Best cheap screwdriver set?

[kippieland]

I am putting together a travel box and need some fairly good screwdrivers that don't cost to much. I am looking for a set under $20. I have a set of Wiha in my main box and love them but don't want have something nice in my travel box. Any suggestions? Also if you have a link from a search that would be great as well. I wasn't able to find anything.

 

[CWP1616L]

Home Depot has a 23 piece Husky set in their add for $19.88

 

[greasegorilla]

How many screwdrivers were you looking to get for that kind of money? Theres a 5 piece wiha set on amazon that would cover most basic needs for a travel/emergency set. Not as good as the normal wihas from what I understand, but still a quality set

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002FTA4A/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Givl Reggin]

Craftsman Professional - 4 to 5 screwdrivers will cover 99% of your needs.

 

[metaldad]

Menard's carries 'Masterforce' - Pratt Read USA in various kits.
Ace, and Home Depot carry USA Stanley in various kits.
And Sears - C-man.

 

[theoldwizard1]

You can't bet Craftsman screwdriver sets at Christmas time !

 

[woody 73]

Home Depot has a 23 piece Husky set in their add for $19.88

Funny but just today my wife dropped me off at HD for a few minutes and I was looking at just that set. The black handles have a nice feeling in my hands, but I don't know how tough the blades are? They are made in china and if you were working in a junk yard and you lost one, you would still have plenty left over from that large set to work with.

Anyone ever use those screwdrivers how tough are the blades?

 

[RAYJAY]

haters are going to hate but harbor freight set got theses when they were orange and green handles
and use the **** out of them at work for rebuilding lockups, and never had a problem, the craftsman one's wear out

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-professional-screwdriver-set-94607.html

 

[CWP1616L]

Funny but just today my wife dropped me off at HD for a few minutes and I was looking at just that set. The black handles have a nice feeling in my hands, but I don't know how tough the blades are? They are made in china and if you were working in a junk yard and you lost one, you would still have plenty left over from that large set to work with.

Anyone ever use those screwdrivers how tough are the blades?

Do they have a rubberized grip, or are they hard plastic?

 

[NWphotog]

haters are going to hate but harbor freight set got theses when they were orange and green handles
and use the **** out of them at work for rebuilding lockups, and never had a problem, the craftsman one's wear out

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-professional-screwdriver-set-94607.html

X2...

 

[jjjrmx5]

Craftsman Professional - 4 to 5 screwdrivers will cover 99% of your needs.

^^^^

For something I wanna keep for a long time, C'man Pro or even the clear handles.

If not, HDepot has a 69 piece set of acceptable screwdrivers drivers and bits for $9.99 this weekend.

Far from pro or reliable but in a pinch.
LOL.

 

[SMKS]

Menard's carries 'Masterforce' - Pratt Read USA in various kits.

This, or Amazon has a bunch of affordable Pratt Read screwdriver sets.

Here's just a couple:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001C00BYM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0032AMIV4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[mudflap]

haters are going to hate but harbor freight set got theses when they were orange and green handles
and use the **** out of them at work for rebuilding lockups, and never had a problem, the craftsman one's wear out

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-professional-screwdriver-set-94607.html

I see a lot of these in use at work, they feel good in the hand , and have good tips. The #2 x 4in phillips cost $1.99, and has a lifetime warranty. It is what it is.......

 

[bimmerZ5]

i often pickup this set for free with coupon at HFT:

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-screwdriver-set-47770.html

I have several sets now that i just leave here and there where I might use a screw driver and save me from going to the tool box. i use them to abuse them.... a friend came over and we were trying to break a lock on his MB and I gave him the flat head and a 5lbs sledge hammer and told him it was a free screwdriver, pound away... surprisingly, other than a few surface scratches, the tip survived intact! totally unexpected.... they aren't the prettiest, the handle isn't the most comfortable, but they have surprised me on more than one occasion. but considering they are free, they have really been valuable.

 

[woody 73]

Do they have a rubberized grip, or are they hard plastic?

They had the rubber grip type handle.

 

[chris142]

X2...

x3. I use these every day in a shop environment and they work great. the black handled ones someone else posted are junk! wont fit the screws properly. maybe I got a bad set. those went into the trash

 

[PT Doc]

Hf green and orange set. Or the 8 bucks, they are tough to beat.

