Best screwdrivers on the market

[lincwelder225]

Looking to get a new set of screwdrivers, as now I have the clear handled craftsman set. From experience, what is your recommendation for the replacement set? I've used the black hard handled snap ons before, and have a limited experience with Klein. I live in the rust belt, and would be using them for around the house work to working on cars, snowblowers, old lawn mowers and tillers, etc. Feel free to post any comments below. Thanks for voting and your help!

 

[hasco]

Craftsman are very good as long as warranty replacements exists. Either at Sears or ACE Hardware. I also love my S-K Screwdrivers too ! !

 

[lincwelder225]

Craftsman are very good as long as warranty replacements exists. Either at Sears or ACE Hardware. I also love my S-K Screwdrivers too ! !

Which S-K ones are you referring to?

 

[shawndp]

I am extremely happy with the Carlyle set from Napa - they work well and fit comfortably in my hands.

 

[californiaHank]

My preferred ones -

Facom 'ProTwist' (France) for most work - nice tips and comfortable handles for spinning fasteners.

Hazet 802 series (German Witte re-badge) for heavier stuff - also nice tips, but the drivers have beefier handles which are good for high torque on larger fasteners

 

[gdocktor3]

I own a lot of screwdrivers. Some of the best being Snap On, Wera, SK, Matco, Klein, etc. The best I found have been Vessel. Snap On tips are good, but these Vessel screwdrivers are excellent.

 

[losvre]

I own a lot of screwdrivers. Some of the best being Snap On, Wera, SK, Matco, Klein, etc. The best I found have been Vessel. Snap On tips are good, but these Vessel screwdrivers are excellent.

Are you referring to the Philips one from Vessel or the slotted as well?

I have the Vessel philips one and agree they have the best fitment. For long term tear and wear I cannot comment as I am DIYer.

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[svtride]

SwissGrip by PB Swiss. Though handles do collect dirt easily. Grips are the best I've used. The tips wear forever.

 

[bsaint]

The Williams set of the Sddx70a are my favorite as my old orange snap on hard handles are my favorite Snap-On screwdrivers. They are also readily available.

 

[wvrailroader]

Proto Duratek. Best screwdrivers I have ever used.

 

[Fedwrench]

Another vote for Proto Duratek.

However, i prefer the bolstered blades. They seem stronger and aside from the handle color, the same as sold on the MAC truck. US made. grab the 8 piece combination set when zoro has a sale.

 

[NitroSun]

I have a full set of Matco, Wera, Tekton and USA Craftsman. Craftsman are my least favorite. The other 3 are all great but if I really need torque, I use the Tekton.

 

[zoomieport]

SK screwdrivers, solid Green, hard handle, are my "go to" drivers...

 

[Hpozzuoli]

SK hard handles and soft grips are very good
screwdrivers. I prefer the instincts over the hard handled when it comes to snap On.

 

[Codejack]

GM Goodwrench:

https://www.ebay.com/p/GM-Goodwrenc...otted-and-Phillips-Screwdriver-Set/1601934542

 

[PMD1966]

Chinese made copy of an old Irwin design. If they were a knife they would be called full tang. From the tip to the handle, one piece of steel. Two wooden slabs for a handle. I have some Irwin originals the are over 60 years old.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Another vote for Proto Duratek.

 

[Davefr]

Another vote for Proto Duratek.

^^^Agree. Better then SO at a tiny fraction of the price.

 

[HanShotFirst]

Chinese made copy of an old Irwin design. If they were a knife they would be called full tang. From the tip to the handle, one piece of steel. Two wooden slabs for a handle. I have some Irwin originals the are over 60 years old.

HD Smith “Perfect” handle screwdrivers. HD Smith was bought by Irwin.
For their day, those were bad *** screwdrivers. Would lone to see a modern version with vapor blasted tips. But that kinda exists with Wera Chiseldtivers.

 

[HanShotFirst]

I’ll put in a vote for Wera lasertips; Best General purpose screwdrivers made, period! Of you need a set to beat on, then Wera chiseldrivers. Best of both worlds... Lasertips for 90% of the time, then Ciseldrivers for the other 10%.

I’m also a fan of the hard handle SK’s, and Wright bolstered are seriously hard to beat, especially for the price.

 

[rlitman]

I've got a bunch of Wera. Most are German, but current production are from Czech Republic FYI. I don't see a drop in quality though.

Klein used to be a lot better. The past decade or so has seen them left behind when it comes to screwdrivers. I've got a bunch, but they're not something I'd suggest buying in a set.

I own a lot of screwdrivers. Some of the best being Snap On, Wera, SK, Matco, Klein, etc. The best I found have been Vessel. Snap On tips are good, but these Vessel screwdrivers are excellent.

+1 for Vessel. They have the BEST phillips drivers on the market. I do like their slotted drivers too.

Chinese made copy of an old Irwin design. If they were a knife they would be called full tang. From the tip to the handle, one piece of steel. Two wooden slabs for a handle. I have some Irwin originals the are over 60 years old.

see below.

HD Smith “Perfect” handle screwdrivers. HD Smith was bought by Irwin.
For their day, those were bad *** screwdrivers. Would lone to see a modern version with vapor blasted tips. But that kinda exists with Wera Chiseldtivers.

