Craftsman screwdrivers/phillips?

[pdude]

I thought I read somewhere that Craftsman are not what they used to be?

Just saw a good deal on a 17 piece set under $20.

Any other preferred sets? Don't mind paying more for quality and less bruised knuckles...

 

[bareass172]

God help ya on this one! I've seen this topic hashed and re-hashed so many times, I even asked myself once a long time ago. What I learned was that you have to just try different ones until you find what you personally like. There are a LOT of good ones out there, but your grip may prefer one to another. There are a lot of better options than the basic Cman set that everyone has and that I see at every single garage sale I attend.
I started with that Cman set and eventually "graduated" to Williams hard handles and Wiha demolition drivers. Both are a massive upgrade.

 

[whofan]

Their screw drivers the red and blue handled one's are still US made. They are a good tool for the price. The new sure grip or whatever they call them the new black handled one's are made in China. The US made by Western Forge screwdrivers are nice.

 

[d.mcfarland]

If you're going to use it then go for it. They aren't heirloom pieces, but they work fine for most stuff, inexpensive, usa made, and warranty is perfectly fine.

 

[zendriver]

Their red-and-black handled "Professional" screwdrivers are some of the best screwdrivers I have owned, comparable to snapon, IMO. Grit blasted tips, awesome grips, rock solid.

The blue and red clear phillips tipped models never hold up IME. the slotted are ok.

http://www.craftsman.com/search=craftsman professional screwdrivers

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...w=craftsman+professional+screwdriver&_sacat=0

 

[AceofSpad3s]

IMO the philips have always been garbage, the old drop forged flat heads are decent but the newer ones are just meh. If you need a set cheap then go to Horror Fright and get the $8 eight piece pitts pro set, they are my go to drivers. The handles are similar to the bahco ergo's and the tips have held up pretty well so far. Don't act like a gorilla when using them and you will be fine.

 

[jd_1138]

IMO the philips have always been garbage, the old drop forged flat heads are decent but the newer ones are just meh. If you need a set cheap then go to Horror Fright and get the $8 eight piece pitts pro set, they are my go to drivers. The handles are similar to the bahco ergo's and the tips have held up pretty well so far. Don't act like a gorilla when using them and you will be fine.

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

Those are nice. I keep a set in each car. Dirt cheap.

 

[Loscaldazar]

Regular Craftsman Phillips are horrid. Depending on what I was doing, I could go through 2-3 of the P2s in a week. Switched to Wiha in 2014 and no issues since. Original P2 from Wiha shows no signs of deformation on the tip.

There are much better options out there.

 

[barguy]

Bought my CM red and blues in 1990. They made it though my drag racing phase, then my sport bike/roadracing phase, and now my Jeep phase. That is to say, I am not a professional, but my tools do get used. My screwdrivers all have "WF" on them, and the ones in the Sears near me also say "WF". However, mine say "Forged", the newest ones don't.

 

[LumpyMusic]

Regular Craftsman Phillips are horrid. Depending on what I was doing, I could go through 2-3 of the P2s in a week...

Wadda you freakin' doing with them? Prying open manhole covers? Geez, I've got a Craftsman P2 that's close to 60 yrs old. Used in my father's HVAC contracting business for decades, then in my shop for more decades. It's a little scratched.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[toolmutt]

A Craftsman screwdriver from 60 years ago (or even 20 years ago) is not the same tool as a Craftsman screwdriver today.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

My personal preference is SO hard handle, but to each his own. If you like C-man drivers then get em'.

 

[53chevy5]

If you want a great set of screwdrivers find a set of Witte screwdrivers. Usually 60 bucks will buy a set and will be the last set of screwdrivers you'll ever need to buy. I know Matco in Cornwall use them for their screwdrivers but you can find them on ebay pretty cheap. Made in Germany.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

A Craftsman screwdriver from 60 years ago (or even 20 years ago) is not the same tool as a Craftsman screwdriver today.

Amen! I have a couple of craftsman screwdrivers that were my Dad's. They keep going while the set I bought in late 90s has been replaced several times over.

I have found the ones with the chrome shafts are the best to buy used, if it has the dull silver look avoid it!

 

[Sanny81]

I got the 17 piece set a few months ago for like $22. They ok and I mean just ok. Like they are fine for general around the house stuff but don't expect to use them on anything more than that.

 

[Greg85mcss]

I was at kmart a while back and they had big $1 each boxes of loose cm screwdrivers, wrenches & sockets all usa. I grabbed a few wrenches, replaced a couple missing sockets & about 10 screwdrivers. I have some at home & work. Haven't had a problem with any of them.


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[PugetDude]

The Craftsman "Made in the USA" drivers are serviceable.
There, I said it...

 

[mnoeltne]

I've got some 50 yo CM screwdrivers that have held up well and always worked great.

Then the past decade or two I started noticing that the P2 didn't fit some of the screws well, especially when I was working on my Mazda Miata. I bought a set of JIS screwdrivers (Japanese Industrial Standards) on the recommendation of the Miata forum, and it was like night and day. The JIS drivers actually fit tightly in the screw slots with no slop so i could really crank on them.

