Screwdriver wear...

Screwdriver wear...  While installing the last replacement ceiling fan today, I noticed that the Phillips screwdriver no longer felt as crisply “tight” in the screws as it used to.  I couldn't see anything different about it upon visually inspecting it, so I stuck it under the microscope.  At 60x, it's very clear what's happened: some of the metal has been deformed, squished out of shape. 

This particular screwdriver is a high-quality (German) Wiha, made with very hard, tough steel – one of the best you can buy.  I got it about 18 months ago, and it's been used a lot – first with my FJ Cruiser modification project, and now for the past six months during remodeling our new home.  I suspect this sort of wear is inevitable when you are frequently applying great force onto a small metal face...