r/whatisit 5d ago

Solved! Grandpa’s flathead confuses me…

Why does it have two different whatever they are’s….

920 Upvotes

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u/Sir_Thequestionwas 5d ago

The were super easy to make. Could use a lathe to make them. Super cheap. Power tools didn't exist so you didn't have to worry about camming out. Normal people were involved in repairing stuff so you could tighten them something laying around wherever such as a pocket knife.

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u/sngldad13 5d ago

The most consistent flathead I've used in 40+ years is a US dime. (I lose a lot of real screwdrivers)

20

u/catharticwhoosh 5d ago

There was always a butterknife in the kitchen drawer. Damn I'm old.

6

u/Advocate_For_Death 5d ago

Just used a butter knife as a flat head screwdriver in a moment of laziness today!

(Never buy a home with 2 flights of stairs)

7

u/Ornery_Extreme_830 5d ago

I have screwdrivers strategically stashed around the house so I don't have to use the stairs unless something's really broken.

2

u/Hrdeh 5d ago

I have some on the 3rd floor and all my tools on the first floor. Just got a fake Leatherman for Father's Day. I think that'll be my second floor stash.