Recommend me a buy it for life and hand it down screwdriver set

[centerknurk]

On the market for a buy it for life and hand it down screwdriver set. My son is interested in being a mechanic but has years to go before he can even work. I'm a shade tree weekend warrior type and just need screwdrivers that I don't have to warranty out all the time. Currently using the newer Craftsman screwdrivers and I have to warranty out about two per year at Lowes. I have a good deal on a 9-peice set of Mac comfort grip screwdrivers but from what I understand these are now made in Taiwan. Snap on is a little over my budget. Trying to remain around $100-150. Any suggestions? Will the Mac's do alright even if they're made in Taiwan? I even looked at the Wera Chiseldriver set for $60 thinking the rigidity of these would come in handy.

 

[Rinspeed]

I've own or have used just about all the top brands and prefer PB Swiss with the Swissgrip EVO handles. Lots of good drivers out there but I like these the best by a wide margin.




https://drpd.cc/collections/swissgr...kAg6P00V7ET-xkQ6bEmAAE72AUsBv0o-aQRpdRgrRZZ3_

 

[Beerhippie]

Screwdrivers. regardless the quality, are consumables--they wear out. If you don't use them enough to wear them out, then any will do.

Go out and try a bunch of different drivers and see what fits your hand and work style and check the fit in various fasteners. You may have heard of JIS (Japan Industrial Standard) "Phillips" screws and you may have heard that they're the same as any old Phillips screw. Good luck with that. Japanese and German-made drivers will usually fit JIS screws just fine, and good ol' US Phillips, too. US made drivers generally struggle with JIS and result in stripped-out heads. If you work on Japanese equipment a lot, that matters.

That's much more important than "lifetime" screwdrivers. If you don't like the feel of them, they'll probably give you much longer to regret your purchase.

 

[CGarage]

No such thing as a ‘buy it for life’ screwdriver set.

I own and love PB Swiss, but Vessel Japan is a better value.

I like the wood composite grip handles for shop work.

The Megadora impact set is also excellent.

Then, there is a great set for use inside the home which will likely last a lifetime with care called the TD-800.

You need a mix of screwdrivers for a variety of tasks one encounters, from working on a vehicle to fixing home electronics.

 

[Beerhippie]

Vessel Japan

My absolute favorite!

 

[gizardlizard]

Vessel

 

[f121]

Snap on soft grip instinct handles. Only screwdrivers I use now.

 

[nafets47]

I use the Wera chiseldrivers. They are fantastic. I ended up getting a set for 4 of my guys and buying them as gifts for my father and brother-in-law. I broke one using it as a prybar which was dumb on my part. However like others have said eventually they will wear out, nature of the beast.

But in the 8 years that I have used them I have yet to wear one out.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Currently using the newer Craftsman screwdrivers and I have to warranty out about two per year at Lowes.

I have older Craftsman (after the ones that stunk up you tool drawer). I don't see why they would not be good enough for my grandson !

 

[hailwood1965]

The reality is that your son will be overseeing a robot who works on cars. They will come with their own tools.

 

[CGarage]

The reality is that your son will be overseeing a robot who works on cars. They will come with their own tools.

Thank you. This is reality.

 

[Hohn]

I really like the Vessels but recently the red hard handle Tektons are winning me over. The texture and shape are so incredibly perfect for my hand.
For years I had just some really old Craftsmans and made do until I bought a test of the black tri-lobe Tektons at our local Rural King. This was the first screwdriver set I'd owned that was made after 1995.

The quality was stunning. The precision of the tips, the fitment, all that. I wasn't prepared for how much better more modern drivers were.

And then I got a couple Vessels. The tips are yet even more precisely made, the handles even better.

But sometimes you want a hard handle, and the high-glass-content resin handles Tekton has now are just so wonderful. I love that there's a handle with superb grip that doesn't pick up every smudge or grease and bit of dust from having an elastomer molded over it.

 

[Wamsutta]

PB Swiss

 

[Steel_Rain]

Your a new member, but use the search to find a million threads on this.

I think Vessel would be my top pick in your price for value/quality, followed by PB-Swiss and Wera.

Also, I'm a sucker for the old SO hard handles. If you can deal with the lack of a SO logo on the side, you can pick these up for $60ish bucks, depending on your location, and it's the same thing:

 

[NightSky]

The reality is that your son will be overseeing a robot who works on cars. They will come with their own tools.

That robot will need its attitude screws adjusted now and then.

By the way, consider Wera drivers, too.

 

[whateg01]

The quality was stunning. The precision of the tips, the fitment, all that. I wasn't prepared for how much better more modern drivers were.

That's how I felt when I bought my wera sets. I thought the few mac screwdrivers were great compared to the old Craftsman sets I've had in the past. Then the wera drivers fit the screws so nicely and haven't shown any signs of rounding over yet. It must **** to get stuck in the mentality that all old stuff is just inherently better. That said, I don't think any tools meant to be used are meant to be heirlooms.

