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Klein New and Improved Screwdriver Steel

flippin

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May 24, 2010
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Montreal - Ottawa
On the Klein website, they advertise a new steel alloy for their screwdrivers (Phillips and Robertson). They are boasting that the new harder alloy is more durable and resists camout. Just curious if the GJ crew have any experience with the new drivers to verify these claims. I've always liked their tools and will probably add a few to my set. Beyond their claims, I am most concerned about getting the newer models. They don't appear to be different in appearance from the original style and as such I am also asking if anyone has seen them in person and are there any identifying characteristics.

Thanks in advance,

-Paul

http://www.kleintools.com/content/our-secret-sauce-new-improved-screwdriver-steel
 
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Davefr

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It's probably started using the same alloy/heat treating process as everyone else uses vs. the soft pot metal they used to use.

Klein tips had only one direction to go.
 

Brownsfan

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I have one of the demolition drivers. That thing takes a beating. But that's what it's supposed to do. It has not broke or twisted.
 

CWP1616L

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I don't like the raised portion on the grip that says "KLEIN TOOLS." The older Kleins didn't have that. I'd be inclined (pun intended) to get the Ideal version of that screwdriver next time; theirs have the regular grip and gray tips.
 

Brownsfan

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I have resisted the temptation to buy one of those several times in the electrical dept. Should I give in?

I say yea. It does what it says. I use it when hanging tv's on walls an need to "punch" a hole in it. It feels better using that than a nice snap on or Cornwell. If I didn't have so many screwdrivers I would try a set of these new Kleins. I wish they made a bigger version of the demo
 

redwrench60

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I say yea. It does what it says. I use it when hanging tv's on walls an need to "punch" a hole in it. It feels better using that than a nice snap on or Cornwell. If I didn't have so many screwdrivers I would try a set of these new Kleins. I wish they made a bigger version of the demo

Who can resist a screwdriver that they encourage you to use as a chisel? :lol_hitti
 

redwrench60

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I picked up one of those demolition drivers while at the Home Depot yesterday getting some supplies. We'll see how much trouble I can get into with it. :lol:

Is it a screwdriver? :willy_nil Is it a chisel? :willy_nil Or is it a pry bar? :willy_nil We may never know.
 

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CWP1616L

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^ It's got the old style yellow stamp that I like. Maybe Klein is moving away from the raised rubber stamp; a lot of electricians hate the raised rubber stamp.
 
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redwrench60

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^ It's got the old style yellow stamp that I like. Maybe Klein is moving away from the raised rubber stamp; a lot of electricians hate the raised rubber stamp.

I ask out of ignorance but does that indacate some changeover to lesser quality or is it just a personal thing?

This one seems solid and heavy with it's steel shank extending all the way to the handle's steel end cap.
 

sberry

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When I was working in the trades I bought them and a lot of nut drivers. The grips are good, today I am not so fussy, found out in the long run most of them worked about the same. They were a consumable and where I was limited to one set of tools like my road tote I often kept a new one and shoved the old back.

I would say as a whole I am not all impressed with the tips. I been snagging singles in our common sizes from Menards lately. I bought a handful of 7/16 labled Channelock at a flea for a dollar a piece and should have had 4 more. I have been keeping my eye out for the 5/16 but we got to pay retail for a good one about 6$. I use a couple a year.
 

Pantsfall_McFixit

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Oct 8, 2012
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People have said on here that they used to be great, then got bad due to soft steel, so hopefully they go with hard steel like other top tier brands.
 

ChevyEFI

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^ It's got the old style yellow stamp that I like. Maybe Klein is moving away from the raised rubber stamp; a lot of electricians hate the raised rubber stamp.

Raised letters in between the raised ribs?

I have a newfound liking for the rubber sleeved handles like those.
 

redwrench60

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I'm not entirely sure, but I do know that my Klein Phillips I have with the old yellow stamp has a real good tip.

According to that youtube vid I posted that demo driver is supposed to have a good tip too ;) Guess I'll have to find out. I also ordered the bigger one too.
 

CWP1616L

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I wish Klein would vapor blast their tips instead of that black finish whatever it is.

prattread1.png
 

jeremy v

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It seems to me this issue is related directly to big box stores. I used to use Klein professionally every day, but my stuff is/was all pre-big box stores. The tips have lasted very well. The last Klein purchase I made was in about 2003 or so. All my stuff has the rubber handles without the raised lettering. Right after I finished buying my Klein tools I started seeing their brand moved heavily into big box stores, and I soon after started hearing about quality going down. Now I see threads on Garagejournal about the big box stores dropping pro brands and going to house tool brands (and dropping Klein) and all of the sudden Klein is announcing a higher quality tool again. Coincidence?

I personally like seeing the established and good quality professional grade tools only sold outside of places like Home Depot, etc. Every pro brand I have seen go into the general consumer market has had to drop the quality in some way over time to stay price competitive, because all the average consumer really cares about is price. Ridgid has probably done the best (in my opinion) at staying true to quality while being sold in big box stores (with their hand tool line), but I have noticed that even they have been recently cutting corners to most likely meet price points. I have noticed that in the last few years they have stopped grinding down the metal seam that runs down the pipe wench handles before painting them. I have purchased a couple pipe wrenches in the last few years and the first thing I have to do is grind off the seam so it is smooth and comfortable in my hands like all their older pipe wrenches are. Channellock seems to be letting quality control slip a bit as well, and I wonder if it is because of the increased production demand and price controls that distributing to home centers creates.

It might make it harder to warranty, or harder to find and buy, but a truly good quality tool that is used properly should really never need to be warrantied. It just slowly wears out after many years of constant use, and then you buy a new one. The original tool gives such good service to the owner that the average person would feel ashamed to try and warranty it as if there were something wrong with it. Price will go up a little bit after the brand leaves home centers, but price is not as much of an issue to a professional user, because it is amortized out over hundreds of hours of constant use instead of the price having to be justified for occasional garage use only.

I like that Klein is making a better screwdriver again, because as soon as I started hearing about the quality issues when they were being sold in big box stores I started buying other brands instead, and most of the other good brands of screwdrivers are foreign. If the new screwdrivers are in fact well made again, I will buy from them again in the future. I always did like the extra thickness of the Klein rubber handle surrounds.
 
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