JIS vs Phillips screwdrivers and Where to buy a JIS screwdriver.

Most people don’t know that there are multiple screw types that look like the traditional Phillips.

The most popular of which is the JIS (Japanese industrial standard), to which the JIS screwdriver is made to the JIS B 4633 specification.

The other is a pozidrive, but those are more commonly understood to be different.

Phillips screws by design were created to cam-out; a process in which the driver is meant to jump out of the screw when a certain torque was reached. There are many theories to why, such as dangers of over tightening on airplanes, or tool longevity, but never the less at one time or another everyone will experience a Phillips round-out as a function of its cam-out design.

Both JIS and Pozidrive are re-engineered standards that aim to reduce or eliminate cam-out. From this point I will focus on JIS vs Phillips.

Even though the JIS and Phillips looks extremely similar, they are two different designs and the drivers are not meant to be interchangeable. Using one in the other will lead to frustration and a rounded out screws.

JIS screws are most often identified by a dimple or an X on the screw head:

However it does happen that a screw may be a JIS but may not be indicated by a dimple or marking.

Therefore always assume that a screw is JIS if it has a dimple, but not the other way around. If the screw that you are looking at doesnt have a dimple, is it likely that it was Made in Japan? If not, it is safe to assume it is not JIS.


So you’re thinking, great, i’ll just get myself a JIS screw driver for those JIS screws. Well, here is where it gets complicated.

There are the real JIS and the not-so-real JIS screwdrivers. Remember, JIS is a standard, so a screwdriver needs to be made to that exact standard to be considered authentically JIS.

Most JIS advertised screwdrivers sold today by companies like Vessel, Hozan, and others are actually conforming to a new standard: DIN 5260 which is identical (at the tip) to the newer ISO 8764-1.

But wait, DIN stands for Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V. (German Institute for Standardization), and ISO is the International Organization for Standardization. Neither sound very Japanese, do they?

The reason these companies have changed to DIN 5260/ISO 8764-1 is because the new standard is designed to work in both Phillips and JIS screws. For the most part that is true, it does work on both screw types, but like anything meant to work with multiple things, the middle ground means compromise. The JIS standard screwdriver will always outperform a DIN/ISO screw driver in the worst of conditions on a JIS screw, and the same is true in reverse.

As you can see, the JIS and ISO standards are very close, but not exactly the same:

If you only need one set of screw drivers, or are an infrequent user, the new DIN/ISO standard screw drivers will likely work for you, but if using the right tool for the job is important to you or if you frequently work with Japanese or JIS screws, consider investing in proper JIS screw drivers that are built to JIS B 4633.

To date, I have only been able to find one confirmed manufacturer that still uses and builds to JIS B 4633, and that is SUNFLAG otherwise known as New Turtle in Japan:

http://www.sunflag.co.jp/english/company/company.html

“<< Both 888 and 215-P are produced in our factory in accordance with same JIS standard [JIS B 4633]. >>

<< One shank is round and the other is square. So, finish of the production naturally looks different. Depth and width of the each recess are different because shape of shank is different. The important thing is angle of recess. If it’s different, it cannot be fitted with #3 screw. Please insert each screwdrivers to #3 screw so that you can find that points of each screwdrivers fits to screw in the same way or feeling. Thank you for your kind attention. B.rgds H. Shimizu of SUNFLAG Japan. >>

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28491&page=4


45 Comments

  1. I learned of these in the 70’s at a motorcycle mechanics
    school, funny though when i asked fir obe from the tool room
    tgey laughed at me, There is a difference

  2. Anyone who has rounded out the head of what they thought was a Phillips screw on their Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, or Kawasaki learned the hard way that those screw heads aren’t the same as what we’re used to here in the States. Used to be that we would simply assume that it was because we didn’t exert enough downward pressure while turning the screw, and then we’d curse the Japanese people and their manufacturing techniques, believing the myth that their products were inferior. If we would have taken the screwdriver included in the tool kit that was supplied with the motorcycle (remember when they used to do that?) and compared it to the one we dug out of our dad’s toolbox, we would have perhaps noticed the slight differences between the two, and thus becoming just a bit wiser in the process. However, getting everything back into the little vinyl pouch, and getting that to fit back into the toolbox under the battery box was a hassle, so we ruined most of the fasteners on the bike instead.

    I had never heard of J.I.S. screws & screwdrivers until I watched a guy on YouTube called “Mustie1” wrench on his amazing collection of stuff. Quite entertaining as well as educational – I had been working on motorcycles of all makes for 50 years and never heard of such things. From that point on, I was a changed man!

    • That’s funny, I’m here because of Mustie1 as well. But I’m not 63. I always curse the Japanese and their interior metallurgy.

  3. This is crazy in a good way. lol I’m 63, 64 in July and this is the first I’ve heard of, learning about, and obviously needing to get a/some JIS screwdrivers and/or bits. Working on a Nissan fuel injector replacement and Philips tip is not the way to go. Put me on the 63 and first I’ve heard of this list. A tech, very smart guy, told me the fit is in this case, a +2 size screwdriver. Not the same as #2 Philips. The screws are small, been on car a long time, never been removed before. Philips/me is causing cam out. Need the right tool/ fit. JIS.

    • My name is Paul, but I was born in 63. I first heard of JIS (actually, read of it) this month in Road and Track. It was a passing comment in an article focused on Phillips vs Robertson, the Robertson with which I became acquainted quite young at our family summer cottage in Canada. Now I am looking for a set of JIS drivers.

  4. Sorry guys. I’m 85 and this is the first I’ve heard about JIS screws! I’m very grateful to know about it, so thank you!

