You’ve all probably seen Quick-Wedge type screwdrivers for starting slotted screws, but did you know Ullman Devices makes starters for Phillips, Torx, hex and nuts too? After talking to a representative I confirmed that Ullman Devices builds all these tools in the USA.
Of course these are usually called starters because they are only good for starting screws; you can’t actually apply much torque, and so they’re not to be confused with screwdrivers. There are other types of screw holders that can apply torque because they have real screwdriver heads.
These screw starters have prongs that grab and captures a screw from the sides and from underneath the head. The disadvantage of these types of starters is that the tip is wider and you may have trouble fitting it into narrow recesses.
There are always magnetic tipped screwdrivers, but sometimes the you don’t want to magnetize your screw. Other times, the magnet just isn’t powerful enough to hold a screw securely or steadily enough. And there yet other times when you are using a screw that isn’t ferromagnetic, such as brass, that won’t hold to magnets. That’s where this type of starter comes in handy.
Aluminum-Bodied Screw Starters
To start with, there are Ullman’s single head aluminum handle screw starters. These starters grab the screw when you twist the ferrule and will release the screw once it is started and you pull it away. Theses models also feature a strong magnet on the other end of the handle to pick up screws that you’ve dropped. Ullman makes eight different screw starters of this type:
- D-1: for slotted screws, 2-5/8″ long
- D-2: for slotted screws, 5-5/8″ long, includes pocket clip
- D-3: for slotted screws, 9-5/8″ long
- D-4: for slotted screws, 15-1/8″ long
- PD-9: for Phillips screws, 2-3/4″ long
- PD-10: for Phillips screws, 5-3/4″ long, includes pocket clip.
- PD-11: for Phillips screws, 9-3/4″ long
- PD-12: for Phillips screws, 15-1/4″ long
Nylon-Bodied Screw Starters
Ullman also makes nylon-handled versions of the above screw starters. These work the same way, but are useful for when you’re working with electrical equipment or electronics. The nylon version does not have a pickup magnet though. Here are the different models:
- N-1: for slotted screws, 2-11/16″ long
- N-2: for slotted screws, 6-1/8″ long
- N-3: for slotted screws, 9-1/8″ long
- N-4: for slotted screws, 15-13/16″ long
- PN-9: for Phillips screws, 2-13/16″ long
- PN-10: for Phillips screws, 6-1/4″ long
- PN-11: for Phillips screws, 9-1/4″ long
- PN-12: for Phillips screws, 15-5/16″ long
Double-Ended Screw Starters
Ullman also makes double-ended screw starters, which are useful in case you only want to use one tool for both slotted and Phillips screws. One side has a Philips starter, and there’s a slotted starter on the other. The DE-1 is a nylon version that’s 9″ long and the DE-2 is a 6-3/4″ aluminum version.
Torx, Hex, Phillips Combination Screw Starter
The aluminum-bodied F-2 is designed differently from the above tools. With this one, pull back the ferrule and it’ll grab Torx sizes T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, and T30, Phillips screws, and most hex screws as well. The opposite side features a magnetic pickup tip. It measures 5-5/8 long and includes a pocket clip.
Nut Starter
Ullman has a nut starter. When you pull back on the ferrule, the spring jaws spread and grab the nut by the internal threads. Once you’ve got the nut started the tool will release by itself. This aluminum-bodied nut starter measures 5-1/8″ long and will work on nuts with threads sizes of 4-40 and 3/32″ to 5/16″. This too has a pocket clip for easy carrying.
