Dakotadadv8
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Op a few extra $ for SO maybe worth it unless money is tight.
Recommend me a buy it for life and hand it down screwdriver set
- Thread starter centerknurk
- Start date
Hohn
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CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
Shoot, looking at some of the other dudes’ drivers here in the shop…there’s a whole lot of tradies who do the same thing.
Drivers wear out if you use them and using a worn out driver just makes more work when you inevitably strip a screw.
That said I would choose Wiha for Electrical, Wera/Bergeon for delicate / precision work and Vessel for everything else.
Personally also like the hard handle snap on / williams drivers.
That said I would choose Wiha for Electrical, Wera/Bergeon for delicate / precision work and Vessel for everything else.
Personally also like the hard handle snap on / williams drivers.
Snaparxon
Well-known member
Are the new Tekton screwdrivers from germany the same as Matco's over-priced screwdrivers but a more reasonable price?This info is a bit outdated.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.
Snaparxon
Well-known member
Want lifetime replacement blades but don't like Snap on handles? Use the Snap on blade on a different handle you like. Most blades are marked with a Snap on symbol or a date code . Blades goes bad, pull it, take to driver for replacement. That's what I do.
NitroExpress
Well-known member
Different grip that doesn’t have the “flocking” panel. Much more reasonably priced.
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For electrical, I like Wera for #1 and #2 Phillips, Wera Chiseldriver (with a conduit reamer on it) for my beater, and Klein for slotted (other than my beater). For smaller screwdrivers I have a mixture of Wera and Vessel. For bit drivers I have Wiha stubby and Centrofix, for my electrical cover plate screwdriver I use a Williams hard handle with a longish blade.
There is not one particular screwdriver line that is perfect for everything.
I don’t really see any of my screwdrivers as “buy it for life”. If I was a mechanic at the beginning of my career, I would buy Snap-on for the warranty.
There is not one particular screwdriver line that is perfect for everything.
I don’t really see any of my screwdrivers as “buy it for life”. If I was a mechanic at the beginning of my career, I would buy Snap-on for the warranty.
I guess the true lifetime screwdriver would be like a ratcheting screwdriver with replaceable bits.
No kidding, tho something like the snap on models are expensive, someone starting out can buy a bunch of bits cheap and have a LOT of capability.
Example- in addition to all the normal screwdriver tips, I have torx, and they are darned useful for automotive. I also have a selection of shank lengths.
My favorite version of this tool is the snap on instinct stubby.
For a bunch of automotive tasks, this is the tool I reach for first, believe it or not. Not for hose clamps however. I rarely use a screwdriver for hose clamps but when I do, it’s a proper flat bladed screw driver. I think I dropped a bit out of my ratcheting screwdriver once and had to dig for it. Never again. So I use my ratcheting screwdriver mostly for trim pieces, screws holding in headlights etc, and interiors.
I even have a 1/4” square drive shank I can put 1/4” sockets on. They make hex to square adapters, but I don’t like those.
No kidding, tho something like the snap on models are expensive, someone starting out can buy a bunch of bits cheap and have a LOT of capability.
Example- in addition to all the normal screwdriver tips, I have torx, and they are darned useful for automotive. I also have a selection of shank lengths.
My favorite version of this tool is the snap on instinct stubby.
For a bunch of automotive tasks, this is the tool I reach for first, believe it or not. Not for hose clamps however. I rarely use a screwdriver for hose clamps but when I do, it’s a proper flat bladed screw driver. I think I dropped a bit out of my ratcheting screwdriver once and had to dig for it. Never again. So I use my ratcheting screwdriver mostly for trim pieces, screws holding in headlights etc, and interiors.
I even have a 1/4” square drive shank I can put 1/4” sockets on. They make hex to square adapters, but I don’t like those.
Personally I like Vessel megadora made in japan, The vessel armor grip I do not like at all and made in taiwan. They just do not grip screws like the megadora version. Witte aka (matco) are ok, but not crazy about the handles. You can buy a set of tekton screwdrivers those are made by witte for now until they switch suppliers again.
Dave455
Well-known member
For long term durability you need decent blades, with tough tips, and most importantly, a durable handle.
In honesty, it’s hard to beat the classic “hard handle” Snap On. I know aircraft engineers that have used these for decades, but the blades are still good, and although the handles are a little “polished” through handling, they are still superb.
Some folks advise the similar Williams / CAT etc. Good advice, and great value, but I am not convinced the blades are identical, or as durable.
I don’t like the newer “Instinct” handles as much. The hard material on the handles is much lower density than the classic ones, and not as resistant to abrasion.
PB Swiss are great, I have some decades old and still going sell. But, you need to get the Classic or Multicraft handles. The soft “Swissgrip” are not nice to use in grubby conditions, and obviously not durable.
The Vessel? Yes, definitely, but again, for durability you really need the hard handles.
