1/8" Blade Screwdriver Advise?

[Mark in Indiana]

All,

Over the last 40+ years, I've been using Craftsman tools, both professionally and as a DIYer. When I break a tool, I just get a new one from our local Sears. Now that Craftsman has been sold, I feel that the easy lifetime replacement days will soon be over. Maybe they won't completely drop the warranty, but I think that it will be so cumbersome to get Craftsman to honor the warranty, it won't be worth it. I also don't like that in the last few years, when you turn your USA manufactured, broken C-Man tool, they often offer you a Chinese replacement (even with the same part number).

BTW: I don't plan to replace all of my C-Man tools.

So the other day, I broke the tip of my C-Man 1/8" blade screw driver. I took it to our local Sears and got a new one. No problem. However, as I stated in the above paragraph, We may not be getting warranty replacements any more. A 6" overall length, 1/8" blade screwdriver is a MUST in my tool bag.

Based on experience: Does anyone know of a good quality brand of 1/8" blade screwdriver that I can replace the Craftsman with?

Preferably something that I can order from Amazon.


Thanks in advance.

 

[braidmeister]

I think Stanley bought Craftsman. It's an American company but there's no guarantee that it is made here. You'll have to ask Stanley.

Personally, I like German hand tools for precision drivers etc. I like Wera and Wiha. Both make great screwdrivers...and they both are on Amazon. If you do Prime, you can have it pretty quick.

You can of course make your own or at the very least replace the blade or handle as needed. I think the SnapOn stuff is like this - but all can be tweaked/come apart with some heat.

 

[jdlong]

Klein.

 

[DFB]

I have a Bahco along with two of those same Craftsman.

I like the ergo handle on the Bahco. We had these in my old electronics assembly job

They are easily found

http://www.autotoolworld.com/Bahco-...lotted-ergo-6-X-3-X-18_p_189367.html]BE8020L

I think even Snap On has them in their catalog

If I was buying maybe the Klein then


I like my Craftsman 1/8 " so maybe its time to stock up on few more!

 

[WildwoodChuck]

Your location is souther Indiana do you have a Menard's near you? They sell Masterforce it's A&L handles with Pratt Reed shanks both US companies and the warranty exchange is pretty easy.

Not Amazon but you can buy them from Menards.com

 

[CJM8515]

Go online and spend the 100 bucks on a williams set.

 

[bfayer]

Williams SDE-53

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[scooternut]

On any given day in the garage I pick that exact tool up more than anything else I believe, though it hardly ever turns a screw outside of 2 stroke pilot jets. Last time I saw a special I think I grabbed 5 of them.

Sorry I didn't help, but that is a very handy tool for cheap.

 

[bob from indiana]

Mcmaster-carr has Wihas with the swivel end handle. We use a lot of the 9/64" or 3.5mm at work for electrical terminals. I have some 4mm that are more of a pocket driver size.

 

[The 52 Ford]

Bahco, Witte, Klien, Wera, Wiha, etc. I've had good luck with Kobalt brand screwdrivers if you're looking for something less expensive. The majority of the time, I use my Kobalt screwdrivers, they're the older ones, though. I have new manufactured Kobalt screwdrivers, too, and they seem to hold up well. They have a lifetime warranty.

 

[Biomed]

I find myself grabbing the 1/8" slotted Craftsman quite a bit as well. Not sure why, there are more comfortable handles. I think it may be because my dad had Craftsman tools when I was a kid and my first tools were also Craftsman. I even had Craftsman for many years in field service.

I've been on a Channellock binge lately. For some reason the new line of Channellock acetate handled screwdrivers interested me. They are cheap, readily available, made in USA and I think have lifetime warranty.

The OP was looking for an Amazon seller, there are several Channellock sellers on Amazon.

Not sure if there is a 1/8" slotted Channellock screwdriver but the S363A is 3/16" (photo attached.)

 

[pistolpete1313]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D2WP9I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

PB Swiss (roughly 1/8")

What do I win?

 

[Hammer1963]

Witte

 

[M6erfan]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D2WP9I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

PB Swiss (roughly 1/8")

I'll 2nd this. PB Swiss is hollow ground, which, IMO, beats chisel grind (for actually driving screws) any day...

Forster #1 would be a USA made option, but cant find one on Amazon at the moment...

http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/772042/forster-1-hollow-ground-screwdriver-1-8-blade-width-023-blade-thickness?cm_mmc=pf_ci_google-_-Gunsmithing+-+Tools%2C+Jigs+%26+Fixtures-_-Forster-_-772042&gclid=CKC_2Y7F5tICFYNGXgodgmoPjg

 

[ssdave]

I'm not a big fan of Craftsman, especially screwdrivers. But that exact screwdriver is the one CM one that I still have and use a lot. They hit the right balance on that particular size between hardness, strength, handle size, etc to make it work. I use it very repetitively for one simple task that I repeat hundreds of times in manufacturing a part I make. I have a lot of other similar sized ones, mostly Snap-on and Proto, but prefer the CM.

I know I haven't helped you much. If I was to go to another one, It would be the Snap-on hard handle one. But the square handle shape doesn't work as well for how I use it, and the square shank of the CM is right, also.