 

[d430]

I like the black handled set of Stanley screwdrivers at wal-mart. I've used mine daily as a Honda tech for 3 years and now as a gm tech. They've held up really well.(the rubber handles, not the hard plastic)

 

[woody 73]

I take it the HF set has an all CV steel shank, making it a better set then some of the other HF screwdrivers. What about the HF all steel shank screwdrivers are they any good?

 

[ajchien]

i often pickup this set for free with coupon at HFT:

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-screwdriver-set-47770.html

I have several sets now that i just leave here and there where I might use a screw driver and save me from going to the tool box. i use them to abuse them.... a friend came over and we were trying to break a lock on his MB and I gave him the flat head and a 5lbs sledge hammer and told him it was a free screwdriver, pound away... surprisingly, other than a few surface scratches, the tip survived intact! totally unexpected.... they aren't the prettiest, the handle isn't the most comfortable, but they have surprised me on more than one occasion. but considering they are free, they have really been valuable.

haters are going to hate but harbor freight set got theses when they were orange and green handles
and use the **** out of them at work for rebuilding lockups, and never had a problem, the craftsman one's wear out

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-professional-screwdriver-set-94607.html

Man, you guys have better luck with screwdrivers than me. I've got lots of the freebie black HF drivers, I've got those orange/ green HF ones, I've got regular and pro Cman, and Vessel drivers.

The Vessel drivers have lasted me a good time. The cman pro are also nice, but I have warrantied 2-3 because of wear.

The regular cman and green/orange HF last equivalently for me. But the HF ones grip better.

The black HF ones? I've mangled more than my share of them.

Vessel>>>cman pro >>> HF green/ orange > cman regular >>>>>> HF black.

I think that you might be better off putting a bit driver and a handful of bits in a car.

 

[garboui]

FULLER

Any line is good. On the cheap end we use the black handle cheap series because of the thinner handles. The Pro series and the golden grip series are even better. As a bonus all series are hard handles, lifetime warranty, and are made in Canada! The Robertson drives fit screws properly as well.

So far at work the black handled (low end series) #1 phillips screwdrivers have outlasted c-man, c-tire, and newer husky screwdriver equivalents. this is working with all stainless hardware on a daily basis.

 

[Brownsfan]

I say for the money buy the craftsman ratcheting screwdriver that comes with all different bits. I think I got it for less than $20. Way more options than a ANY screwdriver set from anywhere. If you really want a set then the Craftsman pros or the Huskey pros are great for the money. I use the ratcheting craftsman when doing road installs and it very convieniant having all those different bits to choose from. You never know what kind of fastener or size you are going to run into

 

[Hammer1963]

I'll add to the Orange/Gray and Green/Gray HF set. I use these often as donor blanks when I am making custom tools and also keep them in the car. Hard to beat these for the price

 

[JASTECH]

I think a driver with 1", 3" and 6" bits would be the best deal. You won't take up valuable space and a broken tip is easy to replace. JM3¢

 

[Mastermind]

a decent $10 ratcheting screwdriver, i like the kobalt all alluminium ones myself, and the $10 super bit set from HF/JeGs/Titan etc... and i threw a 6" long #2 phillips bit in between the bits in that box, covers everything i need in the road box. and a 97 cent small prybar.

 

[Davefr]

I think a driver with 1", 3" and 6" bits would be the best deal. You won't take up valuable space and a broken tip is easy to replace. JM3¢

Disagree. For a travel kit you should have regular slotted screwdrivers. You might need them as prybars in an emergency.

The clear handle CM's are just fine in this type of kit.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

One thing I REALLY like about the clear handled CMan ones, is that in a bind, the handles octagon/hexagon/whatevergon shape fits nicely into a deep-well socket, and you can use a ratchet or a breaker bar to get stuck-on screws out better. Not often, but its come in handy for me in the past...

 

[kc-steve]

haters are going to hate but harbor freight set got theses when they were orange and green handles
and use the **** out of them at work for rebuilding lockups, and never had a problem, the craftsman one's wear out

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-professional-screwdriver-set-94607.html

X2...

This is just an observation, but thread was going well in my opinion. It seems the same suspects are the ones always provoking an argument. Try looking in the mirror!

Steve

 

[Mickey O]

Any of the quality USA made screwdrivers sets can be had for a decent price, I wouldn't even consider the Asian stuff.

