The worst phillips head I ever used.

[Ohio Andy]

I had these screwdrivers that I never used and I gave them to a friend. I then went to her house and tried to use them. I mean they worked, but wow, it was a horrible experience. I scrounged a much better set and told her to toss these in the trash. I asked her to send me a photo before she pitched them.

These are the worst phillips head I ever used. I started this post to see if these are even Phillips and I found a link on Amazon where they are available so I know they are. But WOW, avoid these.




That is a very oddly shaped Phillips head. Ironically, I replaced them with another Stanley set that I had sitting around that I did not use.

Wow, they still sell this set.

https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-60-060-Standard-Screwdriver-6-Piece/dp/B0000950PL?tag=atomicindus08-20

Wow, OK, sorry, does not work on phillips head screws at all.

I gave her a set that looked more like these:

Stanley Assorted Screwdriver Set 6 pc Mfr# 66-565 - Ace Hardware

The 6 Piece Screwdriver Set has vinyl grip handles that provide a comfortable grip. Precision formed black oxide tips provide a secure fit and work well when performing electrical jobs. Fully cross-ground tips for a secure fit.Find the SCREWDRIVER SET VNYL 6PC at Ace.

www.acehardware.com

And those actually work. How can that first set even be available?

 

[zendriver]

Not surprising.

Only time will tell, how long any screwdriver will last, but if they look like ****, they probably are.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Not surprising.

Only time will tell, how long any screwdriver will last, but if they look like ****, they probably are.

I tried to use it one time..

And that provided damage to the screwdriver and it hardly took the screw out.

I assumed it could not be a Phillips. I thought there was no way.

 

[whateg01]

Other than looking kinda cheap in the Amazon pics, I don't see anything that makes me think they wouldn't work. From your pics, it looks like they are just really soft. The ace link doesn't work for me, but I see all of their sets have the different colored tip. Funny how that could mean absolutely nothing in terms of how well the screwdriver works but it makes it look more legit. Anyway, I have a screwdriver from work that is Stanley, looks decent, but I use only for prying stuff because the Phillips tip won't stay in a screw head.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

My wife had a set. They are terrible I replaced with Wiha for her home set. They really are that bad. They resemble a screwdriver but screwdriver they are not.

 

[mervyn]

Another example of something that used to be good and now is total ****.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Anyway, I have a screwdriver from work that is Stanley, looks decent, but I use only for prying stuff because the Phillips tip won't stay in a screw head.

The Phillips head looks like a pear attached to the end of the shaft

 

[four.cycle]

$10.55 delivered to your door.
you can thank me later.

 

[CoogarXR]

I picked up a set of "Hart" screwdriver bits at an estate sale. Shittiest bits ever. Super long pointy philips bits cam out of everything and tear screw heads up like crazy. Even the case *****. Every time I open it, its a jumbled mess because nothings stays put.

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

They are just cheap screwdrivers.

 

[larry_g]

I suspect that one of those 'Phillips' you pictured is not a Phillips driver, the angle looks wrong. You guys realize that there are a bunch of drives that look to be Phillips that are not. Since Phillips is a patented architecture the competitors changed some design specs and came out with similar designs that are not compatible with Phillips.

List of screw drives - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[neophyte]

The head looks like it has a form similar to typical driver bits rather than being machined like regular Phillips tip screwdrivers usually are.
It’s also possible these screwdrivers use the older Phillips/crosshead standard, before the standard was changed.

 

[bwringer]

It's weird and amazing there are still cheap ****** screwdrivers out there when there are so many cheap and shockingly good screwdrivers as near as your favorite Harbor Freight.

I was far from young before it dawned on my one day... "hey, I can just throw away bad, worn-out screwdrivers and buy better... and no one can stop me!"

 

[Ohio Andy]

I suspect that one of those 'Phillips' you pictured is not a Phillips driver, the angle looks wrong. You guys realize that there are a bunch of drives that look to be Phillips that are not. Since Phillips is a patented architecture the competitors changed some design specs and came out with similar designs that are not compatible with Phillips.

