Channellock Screwdrivers

rcsec · Jan 8, 2012

I've tolerated the smell in the garage from my Craftsman screwdrivers but that's about as far as it goes. This set of tools is used on the family cars & maintaining our home, so tools are used in our home too. I passed on the recent screwdriver deals here

Sams Club has a set of Channellock screwdrivers on the shelf. Are these any good or is it worth it to wait for another deal (to be posted here). The Craftsman's work fine so I'm not in a hurry just fed up with the smell.
Thanks,

MoToys · Jan 8, 2012

Pretty sure thay are Asian made. Hold out for some quality USA or German drivers. Craftsman professional are priced and made well.

geologist · Jan 8, 2012

Channellock screwdrivers are made in China. The C.O.O is marked very clearly on the lower right of the back of the package. Although I typically try to purchase US Made tools whenever possible, I bought a set of Channellock screwdrivers from Menards to throw in a road box (price was right). Needless to say my Craftsman screwdrivers ended up in the road box and I now use the magnetized Channellock CodeBlue screwdrivers exclusively.

Monte · Jan 8, 2012

There are great deals for Wiha or Wera drivers all the time....

blackgold · Jan 8, 2012

I have a set of them. Got them this year, I haven't used them much. I gave a set as a gift a few years ago and they are still holdingup strong.
Brian

Need4racin · Jan 8, 2012

I love the smell of cman screw drivers. They need to come out with an air freshener in that scent.

SMKS · Jan 8, 2012

greasemonkey44 · Jan 8, 2012

husky pro @ home despot
cheap, us made, and rugged
also i very much like the grips

MD11 · Jan 8, 2012

PB Swiss, Wiha, and at least 3 or 4 other EU companies make a great screw driver for a decent price. Snapon also....

Its funny how so many of these tool companies will contract some Chinese factory to put their "brand name" on a cheap Chinese product and sell it, as if they don't care one bit about their reputation. Their CEO's probably care about quarter to quarter profits and couldn't' care less what happens to the company 5 or 10 years down the road.

Channellock is a reputable plier, why ruin your name with a crappy Chinese screwdriver for a few extra bucks?

pipsters · Jan 8, 2012

These are the same as Craftsman Pro at about 60% of the price:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Made in the USA by Western Forge. Decent screwdrivers, IMO screwdrivers shouldn't be a novelty thing because they are a wear item. If you are using them like I do, they will get used up and having them easily replaced is important. Just be their nature they tend to get worn. Those are available in store.

idoitproject · Jan 8, 2012

Dont bash me...I just bought the remaining slotted Channel Lock screw drivers at OSH in Elk Grove, CA. All the Channel Lock screw drivers are on clearance for $2.50 ea from $4.80ish. I figure I could use them to strike things or give them out as gifts. I bought 4.

MoToys · Jan 8, 2012

idoitproject said:
Dont bash me...I just bought the remaining slotted Channel Lock screw drivers at OSH in Elk Grove, CA. All the Channel Lock screw drivers are on clearance for $2.50 ea from $4.80ish. I figure I could use them to strike things or give them out as gifts. I bought 4.

Ok, only cause you asked.

decaf · Jan 8, 2012

Monte said:
There are great deals for Wiha or Wera drivers all the time....

Outlawmws · Jan 8, 2012

rcsec said:
I've tolerated the smell in the garage from my Craftsman screwdrivers but that's about as far as it goes. This set of tools is used on the family cars & maintaining our home, so tools are used in our home too. I passed on the recent screwdriver deals here Sams Club has a set of Channellock screwdrivers on the shelf. Are these any good or is it worth it to wait for another deal (to be posted here). The Craftsman's work fine so I'm not in a hurry just fed up with the smell.
Thanks,

rcsec · Jan 8, 2012

Thanks for all the replies!
Ray

purevl · Jan 8, 2012

I'm really confused by the multiple suggestions that the OP replace his disgusting acetate handles with a new and equally disgusting set of drivers with acetate handles. rcsec, the foul odor is due to the material from which the handle is made, not the manufacturer or the COO, so keep that in mind when shopping.