In honesty, any decent quality blade with a hard handle will be good for the purpose. I quite like these Heyco’s, and if you don’t like green, Heyco manufacture for many other brands.
But remember, any driver is ultimately a wear item. By all means get good ones, but they do wear eventually. No.2 Phillips seem to be the worst offenders!
In honesty, it’s hard to beat the classic “hard handle” Snap On. I know aircraft engineers that have used these for decades, but the blades are still good, and although the handles are a little “polished” through handling, they are still superb.
Some folks advise the similar Williams / CAT etc. Good advice, and great value, but I am not convinced the blades are identical, or as durable.
I don’t like the newer “Instinct” handles as much. The hard material on the handles is much lower density than the classic ones, and not as resistant to abrasion.
PB Swiss are great, I have some decades old and still going sell. But, you need to get the Classic or Multicraft handles. The soft “Swissgrip” are not nice to use in grubby conditions, and obviously not durable.
The Vessel? Yes, definitely, but again, for durability you really need the hard handles.
In honesty, any decent quality blade with a hard handle will be good for the purpose. I quite like these Heyco’s, and if you don’t like green, Heyco manufacture for many other brands.
But remember, any driver is ultimately a wear item. By all means get good ones, but they do wear eventually. No.2 Phillips seem to be the worst offenders!
milkovich
Well-known member
I still love the western forge / Ideal screwdrivers everyone sold in different colors. It's probably nostalgia, but they're the prettiest I think. That said, I picked up these and they're my favorite. I've never had screwdrivers that I thought were worth crowing about till I got this set with the 3/8" drive and full through blade. For rust belt automotive work, this is the final boss. For working on electronics or other stuff, I'm sure there are screwdrivers with more finesse.
CGarage
Well-known member
I gotz many but my desert island set is the Vessel Mega's...follwed closely by (or maybe tied with) PB Swiss. I do like Wera, but not always...sometime the handle feel great...sometimes not so much. Quality-wise...they are all great. It's all about feel and balance with the good stuff. Size and shape of the handles and such. My opinion anywaze.
How are the Japanese screwdriver handle sizes? Megadoras? And what about PB Swiss? I have only a few Japanese hand tools and all of them are a bit diminutive. Some of the pics above make the handles look slender, which is not cool.
For automotive, I encounter rusted, corroded, stuck ****. And I need something big to crack that free.
I was removing hardware from 100yr old barn doors 2 weekends ago. I squirted all the screws with oil and was using a death grip on the (Klein) screwdriver I was using. After a few dozens of these, I switched to an Instinct. Night and day.
If you are doing household stuff, electrical, never mind.
For automotive, I encounter rusted, corroded, stuck ****. And I need something big to crack that free.
I was removing hardware from 100yr old barn doors 2 weekends ago. I squirted all the screws with oil and was using a death grip on the (Klein) screwdriver I was using. After a few dozens of these, I switched to an Instinct. Night and day.
If you are doing household stuff, electrical, never mind.
CGarage
Well-known member
This is my issue with the Koken ratchet handles, they are too small for my hands.
The screwdrivers from Vessel are perfect, same with PB Swiss.
The Vessel wood composite handle screwdrivers are TOUGH.
The PB Swiss seem more refined, but the tip profiles on Vessel I do prefer to PB Swiss.
jack stand
Well-known member
Real screwdrivers? All of mine are 18v with throw away tips.
The rest are primarily small pry bars or scrapers.
Beyond electrical work, who still uses screws and screwdrivers? I'll include gunsmithing and I'm sure I'm missing some other trades, but the $12 Christmas time special assortment at HD does just fine for me about every other year.
The rest are primarily small pry bars or scrapers.Beyond electrical work, who still uses screws and screwdrivers? I'll include gunsmithing and I'm sure I'm missing some other trades, but the $12 Christmas time special assortment at HD does just fine for me about every other year.
Can't agree with that as I have ratcheting drivers of both brands and they simply smoke all else I've ever tried and get used quite often. Not into larger individual screwdriver sets as I find a few ratcheting along with lots of bits/extensions that handle anything I'll ever need to be far more useful/compact.
Winterborne
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It might be fun to also lay out what you don't want in a buy it once screwdriver:
Acetate (CAB) handles
Grips similar to Klein that degrade and delaminate over time
Chrome plating on screwdriver tips
Acetate (CAB) handles
Grips similar to Klein that degrade and delaminate over time
Chrome plating on screwdriver tips
Steel_Rain
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- Apr 23, 2024
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Ah yes! The old vomit drivers…
When I was younger and didn’t know what this is, I thought Dad just had one to many old mils one night and yakked in the screwdriver drawer!
drokihazan
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The only tools your future generations will need are some hand tools to do little handy tasks around the house, maybe a drill. They won't need more than that unless they have fabrication hobbies or really want to tinker. There won't be a career as a mechanic in the future outside of one working on heavy industrial equipment or facilities maintenance (including robotics), and anyone working in that field will be wearing out screwdrivers.
