Are Snap on screw drivers that much better?

ToocoolZ28 · Jul 16, 2013

I have a lot of Craftsman screw drivers but I'm not really happy with a lot of them. Are Snap on screw drivers that much better for a home shop? I really do a lot of mechanical work restoring old cars for myself and some for other people.
Do they justify the price??

DRhodes · Jul 16, 2013

They are very good. Do they justify the price? I'm not so sure. While I love my Snap On screwdrivers, I think there are much cheaper options out there. Many people will tell you Wiha or Witte. Personally I’m a USA guy. If I had to give you a suggestion, I would buy Williams Premium Screwdriver set. They are exactly the same thing as the old Snap On hard handles at a fraction of the cost. Best of luck in your decision. I can tell you, that you will get mixed reviews on this forum. We have a lot of people who are die hard Snap On, and there is nothing wrong with that, because we all know they make wonderful tools. If I was a professional wrencher, I would have mostly Snap On tools. For a home garage, I would suggest the Williams. That’s my $0.02.

TAMPAGT07 · Jul 16, 2013

Are they alot better then C-man...Absolutly.....I've got a bunch of SO drivers, but I did purchase a few Williams sets (for prob half trhe price of SO's), which are like the old SO hard handles...I would do Williams over SO's, due to the high price...

woody 73 · Jul 16, 2013

DRhodes said:
They are very good. Do they justify the price? I'm not so sure. While I love my Snap On screwdrivers, I think there are much cheaper options out there. Many people will tell you Wiha or Witte. Personally I’m a USA guy. If I had to give you a suggestion, I would buy Williams Premium Screwdriver set. They are exactly the same thing as the old Snap On hard handles at a fraction of the cost. Best of luck in your decision. I can tell you, that you will get mixed reviews on this forum. We have a lot of people who are die hard Snap On, and there is nothing wrong with that, because we all know they make wonderful tools. If I was a professional wrencher, I would have mostly Snap On tools. For a home garage, I would suggest the Williams. That’s my $0.02.

Very good advice! Buy the Williams set and never look back.

TAMPAGT07 · Jul 16, 2013

DRhodes said:
They are very good. Do they justify the price? I'm not so sure. While I love my Snap On screwdrivers, I think there are much cheaper options out there. Many people will tell you Wiha or Witte. Personally I’m a USA guy. If I had to give you a suggestion, I would buy Williams Premium Screwdriver set. They are exactly the same thing as the old Snap On hard handles at a fraction of the cost. Best of luck in your decision. I can tell you, that you will get mixed reviews on this forum. We have a lot of people who are die hard Snap On, and there is nothing wrong with that, because we all know they make wonderful tools. If I was a professional wrencher, I would have mostly Snap On tools. For a home garage, I would suggest the Williams. That’s my $0.02.

TAMPAGT07 said:
Are they alot better then C-man...Absolutly.....I've got a bunch of SO drivers, but I did purchase a few Williams sets (for prob half trhe price of SO's), which are like the old SO hard handles...I would do Williams over SO's, due to the high price...

Good minds think alike.... :beer:

richfinn · Jul 16, 2013

Good drivers but value for money compared to Wiha??

Not in Europe at least.

Spudland_Dave · Jul 16, 2013

The Williams Tips aren't the same as SnapOn....not a 100% crossover. Are they cheaper, yes...are they better then Cman...yes. Would I buy them over a set of Genuine Snappy Instincts...nope.
Before going Williams, I'd go to Whia..I also like my Macsimizer screwdrivers.

NissanTechWill · Jul 16, 2013

I say they are completely worth the money - particularly the Phillips head - they have grooves that help prevent the bit from jumping out of the screw.

-Will

jjjrmx5 · Jul 16, 2013

Snap-On's are good.
Are they THAT good, well, that depends.

Screwdrivers are wear items if used regularly and haveing that lifetime SO warranty means you never have to buy another one again.

But that does come with a hefty price tag. And they do engage the screw head better than almost anything out there.

Are they better than C'man? Of course.

