Screwdrivers

[44 massey]

Decided I want/need to replace my screwdrivers!! Now that Im retired I obviously cant afford the Snap on & Mac that made up my old old set!! I also had a set of Craftsman that I liked too but they were the American made ones! I would be satisfied to go with another set of Craftsman if I was confident the new ones are of the same quality!! Looking for any options on any makes, not looking for the cheapest!!! A good set at a decent price

 

[Janicholson]

Flat blade drivers are easily made new again with a well dressed wheel and some practice. If you have some snap-on or Mac drivers, get new blades, some if broken (hint) are warrantee. Jim

 

[4wdtom]

Some years ago Stanley made some great screwdrivers. They had large 3 lobe hand grips and the steel was sometimes stamped boron steel. I always pick them up if I see them at swap meets or yard sales. Most don't know how good they are and they sell for the same price as a K Kart special. The 3 lobes seem to fit my hand and if actually driving a screw my hand turns 1/3 turn and and then backs up so it works out.

 

[Hobo,NC]

You can never go wrong with Sunex tools.

Sunex

Gearwrench offs a nice set also.

Vessel will compete with any brand.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I have zero complaints with the classic Crafstman "acetate" screwdrivers, even the current ones. I've been meaning to get to Lowes to take advantage of their black friday special.

 

[Stephen Newell]

I don't see anything wrong with Harbor Freight screwdrivers. They seem to be as good a screwdriver as any I've ever had.

 

[Texasmark]

Me neither. I buy their large sets with big plastic handles and have never had a blade wear out, Phillips strip, and the large diameter handles help me get a good solid grip. If it weren't for HF my half a dozen or so (3 double deck rollarounds) tool boxes would down to 1 and half empty.

 

[Goose]

When discussing tools, you have to remember the tools do NOT do the work. The person using them does.

As someone said on a different thread, just because you paid more for a tool doesn't mean it's higher quality, it just means you paid more for it.

 

[ChristopherCT]

My favorites lately are my DeWalt set. The grips are kinda triangular like the old Stanley style that someone mentioned. But they also added some rubber for grip. They have proven to be resistant to the various spilled liquids encountered in machine repair. Some of my precision friends have been using Wera brand. I had not heard of them until recently. But they feel great. Their tips seem to have a very fine texture to encourage good grip with the screw. They are German made.

 

[smash59]

I have a set of napa caryle screwdrivers that a absolutely love. good quality and reasonable price.

 

[Tom in TN]

Years ago, when I was pretending to be a field engineer for IBM, they bought a bunch of Snap On brand screwdrivers. They became known among the field engineers as Snap Off brand. The tips of the screwdrivers would snap off when applying even normal amounts of torque to them. It was probably just a bad lot of tools, but I've been reluctant to buy Snap On brand tools since then.

Tom in TN

 

[old]

I have many brands of screw drivers and for the most part they all seem to do as well no brand better or worse as for getting the job done

 

[SDMike]

Klein screwdrivers, with the cushioned grip.

Mike

 

[Arvin Haslem]

I worked for nearly 40 years in a Ford car dealership as a mechanic. One day I was using a Snapon phillips screwdriver when the local Snapon dealer walked in. He commented how nice it was to see me using such a high quality tool. As soon as he said that I twisted the end off.

 

[Sprint 6]

If your Snap On and Mac screwdrivers are worn, track down a dealer and get them replaced. The lifetime warranty is forever, regardless of when bought. My Snappy man has warrantied tools from the 60's I've found in junk cars and bought at auctions.

 

[Dusty MI]

I don't use a screwdriver much any more, but I like the one with a double end shaft and a reverser-able bit in each end of the shaft. That gives you 4 screwdrivers in one, and the bits are replaceable.

 

[johnofnewhaven]

Then he handed you a brand new phillips screwdriver. How long did that one last? Did you twist the tip off that one too?

 

[Stephen Newell]

I mainly use the blue and red ones they sell individually. The only one I've worn out is one I used to scrape grout from between tile. It wasn't made for that purpose so I can't blame the tool.

 

[Phil Tibbetts]

As far as Phillips bits are concerned the Apex are the best I have ever used. you can buy just the tips and use then in a 1/4 driver. they come in different lengths too. never checked to see if they sell regular screwdrivers with handles. It's hard to find a good fitting Phillips bit. An old aircraft mechanic told me about them. He said that's all he will use on an airplane.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Unless I absolutely have to I throw out screw headed fasteners and put in capscrews or bolts with hex heads no more stripped heads whether phillips or straight. I usually just grind the heads off anf then get the stub out so I can put the capscrews in.

 

[4wdtom]

I found one of these on the road and keep it in the house, saves going to the shop when I need a simple screwdriver. Not good for prying or other screwdriver abuse
though.

