Best Philips screwdriver?

[midwestguy]

Like others have said, there's not really one set-in-stone answer. But here's my take on it. I have SO, Wera, SK (Craftsman pro), Wiha, Witte and PB Swiss. While I like them all, the SO and PB Swiss are the only ones to touch my gun collection. Not saying the others are not good, as they are. I just like the SO and PB Swiss the best. To each their own.

With that said, I do want to get more Witte and also try some of the hard handle Williams. What can I say, I like screwdrivers!

 

[DrBaker]

Has anyone compared the Matco Top Torque II set to the Snap On Instinct? I really like soft grip/dual material handles much more than hard handles. The SO and Matco sets look really good from a grip perspective.

I've also been looking at less expensive options such as the Williams 24008 or even the Gear Wrench 80066. Any feedback on these 2 options?

 

[SS5150]

I've got top torque II's and had a set of instincts.....I do like the SO handle but the tips on the Witte brand drivers are better in my opinion, especially the Phillips. I ended up selling my instincts, I have the TT II's here at the house, and I've been using Napa Wittes at work. The Napa/Witte drivers have the hard/soft material handles without the TTII flocking but are kind of hard to find now.

The Witte stubbys have handles that are too small- my stubbys are Snappys...

 

[craftsman47]

MAXXPRO PLUS PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER



$5.17
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Sold by Sears Item # 00940576000 Mfr. Model #9T 63031

MAXXPRO PLUS PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER



$15.53
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Sold by Sears Item # 00940609000 Mfr. Model #9T 63035

MAXXPRO PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER



$15.53
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Sold by Sears Item # 00940623000 Mfr. Model #9T 53035

MAXXPRO PLUS SQUARE SCREWDRIVER



$13.80
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Sold by Sears Item # 00940577000 Mfr. Model #9T 63061

16 bux out the door.....with my points. THANK EDDIE LAMPERT.

received these.......not a big fan of the grips.

going back.....................................

 

[arz71]

Kinda amazed no one brought up Harbor Freight every thread has someone saying how superior their items are...

 

[rodsnratfinks]

Pozi-drive is a drive type. You can kinda use a phillips driver in a pozi-drive screw head - but not the other way around.

I agree-ish. You need to think of Pozidrive and Phillips as being totally different in the same way Torx and Hex socket head screws are different.

If you use the wrong type driver you will, most likely, mash up the screw head.

This explains a lot. I have an SO pozi drive that I tried to use on a regular phillips head the other day, and I was really disappointed with the bite. I'm not sure how I've gotten this far in life without knowing...

 

[craftsman47]

I have really good experience with the craftsman rubber grip screwdrivers..made by Pratt-read. Also the Craftsman PRO by WF. the acetate craftsmans are rubbish for me. the bite is terrible. put the other 2 craftsmans on the same screw...and POPS it off.

the tip has got to be good AND the grip needs to be comfortable.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Kinda amazed no one brought up Harbor Freight every thread has someone saying how superior their items are...

There was a thread a few months ago on HF screwdriver failure. The wailing and gnashing of teeth was epic.

 

[arz71]

There was a thread a few months ago on HF screwdriver failure. The wailing and gnashing of teeth was epic.

Almost sounds comical.

Proto Duratek ones look really good, like the hard handled MAC/Snap-On ones, have some Matco Witte ones.

Wish Snap-On would bring back the slim line models, someone borrowed them and never seen them again.

 

[DirtyWeRX]

I have the Matco (Witte) Torque II, Snap On Instinct, and Vessel JIS.

For Philips, by far the best is Vessel IMO.. I know it's not actually Philips, but the JIS is so much more snug in Philips fasteners than a Philips driver is. I still like the other two just fine and between those two, if probably pick SO. Nothing wrong at all with Matco. I've just had my SO set longer and it hasn't failed me yet

 

[stage20]

it depends on the type of screw mostly. i have found that a #2 screwdriver, and also the screw will like what it likes. i have a nice klein i use, and these screws the other day i tried to remove it just kept camming out. put in my cman pro and grabbed like no other.

i replaced all 847 screws on the side of my trailer and for fear of stripping out the thin metal hat posts, i put them all in by hand. ive got 100 screwdrivers and non of them liked to stay in the head of the screw. they are truss head. low profile. used mostly for boats. stainless. tried all kinds and a #2 harbor freight screwdriver fit them like a glove.

 

[devoncoolman]

I have mostly snap-on hardhandles for my most used drivers. Get the shafts replaced when they wear to avoid striped screws.

 

[ncfh]

C.K. tools has really nice Philips drivers.

 

[Brownsfan]

I've got top torque II's and had a set of instincts.....I do like the SO handle but the tips on the Witte brand drivers are better in my opinion, especially the Phillips. I ended up selling my instincts, I have the TT II's here at the house, and I've been using Napa Wittes at work. The Napa/Witte drivers have the hard/soft material handles without the TTII flocking but are kind of hard to find now.

The Witte stubbys have handles that are too small- my stubbys are Snappys...

I have the Cornwell branded Witte drivers and Snap On Instincts. The Phillips tip on the Witte is better. I can hold the driver by the screw and its locked in. And its not magnetic. I prefer the handles on the snap ons. Much better.