Craftsman screwdrivers

[seagullplayer]

I was just in Kmart and bought a nice set of Craftsman screwdrivers for less than $20. I think it was a 17 piece set.

I am so tired of suffering with cheap screwdrivers, it seems imposable to find a decent Phillips tip.

I hope these are the Craftsman screwdrivers of old.

 

[Neverfly]

Check the back of the package for where it's made.

 

[jjjrmx5]

I asssume for $20 and 17 pieces they are teh clear handles and not the C'mn Pro drivers.

As a base set to do home repair and fixes around the house and light mechanical work they will do.

For pro use or real grunt work, I find the handles far too small not allowing enough grip area and thusly not enough torque.

As for "quality", I've had to warranty a few due to worn tips and they seem no different than the first set I bought back in the 80's that I have. Still USA. Still Western Forge. Dates codes are AA or BB these days IIRC.

With offerings like C'man Pro/S-K, Wiha, Wera, Williams and many more that actually offer a nice grip, squirrel some coin away and dip your toe in the lake of "pro screwdrivers." and buy a few or at least try one out from a buddy or shop.

BIG difference.



And watch out for the stinky handles. LOLZ. over time they yellow and become stinky . No preventing it. Now you know.

 

[Arne73]

Well don't expect much from the Craftsman Phillips tips. I've found that they round off with very little effort.
I really hate the Craftsman bashing but in this case...

My go-to Phillips are older Kliens with hardened tips.

 

[1950mercury]

those screwdrivers are good for stirring paint thats about it. you would be lucky to open the paint can without breaking the tip

 

[powertrip]

They will serve you fine. Screwdrivers are a wear item. Buy the ones with a lifetime warranty that are easy to replace. Those drivers are made by western forge in colorado. Don't let the tool snobs rain on your parade.

 

[seagullplayer]

Check the back of the package for where it's made.

Package says made in the USA.

Maybe that's why we are loosing the battle.

I will review them later this week.

 

[DRhodes]

I have them and the tips are awful IMO.

 

[scw1991]

I've had a set of made in USA Craftsman screwdrivers for years and they've held up fine. Like most tools, you have to use the right size screwdriver tip for the job.

It's no different than trying to take off a lug nut torqued to 140 lb-ft with a 22mm socket and 3/8" ratchet. Sure...it could probably be done, but it's not the right set-up for the job.

 

[cburnscrx]

I've had them in the past, and the wife uses them now. They're fine and will suit most purposes for most people.

I've got the Craftsman Pro's in my box, but the old style worked fine for me.

 

[CWP1616L]

My go-to Phillips are older Kliens with hardened tips.

It amazes me how often people misspell that brand name when it's only 5 letters long.

 

[71goldss]

I've had them in the past, and the wife uses them now. They're fine and will suit most purposes for most people.

I've got the Craftsman Pro's in my box, but the old style worked fine for me.

+1 I own both as well. I have a drawer full of the Craftsman Pro's and a drawer full of the reg Cman. I love the Pro's and the way handles fit my hand, but really never had a problem with the reg Cman's and they still do a good job when needed. My reg's never really had the big odor problem either. Sure, if I hold them up against my nostrils I can smell the acrylic, but it never took my breath away just to open the screwdriver drawer. An issue blown way out of proportion in my opinion.

 

[bcradio]

They will serve you fine. Screwdrivers are a wear item. Buy the ones with a lifetime warranty that are easy to replace. Those drivers are made by western forge in colorado. Don't let the tool snobs rain on your parade.

I don't think it is so much tool snobs as people tired of screwdriver cam-out. I only use my Craftsman clear handle drivers for very light duty work. They are pretty soft tipped compared to many of the other brands I own. They do get the job done, but barely.

 

[Brownsfan]

My 7 year old daughter was with me one day in sears and we went down the screwdriver isle. She says dad it smells funny kinda like baby powder. I said pick up one of those screwdrivers and sniff it. I had that big set years ago. Bought them in 1996 and upgraded to snap on in 2002-3 I think and gave them to a new guy in the shop. I think he still has them. I also have the craftsman pros in my road box and I REALLY love the grips and the way they fit my hands. They IMHO are the best bang for your buck value out there(craftsman pros).

 

[Farmall450]

I've had a set of made in USA Craftsman screwdrivers for years and they've held up fine. Like most tools, you have to use the right size screwdriver tip for the job.

It's no different than trying to take off a lug nut torqued to 140 lb-ft with a 22mm socket and 3/8" ratchet. Sure...it could probably be done, but it's not the right set-up for the job.

Exactly. Yall bash them when you take them places you wouldn't take your instincts, etc etc. They work just fine...

 

[Exceller8]

I have used them for years and never had a problem. I agree that they probably wouldn't hold up in a pro shop but for me they're just fine. With that being said, I've upgraded to Craftsman pro, Klein, and Snap-On.

