Craftsman Screwdriver Question

Coach James · Apr 15, 2006

Craftsman crhome scrwwdrivers have ben excellent for me, but the "industrial" finish ones have not. The tips on the phillips grind off after just a handful of uses while the chrome ones don't. Any idea what's going on? Did I just get a bad batch?
Coach

chevy302dz · Apr 15, 2006

Craftsman has not sold their Phillips screwdrivers with a chrome shank for quite a while, all of the new ones are the sandblasted looking style, and no they do not hold up as well. However they should last for awhile if they are being used correctly and the right size is being used.

Speed Shop · Apr 15, 2006

I just returned 4 Phillips screwdrivers on Friday. They buggered up with only minimal effort. I used the right type and size and literally chipped the screw ends off. Sears took them back with no issue. I wound up taking the screw out with a 10 cent bit and a nutdriver. BTW the Craftsman screw out set made matters only worse. Did make a nice countersink on the top of my old screw.

Coach James · Apr 15, 2006

All the screws were #6 and 8's and were put into pilot holes then turned with a Phillips #2. The tips of the dark finish Craftsman screwdrivers simply ground down. The chrome Craftsman and Kobalt drivers did fine.
Coach

l_bilyk · Apr 15, 2006

You would think the ones with the chrome shank would be weaker

Big_John · Apr 22, 2006

I had a run of bad ones last year. Seems like they were all "soft". I had a brand new one that I dropped on a concrete floor and it broke in half. That one must have been too hard!

Ramblur · Apr 22, 2006

Those stank @ss ones with the clear,blue/red handles??? What the heck
do they make them handles out of? Ever smell one up close?

Whatever it is sure gives the pine tree fresheners that I keep in my
screwdriver drawer a run for there money...

Rickster · Apr 22, 2006

I don't even like to use those clear handle ones. I have a set of the all black Crafrtsman Pro's and a set of the newer red/black soft handle Pro's. I always reach for the all black craftsman pro's first, they're very comfortable with a semi-soft grip and work well. The newer red/black pro's have a funny feel to them with a mostly soft handle feel and a hard plastic insert right in the handle.... what were they thinking? Probably some marketing ****** decided it needed a "look". Ahh, if only engineers ruled the world....

kartracer55 · Apr 22, 2006

Ramblur said:
Those stank @ss ones with the clear,blue/red handles??? What the heck
do they make them handles out of? Ever smell one up close?
.

Why no, I havent :lol_hitti

Hahaha One thing I did hear is that some types of plastic handles absorb the sweat from your palms and thats what makes them stink. I thought they were just plain acrylic?

Jim

KeukaDan · Apr 22, 2006

Rickster said:
Ahh, if only engineers ruled the world....

I believe it is time for us engineers to make that happen.

:eyecrazy:

Engineers of the world unite! :eyecrazy:

Thumper · Apr 24, 2006

kartracer55 said:
Why no, I havent Hahaha One thing I did hear is that some types of plastic handles absorb the sweat from your palms and thats what makes them stink. I thought they were just plain acrylic?

Jim

Some handles are made from recycled plastic and over time sweat, shrink and stink. Guess they forgot to sort out the recycled douchebag plastic the day they made yours. :wtf:

eschoendorff · Apr 24, 2006

Thumper said:
Some handles are made from recycled plastic and over time sweat, shrink and stink. Guess they forgot to sort out the recycled douchebag plastic the day they made yours.

l_bilyk · Apr 24, 2006

Thumper said:
Some handles are made from recycled plastic and over time sweat, shrink and stink. Guess they forgot to sort out the recycled douchebag plastic the day they made yours.

jfelbab · Apr 24, 2006

I hate those clear handled screwdrivers. If you get grease on the handles they become permanently discolored. I haven't had any issues with the hardness but I replace them whenever the handles get discolored or the tips get munged up.

neal r smith · Apr 25, 2006

I have never had much luck with Craftsman screwdrivers. I use Stanleys and they seem to hold up better! For what thats worth.

Neal

Ramblur · Apr 25, 2006

Thumper said:
Some handles are made from recycled plastic and over time sweat, shrink and stink. Guess they forgot to sort out the recycled douchebag plastic the day they made yours.

STOP! You guys are going to give me a complex... :willy_nil

It was actually
the Snap on tool man that started busting my b@lls about my stinky
screwdriver drawer. He actually held one of the cman @sscrylic handles
up to my nose and I think I threw up a little bit in my mouth. :puke:

So
who's gonna be the first to step up and put their handle to nose and call BS
on the stinkin handle urban legend. :evil:

BTW The toolman made the sale that day...got a pretty set of Snap Ons now
that don't smell at all. :dunno:

eschoendorff · Apr 25, 2006

Ramblur said:
BTW The toolman made the sale that day...got a pretty set of Snap Ons now
that don't smell at all.