I've said this before and I'll say it again, wouldn't the tools you want in your "travel box" be the highest quality, it would seem the quality of those few select tools would be far more important than what you have at home. A cheap broken tool that won't function on the side of the road at 2 am isn't worth the money saved.

 

[zer0cell]

Everyone seems to rave about the HF multi colored drivers linked above and for $8 its worth the risk of trying them out if you don't mind buying from there when you happen to be in the neighborhood of the local store.

Then again, I have seen sets from brands both made in the usa and Germany for about $15 which have a good reputation. Bondhus, Pratt Read, Wera, Felo and even Wiha have sets for under anywhere between $13-$20. That's not a whole lot more than the HF set is it?

 

[Skin]

The HF Pro screwdrivers are pretty good for the money. If you want to keep it USA made get the Husky Pro. Made by WF, same blades as Craftsman Pro.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...Id=-1&keyword=husky+screwdriver&storeId=10051

 

[metaldad]

Any of the quality USA made screwdrivers sets can be had for a decent price, I wouldn't even consider the Asian stuff.

I've said this before and I'll say it again, wouldn't the tools you want in your "travel box" be the highest quality, it would seem the quality of those few select tools would be far more important than what you have at home. A cheap broken tool that won't function on the side of the road at 2 am isn't worth the money saved.

very, very well stated, Mickey.

 

[zer0cell]

Yeah those Husky Pro drivers look and feel pretty good but the reviews on the HD website tell a different story. The one advantage of buying the cheap-o $8 set (or less with coupon) at Harbor Freight is that if they last and hold up to your abuse then you are pleasantly surprised. If they break, you can curse them for being cheap Chinese junk but at least its not a big loss and I think they have a lifetime warranty so you can just exchange them on the next trip to the store anyway.

That said, aside from a few items, I really try to avoid Harbor Freight. When trying to keep it cheap I'd probably go with one of the german branded screwdriver sets on amazon. They all have an economy line which I think would be the best choice.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

How do you guys feel about the Stanley screwdrivers that say "Made in the U.S.A. with global materials"? I assume the plastic is from Asia but the metal would be USA?

 

[RCStocker]

Go for the HD ones.
For a road box you will never use them enought to find out if they are bad.
The chances of the box being stolen is greater than the chances of you waring out one.
Just pick up a few at a yard sale for a couple of dollars.

 

[kc-steve]

Go for the HD ones.
For a road box you will never use them enought to find out if they are bad.
The chances of the box being stolen is greater than the chances of you waring out one.
Just pick up a few at a yard sale for a couple of dollars.

That would be my choice as well. Finding screwdrivers in good condition is difficult though. However, on occasion, I have found them still in the package and unused, at garage sale prices.

Steve

 

[woody 73]

Yeah those Husky Pro drivers look and feel pretty good but the reviews on the HD website tell a different story. The one advantage of buying the cheap-o $8 set (or less with coupon) at Harbor Freight is that if they last and hold up to your abuse then you are pleasantly surprised. If they break, you can curse them for being cheap Chinese junk but at least its not a big loss and I think they have a lifetime warranty so you can just exchange them on the next trip to the store anyway.

That said, aside from a few items, I really try to avoid Harbor Freight. When trying to keep it cheap I'd probably go with one of the german branded screwdriver sets on amazon. They all have an economy line which I think would be the best choice.

I just was reading the comments from the HD web-site, not so good for those american made western forge screwdrivers.

 

[NWphotog]

This is just an observation, but thread was going well in my opinion. It seems the same suspects are the ones always provoking an argument. Try looking in the mirror!

Steve

Yes Steve but we realize you can't help being a problem. The truth is the HF pro drivers are one of the best if not the best value out there. It is equally true some have such incredible hate for HF they are thrown into a fit every time something positive about HF is posted Posting such is not provoking but your post sure is.




"Over priced tools are for fools."

 

[kc-steve]

Yes Steve but we realize you can't help being a problem. The truth is the HF pro drivers are one of the best if not the best value out there. It is equally true some have such incredible hate for HF they are thrown into a fit every time something positive about HF is posted Posting such is not provoking but your post sure is.




"Over priced tools are for fools."

You have just been reported for attempting to provoke an argument, AGAIN! I said nothing about HF and quality.

Steve

 

[Burtonrider10022]

Where did all the grown men go? WTF is with the little cry babies all of a sudden