Yep. Perfect handle screwdrivers. I find them indispensable as a straight prybar, but too soft to be used as a screwdriver. Vessel makes full-tang screwdrivers, as does Klein, Irwin, DeWalt, Kobalt, and a few others I can't think of at the moment.

 

[Tonyuk]

Wera lasertips with the green handle for me.

 

[PJNJ]

Vessel for Philips style.

 

[pcmeiners]

Have the Wiha screw drivers which look like the Vessel Jawfits, love them. Like the heavy handle, I can twist with my finger tips easily for positioning, handles have no indentation which would make it hard to position/apply force when drivers are in an extended or out of sight position.

https://www.wihatools.com/screwdrivers/microfinish-non-slip-grip

 

[ptgarcia]

Tough question, but I have used the SnapOn yellow hard handles, Wiha, Vessel and Klein and they're all good, but I really like my Vessel. The tips are excellent and they just fit my hand well. All the others are top shelf, too, but the Vessel are my favorite.

 

[morrillm06]

Proto Durateks for me as well

 

[knobby]

Vessel for Philips style.

If you like vessel jis screwdrivers I suspect that you will love sunflag branded drivers.

 

[PJNJ]

If you like vessel jis screwdrivers I suspect that you will love sunflag branded drivers.

Oh oh, now I'll be looking at them (and probably end up buying some). Thanks for the heads up. That's one of the great things about this forum.

I have an old Kawasaki and a newer Triumph ('99) and on both the Vessels have been great. Some of the Triumph carb screws were starting to strip out - the Vessels ended that.

 

[Farmall450]

SO Instincts.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239689

 

[DHCrocks]

PB swiss, the handles are really comfy and the tips fit well, I use them in flat, phillips, posi and torx. They are expensive but you asked for the best.

 

[jobo1004]

Proto Duratek

 

[Dave455]

PB Swiss, but NOT the Swissgrips! I'd probably vote for the 'Classic' handle version!

Bear in mind, that if you want a slotted driver, most European makers only offer Metric, wheras most U.S. makers only offer Imperial sizes, so the 'best' does depend on what you are working on.

My PB Swiss drivers fit beautifully on most metric screw slots, but if I've got to remove a screw from my British made lathe, I start by reaching for a proper 1/4 inch driver!

 

[RivennHewn]

Everybody knows the best screwdriver it the 1st one you find.

 

[texchappy]

PB Swiss works really nice for me.

 

[johndeereman]

I just picked up a new 8 piece set by Carlyle at napa and they are my new favorite's. i also have old craftsman, 20 piece Gearwrench also great.

 

[eyeball]

For $65 on Amazon you can’t beat “Williams 100P-8MD 8-Piece Premium Mixed Screwdriver Set”.

The handles are easy to get a good grip and clean up easily. The shanks on larger ones have a provision for grabbing with a wrench for additional torque when necessary. The tips have excellent holding power.

Many say they are the same or at least very similar to the Snap On line of hard handle screwdrivers and I have to agree.

I realize the fact that they are made in the USA in not important to all but it is to me...


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[Schurkey]

My favorite handles are the ancient hard-plastic Snap-On Power Grip (3-corner) units. STDx (straight blade) and STDPx (Phillips)

Of course, they're long obsolete. A shame.

I've been pleased with the Snap-On blades that go with those handles. Most of mine are original from the mid-1980s, although I've had one or two replaced under warranty.


I heard that Snappy changed the manufacturing process for the screwdriver blades since The Good Old Days, but I've forgotten the details. Anyone care to remind me?

 

[Ohmthis]

I didn't vote because I'm not a fan of Klein drivers andd I'm just ho hum over the whia drivers I have. I am in the market for a new set and this should help out. I liked the old craftsman hard handled pro drivers with black handles. Most of the ones I had are worn out and gone. I had looked at and was swaying between the SK green and black cushion grips and the black handled Williams (old Snap On, I believe). Several votes for the proto dura techs has me thinking I need to look at those too.

 

[M35A2]

Oh oh, now I'll be looking at them (and probably end up buying some). Thanks for the heads up. That's one of the great things about this forum.

I have an old Kawasaki and a newer Triumph ('99) and on both the Vessels have been great. Some of the Triumph carb screws were starting to strip out - the Vessels ended that.

I recently learned that the proper screwdriver for Japanese screws are JIS tipped screwdrivers as Japan has a different standard. Bought some and it is like night and day working on old bikes.

 

[mhejl]

My favorite handles are the ancient hard-plastic Snap-On Power Grip (3-corner) units. STDx (straight blade) and STDPx (Phillips)

Agreed. Best handle shape ever. The handles on mine (from the mid '80s) finally started loosing chunks. Try Witte - the closest to that handle shape I've found.

I have Instincts (too big), PB (too small), Felo (the best 2-finger "spinners"), Wiha (yawn), Wera (doesn't fit my hand at all), Williams USA (square handles not good for quick spinning), and Vessel (3rd choice).

The modern Instincts and Williams blades look exactly like my '80s vintage SO hard handles. It looks like they even use the same, now worn out, dies for the PH as the newer ones have much less depth to the ACR teeth. I even replaced the blades in my old SOs with Williams before they disintegrated - cheaper than buying blades from SO. I used the Williams handles to replace my old ratchet and prybar handles. ($20+ for a SO plastic handle? Really?)

To the OP - the poll is much too restrictive. I'd vote other.