Why I hate Craftsman screwdrivers...

[Kirbot]

Comparison removed...

I've been using a "Reed Prince" instead of a Phillips.

I didn't realize there was such a thing as a Reed Prince screw driver, but you learn something new every day.


However Craftsman screwdrivers are still unacceptably soft in my opinion.

 

[street131]

I regret even ever buying my craftsman screwdrivers, i honestly have had better luck with MIT screwdrivers, expecially for use on the older fasteners.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

What sizes are those?

 

[jay50]

Why don't you try using the correct size screwdriver for the screw....

 

[mrbelvedere]

I have Craftsman stuff from when I couldn't afford better. Nowadays the leftovers are used when I need to bend a wrench, or weld a handle onto a socket.

The last time I was in Sears in reference to tools, I was warrantying 3 ratchets, 2 1/2"ers & a 3/8", they accused me of being a dealer. The next day I made three trips into the store in succession to trade those pcs. of ****, and they sit unused to this day. This was 20 years ago.

My Craftman lawn mower is junk too, from the day it was bought, and they failed to stand behind that at all, even a month after purchase, when it wouldn't start.

Don't get me started on Sears....I also own a worthless Lifetime Alignment from them.

 

[Kirbot]

What sizes are those?

Why don't you try using the correct size screwdriver for the screw....

There all No.2

 

[Elroy]

Doubt seriously if that a Phillips driver. It looks like a Reed and Prince

 

[Kirbot]

Doubt seriously if that a Phillips driver. It looks like a Reed and Prince

You learn something new every day...

I looked up Reed and Prince, and it does look like one.

Were do you find Reed and Prince screws?

 

[SWT Racing]

There all No.2

The Craftsman shown is a 1/4" Reed Prince tip. I have the same Craftsman one that came in a kit, along with a standard #2 Phillips. the Reed Prince should have a black band on the handle, and the Phillips a blue band.

You can see the difference here: http://www.tpub.com/content/aviation/14001/css/14001_39.htm

Not that I'm a fan of Crafsman standard screwdrivers, as the tips are very soft.

 

[briggsguy17]

I agree that the basic Cman screwdrivers are JUNK. I actually liked the first edition pro models with the hard black handles and the black shanks. Things were much simpler then.

 

[jjarrell4]

I second MR. Elroy that is most def reed and prince you can tell by the steep angle.

 

[street131]

oh wow, i never heard of reed and prince before.

 

[NWphotog]

I have a set that I love. They were all my dad used on cars, trucks, and heavy equipment. The set I have I bought 10 and 20 years ago. I do have one I need to warranty so I guess I'll find out about the newer stuff is.

 

[Kirbot]

Well, I'll have to retract my comparison.
I've never heard of Reed Prince before.

I still maintain that standard Craftsman drivers are junk.
In instead of of the phillips comparison, I submit this.


That happened without using a wrench or pliers or anything on them.
The Jobsmart held up better.

 

[toolnut]

I have some of the newer and older Craftsman screwdriver sets and I can't recall ever having a problem other than someone else using and misusing them. They are not Snap-on but get the job done. I find that they are usually used on the wrong screw and that's why the blades and tips get messed up.

 

[briggsguy17]

Well, I'll have to retract my comparison.
I've never heard of Reed Prince before.

I still maintain that standard Craftsman drivers are junk.
In instead of of the phillips comparison, I submit this.


That happened without using a wrench or pliers or anything on them.
The Jobsmart held up better.

Every low end Cman slotted driver I ever had ended up looking like that eventually.

 

[PassnThru]

Well, I'll have to retract my comparison.
I've never heard of Reed Prince before.

I still maintain that standard Craftsman drivers are junk.
In instead of of the phillips comparison, I submit this.


That happened without using a wrench or pliers or anything on them.
The Jobsmart held up better.

Whoa - wait just a minute here. Your #2 phillips screwdriver showdown was invalid so you throw up a random picture of a flat head? Did you sell the original screw used in the previous comparison? Is it unavailable now for another picture to replace the previous one? And you couldn't tell the difference between a Reed Prince and a #2 phillips? A lot of stuff isn't adding up here.
At least show us the handle of that Craftsman driver in your photo.

 

[Kirbot]

Whoa - wait just a minute here. Your #2 phillips screwdriver showdown was invalid so you throw up a random picture of a flat head? Did you sell the original screw used in the previous comparison? Is it unavailable now for another picture to replace the previous one? And you couldn't tell the difference between a Reed Prince and a #2 phillips? A lot of stuff isn't adding up here.
At least show us the handle of that Craftsman driver in your photo.

Huh?
Original screw? What in the world are you talking about?
What do you wan't a picture of?

Apparently I don't have a No.2 Craftsman to test if thats what you wan't.

And no, I've never heard of Reed Prince before, so no, I couldn't tell the difference.



Happy?

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

You learn something new every day...

I looked up Reed and Prince, and it does look like one.

Were do you find Reed and Prince screws?

Post a pic of the entire screwdriver. My Craftsman RP screwdriver says Reed Prince on it. It's even a different color so you don't get them mixed up if the user cant read...



Also, the Craftsman Pro screwdrivers are very good screwdrivers for the money. The older black ones even more than the new generation red/black ones...

 

[1969]

I have been aware that there are Prince Reed screws and drivers; I never knew Sears carried a screwdriver for them. Never knew!

 

[jjarrell4]

I draw no conclusion with any of the above comparison. Craftsman drivers are not snap-on but I most def think they are better than a .65c screwdriver from TS.
Redo this comparison with a No 2, it will say No 2 on the Handle, not Prince and Reed like the above driver says.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Huh?
Original screw? What in the world are you talking about?
What do you wan't a picture of?

Apparently I don't have a No.2 Craftsman to test if thats what you wan't.