 

[sammydwm]

I have had good luck with Masterforce from Menards.
Craftsman makes decent stuff that holds up.
I will not ever own a Klein screwdriver again. I was a dairy equipment repair guy for a while and bought a few at the local parts houses and I was forever returning them for replacement.
Once I no longer visited the parts houses regularly I ran out of Kleins and started getting some decent stuff in my pouch...


My dad bought a set of Proto screwdrivers at a pawnshop when he was in the electrical trade in the early 60's. I still have a few of those and they are still in good shape. I bought a set back in 98 or so and they are still around and work quite well, but Proto is not cheap.

 

[710ltd2002]

The thing I like about the Craftsman is that you can tell the phillips from the slotted by the shape of the handle. Unfortunately Ive lost a few from my set over the years. I recently bought a new set of TSC house brand screwdrivers. All black handles. Kind of a hassle now trying to dig out the one I want. Dave

 

[dr sportster]

My line of thinking is now I'm retired I need good quality screwdrivers Whatever the cost .

 

[BillinCentralMO]

I like the craftsman. Got some at Menards cheap that I like. I just lose them. Never broke a screwdriver. But I dont hit them with a hammer or anything like that.

 

[wp6529]

Many of my screwdrivers are older Craftsman and do just fine. I have some in the mix that have come included with RTA stuff and they do fine as well. I have a couple Klein multi-drivers that I also like a lot for the quick switch tips / nutdriver capability.

I received a Dewalt super high tech gyro power screwdriver as a gift a couple years ago and after finding a proper hang spot near my workbench I've found I am using it more and more. It also is the electrician's version with the EMT reamer and I use that a fair amount as well.

 

[Ultradog MN]

I don't understand why some guys continue to buy stuff from China.
They are continuing to engage in the most blatant hegemony in the world and our buying their junk is financing it.

 

[Scott 730]

(quoted from post at 23:41:52 11/23/22)

I will not ever own a Klein screwdriver again. I was a dairy equipment repair guy for a while and bought a few at the local parts houses and I was forever returning them for replacement.

Reason?????

 

[wp6529]

(quoted from post at 11:48:29 11/24/22) I don't understand why some guys continue to buy stuff from China.
They are continuing to engage in the most blatant hegemony in the world and our buying their junk is financing it.

It's a bit more complex than that, I do look at COO on the things I buy and where practical I favor products produced as close as possible to home. For some things there is no alternative available, other times the cost premium is just too high.

There also are good companies in China that deserve some support to help encourage more good companies that care about the product and employees. Simple isolation doesn't accomplish anything and only serves to empower bad government.

 

[old]

Yes buying thing from China is almost like if we had brought things from WW2 Germamny

 

[Tony in SD]

Klein screw drivers may be more than you want to spend but they are American made. They are the ones Im retiring with.
Klein screw drivers

 

[Tony in SD]

Klein screw drivers may be more than you want to spend but they are American made. They are the ones Im retiring with.
Klein screw drivers

 

[sammydwm]

(quoted from post at 17:11:15 11/24/22)

(quoted from post at 23:41:52 11/23/22)

I will not ever own a Klein screwdriver again. I was a dairy equipment repair guy for a while and bought a few at the local parts houses and I was forever returning them for replacement.

Reason?????

I explained that. They are junk. The tips broke off the flat tips and the tips smeared on the phillips. Have had their handles break for no apparent reason. The only good thing about them is that you can get them replaced for free at the parts house. But I don't want or need to buy tools that need constant replacing.

 

[tomturkey]

I don't know what happened in your previous occupation that broke your klien screw drivers. I've never had one break, I've used a
straight blade to cut sheet metal by driving it sideways thru the metal with a hammer. Put vise grips on the shaft and my body
weight on the driver to remove a phillips. But I'm with you, if a tool does not perform, its the last time I will purchase that
brand. Everyone has different experiences with tools. gobble

 

[kevinj54]

(quoted from post at 15:51:44 11/23/22) Klein screwdrivers, with the cushioned grip.

Mike

Yep, Klein here too

 

[Dave H (MI)]

There are a lot of the old Craftsman ones at garage sales, etc. They go cheap and they are fine screwdrivers. Seems like almost every sale has one or two.

 

[drummer481]

Always had great luck with my Klein screwdrivers.........love em

 

[John Garner]

I also had a handful of Klein screwdriver tips snap off in normal use, twisting the handles by hand . . . no wrench on the shanks, and no prying. It's been a fair number of years, and all of them bought within a span of a few months.

Replaced the broken ones with different brands, and haven't bought Klein screwdrivers since then. I had similar tip-snapping problems with Vaco screwdrivers a decade earlier; I don't remember if Klein bought Vaco before the Klein screwdrivers gave me trouble, but I have wondered of those two incidents might have a common cause.