Call it the vintage machines or some electronics from a Japanese brand like Philips, JIS screws are hard to deal with. And as a concerned technician, you might not want to ‘screw’ the screws up with a driver that’s not a good fit.
So, what would you go for? Well, of course, one of the best JIS screwdrivers within your budget.
But as they are not manufactured in the US, you will not see dozens of them in the market. To cut the clutter, we’ve done the task of picking up top 5 JIS screwdrivers from the market of 2021.
There is a wide variety of prices, designs, and functionalities even in this shortlisting of 5 drivers.
So, sit tight, buckle up the seatbelt, and let’s go-
What Is A JIS Screwdriver?
JIS stands for Japanese Industry Standard. Hence, screwdrivers that are supposed to deal with JIS screws- are simply called JIS or Japanese industrial standard screwdriver.
Typically, it’s very easy to confuse between Japanese Phillips screwdrivers and JIS screwdrivers. We’ll talk about it after reviewing the products.
Comparison Table of Best JIS Screwdrivers Set
1. VESSEL MEGADORA Screwdriver
At A Glance
- +2 size, JIS-style screwdriver.
- JawsFit tip with anti-corrosion plating on it.
- Quick and slipless driving, thanks to the knurled blade.
- Hard and soft material combination on handle surface.
- You’ll get a good grip and comfy operation.
- Tip comes with magnetic effects.
- Pretty budget-friendly as a single screwdriver.
Product Overview
Let’s have a round of applause for the #1 pick of the day – VESSEL MEGADORA Screwdriver. Vessel had been quite a name in the hand tools industry, and the screwdriver that we’re going to talk about next- is from their inventory.
Let’s start discussing this Vessel JIS screwdriver –
Firstly, the difference between this driver and other JIS screwdrivers is, it’s not a dedicated JIS driver from Japan. It’s a screw made for working with Philips screws and sports a JIS style design on the tip. Hence, you can use it as a JIS screwdriver anyway.
The #1 selling point of this driver is its metal strength. The shaft of this screw is made out of Vessel’s very own blended alloy steel. On top of that, a state-of-the-art heat treatment is provided on it. As a perk, it will not decay or tamper even if it undergoes regular machining works.
Next on, it’s the magnetized tip that you should know about. It offers a high-precision operation while it protects itself from wearing out with the anti-corrosion chrome plating it has on it. Therefore, it can give you years of durability.
Moving from the tip to all the way through the handle, we find a mix of hard and soft materials on it. You might seek for a soft coating all the way. But remember, it needs to ensure a good grip and comfort at the same time.
Lastly, as a single JIS screwdriver, the cost that it comes for is pretty insignificant. If you’re seeking a +1 / +2 / +3 size JIS screwdriver within budget, the VESSEL MEGADORA Screwdriver can be a good shot.
2. Hozan JIS-4 JIS Screwdriver Set
At A Glance
- Blade length varies from 75mm to 300mm
- 3mm to 6mm blade diameter range.
- 15.44mm to 33.5mm handle diameter range.
- Offers a better blade design.
- Weighs as low as 9g for the smallest one. 124g for the largest.
- Pretty affordable price point.
Product Overview
At two, we have the newly released 3rd generation Hozan JIS-4 Japanese industrial standard screwdriver set. It’s from the inventory of Hozan tools- a prominent distributor of Japanese JIS drivers all across the state.
The first problem that it solves is the cam out and wearing you often face while using the US Phillips screwdrivers. Although Philips is a Japanese brand and all. But to make sure that your driver bites the screw head without reaching any damage on them, you need to have a JIS screwdriver like Hozan JIS-4 JIS Screwdriver Set.
In this set, you will have each of these four- JIS 00, JIS 0, JIS 1, and JIS 2 screwdriver tips. In the previous generation of it, there were D-130-75, D-140-100, D-150-100, and D-155-100 drivers. The 3rd generation comes with a slightly curvier design with better grips on the handle.
Regarding the blade length, diameter and weight, this set contains a firm diversity. You’ll have a 75mm long blade on the smallest one. Eventually, the largest one sports 300mm of blade length. The diameter of the blades ranges from 3mm to 6mm all the way. And the same goes for the handle diameter- from 15.4mm to 33.5mm.
These drivers are pretty lightweight and comfy to use. The smallest one weighs only 9 grams. And the largest one is weighing 124 grams. Having such less weight will boost your precision and efficiency to work with screws at even tough-to-reach places.
Overall, the entire set of these screws are completely worth it. The price point of the set is also among one of the best ones.
3. AB Tools-Laser JIS Screwdriver Set
At A Glance
- Set of 4 screwdrivers in one place.
- Shaft sizes are- 110mm, 190mm, 220mm, and 280mm
- Made in Nagasaki, Japan
- The shaft is made of chrome vanadium steel
- Hardened tips for endurance
- Soft and comfy grip on the handle.
Product Overview
We have another set of JIS screwdrivers, AB Tools – Laser JIS Screwdriver consisting of 4 of them within a size range of 110mm to 280mm. This length is measured for the shaft of the screwdrivers. And as it seems, the set can cater to a diverse range of machining needs of yours.