And no, I've never heard of Reed Prince before, so no, I couldn't tell the difference.



Happy?

Rotate that screwdriver over and take a pic of the text that can be seen on the other side. I'm willing to bet it says 1/4 Reed Price...

 

[Kirbot]

It does say Reed Prince on it now that I look at it.
What exactly is that supposed to prove anyway?

If you've never heard of Reed Prince before, that doesn't mean much.

I never gave it much thought, but I guess I assumed that was the name of the manufacturer.

 

[Kirbot]

I'll redo the comparison with an actual phillips after I can get to sears again.

Even though they are soft, I'll give them another try.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Huh?
Original screw? What in the world are you talking about?
What do you wan't a picture of?

Not to mention you started out showing a comparison of "#2" drivers, and when you found out that didn't accomplish your goal of bashing the driver, you switched over to show a flat head driver that is "Craftsman" without showing a picture of anything but the tip.

 

[jjarrell4]

Prince reed is usually used in marine applications

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

It does say Reed Prince on it now that I look at it.
What exactly is that supposed to prove anyway?.

I guess it doesn't "prove" anything. But one sure can infer that you just got busted trying to **** on Craftsman screwdrivers using the wrong driver to prove your point. You even insited that they were all P2.

I never gave it much thought, but I guess I assumed that was the name of the manufacturer.

You seriously expect us to buy that? Thats downright laughable...

 

[briggsguy17]

As an aside here: The other day I was servicing my snowplow. I was removing four screws that hold on the pump oil pan on and I was using my Snap On soft handle ratcheting screwdriver with a SO SDM213 slotted bit. I turned the first screw about a 1/16 turn and the tip shattered, maybe too hard? Anyway, took to my dealer and found out that the bits are not warranty!! Every line or brand has issues.

 

[1969]

You seriously expect us to buy that? Thats downright laughable......... Do you think he started out to blow smoke up our skirts?

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Do you think he started out to blow smoke up our skirts?

Maybe, maybe not. The point is, if you are going to start a thread to bash a tool, you might at least want to know what tool you are bashing. Especially something as basic as driver size/type.

 

[PassnThru]

Huh?
Original screw? What in the world are you talking about?
What do you wan't a picture of?

Apparently I don't have a No.2 Craftsman to test if thats what you wan't.

And no, I've never heard of Reed Prince before, so no, I couldn't tell the difference.



Happy?

It took me awhile to get back. I really don't think I have to respond considering everyone else got it. So I'll just respond with this:
See the posts between what I quoted and this one.

 

[rjohnson]

He gets the point across, however, that low-end Craftsman ****, but the Pro line is actually pretty good.

 

[Kirbot]

Not to mention you started out showing a comparison of "#2" drivers, and when you found out that didn't accomplish your goal of bashing the driver, you switched over to show a flat head driver that is "Craftsman" without showing a picture of anything but the tip.

I took that picture over a month ago to use in this topic,
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79073

I think I still have it, I'll post a picture of the whole thing as soon as I find it.

I guess it doesn't "prove" anything. But one sure can infer that you just got busted trying to **** on Craftsman screwdrivers using the wrong driver to prove your point. You even insited that they were all P2.



You seriously expect us to buy that? Thats downright laughable...

To be honest, I don't give a damn what you buy.
There's no Reed Prince on my Jeep or anything I've worked on, and I've never claimed to be a tool expert, so how exactly was I supposed to know there was such a screw?

My experience with recent Craftsman screwdrivers has been pretty bad, and I wanted to pass the info along.
I didn't realize Reed Prince was a type of screw other than phillips. And weather you wan't to believe it or not, that Flat head was a Craftsman. I also had a Husky which appeared to be from the same manufacturer, that bent just as bad.


I deleted the original post to keep from spreading any false information.
I don't know exactly what else I'm supposed to do.

 

[street131]

holy smokes, you folks oughta cool down a little bit. It was a honest mistake. I dont think craftsman screwdrivers are great at all, but they arent priced to be a "great" tool.

 

[1969]

Re:I deleted the original post to keep from spreading any false information.
I don't know exactly what else I'm supposed to do. I'm happy.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

He gets the point across, however, that low-end Craftsman ****

At less than a dollar, what do you expect? They serve their purpose for most of the people that buy them.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

holy smokes, you folks oughta cool down a little bit. It was a honest mistake. I dont think craftsman screwdrivers are great at all, but they arent priced to be a "great" tool.

Haha, well jeez. I'm not fired up at all, and I sure hope no one else is either.

 

[Kirbot]

At less than a dollar, what do you expect? They serve their purpose for most of the people that buy them.

Less then a dollar?
Even in the very biggest pack, on sale, there a little over a dollar.
Bought one at a time there over $4.00
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941042000P?prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

"you might at least want to know what tool you are bashing. Especially something as basic as driver size/type."

 

[pipsters]

Speaking from personal experience the folks that buy the standard craftsman screwdrivers use them to tighten small fasteners around the house, not use them in a shop. If you look at the larger standard craftsman drivers they are made out of the Chrome-vanadium steel, but the smaller sizes are not.

Looking at the husky pros look to be from the same factory as the craftsman pros.

 

[kc-steve]

I wasn't going to weigh in on this but some of the guys here might be a bit unfair to Vincent. I think it was an honest mistake. I'm sure Vincent is thoroughly embarrassed by his own ignorance, and others have learned not be so quick to bash an American institution such as Craftsman.

But I will add that many of us old school people who learned industrial arts at the high school level got a lesson in screwdrivers in the first week of training. And then again when I was in the military a Reed & Prince was in my basic issued tool kit.

So I would hope anyone who tries to review tools has at least a basic understanding of what they plan to tell us. Thanks anyway Vincent.

Steve