Back on the subject of basic 6-in-1's (not mere bit drivers). I'm a stickler about these things because I use mine more than anything other than my pocketknife.
I received a new Channellock 61A from a big online retailer, and I gotta tell you, it is hands-down the beefiest 6-in-1 I've ever seen. Looks like it will outlast me and whoever gets my stuff, and it is priced well below other brands.
The Chennellock has a large slotted/flat on one bit and small slotted/flat on the other. This is unlike the mixed setup on the Lutz, which has large/small-slotted and large/small-flat on each bit. I prefer the Channellock way, where both the big bits are together on the big driver end and vice-versa for the small end.
The black parkerized Channellock driver/shaft that holds the bits is a heavier gauge than any I've seen. On many of the Taiwan-made ones like Husky and Lutz, the 1/4 driver part is stepped down to a thinner gauge. That step helps to identify the small end, but any kind of mark could do that... plus there's always
only small bits on the 1/4 side of the Channellock. My guess is that leaving off this extra bit of machining helps cut the costs of the unit, to keep it competitive with imported models.
I dont think the lack of that tiny step-down will matter in the amount of clearance you can use with this tool either. You should have just as much trouble installing a doorknob with the Channellock as you would with any of the others. I know you've felt that pain.
The receiver for the shaft inside the handle on the Channellock has ~2x thicker walls than the husky, lutz, klein and craftsman. The thinnest part of the wall on the channellock (where the groves are) is thicker than the thickest part on the others. Thicker steel + more surface area for ribbing and glue = more torsional strength.
Following on the robust theme, the ribbed handle on the Channellock is four-sided, compared to the others that are all 6-sided. The larger flat space on the channellock handle allows you more torque from your hands, though it might be less precise-feeling than hex shaped handles. For general appliance and household electrical chores, that level of precision should not matter at all. If you are working with screws on a metal roof, the Channellock is less likely to roll because of it's shape... but really, why aren't you using a battery-powered driver up there?
A detail on the bits... The brands are all interchangeable, except the dinky ones on the klien. Again, probably cutting costs to be competitively priced, the bits on the Channellock are not marked with stamped sizes... no big deal, I think we can tell one from the other of these 4 bits, right?
Finally, unlike the Lutz or Husky, the Channellock boasts proudly that it is Made in USA on the unit, meaning legally, EVERY part is made in the USA. I like that, and for some people its a
very important thing. Take a close look at the chrome shaft on the Lutz and you see "TAIWAN". Take a close look at the handle on the Husky and you see tiny embossed type "TAIWAN"... these are "assembled" in USA but the parts are foreign. TAIWAN actually makes good stuff, as long as the QC is there, but really, do you need to pay for oil to ship it around the world so it can be made by desperation labor?
So in summary, Channellock 61A = biggest, beefiest, simplest, and USA-est of all the 6-in-1s I've found so far.
Thanks for reading.
PS: I want to add a strong warning. I love Channellock products in general, but they have made a mistake in the 61CB model... it is a cheap imported piece that pales in comparison to the mighty 61A. Avoid it.