We deal with so many screws and fastners daily we've switched to Wiha bits and just use Snap-on ratcheting screwdrivers and only use fixed shafts when necessary. For micro work, fixed shaft is the only option.

Bits are far cheaper then new drivers and whether bit or driver, the wear factor is still there. No getting around that.

I love the Wiha drivers, but replacing them under warranty can be far more fussy then Snap-On, but the price reflects that.

Even screwdrivers used correctly will wear out over time.

Pay now and buy $$$ Snap-On set or pay later and replace as you go along as they wear.

For home use I personally can't justify the price and work supplies me with bits so I use Facom, Wiha and C'man Pro at home. Plus a gajillion C'man clear handles that never see the light of day.
LOL.

Good luck.

woody 73 · Jul 16, 2013

I am sure the wiha & witte are top notch screwdrivers but how long does it take to get a replacement if they fail ?

If a Williams fails I am thinking getting a replacement might be faster, but I am only guessing at this point in time.

G1GRANDEUR · Jul 16, 2013

I also like Matco (wiha) screw drivers.

jjjrmx5 · Jul 16, 2013

woody 73 said:
I am sure the wiha & witte are top notch screwdrivers but how long does it take to get a replacement if they fail ?

If a Williams fails I am thinking getting a replacement might be faster, but I am only guessing at this point in time.

Wiha has a US home office.
Just a call or email to describe the problem and the processs starts.

They either send replacement if you know where you bought it or request you send it in and then review/replace a'la the SK warranty.

If bought thru Grainger, Grainger has the power to warranty and order replacements at the desk, but you have to come get it once in or if you have a corp. accnt get it delivered with the route items you order via Grainger.

It's not complex, but then again, they don't have a truck coming to your doorstep once a week or a big Sears brick and mortar store up the road.

You pay for convenience, one way or the other.

Monte · Jul 16, 2013

The question is: How well do they fit in your hand ? Are they comfortable for you to use ?

rusty65 · Jul 16, 2013

If your thinking of getting some snap on screwdrivers I would buy the 3 screwdrivers you use the most and see how they work out for you before you take the big plunge and buy a complete set. Just some thoughts. By the way I have a 8 pc set of snappys and love using them over my old craftsmans. The snap ons are so much more comfortable to me and bite a little better.

cburnscrx · Jul 16, 2013

Are the Snap On's better? Sure, as many have stated. For the price for at home use? Not to me, but I am not a professional wrench either. That said, I use CMan Pro's and have been very happy so far. I wouldn't put much stock in the lifetime warranty though, as the CMan Pros are slowly being discontinued. What would they give you for a replacement? If you like those drivers, get the SK's, as they're the same thing...only green. Still way cheaper than Snap On.

Rag Roc · Jul 16, 2013

Monte said:
The question is: How well do they fit in your hand ? Are they comfortable for you to use ?

Used to have a full set of the Cman screwdrivers back in the day. I never liked the way they pinched the skin on my palms when really torquing on a screw. The SO hard handle screwdrivers were my first ever SO purchase and the best money I ever spent. Today I would absolutely consider the Williams set first. Just my $.02

Spudland_Dave · Jul 16, 2013

jjjrmx5 said:
We deal with so many screws and fastners daily we've switched to Wiha bits and just use Snap-on ratcheting screwdrivers and only use fixed shafts when necessary.

Have you used the SnapOn bits? I only ask because a few weeks ago my driver gave me a #2 Phillips SDM222IRB PosiDrive bit...WOW, Smokes the Dewalt bits I've always used, so I bought 10 more from him...Recently got an order of Whia stuff in and in the box were some catalogs, thought about trying out the Whia insert bits, but they make SnapOn look cheap....10 pack of #2 Terminator bits MSRP is $38.98! More then the SO's with a hard to use warranty. Didn't know if the Whia's were even better then the SO..I know I am in love.

jsonic6 · Jul 16, 2013

Bottom line is buy what you can afford. Snap On are great if you use it to make your living but they are pricy. If not, there are other, more affordable choices to consider and the quality are awesome, (i.e. Wiha, Wera, Witte, Felo, etc...). Personally, I currently own the brands mentioned and my favorite are the German screwdrivers due to the feel in the hands.

cheechi · Jul 16, 2013

Could you warranty Williams through a local Snap On guy? Or in the case of most of us buying Williams from Amazon (if not Grainger as mentioned) would it have to be your only option?