YET. I have heard stories about the Snap On "comfort grip" handles getiing stinky over time. All in all, who cares? It's a screwdriver, not a woman!

oldskewl61 · Apr 26, 2006

screwdrives i dont know i'll stick with PBR thanks

tweety652 · Jan 14, 2007

Ramblur said:
STOP! You guys are going to give me a complex... It was actually
the Snap on tool man that started busting my b@lls about my stinky
screwdriver drawer. He actually held one of the cman @sscrylic handles
up to my nose and I think I threw up a little bit in my mouth. So
who's gonna be the first to step up and put their handle to nose and call BS
on the stinkin handle urban legend.

BTW The toolman made the sale that day...got a pretty set of Snap Ons now
that don't smell at all.

you actually judge youre screwdrivers by smell? thats new to me as ive used many different brands over the years and that has been the least of my concerns.

MarkH · Jan 14, 2007

For the average person the price per use is a good deal. I do agree with Rickster I would like to see the all black Craftsman Pro or at one time called Industrial Screwdrivers back. Those were the ones I reached for first and still do.

Time to wake up. My wife was reading over my shoulder as I was typing in above the price per screw was right and wondering what I was up to.

wilbilt · Jan 14, 2007

Ramblur said:
So
who's gonna be the first to step up and put their handle to nose and call BS
on the stinkin handle urban legend.

OK. I have several of those screwdrivers with the clear-red-blue handles. They are over 25 years old and say "WF" on the handles.

I just went out and smelled them

wtf: ) and they don't smell bad to me. Most of the handles are pretty much discolored, etc., due to age, but smell?

I also smelled some Snap_Ons, some Xcelites, an Irwin, and even a HF special. No smell.

Does it need to be a warm day for them to supposedly smell? It's about 28F out there right now. :lol_hitti

kartracer55 · Jan 14, 2007

As much as I hate to admit it, I just smelled my screwdrivers. And yup, they smell. Its hard to explain but its kinda like a dingy plastic smell.

But who the hell cares if they smell? lol.

Jim

wilbilt · Jan 14, 2007

The smell that used to get me was perfume in customer's cars. Some of those ladies must put it on with a spray gun.

There were times my throat would nearly close up and I would have to hang my head out of the window just to be able to pull the car in or out without gagging.

chevy302dz · Jan 14, 2007

Xcelite is the worst for making handles that stink up your toolbox. And they do stink, there's no need to grab one and smell it.

wilbilt · Jan 14, 2007

chevy302dz said:
Xcelite is the worst for making handles that stink up your toolbox. And they do stink, there's no need to grab one and smell it.

?? I have some of those, too. I haven't noticed any stink. :headscrat

stupidjet · Jan 14, 2007

are you guys kidding me??

eschoendorff · Jan 14, 2007

chevy302dz said:
Xcelite is the worst for making handles that stink up your toolbox. And they do stink, there's no need to grab one and smell it.

Oh yeah. I remember smelling the Xcelite stench back in grade school. My dad gave me a set of interchangable drivers by Xcelite (long gone by now) and they always smelled like cat poo. I think I trashed them in high school.

wilbilt · Jan 14, 2007

eschoendorff said:
Oh yeah. I remember smelling the Xcelite stench back in grade school. My dad gave me a set of interchangable drivers by Xcelite (long gone by now) and they always smelled like cat poo. I think I trashed them in high school.

OK, I'm calling BS.

Are you guys actually serious about stinky screwdriver handles? I actually went out and smelled all of mine - twice. They don't smell any different than anything else out there.

"The Xcelite stench"? Like it actually has a name? I hope you're all having a good laugh.... :lol_hitti

wilbilt · Jan 14, 2007

And then I did a search and found this:

http://www.uexpress.com/mrhandyperson/index.html?uc_full_date=20050703

The smell is even described as "poo".

I'm not quite sure what to think at this point. I've certainly never noticed any smell, and I am pretty sensitive to odors. I can't even walk down the laundry detergent aisle in the supermarket without my eyes tearing up.

"Tide" is my nemesis, LOL

eschoendorff · Jan 14, 2007

wilbilt said:
OK, I'm calling BS.

Are you guys actually serious about stinky screwdriver handles? I actually went out and smelled all of mine - twice. They don't smell any different than anything else out there.

"The Xcelite stench"? Like it actually has a name? I hope you're all having a good laugh....

Yeah... I seriously thought that the handles came from the bottom of a litterbox. I did not realize that this was a know problem until just a few years ago.

wilbilt · Jan 14, 2007

Ed, you do realize I have had my Craftsman "poodrivers" for a very long time, and now I can never look at them the same way.

I have always had the highest regard for Xcelites, and even bought some Torx drivers recently. Although I have not noticed any smells associated with them, what should I do?

