Klein screwdriver tip improvement?

According to an email I just received from Klein Tools, announcing their October winners, a section of the email states that:


"Strongest Tip Yet!


Taking Quality to the Next Level

Harder, stronger screwdrivers
As part of an ongoing effort to ensure the highest quality products, our engineers have identified a new blend of steel for our Phillips tip and square recess screwdrivers. This hard-hitting new steel was designed to strengthen the tips of our screwdrivers and create a superior level of toughness.


What makes this steel different from before?
While we can't give away all of our secrets, we have increased the steel's durability while reducing the likelihood that your screwdriver will cam out. The end result is an enhanced screwdriver tip that will work harder and last longer than ever before.


Why do screwdrivers cam out?
The biggest reason for a cam out is when the torque driving the screw exceeds a certain amount. Simply put, if you turn the screwdriver faster than the screw can handle, the screwdriver will fall out of place. When that happens, the screwdriver can't do its job, and you can't do yours.


Klein created our new blend of steel to help prevent as many cam outs as possible. The steel recipe creates a durable solution that helps keep the head of a screwdriver solid while you're working through your day. Believe it or not, the smallest irregularities on the tip of your screwdriver can vastly affect its performance. Our steel is strong enough to help prevent those issues.



So what's our steel made of?

Well, sorry, but we can't divulge that information. What is it about McDonald's® French fries that makes our taste buds salivate in ways no other fried potato could dream of? Why does Coke® taste so much different than the myriad of carbonated colas on the market? These feats were accomplished because one fateful day a proprietary recipe was concocted. Imagine the trial and error that went on before those recipes were established.



This is the process to produce a new proprietary screwdriver steel, based on over 156 years of manufacturing expertise, the collective minds of dozens of highly skilled engineers, and miles and miles of raw steel combined with the latest cutting edge technologies and the top notch testing labs. It's the secret blend from Klein that will make every job at any jobsite that much better!



Witness this new proprietary steel for yourself as Klein Tools takes screwdriver quality to the next level. "

Good news. I like the Klein screwdrivers, but the current tips lag HF drivers in durability. Cant wait to try them out!

Thats a good thing because Kleins #2 philips were made of mush

I quit using them,, well quit buying anyway when flea mkt drivers became just as good maybe better.

So what's the final determination on this, are the tips any good these days? A lot of reviews online say the tips aren't great, but I am curious if that's based on the pre-improved tips.

The older Klein screwdrivers from 10-15 years ago were awesome.
The newer ones, not so much. I am an HVAC contractor and we are huge fans of Klein overall,but not the standard drivers. We use the snot out of the 10 in 1 and 5 in 1 drivers.

And how are we gonna tell the difference between new and old tips??

I haven't tried the newest newest ones. The #2 philp that I have a couple of years ago weren't that good.
I have heard they made improvements (or back tracking of not made them so cheap) since.

Klein screwdrivers seem to go thru cycles, I've buying and using them for over 3 decades and I've had batches that were soft, they were no better than standard Craftsman. I'll try them one more time.

TheGrooveking

If knife makers can list their steels (indeed, make them a selling point), Klein can too. There's such a thing as too coy by half.

I use a Klein phillips #2 every day. I have had to replace three in past couple months. I keep a spare because I expect them to break. They have been ****. People at Home Depot are getting to know me by name I have exchanged so many.

I replaced my linesman pliers with Knipex. Working to replace all my electrical with German stuff.

Klein strippers have been **** for years

What a shame. From what I've read, their demolition screwdrivers seem to be durable, but their other stuff not so much. Yet they still have almost entirely five star reviews on Amazon. Something doesn't add up.

pendragon1998 said:

If knife makers can list their steels (indeed, make them a selling point), Klein can too. There's such a thing as too coy by half.

Click to expand...

Completely agree.

On the upside, that marketing lingo basically acknowledges that their past screwdrivers were ****.

I have a set I use everyday all day. No issues at all. Have been using them for at least 2 years. I use the hell out of the p2 standard and long length. Maybe I got a factory freak set because they have been nothing but great. Same with the cutters, crimpers, strippers etc. These tools have been in my tool bag day in and day out and not one single failure. They get rained on snowed on get salt on them. Live in my van in all kinds of temps and moisture.

Klein drivers (fix ones made in USA) have been top notch for me.....not a fan of the 11-in-1 or any multi bit driver...bits can't compare to fixed screwdrivers heads, or they just don't have the same forged steel formula as a USA Klein driver.

I have a #6 (green/#2) square (robertson) that I have had in my pouch for 10 years. No problems with it.

While I haven't had it long enough to gauge lifespan, I'm about ready to shitcan all my screwdrivers and replace the with Vessel out of Japan. I bought one #2 JIS and it just flat works. It's better in every Phillips/JIS type screw that I've touched than my snap on stuff.