ATC · Jul 16, 2013

I wouldn't waste your money on SO for home use. And contrary to what SO owners believe, they are not the only screwdriver with a lifetime warranty. Hell, my Klutch brand screwdrivers from Northern Tool have a lifetime no questions asked warranty. Come to think of it, I've done engine swaps and partially restored a '78 F150 with them, as well as a lot of work on motorcycles and ATV's.

That being said, if you are looking to upgrade over Craftsman...I would definitely look at the Witte, Klein, & Whia's. I really like mine.

4x4gearhead · Jul 16, 2013

Seeing how they brought back the hard handled sets (of course a year or two after I bought the instinks) I would say it is worth the money. I dont use screwdrivers real heavily but I have busted more than a few other brands and I will say Ive had mine for like 3-4 yrs now and havent had to warrant one.

rebelram · Jul 16, 2013

Buy a few lightly used Snap On screwdrivers in the sizes you most often use off ebay. You'll save some money and can try them out. Then you can decide if you want to buy more of them.

For the most part screwdrivers are a fairly inexpensive tool. Most people can afford to try many different brands. Western Forge and Pratt-Reed make good screwdrivers, they are also suppliers for Craftsman. Both are currently owned by Ideal who also owns SK. Craftsman Pro, SK, and Armstrong are all the same identical screwdrivers, but with different colored inserts. They are great screwdrivers. Western Forge also makes screwdrivers for Home Depot's Husky brand and those are great affordable drivers (both the pro series and the standard which is similar to the Craftsman standard drivers)

If you use screwdrivers long enough you'll acquire some from many different brands. I probably own 70 or 80 screwdrivers. Some are better than others. Then there are some that surprised me. I have a few I have bought from Harbor Freight that I have down right tortured and they have held up very well. So that being said, start with finding a screw driver grip you like and go from there. Only with use over time will you be able to figure out which brands of screwdriver tips wear better for you. Then you'll know what works best for you.

Dave455 · Jul 16, 2013

I reckon the Snap On drivers are good! I've got a few, mostly the older hard handle style, and they have lasted well!

Some of the European tools are good, particularly the PB Swiss, but if you are working on older cars (I assume you mean U.S. cars) bear in mind the screws will have inch sized slots! Now I know you CAN use the next metric size smaller, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea!

Doubt you will regret getting a set of Snap On (specify the 'hard handle' if you are buying instinct drivers though) but if you don't like the idea try the Proto with the yellow handles!

richfinn · Jul 16, 2013

Notice how often the Wiha brand springs up in these discussions about drivers??

I've got screwdrivers/bits and some side cutters ,never had to warranty anything.

I still think both versions of the SO ratchet driver are the best.

I tried an instinct driver and it was nice but not any better than my Wiha version to be honest, I do like the hard handle SO In some sizes but not others?? Maybe my hands are too big.

BDT/NWMN · Jul 16, 2013

Have bought full sets , Craftsman, ProTo, SnapOn... The Craftsman are "homeowner" el-cheapo, extras, fill ins, loaners, throw aways, vehicle trunk tools. They have their name and their uses..... Screwdrivers are often victims in a Manifestation of Shadetreeism; and are abused as pry bars, chisels, scrapers, awls. alignment bars and who knows what else... Ever make a special tool out of a screwdriver?? I have a drawer full of these.. :lol:

. My screwdriver conversions Are built to a standard... I won't piss away time converting a pos chicom screwdriver into anything.... Even in their "afterlife" the SnapOn and ProTo conversions put the cheaper brands to shame. .Darn good steel to start with, so I end up with a darn good conversion.

