Craftsman Screwdrivers

[kunkernator]

They are fine drivers, excellent for the money. My huge problem is my huge hands..... If i use a Snappy Instinct driver, my hand fits good. The Craftsman grips are just too small and i cannot put a lot of torque on them.


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[ganymede]

I love mine...

 

[Brownsfan]

I had regular Craftsman drivers for almost now 20 years(flat head phillips and torx) and they are still going. I gave them to a family member when I upgraded to Snap On and he is still using them. I bought some Craftsman pros, the longer reach set and some of the long single drivers and I love them. I also bought the torx set becuase they are longer than my Snap On set. I think the Craftsman Pros are the BEST value in screwdrivers.

 

[slob]

I have some thirty year old Craftsman drivers that are still kicking. Picked up a new set two years ago and the Phillips tips are noticeably softer. But for Harry Homeowner use, they're fine. Especially on sale.

 

[Coach James]

They're not my best or worst screwdrivers. They're a decent driver and I can get them on sale for ~$1 a piece which makes them a great value.

Coach

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

Old ones aren't bad. New ones are complete junk. I've got two sets, one for when I need to actively abuse a screwdriver, and one for when someone wants to borrow one.

 

[John in OH]

I must be in the minority, I really like having a set of them around. Yes, they're nowhere near a Klein or snappy, but those drivers cost too much to abuse. I actually use the craftsman straight drivers more than the snap-on, simply because I use a flat driver as a prybar or scraper more often. A fairly complete set is 20-30 dollars, not bad for made in us lifetime warranty tools. For that kind of money, they exceed my expectations. I beat the **** out if them, and they very rarely let me down.

+1 I've used the standard Cman drivers for over 40 years and sure think they are a fine tool for their price. Straight blade drivers have always held up to general use and the Philips ... well ... it seems that all Philips drivers suffer wear.

I admit that I like the Cman Pro drivers better, but they usually cost over 2x the price of the old standards. But, bang for the buck, the old standards are hard to beat.

 

[John in OH]

This thread got me to wondering .... how many different screwdriver designs has Cman made in the last 10-20 years? I took a look around the shop and found four different designs:

Cman standard (clear handles) style 41581 WF
Cman pro (black handles) style 47441 WF
Cman ??? (soft gray handles) style 47165 WF
Cman pro (black & red handles) style 47204 WF



I've no complaints about any of the four, but, obviously the "pro" series are the best and I like the soft gray handled drivers too.

I no longer see the Pros with the black handles or the soft gray handles at Sears, although they do seem to be available in limited styles from some non-Sears sources. So, what's the story on these two styles? Just made obsolete by the black/red handles or is there more to the story? Were there any other styles ?

 

[Adam.C]

Craftsman pro are the best of Craftsman's offerings in my opinion. Wrenchable shanks, comfortable grips and hard, long lasting tips.

But I found them disadvantageous when working on my triple black Porsche 944S2. I was constantly loosing them so I switched yellow handled Snap On hard handle models mostly for the color. These are seriously better screw drivers with sharper tips that bite better. The handles look uncomfortable but aren't. My recommendation is to find a set of those on ebay. I've seen new old stock lately. They are simply better tools.

Others to consider:
The new Instinct Snap-On- haven't tried them
Wiha- attractive and functional, but I'm not convinced they match up to Snap-on.
Wera? Facom?
Williams makes what I believe are foreign made versions of the Snap-Ons?? They only come in black tho.

BTW, I'm NOT a Snap-On fanboy. I use mostly craftsman sockets and wrenches. I've broken VERY few over the years. But there are a few tools I buy from Snap-On like screwdrivers and hex bit (allen) sockets

 

[johnachak]

I've been using them for many, many years. I have exchanged a few, but not as many as you would think for the amount I use them. They're just not the most comfortable. I have a 3/16 slotted and a #2 Phillips Craftsman Professionals with the cushioned handle that have become my everyday pair. I'm just a homeowner, but I really do use those quite a bit.

 

[softailgarage]

I have about 20 Cman that were bought in the late 50's - early 60's and probably 5 more bought in the early 80's. I've never had a problem with any of them other than that puke smell from a couple older ones, which I wiped down with some acetone, which seemed to help. Personally, I think Snap On tools are over rated (except for the roll aways/ cabs/chest's) and yes, I used truck brands and Craftsman.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I grew up using them, still have quite a few, but I mostly use my Klein and Snap-on drivers these days.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

Others to consider:
The new Instinct Snap-On- haven't tried them
Wiha- attractive and functional, but I'm not convinced they match up to Snap-on.
Wera? Facom?
Williams makes what I believe are foreign made versions of the Snap-Ons?? They only come in black tho.