Firstly, a Japan-built promise comes right with this set. It’s built in Nagasaki, Japan. Starting from the tip to the grip- these screwdrivers are premium built all the way.
The shaft is made of chrome vanadium steel that sports endurance and durability. When you’ll be working on screws within Japanese branded products, it’ll prevent cam-out. The same will go with Philips screws as well.
To make sure that these drivers don’t fail at their jobs for a long period of time, the tips of them are hardened all the way. Besides, when you’ll operate with them, the soft grip on the handle will let you have full control without hurting your palm.
If you’ve not noticed yet, there are holes on the bottom of the screws for the sake of easy and hassle-free storage. In case even if you store them in open, the black coating on the tips won’t let any damage or corrosion reach the drivers.
Some of the users might complain about the price, as it’s pricier than our #1 pick. But a set of 4 drivers with premium built quality in it deserves a premium price point. If you take it as a long-term investment after your tools, that might sound okay for you.
4. AB Tools T Handle JIS Screwdriver 7pc Set
At A Glance
- A set of one T-handle, 5 bits, and a bit holder.
- Bits are made of high-quality chrome vanadium steel.
- Magnetic bit holder that can hold up to 5 bits.
- Bits come in a variety of PH1, PH2, and PH3 sizes.
- Pretty pocket-friendly pricing.
Product Overview
At this point of the best JIS screwdrivers reviews, we took the liberty to pick up an alternative to traditional screwdrivers and go with a T-handle instead. It basically serves the same purpose but in a better way. We’ll explain how.
Let’s welcome the T Handle JIS Screwdriver from AB Tools.
What a T-handle does better than a screwdriver is- it offers more rotational strength to deal with hardened up screws. In the case of a rusty screw, where just gripping the screw handle isn’t enough, T-handles come in rescue.
The T Handle JIS Screwdriver from AB tools come up with 5 different JIS screwdriver tips, along with the T handle itself. You’ll also have a case for the 5 screw tips to store.
Along with the long T handle, you’ll have PH2, PH2 and PH3 bits to use with the T-handle. The screwdriver bit holder is magnetic, so there is not a chance of tripping down even when you’re not constantly storing them.
Overall, this serves the purpose of having a set of 5 screwdrivers in hand. All you need to do is to protect the bits properly using the magnetic bit holder.
5. RW 0059-004 JIS Screwdriver Impact Bits
At A Glance
- 8 impact bits in total. Both long and short.
- Contains #2 and #3 sized bits, four from each group.
- Perfect to work on vintage machines.
- Doesn’t slip out from the holder.
- Made of hardened S2 steel.
- Solid, rust-proof design.
Product Overview
To end up the listing of today, we’ve picked up yet another alternative to traditional JIS screwdrivers. And they are called the RW 0059-004 JIS Impact bit Set. It’s from RiftWild, and we’ll explain what’s inside.
First thing first, let’s check out what’s inside the set.
In this set, you’ll have 8 bits in total. 2 of them are #2, 25mm short sized bits. 2 of them are long sized #2 bits that are 75mm long. 2 of them are short #3 bits of 25mm length. And the last 2 of them are long #3, 75mm sized bits.
Now, the reason why they are called impact bit is, the long ones can reach places that traditional screwdrivers and even T-handles can’t. And as they are made of all-magnetic design, you don’t have to think about losing the grip on them. All you need to get is an impact driver that matches the sizes and diameter of these bits.
The material that’s used to build these bits is S2 steel. And it’s hardened and heat-treated all the way. So, if you are required to even push some impact forces on some hard and stubborn screws, they will get your job done.
The price might sound a bit high, but these are some highly professional-grade magnetic bits we are talking about. If you’re a professional who has to deal with electronics with JIS style screws, you’ll understand the worth of these.
A silly problem is, you have to buy a separate impact driver holder to house these bits. That’s an extra expense for sure.
Difference Between Japanese and Phillips Screwdrivers
Philips is a Japan-originated brand and produces Japanese screwdrivers as well, we know. But what we don’t know is that the screwdrivers from Philips don’t necessarily serve the purpose as a JIS screwdriver does. Especially, when it comes to dealing with JIS screwdrivers.
Let’s talk about these differences now-
The Tip Design
Firstly, the tip of a JIS screwdriver is slightly different from the one of a Ph or Philips screwdriver. It comes with different curves and biting ability on JIS screwdrivers.
The Cam-out and Damage
Next on, if you apply Philips screwdrivers on JIS screws, you might face cam-outs, ripping, and at the worst case, damage on the screws. If you’re unfortunate, the screw heads might lose their ability to get grabbed by even a JIS screwdriver.
On the other hand, JIS screwdrivers fit perfectly with the JIS screws, offering you a smooth and hassle-free operation.
Also check out our Best Snap Ring Pliers for more tools like this one.
Bottom Line
Alright, folks, the show is about to get done. So far, we’ve talked about all 5 best JIS screwdrivers of the market and the facts within them. For your convenience, we’ve kept a couple of varieties apart from the regular screwdrivers. But all of them are born to deal with JIS screw heads all the way.
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