SMKS · Jan 8, 2012

purevl said:
I'm really confused by the multiple suggestions that the OP replace his disgusting acetate handles with a new and equally disgusting set of drivers with acetate handles. rcsec, the foul odor is due to the material from which the handle is made, not the manufacturer or the COO, so keep that in mind when shopping.

I have a bunch of other brands of acetate screwdrivers and my Craftsmans are the only ones that seem to really stink.

It makes sense that different brands could use different acetate formulations.

Right now I have the following acetate screwdrivers:
Wilde
Pratt-read
Xcelite
Irwin
Truecraft
Malco

I just went through and smelled them all, and it seems that they don't stink like the Craftsmans. A couple of them do smell a little. I noticed the Xcelite has a little smell.

The Craftsmans stink, but all the ones I have that are stinky are made by Western Forge. I have one Pratt-Read Craftsman screwdriver. I don't know if that one makes a bad smell. It's in a box with a bunch of stinky WF Craftsmans, so it stinks for sure from being with its stinky relatives.

Plus, the European brands I listed appear to have plastic handles, not acetate handles.

EDIT - I just found some older yellow Protos that seem to have a stink, as well.

redwrench60 · Jan 8, 2012

A set of Craftsman screwdrivers will stink up a whole toolbox! Some people look at me funny when I say this. I'm glad I'm not the only one.

Deafautotech · Jan 8, 2012

i has a set of channellock from menards when it was on sale for 15.99 dollars... i had it for my home small toolbox that keep in laundry room.. i had it use and beat it around house and sunroom... it is work good... i am rather to have USA made tools but it is keep in my garage so i dont need worry about ruin it for work on Shed or house... so i got it and keep in small toolbox...

VinDSL · Jan 8, 2012

pipsters said:
These are the same as Craftsman Pro at about 60% of the price:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Made in the USA by Western Forge. Decent screwdrivers [...]

Whoa! Thanks, man!

I just checked, and discovered I can get a 6 pc. Craftsman Pro set for $7.03 more ($26.99 vs $19.97 - in store pickup).

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...rewdriver+Sets&prdNo=7&blockNo=7&blockType=L7

And, these are all standard length shanks, which is a major plus for me!

All I end up using are standard size drivers. All the rest sit in the bottom of my toolbox, gathering dust :thumbup:

Kev442 · Jan 9, 2012

I grab my Channel lock screwdrivers too often instead of my Cmans. I like them better but I doubt they have a lifetime warranty, heck, I'm not sure they have any warranty at all!
What they do have is the sure grip and code blue, so they match the rest of their lineup, even if they are chinese.

Steevo · Jan 9, 2012

I love the smell of napalm in the morning . . . .

allinon72 · Jan 9, 2012

Looked at them again today at Menards. They are metal capped, yet on the back it says not to use as a chisel...OK, so I guess the cap is just for show.

bowlofturtle · Nov 10, 2013

So these things aren't that great?

I walked past these today and thought about it at $20. I figure it was be an average deal at best. But i'm looking for a replacement to-go screwdriver set. My old C-man generic set is just JUNK.

Zeroek · Nov 10, 2013

I've had a lot of luck with German screwdrivers. I've had a set of Napa and Matco screwdrivers I used for about 6 years at work. I now use a set of Gearwrench screwdrivers that I think are Chinese or Taiwan but seem to be very similar to my Matco ones that said Witte on them.

SMKS · Nov 10, 2013

bowlofturtle said:
So these things aren't that great?

I walked past these today and thought about it at $20. I figure it was be an average deal at best. But i'm looking for a replacement to-go screwdriver set. My old C-man generic set is just JUNK.

Search the many threads on this topic. For not much more than $20 you can get a set of good quality, basic drivers

Channellock Screwdrivers

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Banned

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member