So, if you work on Asian cars or electronics, invest in a set of these. They are worth it.

 

[winlinmac]

Agreed
The one's you get today are not the ones in your papa's toolbox

A Craftsman screwdriver from 60 years ago (or even 20 years ago) is not the same tool as a Craftsman screwdriver today.

 

[Tinner]

The Craftsman red/blue/clear screwdrivers, at least from the '70s on, were sorry pieces of ****. The red and black USA made Craftsman Professional were decent, but nowhere near Snap-on quality. A good value for homeowner/hobbyist type use. The stuff they sell these days is laughable.

The Proto Durateks are a tremendous value and real professional quality.

 

[hancock1701]

The new Tekton Made in USA screwdrivers seem pretty interesting and were actively discussed here not too long ago. I'm gonna get myself a set when their next promotion comes. Personally I kinda like the feel of Channellock 6 in 1 screwdriver's fat handle. Wonder if there're any other handles that feel similar.

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[Thax]

Ive got the Matco , Witte made Torque II screwdrivers in Phillips head. I love them , great grip on screws and feel great in the hands. They are really not too terribly expensive too, especially the Witte ones on Amazon.

 

[Virgil Cain]

Love my Felo screwdrivers. German made and they are not that expensive.

 

[Carves]

A Craftsman screwdriver from 60 years ago (or even 20 years ago) is not the same tool as a Craftsman screwdriver today.

Same thing can be said about a bunch of brands ..


OP ... Poke around the tools shops and find a handle style you like / are comfortable with.

Then find a brand with that style handle ... that doesnt use wet noodles for the drive shaft.

 

[Robinson1]

If you want cheap buy Wal-Mart Stanley or Harbor Freight.

 

[sberry]

How good does it need to be for close to a dollar? Cman phillips were never much to lean on but i just warrant a couple stds, the new seem quite good. They work.

 

[drink]

I thought I read somewhere that Craftsman are not what they used to be?

Just saw a good deal on a 17 piece set under $20.

Any other preferred sets? Don't mind paying more for quality and less bruised knuckles...

Sounds like a good deal. I have owned lots of Craftsman screwdrivers over the years and they work really good. The big sets have a lot to choose from. I like the set in the picture to do a lot of everyday common tasks. They are on sale sometimes and made in USA. A 17 piece set should cover a lot of work as needed.

 

[ssdave]

Buy the set, ebay the phillips ones, and use the flats as pry bars, chisels, etc. They work fine for that, and are a good solid bargain. People on ebay will pay good money for the new Craftsman stuff you sell there.

Using the phillips for screws is an exercise in frustration. I've had some that broke on the very first screw they were used on. Warranty them, and repeat. Finally I warranted them and ebayed them, and went to all better drivers. What an improvement in my life!

The only ones I had that were good were the black handle, hex shank industrials. They were about as good as SK or Vermont American or similar mid-tier US made stuff.

 

[four.cycle]

Wadda you freakin' doing with them? Prying open manhole covers?

I just keep adding as they old ones wear out. No big deal.
Worst case scenario: I can always pop a Proto 1/4" drive #2 Philips bit onto a spinner or ratchet - no problem!

 

[theoldwizard1]

Their screw drivers the red and blue handled one's are still US made. They are a good tool for the price.

CONCUR !

I swapped out my 1970s vintage screwdrivers a few years ago because the handle smelled SOOOOOoooooo bad ! (Weird reaction between the plastic in the handles and sweat, or so I have been told.)

 

[Cato]

I think the screwdrivers are as good as ever - and quite a bargain in the sets. I have my first set from the early 1990s and aside from yellowing, they are as good as ever.

With Sears stores closing, I'm tempted to stock up before it's too late.

 

[CJM8515]

CONCUR !

I swapped out my 1970s vintage screwdrivers a few years ago because the handle smelled SOOOOOoooooo bad ! (Weird reaction between the plastic in the handles and sweat, or so I have been told.)

Yep, they start smelling like poo after awhile (literally).

I have the CMan red/blue/clear ones. Probably 15 years old now as well. Im not a CMan guy but got them as a gift-NEVER had an issue honestly.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

CONCUR !

I swapped out my 1970s vintage screwdrivers a few years ago because the handle smelled SOOOOOoooooo bad ! (Weird reaction between the plastic in the handles and sweat, or so I have been told.)

The smell is the plastic breaking down over time. There is an acid used in the handles that is the same acid that makes vomit smell. I think I read something on here about dipping them in some solution helped, but I can't remember.

 

[jrobb316]

http://m.homedepot.com/p/WITTE-Maxx...er-Assortment-Set-6-Piece-9T-663831/100668971

6 piece witte set at Home Depot online for $30. You won't find a better value and it will blow the craftsmans of today and the pros they discontinued a few years ago away.

 

[ibedayank]

nothing strips out the head faster then a Crapsman screwdriver

 

[yowzer]

nothing strips out the head faster then a Crapsman screwdriver

I used to have some Stanley screwdrivers that I swear would destroy screws just by touching them.

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