amazon Eclipse-type honing guides. Same screwdriver.

[Thomas Wilson]

Same thing happened to me. They also told me to re-epoxy it. I won't buy another of their screwdrivers, although I do love their tools. On the other hand, if they have changed their design to correct this, maybe they are worth another try.

Good to know it wasn’t just me and my massive wrist strength.

[Warren Mickley]

The only screw we use regularly is the one holding the cap iron to the blade, and it is steel. That one screw can be loosened and tightened thousands of times without moving the others. None of my frogs have been moved in the last forty years.

I have watched Lie Nielsen representatives use a stubby little screwdriver for the cap iron many times at their events and it looks very clumsy. I use a screw driver that is ten inches long.

[Derek Cohen]

I have used the LN screwdrivers at shows, and they look lovely. However, the only one I would consider is the lever cap screw driver and, like Warren, it just looks a tad small for my hand. What I did many years ago was to cut down an old turnscrew and hollow grind the blade into a parallel tip. This is dedicated to lever cap screws ...



Regards from Perth

Derek

[Phil Mueller]

I use this. I like it a lot.

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[David Publicover]

I’m afraid I don’t have as elegant a result as Derek but I also made my own screwdriver for the cap irons. I turned the handle and reground one of my dad’s old screwdrivers to fit. I cut off the handle and glued it into my replacement. Works great on my Stanley, Record and LN planes.

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