A stripped screw on a Leica M3 taught me to check my tools first

Last month in my shop, I was working on a customer's Leica M3 and a tiny screw on the film advance stripped out. I realized my go-to JIS driver was worn down from years of use. I ordered a new set from a supplier in Chicago and the next job went smooth. How often do you all check your screwdrivers for wear?

2 comments

2 Comments

matthewh286d ago

You ever think about the metal shavings from a worn driver? They have to go somewhere. That tiny bit of lost steel ends up in the mechanism, acting like grinding paste on the next screw you touch. It's not just about a bad fit, it's about the junk it leaves behind. A clean, sharp tool keeps the whole system clean.

jaken236d ago

My old drill bit set taught me that lesson the hard way. I kept using a dull bit on some cabinet screws and it left this gray dust everywhere. Next time I went to drill, the chuck kept slipping because that fine metal grit got inside. Now I check my bits before every job and toss anything with rounded edges. That gunk ruins everything it touches.