 

[M6erfan]

Also, a quick search showed this Craftsman USA one for less than $4 shipped...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Craftsman-Slotted-Flat-Tip-Screwdrivers-Any-Size-U-PICK-USA-MADE-/321799697807?_trksid=p2385738.m2548.l4275

Not sure how fast you go through them, but if you really like this particular driver, you might want to forget the warranty and just buy a few of the USA made ones while they're still available...

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Thanks for the responses.

What would be ideal is the feel and balance if the C-Man screwdriver with an indestructible tip.

Background story: My C-Man 1/8" screwdriver broke while removing shelf brackets, held on a wood wall, with cabinet screws that my Dad installed about 47 years ago. Damn, he got them in so tight that in order to get some loose, I had to clamp a small adjustable wrench on the square screwdriver shank for leverage. The next size larger (3/16") blade screwdriver was too large for the screw slot.

 

[Infinia]

for high torque consider using 1/4 bits, you can use a ratchet or bigger handle. I use this rig >see attachment (saves from destroying your good stuff)

 

[Roberts210]

OSH--Orchard Supply Hardware--A home improvement/hardware chain in the West has USA made C-man screwdrivers. I just bought a set last week.

 

[Parrothead]

Your location is souther Indiana do you have a Menard's near you? They sell Masterforce it's A&L handles with Pratt Reed shanks both US companies and the warranty exchange is pretty easy.

Not Amazon but you can buy them from Menards.com

This!!! Just get the MasterForce made by Pratt Reed (who by the way used to make the Craftsman screwdrivers years ago).

 

[dutchgray]

Go and buy a heap of these Proto yellow handled ones from HJE, $2.75 on closeout.
https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/proto-1-8-x-3-slotted-screwdriver.html

 

[cesski]

I like the Klein, Snap-on and the Proto Duratek. They feel very good in the hand, the fit, the grip, the tips and shanks are solid. I have a Tekton set coming in soon too.

The Masterforce brand from Menards, like the guys mentioned here is not bad either. I only own an awl from them, and it feels pretty solid. I would assume the quality of their screwdrivers are the same.

 

[T45]

What would be ideal is the feel and balance if the C-Man screwdriver with an indestructible tip.

yikes, its only 3.2mm wide ! The long+skinny combo you have there seems well suited to a square profile to keep it nice and resist twisting motion. The closest pb swiss is the 3.5mm size 1 x 90mm shaft, its $6.59...Item #: 100.1-90 and comes in a hardhandle like your cman...not on amazon tho...and hollow ground doesn't care for abuse imho, so keep that in mind.

http://www.shop.pbtools.us/Classic-Slotted-Screwdriver-size-1-90mm-blade-1001-90.htm

 

[gdocktor3]

Nobody mentioned SK. SK is sold on Amazon and made by same company as the Craftsman's (Western Forge) but the SK tips are vapor blasted and the handles are much more comfortable. A lot of people complain about the SK handles being too big, but I think they're some of the most comfortable handles available. They fit my man hands perfectly. Oh and they have lifetime warranty. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EMIBZV4/?tag=atomicindus08-20 I actually just scored this set for $19 from Amazon Warehouse.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FYGVZ4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[apdxyk]

You could also look at Proto Duratek

 

[dr_clyde]

I have snap-on screwdrivers. I can't see any reason to get any others. Which isn't to say the others aren't good, I just like my snappys enough that I wouldn't switch them for anything else, except possibly some very small drivers for electronics or something.

 

[justme-]

I like sk handles, both the rubberized sears pro style and the square hard ones. I have snap on and my normal drivers are channel lock code red.
The code reds have been the best value...under $20 lifetime warranty and held up to daily use fantastically.
Bought the rwb snappy set to have something different in the shop from the other guys, and have held them a year longer than I expected the code reds to last...and the code red are still going strong.

 

[Cope]

OSH--Orchard Supply Hardware--A home improvement/hardware chain in the West has USA made C-man screwdrivers. I just bought a set last week.

At one time Orchard and Sears Hardware were in cahoots with each other.

 

[DFB]

Seeing the SK's made me think of my older Channellock screwdrivers. Just looked in my box and I have a 3 1/6" with that set also.

So took a look at their website. The handles have been changed now but they also meet the OP's size parameter, have vapor blast tips and are still USA too.


https://www.channellock.com/S363A-Professional-Slotted-Screwdriver.aspx

 

[BlackLS2]

I love the Wiha. I recently purchased my first Wera PH2 on a whim...quickly became my "go to" PH2...they make a great screwdriver. It appears on Amazon, there is both a 1/8 and 5/64.

 

[PhysicsDude]

I'm an electronics technician and use a 1/8" flathead more than any other tool.

I keep one ($12 husky) multitool with me, for the times that I encounter screw terminals smaller than 1/8"

And after going through MANY screwdrivers daily (Klein used to be my favorite) I've discovered that the type of 1/8" flathead that I prefer most is one with a full size handle that I bought at autozone. It really keeps my hand from cramping and the additional leverage is nice. It was only $5 and has been really durable, even with abusing it.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Witte

^ this .