BTW, I'm NOT a Snap-On fanboy. I use mostly craftsman sockets and wrenches. I've broken VERY few over the years. But there are a few tools I buy from Snap-On like screwdrivers and hex bit (allen) sockets

After using both, Wiha trumps Snap-on by a fair margin. Facom's on par with Snap-on, both being better than Wera due to the soft Czech tips, but for the price I'd take 3 Wera screwdrivers over one Snap-on. $22 for a standard #2 Phillips is a bit steep.

 

[byoungblood]

Older Craftsman clear handle drivers are pretty good, in both flat and Phillips.

I avoid newer flat head ones like the plague, particularly in smaller sizes. I've busted the tips off of more than a few trying to turn screws that were only slightly rusted. I haven't bought a new clear handle Phillips in probably 10-15 years, all of my new screwdriver purchases of late have been the Professional line, which is a much better tool all around.

 

[toolmutt]

I no longer see the Pros with the black handles or the soft gray handles at Sears, although they do seem to be available in limited styles from some non-Sears sources.

Harry Epstein has some closeout deals on the Craftsman soft gray handles http://store.harryepstein.com/c/WesternForge.html as well as some badged as SK http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/WesternForge/SK-GRIP-SET.html.

 

[lbgradwell]

Williams makes what I believe are foreign made versions of the Snap-Ons?? They only come in black tho.

Nope. USA still...

 

[decaf]

Do not like them, not comfortable. When I need to make sure a screw does not came out I go to my Wera's.

Hell Yeah!!! Amen too that!!!

 

[Pumpman1968]

Just got the master set of Craftsman cushion grips from Harry J Epsteins. First set of screwdrivers I've bought in at least 15 years. They fit my hand well and are a great value on clearance. Still made by Western Forge USA. If they last 10 years, that will only make the great price better. I have some of the clear handles for AT LEAST 20 years and they are probably the best bang for the buck set of ANYTHING I have ever bought. I've never heard of the "stink" before......but mine don't sit in the tool box very long without being used.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Not to throw gas on the China/CMan fire, and I don't use the warranty often but last year I returned a broken driver and the one I got back wasn't even concentric, meaning the shaft was placed in the handle at an off angle so it wouldn't even spin in your hand without popping off the screw. Had to replace the replacement.

 

[jackfork]

Never had any issues with any of my CM screwdrivers, but they are older. I bought a Klein set not long ago that isn't any better. Mostly of late I have been getting Felo which I really like. For the guy who said his screwdrivers stink. So did the Klein set I bought. The stink lasted about a month of regular use, or maybe we just got used to it.

 

[maddawg1952]

Maybe it's me but I kinda like the smell of a set of new Craftsman screwdrivers, sorta reminds me of rainy days spent tugging on my old mans sleeve while I helped him do things down in his shop. I still have some of those same old classics in my top box in my basement and 50 yrs later I think I still can smell some of that Rainy Day smell. I know the new Sears anything isn't what it used to be,and I'm probably not as good as I once was either. It's a whole new world we live in today.

 

[AlwaysExplr]

I've used the CM clear handles since I was a kid. They were the only drivers my Dad or Grandpa had. When I went out to fill my tool box I bought the CM pros thinking they would be a good upgrade. They were really nice but the handles were not comfortable to me. I traded them out for the good ole clear handles. They work fine, they would be better if I could convince my wife they are not pry bars. Some of the tips are bent a little but they still work. I'm trying to convince myself to look at the snap on hard handles, maybe one day.

 

[eddie1278]

I find that the people who complain of screwdriver tips wearing out are the ones who don't use the right size screwdriver for the screw. Like using a #1 philips to take a screw out that needs a #2. User error is the majority of most tool failures in my opinion.

 

[Hootbro]

I find that the people who complain of screwdriver tips wearing out are the ones who don't use the right size screwdriver for the screw. Like using a #1 philips to take a screw out that needs a #2. User error is the majority of most tool failures in my opinion.

I agree, but nobody is fooling anybody that the Acetate handle Craftsman screwdrivers do not wear faster even when used properly.

I wrench on aircraft for 15 + years and in the first 5 years, I used the classic Craftsman Acetate drivers and used them properly. Was lucky to get 6 months of use out of them before they were flat worn out. Eventually bought quality MATCO set and they have lasted me 8 years with no need for a warranty.

There is a difference in quality. If you weekend wrench, yeah a set will last you 20+ years, but day to day, they are not up to snuff.

 

[lbgradwell]

I have a set of husky screwdrivers which are just re-branded craftsman.

No, though both might come from the same source...