Craftsman professional ratcheting screwdriver?

[zkling]

I just saw this for the first time the other night browsing the web. I have an older set (my main screwdriver set) of the black handle craftsman pro screwdrivers, love them. Hate the new red/black ones. I did not know that they made a ratcheting screwdriver in that style.

Does anyone have one? Care to comment on the overall quality and impressions vs say the current red craftsman or even a snap on ratcheting screwdriver? First thing I notice is that the ratcheting mechanism is like an older yankee type screwdriver, not the newer collar selector type.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[vga]

I still have 2 of the mid 90's ratching screwdrivers with the clear handles and white end caps and they still work very well.

 

[tweedlestan]

I've seen one of those before, they're not very smooth. The current red one is light years ahead of that model.

 

[bonneyman]

I've tried all sorts of ratcheting screwdrivers, but, since being informed of this one from Spec-Tools, I'm dying to try it out.

http://www.spectools.com/specials.htm

 

[TwoInch]

havent used that style, but i use the red ones available now, and have had zero issues with it. have used it pretty hard too. good tool IMO, but gets a bad rap here.

 

[zkling]

Thanks for the input guys

they're not very smooth. The current red one is light years ahead of that model.

Thanks tweedlestan, just what I was looking for, user feedback. I guess there is a reason they don't make them anymore.

I was just knida taken back when I saw it. Did not know that they made a ratcheting "Professional" screwdriver. I've been real happy with the standard black handle pro drivers, when I saw this one I thought it may have been a step up from the red one. Guess not.

TwoInch, yea I too have the craftsman red ratcheting. Never had a problem with it. For the money and bits included I am very happy. I just couldn't justify $40+ for a snap on or Wera, although they look really nice and seem to get great reviews.

I've tried all sorts of ratcheting screwdrivers, but, since being informed of this one from Spec-Tools, I'm dying to try it out.

http://www.spectools.com/specials.htm

O man, I wasn't trying to open that can of worms It seems the usual recommended ratcheting are
-Snap on
-Williams (SO OEM?)
-Wera KK27, I really want to try one of these. They just look awesome IMHO.
-PB Swiss
-motion pro

For those of us on a budget
-Craftsman red handle
-Gearwrench kit
-Ivy Classic, though not much info on them.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Thanks for the input guys




-Ivy Classic, though not much info on them.

I have an Ivy Classic I bought for $20 new from my local mom and pop hdwre store.

It;s the MAC Tools clone but plastic and not metal direction ring. It rocks given I have used most ratcheting drivers of most brands.

It's on par with the mid level ratcheting screwdrivers and way above most aside from those you menition above.

Love mine and use it often.
Cage with bits in the handle standard.
It's not Snappy (and scoring used Snap-On ratcheting hard handle screw drivers from my route driver for $20-$30 is not hard) but it is a nice driver for the price.

Should we ever meet up locally you can give the Ivy Classic a spin.

 

[zkling]

Hey jjjrmx5, yea you were about the only one that talked about those Ivy drivers. I know you are pretty fond (understatement ) of the SO drivers and nothing else so if you gave the thumbs up to the Ivy I figured it had to be something worth while.

I have one of the craftsman red handles. One day if the opportunity presents itself I may "sip the kool aid" and get one of the infamous Snap on's or the Wera looks really cool. This thread was just more of a WTF is this type of deal. I had just never seen a craftsman pro ratcheting screwdriver before. Did not even know they existed. As I mentioned, my screwdriver set is a black handle cman pro, just like that ratcheting, but of course they are fixed. Bought them back in my early teens and I really like them, especially compared to the newer red/black ones. I just wondered if the ratcheting version was as good as the fixed screwdrivers. Guess not according to the responses , question answered.

 

[zakmartin]

I have a Craftsman Professional ratcheting screwdriver. It's marked Made in Germany, it's gold and black and the handle bends into a "T" for added torque. It's a bit bulky, but nice. The driver bits are stored in little cubby holes in the handle. The shaft is made of reinforced fiberglass and the rest of the tool is plastic. It doesn't have the Grip Driver markings on it like the later versions have; it just says "Craftsman Professional." I think I bought it in the late-1990's.

 

[Monte]

I have a Craftsman Professional ratcheting screwdriver. It's marked Made in Germany, it's gold and black and the handle bends into a "T" for added torque. It's a bit bulky, but nice. The driver bits are stored in little cubby holes in the handle. The shaft is made of reinforced fiberglass and the rest of the tool is plastic. It doesn't have the Grip Driver markings on it like the later versions have; it just says "Craftsman Professional." I think I bought it in the late-1990's.

made by Schroder
www.schroeder-werkzeuge.de
http://schroeder-werkzeuge.de/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/2012/06/schroeder_katalog_112.pdf

 

[FlushingDIYer]

CRAFTSMAN PROFESSIONAL GRIP DRIVER over at HJE for $12.50 seems like a great deal...

I've always shunned the ratcheting screwdriver because I imagine inner gears wear out and stuff. But at this price and it being a German-made tool, this ain't too bad... Has anyone used this? Any reviews on how it's held up? And most important of all, does it hold any bits?

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ Here's that German made C-Man Pro ratcheting screwdriver for
. . . $14.99 with free shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/172511438479?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

 

[gdocktor3]

I want to say I read bad reviews on it somewhere. I think the ratcheting mechanism was too big and bulky to be used in most practical places. A ratcheting screwdriver really shines in tight, hard to reach places like engine compartments. Also, that screwdriver has WF markings on it, which stands for Western Forge. How is that considered "made in Germany"?

 

[ChevyEFI]

looking at it, how is it considered from a forge?

I am guessing the Schroeder piece is different than the one pictured below. Cm certainly runs a few models of things over the years, and it has been a few.

 

[whyNick?]

CRAFTSMAN PROFESSIONAL GRIP DRIVER over at HJE for $12.50 seems like a great deal...

I've always shunned the ratcheting screwdriver because I imagine inner gears wear out and stuff. But at this price and it being a German-made tool, this ain't too bad... Has anyone used this? Any reviews on how it's held up? And most important of all, does it hold any bits?

I have no experience with this Craftsman but my SO ratcheting driver has been unusually durable. I found it nearly 20 years ago half buried in the mud in a junkyard. It's green and had been there for so long that the side of the handle exposed to the sun had bleached nearly white. It was jammed with gunk but I hosed it out with WD40, and have used it regularly ever since. It's my favorite hand tool and gets used on nearly every project. Everything wears out eventually but this driver has seen a lot of use and abuse and it shows no sign of wearing out yet...

 

[Rickster]

I just used that Cman ratcheting screwdriver with the folding T handle the other day while working on some cabinet doors works pretty well I like how you can kick the handle sideways for some extra torque to finish tightening.