 

[bwringer]

Ain't no such thing; they're consumables, especially #2 Phillips. They go directly into the trash the second they displease me. Sad, but that's the way it has to be, unless you like mangling screws and punching holes in your hands.

Handle style is entirely personal preference, and there are many, many great brands.

I'm most partial to Vessel, and my set with the brown composite handles is exquisite (not at all expensive for the quality, either). They're proving very durable, but I know they won't last forever. Eventually the #2 will start to strip, and with a tear in the eye I'll have to say goodbye, at least to that one. Hopefully I can still find a replacement when that sad day comes.

 

[snickers muncher]

They wear out no matter what. I've got Tekton, Milwaukee, Carlyle, and Doyle. They're all fine by me and better than the Craftsman. The USA Milwaukee are pretty darn good, but not the best value in my opinion.

 

[genog]

On the market for a buy it for life and hand it down screwdriver set..... Snap on is a little over my budget.

Snap On screwdrivers are a Buy it for Life set...
They will warranty all shafts/blades and and they even warranty their handles

My SO's from the 80's have had the blades replaced, sometimes more than a few times and I recently had a handle replaced
EZ-PZ
The Truck Guy will get on it while you wait, or you can get replacements from Snap On mailed directly to your door
And they are easy to deal with.

Yes....they are expensive, but for me they've been a lifetime set

 

[AEAdam]

I think there are at least 2 different types of screwdrivers:
1) low torque spinners - typically have round handles and sometimes a neck that lets you support the shank in one hand, and spin with the other. Klein is a good example

2) high torque breakers - These have the chunky handles sometimes with pronounced corners like Snap On hard handles or Instincts. These can feel clumsy for low torque work.

Vessel handles are a bit in-between. PB Swiss have amazing blades but their handles are more "spinnish".

Last, note that there really are metric flat bladed screwdrivers and SAE flat blades. Snap On are absolutely SAE. Not sure about the other companies' offerings. Metric flat blades are thinner for a given blade width

 

[whateg01]

Snap On screwdrivers are a buy it for life set...
They will warranty all shafts/blades and and they even warranty their handles

My SO's from the 80's and have had the blades replaced, sometimes more than a few times and I recently had a handle replaced
EZ-PZ
The Truck Guy will get on it while you wait or you can get replacements from Snap On mailed directly to your door

Yes....they are expensive, but for me they've been a lifetime set

I don't own any snap on screwdrivers. Move are craftsman, mac, wera, and a bunch of oddballs that can be loaned to the neighbor. I love the way the wera fit screw heads. All others have become backups or informal punches or paint can openers. If the snap on don't fit the screw well, I'd rather have one that I have to buy a replacement for than fight them all the time.

 

[CGarage]

I do like the Wera stainless screwdrivers with laser cut tips.

 

[JradM]

Vessel is the best value in high-quality screwdrivers. I can say that without even knowing exactly what style or usage case you have in mind (e.g. whether for beating-on in mechanics applications, working on electronics or turning woodscrews). No reason you couldn't pass them down, provided you don't wear them out (and I'm not suggesting they wear easily).

Lots of handle variety too. I think you owe it to yourself to buy the inexpensive multi-bit balldriver just so you can experience Vessel for yourself and then decide if you want a complete set.



Bahco, Irazola, Williams Techno+ screwdrivers are amongst the best-of-the-best for mechanic work. The ones that look like the image below. They're sold under a few brands. They have the hole for use T-handle style, the hex bolster for wrench use, long shanks, extremely durable and precise tips - and they're a bit unusual and weird, which might make them something worth sharing.


I don't know that anyone makes a more durable tip than PB Swiss. If you want the greatest possibly certainty of not wearing them out, then that's a great option - just bear in mind they're often 3x the price or more of Vessel and maybe 15% more durable (and that's what makes Vessel great value).

However, if you need a set of flatblades, PB Swiss's parallel version is peerless (well ok, Grace is also an option - but the handles are much more old-school):


Willams and Tekton are also in the running. Williams makes a screwdriver that's akin to the older style Snap On. Tekton is MiUSA, high quality and available in large sets for reasonable money.




Wera and Felo are great too. Felo is probably my favorite handle shape. Wera either works for you or doesn't (I'm not a huge fan), but their laser tips and the concave surfaces on their hex-plus (and square drive) screwdrivers add utility nobody else matches.

I feel like the problem isn't that your question doesn't have an answer - it's that it has a whole bunch of great answers.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Snap On screwdrivers are a buy it for life set...
They will warranty all shafts/blades and and they even warranty their handles

My SO's from the 80's and have had the blades replaced, sometimes more than a few times and I recently had a handle replaced
EZ-PZ
The Truck Guy will get on it while you wait or you can get replacements from Snap On mailed directly to your door

Yes....they are expensive, but for me they've been a lifetime set

I was going to say that Snap-on is the only screwdriver that would be in this category. You can get the whole screwdriver, the handle, or the shaft warrantied. I’ve seen my driver warranty out some ancient screwdrivers.

IMHO, screwdrivers belong with hex keys and punches as tools you should expect to break and replace multiple times over your working life.