You can only re-dress a screwdriver so many times.. SnapOn screwdrivers will wear out like any other brand, but if the proper screwdriver is used and it is re-dressed when due, I have found it worth MY money to buy the SnapOn and take care of them...... I mention ProTo because I have some that are over 40 years old and looking good.. Every task does not require a top of the line tool, and my Craftsman get their share of lighter use. The sight of Stripped or mangled screw heads tends to piss me off... Even a SnapOn screwdriver will mangle mangle a screw head if neglected.... Learn how to properly use a file , and keep your screwdrivers in good shape... the Phillips will be more of a challenge.. :shocking:

sure make good awls... I am not going to spend your money or make your choices.. If you need one or two good screwdrivers for a common task; I suggest the purchase of better tools for that task..... Spending a bundle of cash for a "Full Set" to add to your "Tool Collection" is not always the most feasible choice... Just buy to suit your needs.... :beer:

Tunajoe · Jul 16, 2013

Just curious, what's the cost of a set of snap on screwdrivers run?

jjjrmx5 · Jul 16, 2013

Spudland_Dave said:
Have you used the SnapOn bits? I only ask because a few weeks ago my driver gave me a #2 Phillips SDM222IRB PosiDrive bit...

We have a Snap-On driver in weekly (and on call) and a revolving accnt for corp as well as the tool cribs but the Wiha bits are FAR less expensive for a production floor diassamebling and re-assembling 2 vehicles (or more) down to bare bones and back again a day for modification.

We buy Wiha bits in bulk, they wear like iron and seldom cause a problem.

Supplying 75 workers with ad nausuem (endless) Snap-On sourced bits (which are really Apex bits) was not cost efficient for tear down and reassembly work where if the bit fails, toss it and get new is far easier.

This ain't no car repair shop. This is MIL spec production floor TAKT time schedule work.

Thus the need for bits and not screwdrivers. And good bits, since stripped fastener heads = time wasted. The wiha's are near flawless.

We don't cheap out on tools, but sitting down with purchasing and doing the numbers made the decision.

No need to buy something if a better or equal and cheaper option is out there.

Ezgarage · Jul 16, 2013

they're the best, plus they dont get that nasty crapman screwdriver smell

wrh3 · Jul 16, 2013

I don't think anything has fit my hand better than a Wiha MicroFinish, they are great and the tips can take some abuse.

Brownsfan · Jul 16, 2013

For home owner use. Get the Williams. I have a set and use them in my road install box. I have the Snap on instincts in the shop box. The Williams were half as much as the Snap ons. I do prefer the the instinct handles over any others I hav used. Find a industrial supply place near you and look into the Williams. I buy all my Williams from Production tool and supply. They also have Wiha. I tried them and still preferred the Williams. Check them out here or in person if you are in Ohio or Michigan. http://www.pts-tools.com/cgi/CGP2HOME

methomas70 · Jul 16, 2013

24 years ago, after high school, I worked, for a while, in an auto repair shop. I wasn't a pro mechanic then, and I'm not now. But I do wrench my cars, motorcycles, & other stuff a few times a week. When I started, I had Craftsman stuff, about half was my grandfather's, the other half I bought. Every now and then, when I couldn't get a screw loosened, the mechanics there would loan me one of their Snap-on screwdrivers and I'd be able to loosen a fastener I couldn't before. In my little world, that's what I consider scientific proof.
They explained to me that it's simply a better engineered tool made of better materials than what I was using.*@#$
Is it 10 times the price? Yes.
Does it cost 10 times as much to make? No.
But it was better than what I owned at the time.

A lot of the better mechanics I worked with gave me the same advice. They said even if you don't do this stuff 40-80 hours a week, you should still spend about a hundred bucks on a set of pro-quality screwdrivers. It'll be one of the most commonly used tools in your lifetime, and a rounded fastener can ruin more than just your day.

