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650ed wrote: Yes indeed - Vessel makes quality screwdrivers. Ed

Agreed. One of the best tool investments. I like the magnetic tip.

Here's a picture that helps describe the difference between Phillips and JIS screwdriver tips. It shows a comparison between the pointed end of the Phillips and the flat end of the JIS tips. That pointed end of the Phillips is the reason it will bottom out in a JIS screw before the blades are fully seated. Ed

I read somewhere that, originally, the reason phillips screwdrivers were made that way was so the factory workers wouldn't over-torque the screws, so they are supposed to slip out of the screw heads by design.

martin_csr wrote: I read somewhere that, originally, the reason phillips screwdrivers were made that way was so the factory workers wouldn't over-torque the screws, so they are supposed to slip out of the screw heads by design.

I have read that too, and I believe it is true since phillips screwdriver tips do tend to slip out (cam out) if excessive force is applied. The link below describes it. Ed

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cam_out

JIS has a dot. ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51l2LeFKrPL._SX342_.jpg

Jap bikes still have them, I'm constantly reading about people who can't get the float bowl screws out. lol

None of my JIS screws has dots on them. Maybe some company out there does that but there aren't any on my KZ.

Even if you correct the tip issue with the Philips driver, there are other differences (like the cam-out-causing angle and the inner corner of the cross is sharper on a JIS) which will result in deformation of a JIS screw when using a Philips, especially when tight. Back in the day, there was no info on how to get JIS screwdrivers...or even that they existed. So I have a few philips that are converted, but they still don't work as nice as the tool purposely designed for the job.

BTW, you don't have to convert to allens... you can get metric screws with actual Philips heads too. But allens are so nice.

I lived with mine for 40 years. Always wanted SS Allens. This time around I used them. I will never go back. The JIS rusts. The Allens don't.
Steve

There is a new supplier of JIS screwdrivers www.gofastinnovations.com/ ,Z1 sells the same ones as well. www.z1enterprises.com/ListItems.aspx?pro...p=0+JIS+Screwdrivers .Got a set coming from the first link

GKBO wrote: There is a new supplier of JIS screwdrivers www.gofastinnovations.com/ ,Z1 sells the same ones as well. www.z1enterprises.com/ListItems.aspx?pro...p=0+JIS+Screwdrivers .Got a set coming from the first link

Company owner is a member of GS Resources. A motorcycle guy.

He most certainly is.Does some drag racing IIRC. Getting them direct is a no brainer for a Canadian,$24.95 with no extra for shipping..Great deal for us Canadians.

My JIS drivers were some of the best money I ever spent. Thanks for the heads-up guys!