This is truly a dark day here at the poor farm..."sniff, sniff"

eschoendorff · Jan 14, 2007

wilbilt said:
Ed, you do realize I have had my Craftsman "poodrivers" for a very long time, and now I can never look at them the same way.

I have always had the highest regard for Xcelites, and even bought some Torx drivers recently. Although I have not noticed any smells associated with them, what should I do?

This is truly a dark day here at the poor farm..."sniff, sniff"

I'm not saying that they're bad tools. In fact, this was the first that I had heard that there was a stinky Crfatsman screwdriver. All that I know is taht my Xcelites were really putrid.... they weren't bad tools, just stinky (kinda like me).

kartracer55 · Jan 14, 2007

The newer craftsman screwdrivers are unquestionably inferior to many other US made brands. They are also one hell of alot cheaper than most other US made screw drivers. What other brands sell a 10pc set for $16.99? Its all about price points. They are perfect for the money.

For the record, I have used plastic snap on screwdrivers that stink too. Brakekleen masks the smell pretty well haha

Jim

Coach James · Jan 15, 2007

I can't believe I did this , but I just went out to the garage and smelled my screwdriver and nutdriver handles. It's 12:34am here so at least the wife and neighbors are asleep.

My old Xcelites, Craftsman and Challengers do have a strong rancid smell. My newer ones do not.

Coach

KingPerformance · Jan 15, 2007

wilbilt said:
OK. I have several of those screwdrivers with the clear-red-blue handles. They are over 25 years old and say "WF" on the handles.

I just went out and smelled them wtf: ) and they don't smell bad to me. Most of the handles are pretty much discolored, etc., due to age, but smell?

I also smelled some Snap_Ons, some Xcelites, an Irwin, and even a HF special. No smell.

Does it need to be a warm day for them to supposedly smell? It's about 28F out there right now.

I have only 1 of thoes screwdrivers. It was my fathers, and honestly, its still one of my favorites. Even though it has the chrome phillips tip, it has NEVER ONCE sliped off a screw. Its still as sharp as the day it was forged, and it sits alongside my Snap On Drivers ... oh, and if you price out the Snap On Drivers per unit, they come out less expensive then the Craftsman Pro's. That is one of the reasons I chose Snap On Comfort Grips over the Craftsman units. That, and all the problems you guys are having with the Craftsman units was not un-heard of at that time. So far, many rpm of use and no problems with the Snap On.

ImportTuner · Jan 15, 2007

Coach James said:
I can't believe I did this , but I just went out to the garage and smelled my screwdriver and nutdriver handles. It's 12:34am here so at least the wife and neighbors are asleep.

My old Xcelites, Craftsman and Challengers do have a strong rancid smell. My newer ones do not.

Coach

Speaking of old Xcelites, where would one get replacements. I have a few large square shaft Xcelites with yellow handles that I purchase back in the early 70's that have seen better days. They are some of my favorite screwdrivers. I have been trying to buy a couple more, but apparently nobody sells them any more. Anlybody have any suggestions; contacting Xcelite was a waste of time ...

wilbilt · Jan 15, 2007

ImportTuner said:
Speaking of old Xcelites, where would one get replacements. I have a few large square shaft Xcelites with yellow handles that I purchase back in the early 70's that have seen better days. They are some of my favorite screwdrivers. I have been trying to buy a couple more, but apparently nobody sells them any more. Anlybody have any suggestions; contacting Xcelite was a waste of time ...

They still show several square-shank sizes on their website. Do you have a local Mom & Pop-type tool store?

My local tool store carries Xcelite as well lots of "good old" brands. The owner, Tim (aka "the tool man") is happy to order anything that's not in stock. The only downside is that he charges full list on pretty much everything, but the guy has to make a living.

I'd rather give him the business than HF or Mao Mart. He also carries a full line of Amber-handle screwdrivers that are US made and look to be excellent quality. I forget the name, but I had never heard of it before.

ba614 · Jan 15, 2007

I have a drawer full of Craftsman screw drivers ... They stink!!!! If I leave the drawer open ... even just 1/2" you can smell them before you get to the tool box. I have no issues with the quality so I won't replace them but they sure do stink! hahahahaha

kartracer55 · Jan 15, 2007

So I wonder if they will take on the smell of, say, a little tree air freshener, if you were to leave it in the bottom of the drawer? They seriously stink like bad feet.

Jim

eschoendorff · Jan 15, 2007

wilbilt said:
They still show several square-shank sizes on their website. Do you have a local Mom & Pop-type tool store?

My local tool store carries Xcelite as well lots of "good old" brands. The owner, Tim (aka "the tool man") is happy to order anything that's not in stock. The only downside is that he charges full list on pretty much everything, but the guy has to make a living.

I'd rather give him the business than HF or Mao Mart. He also carries a full line of Amber-handle screwdrivers that are US made and look to be excellent quality. I forget the name, but I had never heard of it before.

Enderes????

Craftsman Screwdriver Question

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