CWP1616L · Jul 16, 2013

How It's Made: Snap-on Screwdrivers

JJThrasher · Jul 16, 2013

I can get a better grip on my SO over my Craftsman. The tips also don't seem to damage the screws as much.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

woody 73 · Jul 16, 2013

methomas70 said:
24 years ago, after high school, I worked, for a while, in an auto repair shop. I wasn't a pro mechanic then, and I'm not now. But I do wrench my cars, motorcycles, & other stuff a few times a week. When I started, I had Craftsman stuff, about half was my grandfather's, the other half I bought. Every now and then, when I couldn't get a screw loosened, the mechanics there would loan me one of their Snap-on screwdrivers and I'd be able to loosen a fastener I couldn't before. In my little world, that's what I consider scientific proof.
They explained to me that it's simply a better engineered tool made of better materials than what I was using.*@#$
Is it 10 times the price? Yes.
Does it cost 10 times as much to make? No.
But it was better than what I owned at the time.

A lot of the better mechanics I worked with gave me the same advice. They said even if you don't do this stuff 40-80 hours a week, you should still spend about a hundred bucks on a set of pro-quality screwdrivers. It'll be one of the most commonly used tools in your lifetime, and a rounded fastener can ruin more than just your day.

Very good advice :thumbup:

ctb · Jul 16, 2013

I did the same thing. Had a Craftsman set and was getting frustrated with them. Then bought a hard handle Snap-on set. Found I could loosen screws the craftsmans couldn't.
Bought a consumer grade Wiha phillips and am amazed at how much better it grips a screw than the Snap-on.

2mJps · Jul 16, 2013

I have a lot of diffrent brands of screw drivers and I work on alot of old stuff with rusty screws. When i have a problem screw the big money drivers dont always save the day.

jjjrmx5 · Jul 16, 2013

methomas70 said:
A lot of the better mechanics I worked with gave me the same advice. They said even if you don't do this stuff 40-80 hours a week, you should still spend about a hundred bucks on a set of pro-quality screwdrivers. It'll be one of the most commonly used tools in your lifetime, and a rounded fastener can ruin more than just your day.

Sage advice, and also keep in mind that unless you have access to a Snap-On truck and the random BOGO or discount deals ,buying a SO screwdriver set from the website is no discount from buying the individual drivers by themselves, unless you like the plstic trays they come in like many of the OCD inclinded GJ'ers here.
:lol:

Buy teh SO set if you have the cash. I'd suggest buying a couple of your most popular sized drivers first and see if you like them.

Again, there is no benefit/discount of buying the sets ( unless you have the crappy tray fetish or a love for flat blade screw drivers) if buying for website price and no weekly driver w/a cash discount or Hot Deal offer. None.
Set's price is just individual driver's price lumped together.

The way Snap-On bundles their screwdriver sets anymore is archaic bordering on moronic given that it is 2013.
But folks still love teh Kool-Aid.

My Snap-On stock share price thanks you though.
:thumbup:

BDT/NWMN · Jul 16, 2013

Tunajoe said:
Just curious, what's the cost of a set of snap on screwdrivers run?

multi choices but a set of 8 popular screwdrivers is listed at $150

BDT/NWMN · Jul 16, 2013

jjjrmx5 said:
Sage advice, and also keep in mind that unless you have access to a Snap-On truck and the random BOGO or discount deals ,buying a SO screwdriver set from the website is no discount from buying the individual drivers by themselves, unless you like the plstic trays they come in like many of the OCD inclinded GJ'ers here.

Buy teh SO set if you have the cash. I'd suggest buying a couple of your most popular sized drivers first and see if you like them.

Again, there is no benefit/discount of buying the sets ( unless you have the crappy tray fetish or a love for flat blade screw drivers) if buying for website price and no weekly driver w/a cash discount or Hot Deal offer. None.
Set's price is just individual driver's price lumped together.

The way Snap-On bundles their screwdriver sets anymore is archaic bordering on moronic given that it is 2013.
But folks still love teh Kool-Aid.

My Snap-On stock share price thanks you though.

Goes way back to the olden days before the PC and websites.... You either had a wheeler-dealer or you paid the total of the individual item prices and got the free tray :lol:

Trays didn't do me much good because I usually ended up adding onto one end or the other , especially with wrenches :lol:

Travisnd · Jul 16, 2013

I've been recently investing in the Craftsman Pro screwdrivers as they are accessible at my local Sears and are comfortable/affordable. I know they are discontinuing some sizes but for home use, hard to beat for the price!

Are Snap on screw drivers that much better?

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