  5. Just found this out three days ago … what I didn’t find out till after I ordered my JIS screwdrivers is there are two standards of drivers . The second standard is a compromise, so it can work in both ( theory) .. reality it works perfect in neither . Guess which ones I ordered ? The best part is i’m Also 63 .. .. 63 must be the age of enlightenment

  6. Just 50 and did’nt know about JIS till, I did my Rotors on a Handa Mini Van. Rounded off the hold down bolt with a “Phillps” Use google since the whole world does to see what other have been doing since I did not want to go through the same with the other 3 rotors that have yet to be done at the time. A JIS impact handled driver was recommended Vessel and I got one on Amazon. Let me tell you how easy it was to just put the driver into the head, wack it a few times and the thing came loose without and wd-40, pb blaster, heat, etc…. The Vessel one I got was for a #2 JIS screw head with a 7 degree left rotation when smacked with a hammer. The things you learn on the internet today is just insane!!!

  7. Back in the day I knew the screw heads on my well used CL305 were diff. The only tool that worked was my Vessel hand impact driver, the honda parts guy said “get one” Thought the little dot meant metric , it’s amazing I survived that machine. But learned a lot. It was a cold year, avg temp was 63.

  8. I’m 69 and just learned about JIS screwdrivers yesterday. Ordered a #2 from Amazon today. Wish I had heard of them 50 years ago. I hope they work as well as everyone says they do.

  9. I have known about this for some time now because I regularly fix cellphones and other small electronics which tend to use JIS screws over Pozi or Phillips. What I did for my purposes is to get the brand name MOODY screw drivers. In the fine sets where the screw driver tips can go down to incredibly small sizes they make just a heat treated shaft and tip. When one wear out, which is not often, I replace it with a new shaft/tip. The new shafts cost about $2.00 give or take a bit. I think I bought mine through Acklands Grainger (Grainger Industries. They vary in price over time. I don’t know why but they are very good tools and the heat treated shafts/tips are well made not cheap stamped bits.

    • I see after I posted that Grainger is selling much less of the Moody tools. As an example of the replaceable tip you can google MOODY 49-8070 and that will get you to the #000 JIS replacement tip. The prices are all over the place so hunt around but you should be able to get them under $4 easily and I paid under $2.00 for my replacement tips. That is one nice thing about some of the Moody tools. You can buy just a couple of the main bodies or buy a small set with the screw off tips (58-0116 for slotted) and then buy a ton of the replacement tips in whatever type you want. The tips last pretty good. The smallest flat blade in that set is 0.037″ across…small enough?? Here is an example of the JIS set with replaceable tips. https://www.micro-tools.com/collections/moody-tools/products/58-0218 I looked around and found tips ranging from $1.88 to $7.50 each so do your shopping.

  10. To make a long story short. I looked up where I bought my JIS tools from and it was ALL-SPEC.COM. https://www.all-spec.com/Catalog/Hand-Power-Tools/Screwdrivers-Accessories/Screwdriver-Sets/58-0201-34506
    and bits
    https://www.all-spec.com/Catalog/Hand-Power-Tools/Screwdrivers-Accessories/Screwdriver-Blades?categoryId=&filters=f1e4beca-38ed-42e5-9844-a498002f4886&sortby=84&page=1&pageSize=16&criteria=&view=list&columns=ab60aa15-5a7d-4964-a57a-a39b0086692d8236a3d7-2fe0-479c-9634-a5c6001f211346ce1663-4aa3-4339-8f66-a39b0086692d

    Enjoy

  11. I need to get myself one of these. If they work as well as they’re supposed to, this could be my last year of having screwdrivers cam-out. 63 is more than enough years of that happening.

  12. Explains to me now at 67, my frustration back in the day when I had and worked on my ’72 Kawasaki H-1 Mach III. Did not know that about Japanese JIS screwdrivers!

  13. I’ve known about the difference for decades, because of consumer electronics work. I’m not 63, but headed that way.

    To the OP: Sunflag no longer claims JIS B 4633 compliance, they merely say “based on JIS standard” anywhere they bother to even mention JIS, so they’ve probably gone over to the dark side, too.

  14. As far as I can tell all ‘new’ Phillips screwdrivers and bits fit everything JIS. I’ve returned EVERY Craftsman screwdriver (All old ones – I’m 69 – purchased >40 years ago) and swapped them at Lowe’s or Ace Hardware for modern replacements. I’ll bet Sears never thought this would be part of their Lifetime Warranty. lol These fit JIS and Phillips screws just fine. None of the old Craftsman fit. Additionally, I have Xcelite 99 series tools too. They’re junk for all modern Phillips screws, so I had to replace them too. All I could do is pull the old Phillips from the set and replace them with 1/4″ hex style. BTW the Makita XPS are a fantastic fit for both modern Phillips and JIS.

  15. I’m 52 and new to repairing office copiers. I just learned about jis screws 2 weeks ago. Planning on getting a set of jis drivers!!

  16. … We had the same problem on our early Japanese bikes … learned pretty early on to grind a couple of thou off the sharp point of a Phillips screwdriver and screw and unscrew without rounding out the screw heads. In a field emergency, we would grind a new Phillips down on the sidewalk or a garage floor… I’m 83.

  17. You 63 year olds are not in the race – I’m 126 years old and only just heard about them while discussing engineering with my 38 year old Japanese wife !!!

  18. Hi

    I was born on the 6th of February ( 2nd month )

    That’s weird but anyway I’m new to all these screw heads as only thought there was 2 kinds. Slotted &Phillips

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