List of screw drives - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Yeah I was originally posting to ask what the tip was and then I found that set for sale on Amazon and it says it's Philips... Blows my mind

 

[FigN⋅m]

It's weird and amazing there are still cheap ****** screwdrivers out there when there are so many cheap and shockingly good screwdrivers as near as your favorite Harbor Freight.

I was far from young before it dawned on my one day... "hey, I can just throw away bad, worn-out screwdrivers and buy better... and no one can stop me!"

I keep the handles from crummy drivers and install them on files.

 

[American Locomotive]

Wow, this brings back some terrible memories. At my previous job back in 2017, my company had bought a set of those Stanley drivers as part of my tool kit. I was absolutely confounded by the phillips drivers. They had that exact same oddly rounded/necked down shape. They were completely and utterly useless on phillips head screws. It was the craziest thing. I could not find a single phillips screw on any piece of equipment where they'd actually engage properly without trying to strip. The geometry of the tip is just all wrong.

I ended up asking them to buy me a set of Vessel drivers, which worked out fine.

 

[Ohio Andy]

ended up asking them to buy me a set of Vessel drivers, which worked out fine.

So this sounds like a net win, hey these are garbage buy me this premium brand that are really nice.

 

[zendriver]

It's weird and amazing there are still cheap ****** screwdrivers out there when there are so many cheap and shockingly good screwdrivers as near as your favorite Harbor Freight.

It'll be tough for anyone to ever convince me otherwise.

Screwdriver Set, 8 Piece

Amazing deals on this 8Pc Screwdriver Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[four.cycle]

I was far from young before it dawned on my one day... "hey, I can just throw away bad, worn-out screwdrivers and buy better... and no one can stop me!"

Were it not for this thread, nobody else in the galaxy would know that just yesterday I tossed a P2 bit right into the garbage when its appearance offended me.
I didn't even need to try to use it - I just didn't like the way it looked at me.

 

[bwringer]

I keep the handles from crummy drivers and install them on files.

Yeah, but I just can't take the risk of letting ****** screwdrivers hang around on the chance I might need a file handle at some point in the future.

Out they go, immediately and with prejudice.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I keep the handles from crummy drivers and install them on files.

How do you get the handles off the screwdriver?

My best guess is that you heat up the metal portion and pull it out

You then drill a larger hole or does the file handle just fit in the existing hole? And then I assume you secure it using epoxy...

 

[Steel_Rain]

I have major beef with turd screwdrivers.

Maybe we should turn this thread into “post your worst screwdriver pics here!” (?).

 

[FigN⋅m]

Yeah, but I just can't take the risk of letting ****** screwdrivers hang around on the chance I might need a file handle at some point in the future.

Out they go, immediately and with prejudice.

Haha! correct - I'm not buying bad screwdrivers to mod them, just as I acquire random tools and weed out the so-so ones

How do you get the handles off the screwdriver?

My best guess is that you heat up the metal portion and pull it out

You then drill a larger hole or does the file handle just fit in the existing hole? And then I assume you secure it using epoxy...

Last few I simply mounted the shank in a vise and smacked the handle off. No heat so far...
Then push the file into the handle and rap the handle sharply on the workbench to set the file into it.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Yeah those screwdrivers were bad. I remember when they sold those at Walmart. I know people that bought them simply because they said made in USA on them. If I remember correctly Target still sells them. Even my $2 and $6 Pittsburgh sets that are about 10 years old is better than those.

 

[whateg01]

... because they said made in USA on them.

And, China bad/USA good in 3...2...

 

[BrandonV]

Were it not for this thread, nobody else in the galaxy would know that just yesterday I tossed a P2 bit right into the garbage when its appearance offended me.
I didn't even need to try to use it - I just didn't like the way it looked at me.

Honestly ever since KC Tool throws in a free P2 bit with an order... I think I don't even use my screwdrivers anymore. So many P2 bits to last a lifetime when they start to look cruddy.

 

[Ricky Joe]

It's weird and amazing there are still cheap ****** screwdrivers out there when there are so many cheap and shockingly good screwdrivers as near as your favorite Harbor Freight.

