News & Notes

Stainless steel fasteners are growing in popularity, but as versatile and long lasting as they are, they do have a few weaknesses. Each time an ordinary ferrous steel screwdriver is used to drive a stainless steel screw into place, the intense localized pressure exerted on the tool's surface causes microscopic particles to be deposited on the fastener, resulting in rust.

The best way to combat this problem is to use a stainless steel screwdriver, since any deposits left behind by the tool will be inert and thus rustless. The trouble with this approach is that it's very difficult to make stainless steel tools hard enough to prevent premature wear, yet not so hard that they become brittle. Enter Wera Tools of Wuppertal, Germany. This leading European tool manufacturer has perfected a vacuum ice-hardening process that enables fastener-driving tools to be made from stainless steel with just the right level of resilience and hardness. I sampled a pouched set that includes an ergonomic handle along with a variety of interchangeable driver bits-all of which are, of course, stainless steel.

I've used the Wera stainless screwdrivers on a number of occasions during vessel inspections, and they've performed flawlessly. After working with tools as a professional for many years, I know when one is made well. This is especially true of screwdrivers; if the hardening process isn't right, the tips tend to wear or distort early on. I've noticed no such evidence of this in the Wera kit. The bits are tough, and I haven't managed to break any yet. For more information on Wera stainless steel tools, visit stainlessscrewdrivers.com. -S.D'A.