 

[paulsomlo]

PB Swiss or Vessel. Buy it for life? Put it away in a drawer, don't use it.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Consumables, some last longer than others.

Also, what's a set consist of? Nobody is using slotted anymore but the stereotypical "set" is phillips and slotted.

 

[whateg01]

Consumables, some last longer than others.

Also, what's a set consist of? Nobody is using slotted anymore but the stereotypical "set" is phillips and slotted.

I use them. Used my small (not smallest) one to remove a db9 connector last night.

 

[Etchase]

Can’t go wrong with Proto, Facom. The MAC are better today than they were in the past. Acetate handles last a lifetime, and the Stanley 100 plus are a good choice. Vessel is good. I’m not a fan of the Snap On grips, but to each their own on grip feel.

 

[JradM]

Consumables, some last longer than others.

Also, what's a set consist of? Nobody is using slotted anymore but the stereotypical "set" is phillips and slotted.

You don't unscrew any outlet covers, adjust any carburetors, tighten hose clamps, loosen radiator bleed screws, adjust a door closers, open battery compartments, release plastic retaining clips, clean narrow grooves, install riflescopes or turn any Dzus fasteners?

 

[NitroExpress]

Tekton is MiUSA, high quality and available in large sets for reasonable money.

This info is a bit outdated. Tekton discontinued this line and now imports a German made Witte driver. I mostly point this out before it triggers the anti- Tekton crowd on here that seek out every opportunity to derail a thread with TDS (Tekton Derangement Syndrome ).

The new Tekton drivers are quite good and the old style are still available in some sizes on their close out page.

 

[gilbo]

VESSEL

 

[richfinn]

I have a set of the red Vessel Megadora with the hammer caps, I've beat them up they are the ones I pick for fixing cars (I have more expensive brands) but the Vessels just feel better than anything else.

 

[liliysdad]

really like the Vessels but recently the red hard handle Tektons are winning me over. The texture and shape are so incredibly perfect for my hand.

Tekton is MiUSA, high quality and available in large sets for reasonable money.

About that… I got some bad news, man.

 

[tyyost]

I read the replies, and think for lifetime, a Snap On set is as close as you can get. There are so many, really good reasonably priced screwdrivers on the market. Many of them are mentioned above. Screwdrivers are also incredibly subjective, people have different wrist, grip strength, and hand size, which all comes into play with finding a screw screwdriver you like.

That’s sad, a good set of instinct handled snap on will likely reside in many toolboxes over the years if you buy them now. They are never going to get cheaper.

 

[Twisted Sid]

TDS (Tekton Derangement Syndrome ).

About that… I got some bad news, man.

 

[alinc100]

Wera

 

[CGarage]

Wera

For stainless fasteners, yes.

 

[CJM8515]

snap on hard handle (or any of the rebands), vessel or tekton get my vote. ive used them all and these have lasted the longest.

the old cman hard handles are ok, but the metal is brittle the way its made and you can easily chip or break a flathead. although i have an entire 20 pc or so set and used them often, they dont fit well in most applications and ive broken plenty of them. husky made or makes some similar ones with rubber handles i also stopped using for the same reason.

 

[johnh91]

I'm not going to answer your question because I think it's the wrong question. No disrespect intended, just want to point you down a different potential path.

As others here already opined, screwdrivers are wear items. They are not a BIFL kind of thing.

The better question to ask is "my son wants to become a mechanic, what high quality tools can I buy him right now, that he will still find value in X years when he finishes trade school"

You wouldn't want to buy him an M12 Gen2 impact wrench, even though it would make a fantastic gift for someone graduating trade school today, it's possible Gen 4 will be out by the time your son is ready to turn pro, possibly with completely different batteries.

I'm not qualified to answer this question but combination wrenches are great, especially if you can get some high quality ones. Maybe you can find some Snap On wrenches in a pawn shop. Never have much luck here in the Phoenix area, but YMMV. Facebook Marketplace and eBay might have some scores.

Perhaps some chrome sockets. Tekton and Harbor Freight Icon are great for the money, and made in Taiwan and have a great warranty. Will that warranty exist in X years when your son turns pro? And if it does exist, will they be warrantying with cheaper Chinese tools as what would have happened if you brought Craftsman MUSA tools 30 years ago for a 10 year old that would become a mechanic at age 20? Or SK MUSA tools 10 years ago?

Probably better off buying him some SP500 Index Fund shares but I see the value in gifting him something tangible he can use now, hold now, and develop and interest in wrenching.

I think there's people here that could point out killer deals from time to time. I used to lurk here on occasion and last year there was some Hot Deals posts about Craftsman V-series wrenches, made in Taiwan that were being clearanced out by Ace Hardware at killer prices. That's an example of something worth jumping on for your son. Those kinds of deals on various things pop up from time to time.

 

[Wamsutta]

Nobody is using slotted anymore but the stereotypical "set" is phillips and slotted.

If it's a deep slot fillister head screw, I don't mind at all. Screwdriver never slips out.

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