I was far from young before it dawned on my one day... "hey, I can just throw away bad, worn-out screwdrivers and buy better... and no one can stop me!"

What? You don’t make awls out of them? Or pin punches? Or picks? What a waste!

 

[Ricky Joe]

I have major beef with turd screwdrivers.

Maybe we should turn this thread into “post your worst screwdriver pics here!” (?).

My worst screwdriver was a Challenger. It broke taking the fender screws out of a Ford F-100, with not even very much pressure on it. I was already prejudiced against Challenger due to the chrome loss and wear of a quarter inch drive set of sockets. I was still surprised.

 

[Jtels85]

Just Stanley Black & Decker doing Stanley Black & Decker things. Pretty soon, you’ll find those screwdrivers at Lowe’s under the Craftsman brand after they change the color to red and shift production to India.

 

[Sumboodie]

It's weird and amazing there are still cheap ****** screwdrivers out there when there are so many cheap and shockingly good screwdrivers as near as your favorite Harbor Freight.

I was far from young before it dawned on my one day... "hey, I can just throw away bad, worn-out screwdrivers and buy better... and no one can stop me!"

I got yelled at once for throwing away "good" tools. Was a cheap rachet that had the teeth worn in areas so you'd smash your knuckles.

Tone changed when i said ill head to the urgent care need time to.get my hand checked out, bet that bill will be more than several rachets!

 

[ohhimark]

They made that set for a long time, they were even made in USA previously. I was young and bought the set for under $5, and the slotted work just fine, but each of the phillips just did not work for anything other than a prison shank. I think that odd sculpted shape has been used on Dewalt branded screwdrivers too.

 

[gatewaysysop]

My wife had a set. They are terrible I replaced with Wiha for her home set. They really are that bad. They resemble a screwdriver but screwdriver they are not.

Screwdriver Shaped Object™ is what I'd call them.

 

[gatewaysysop]

What? You don’t make awls out of them? Or pin punches? Or picks? What a waste!

I can't speak for anyone else, but personally if I think a tool is really inferior or junk quality, I'll typically donate it if it's in good condition.

That said, if I had a screwdriver that mutilated itself because it was such a piece of ****, then it goes in the trash. I don't feel any burning need to craft an awl or pin punch or pick out of a ****** screwdriver, just so it can piss me off again in the future when it fails miserably at that job too. Just my $.02, but I can totally understand why people just toss bad screwdrivers. Few things as infuriating to use.

 

[Jim greengo]

Some kind of j.i.s screw driver?

 

[Ricky Joe]

I can't speak for anyone else, but personally if I think a tool is really inferior or junk quality, I'll typically donate it if it's in good condition.

That said, if I had a screwdriver that mutilated itself because it was such a piece of ****, then it goes in the trash. I don't feel any burning need to craft an awl or pin punch or pick out of a ****** screwdriver, just so it can piss me off again in the future when it fails miserably at that job too. Just my $.02, but I can totally understand why people just toss bad screwdrivers. Few things as infuriating to use.

My attempt to be facetious wasn’t very successful, I see.

 

[P0234]

I have the same set at our vacation house, absolute garbage. At first I thought oh, well these might be cheap screws, but I haven't found a single Phillips that they actually fit well in.

 

[Debcrow]

Screwdriver Shaped Object™ is what I'd call them.

I think Phillips Object Shaped would be better....
"POS" for short.

 

[Coach James]

It'll be tough for anyone to ever convince me otherwise.

Screwdriver Set, 8 Piece

Amazing deals on this 8Pc Screwdriver Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I'll preface this with "I'm not a pro, blah, blah, blah", but those drivers are one of HF's homeruns. I keep a set of those at my building, have used them for a few years now, and they've never failed me.

Coach

 

[milky2k]

What about doing that old "file down the tips of phillips head screwdriver" trick to make them fit better. I did that one some no name screwdrivers and they seem to work better.

 

[Ohio Andy]

What about doing that old "file down the tips of phillips head screwdriver" trick to make them fit better. I did that one some no name screwdrivers and they seem to work better.

I am not aware of this trick and my Google foo is failing me today