I would say don't think about it as BIFL, and just accept that screwdrivers are meant to be warrantied - I get PH2, T15, and T20 screwdriver blades replaced by Snap-On at least once a year, sometimes more, and those are extremely high quality blades. Buy a decent set for yourself with a good warranty and don't overthink it.
whateg01
Well-known member
Well, it seems like they don't make #6, hex head, countersunk bolts.Real screwdrivers? All of mine are 18v with throw away tips.
Beyond electrical work, who still uses screws and screwdrivers? I'll include gunsmithing and I'm sure I'm missing some other trades, but the $12 Christmas time special assortment at HD does just fine for me about every other year.
Dave455
Well-known member
Be careful not to confuse Cellulose Acetate with Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB) The latter is more shatter resistant, so tends to get used for chisel handles, but only the CAB has a smell.
Most manufacturers in the U.K. and Europe only ever used Cellulose Acetate. No smell, and in honesty no shattering issues either. The Vessel, Heyco and CK drivers in my post above are all Cellulose Acetate. Facom also.
The exception is PB Swiss who use CAB.
I’m not really sure why so many U.S. manufacturers used it.
Steel_Rain
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Craftsman Board Room, 1970:
CEO: “We need to cut costs and sell more screwdrivers!”
Beancounters: “The engineers say we can use a cheaper production process using Cellulose Acetate Butyrate and it’ll save .03 cents a unit…but it will smell like rotten milk vomit in 20 years.”
CEO: “Do it!”
That’s how @Dave455
never rest
Active member
They all wear over time.
I like Snap-On, Williams USA, and Vessel Japan the best. If Snap-On is over budget, get the big 19-piece Williams set on Amazon. For $150, you could do a hell of a lot worse. I've got a couple of those sets and they're easy to recommend. JHW100P-19MD is the one.
For ratcheting, I use Snap-On for drivers but then all sorts of other brands for bits. Snap-On, PB Swiss, Brownell's, Wera, Wiha, etc.
I like Snap-On, Williams USA, and Vessel Japan the best. If Snap-On is over budget, get the big 19-piece Williams set on Amazon. For $150, you could do a hell of a lot worse. I've got a couple of those sets and they're easy to recommend. JHW100P-19MD is the one.
For ratcheting, I use Snap-On for drivers but then all sorts of other brands for bits. Snap-On, PB Swiss, Brownell's, Wera, Wiha, etc.
a6hux
Well-known member
I really like my snap on set. I bought it in 2009 and only had to warranty one recently. I have a Proto Ratcheting set at work that really like and comes with a lot of extra’s.
whateg01
Well-known member
I mean, that's how it works. Not just screwdrivers. Everything.Craftsman Board Room, 1970:
CEO: “We need to cut costs and sell more screwdrivers!”
Beancounters: “The engineers say we can use a cheaper production process using Cellulose Acetate Butyrate and it’ll save .03 cents a unit…but it will smell like rotten milk vomit in 20 years.”
CEO: “Do it!”
That’s how @Dave455
Dave455
Well-known member
I’m sure that PB Swiss use CAB for the enhanced shock protection, but then counter the smell by adding the vanilla scent. That’s a way to get best of both worlds - very “Swiss”!
Craftsman Board Room, 1970:
CEO: “We need to cut costs and sell more screwdrivers!”
Beancounters: “The engineers say we can use a cheaper production process using Cellulose Acetate Butyrate and it’ll save .03 cents a unit…but it will smell like rotten milk vomit in 20 years.”
CEO: “Do it!”
That’s how @Dave455
Yes, that is of course the reality.
Historically, cellulose acetate was just a fraction cheaper than CAB, but if somewhere in the U.S. was set up for producing one, but not the other, I could see a deal being struck…!
Maybe they had some really stinky stuff at .06 cents / unit cheaper….!
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I might buy me one single Snap-on screwdriver off ebay with the Instinct handle just to try out.
Good luck with that.
It'll be hard to resist the urge to buy a more complete set because I am sure there are some smaller incomplete sets of SO on ebay that will not be too pricey.I have Felo, Craftsman Pro, Snap-On, Mac, Cornwell, regular CM, SK all in my working collection of screwdrivers. Screwdrivers are a tool that lends itself to having many because you need various sizes to fit in spots (small, medium, large). And there are so many drive types besides the various Phillips. There are torx, allen, square, pozi, JIP. Plus nutdrivers if you want those. And they wear out, but they wear out less if you have a ton of them and rotate them in/out of work use.
And I keep Pittsburgh Pro ones in my general box that goes to friends and the kids' places, so if I leave one behind it isn't a big deal.
I picked up these West German made (pre-Berlin wall removal) Wiha's as part of a large $1 lot in an estate auction. These were in a bucket of tools. All for $1. I will add them to my collection. I had to pull out and keep the Fiskars USA made scissors because my mom had the exact same pair (also orange) in the 1970s and 1980s. They feel great.