 

[cinco]

My screwdriver drawer is mainly classic Craftsman and I think I know why people have so much trouble with their phillips drivers. I personally think they're far too pointy, and that extra tip length keeps them from seating properly against the outer part of the X in the screw (which is where you want most of the force). That being the case, whenever I get a new Craftsman phillips I immediately blunt the tip a little on a grinder and it seems to keep both drivers and screws from wearing.

I'm also a bit nostalgic about the handle smell - they're all my father ever used when I was a kid so I guess I don't mind.

 

[seagullplayer]

I opened them and put them in my box, they look just like the ones I carried in my tool belt in the 80's. I am pretty sure I will be happy with them.

Got a couple of projects this weekend, maybe I can put them to use.

 

[Steevo]

those screwdrivers are good for stirring paint thats about it. you would be lucky to open the paint can without breaking the tip

Only a schmuck opens a paint can with a screwdriver.

That is why paint stores give these away FREE:

Use the right tool for the job, and it will last you a lifetime.

 

[nicksnothereman]

I was just in Kmart and bought a nice set of Craftsman screwdrivers for less than $20. I think it was a 17 piece set.

I am so tired of suffering with cheap screwdrivers, it seems imposable to find a decent Phillips tip.

I hope these are the Craftsman screwdrivers of old.

I'm (mostly) happy with my craftsman screwdriver/nutdrivers/torxdrivers. Some of them you gotta oil though depends on the shank.

 

[Moose97]

I've had the regular Craftsman set for years. They work great.

 

[djwyman]

I have a set of them and never noticed the smell...I have most of them at home now that I am replacing my Cman stuff at school with Snap on...that being said I do have an old craftsman flat head i use for non screw driver things that I would not do with my SO drivers.

 

[Farmall450]

I have a set of them and never noticed the smell...I have most of them at home now that I am replacing my Cman stuff at school with Snap on...that being said I do have an old craftsman flat head i use for non screw driver things that I would not do with my SO drivers.

I have never noticed a smell either.

 

[zakmartin]

I've warrantied out at least one standard #2 Craftsman Phillips head screwdriver every year over the past 25 years. I've never warrantied out a Wiha or Craftsman Pro (knock on wood).

 

[zakmartin]

I have a set of them and never noticed the smell...I have most of them at home now that I am replacing my Cman stuff at school with Snap on...that being said I do have an old craftsman flat head i use for non screw driver things that I would not do with my SO drivers.

They really stink if you leave them locked up in a carry-around Craftsman tool box. They make the whole box smell like vomit. I now store all my old Craftsman screwdrivers out in the open.

 

[TireTracks]

They really stink if you leave them locked up in a carry-around Craftsman tool box. They make the whole box smell like vomit. I now store all my old Craftsman screwdrivers out in the open.

I have used cman drivers from every decade of the 2nd half of the 20th century, and I can't figure out this smell you guys complain about.

 

[bluebolt]

I agree old Craftsman drivers can smell.

 

[92GreenYJ]

I don't know what drivers the haters in this thread have been using, but I also have that set you just bought and I love them. Nice sharp tips that grip great. Haven't bent or broken one yet and I tend to be a bit rough on things.

 

[Farmall450]

I don't know what drivers the haters in this thread have been using, but I also have that set you just bought and I love them. Nice sharp tips that grip great. Haven't bent or broken one yet and I tend to be a bit rough on things.

Probably 'cause they break them using them as prybars, and then are like, well, I bet my SO's wouldn't break if I had used them....

 

[outdoorsman310]

If you want a decent phillips tip from craftsman, get their professional screwdrivers. The phillips tips on the clear handle screwdrivers strip and deform easily

 

[bobemmerich]

That set will do you just fine. I've had no issues with mine, and I've some of them for years.

 

[rick carpenter]

... Screwdrivers are a wear item....

Exactly!

 

[Neverfly]

I have used cman drivers from every decade of the 2nd half of the 20th century, and I can't figure out this smell you guys complain about.

Lock them in a box for a good while- then open it. You'll find the smell, then.

 

[sloppy]

They will serve you fine. Screwdrivers are a wear item. Buy the ones with a lifetime warranty that are easy to replace. Those drivers are made by western forge in colorado. Don't let the tool snobs rain on your parade.

those clear handle ones **** they have always sucked.. Anyone not striping out the Phillips is just not using it ever..

The warranty on these is pointless they dont last at alll.. HF screwdrivers last longer then these.

 

[sberry]

They cost a dollar, several years from now you will find some that survived.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I don't remember where I read it, but Phillips screws and drivers were specifically designed to limit the maximum amount of torque that can be applied by "caming out". Of course, when you have a really stubborn screw, you will mess up the head.

P.S. This is why Torx was invented !

 

[tradesmanschoice]

Well these Vessel Phillips screwdrivers are pretty darn good, made in Japan.

http://www.tradesmanschoice.com/catalog/Vessel/900.html

They have dual ISO/JIS tips, so they fit the old JIS Phillips screws as well as the modern ISO ones.

They also have hard metal grains on the tip to avoid cam-out. Vessel call it JAWSFIT(tm). Wiha also do DuraBit screwdriver bits with this feature.

Cheers,
Mark.