Decent Screwdriver Set

[seber]

I have Snap-ons so I'm not in the market. But looking at the specs, I don't see how anyone could choose anything other than Tekton at any price. The only reason has to be just plain bias.

 

[JBH]

Not sure why you would go for wooden handle screwdrivers - I think they went out of style in the 70's, and they weren't very good then.

Especially since the Ergonics are so good.

Felo woodies aren’t standard wooden handles. They’re sculpted like Ergononic, but have that feel of wood.

Put a Felo woody and a PB Swiss/Wiha/Wera/Witte/Oplast PH or PZ in front of me, and I’m grabbing the woody every time.

Felo markets them all wrong. They change the blades slightly, quintuple the price, and sell them as their flagships. They would probably sell more than they do now, and everyone would covet them.

 

[DonglordActual]

I did some experimenting with how well the screwdrivers felt and engaged Phillips screws and these were my results.

1. Vessel (megadora jawsfit)
2. (tie) Snap-on/Williams (black hard handle)
2. (tie) Blackhawk/Facom (protwist)
3. Klein (yellow acetate)
4. SK (green hard handle)
5. Stanley (handyman hard handles)
6. Craftsman (USA). Still sold under the Masterforce brand from Menard's.
7. Stanley (walmart/target special made in USA set)

Precision sets
1. Anex
2. Felo
3. Craftsman (made in USA)

I didn't include any Chinese screwdrivers in here that may or may not have been better than some of the garbage Stanley makes.

I love these things though, don't know why.
SK screwdrivers

I got one in my main toolbox that is a multibit that is full of Makita gold impact bits.

 

[IndyGarage]

Felo woodies aren’t standard wooden handles. They’re sculpted like Ergononic, but have that feel of wood.

Put a Felo woody and a PB Swiss/Wiha/Wera/Witte/Oplast PH or PZ in front of me, and I’m grabbing the woody every time.

Felo markets them all wrong. They change the blades slightly, quintuple the price, and sell them as their flagships. They would probably sell more than they do now, and everyone would covet them.

I've seen them and they look nice. I just can't understand why anybody would buy them if they can get the Ergonic handles.

 

[lardy1]

I see the set for around twenty five dollars. I really don't even need screwdrivers but I've read great things about them and I like that they are bolstered and have a striking cap. If for nothing other than curiosity I can likely squeeze twenty five bucks out of my budget.

 

[measuredtwice]

Menards, not in the store but on their website and they dropship straight from Bondhus. Not made in the US but they're Felo. Their Ergonic 6 piece set is $41
Felo® Ergonic Screwdriver Set - 6 Piece
The wooden handle 5 piece set is $20
Felo® Wooden Handle Screwdrivers Set - 5 Piece
They're hard to beat for the price and the wooden handle set is the cheapest I've seen anywhere by a large margin. I have a set of the wooden handled ones myself and as nice as they are they get even nicer when you sand the varnish off the handles and put on some linseed oil.

I showed you the deal at Menards for $20 plus 11% back but I've still yet to buy them for myself. Probably will eventually.

They also have them at Fleet Farm for a couple bucks more. With the right coupon, you could get them for a better price. For example of a deal on another set, I previously used a $10 off coupon on the $25 Felo 6 piece Ergonic torx set so it ended up being $15 for the set. Haven't kept up with the coupons recently.

 

[Wamsutta]

I'm still amazed that nobody takes Klein screwdrivers seriously. They are probably the best example of function over aesthetics. They're not real pretty, but they function very well.

 

[measuredtwice]

I'm still amazed that nobody takes Klein screwdrivers seriously. They are probably the best example of function over aesthetics. They're not real pretty, but they function very well.

I take them seriously. I especially like the nicely machined tips and precise fit of the slotted. On the previous page, I show a comparison photo that demonstrates the fit.

Mine were made before the recent changes to the slotted. Now they don't have black tips. Haven't used the recents ones.

The "aesthetics" don't bother me. But one drawback of the handle design is that the rubber grip can loosen up and twist after many years.

 

[M6erfan]

I'm still amazed that nobody takes Klein screwdrivers seriously. They are probably the best example of function over aesthetics. They're not real pretty, but they function very well.

I have some Klein screwdrivers. I don't like them very much, mainly due to their handle. Also, the PH tips didn't last long at all (in a shop environment).

 

[Wamsutta]

I have some Klein screwdrivers. I don't like them very much, mainly due to their handle. Also, the PH tips didn't last long at all (in a shop environment).

Let me guess: The handle allows the screwdriver to roll off the table?

I like the handle because I can roll it across my fingers pretty fast.

 

[jeffmoss26]

best I can tell, the Klein cabinet tip drivers have the black tips but the keystone and standard slotted do not.

 

[Skin]

I have Snap-ons so I'm not in the market. But looking at the specs, I don't see how anyone could choose anything other than Tekton at any price. The only reason has to be just plain bias.

No ACR. If you ever need to remove steel screws from aluminum with any regularity ACR or a good quality driver with a striking cap is a necessity (or an impact driver but that's slightly OT).

 

[Legion Prime]

No ACR. If you ever need to remove steel screws from aluminum with any regularity ACR or a good quality driver with a striking cap is a necessity (or an impact driver but that's slightly OT).

That's not necessarily quite so off topic as you might think.
Vessel Megadora 980 Impacta

 

[JBH]

I've seen them and they look nice. I just can't understand why anybody would buy them if they can get the Ergonic handles.

Seen is different from using. I have some of both, I have used some of both. I do not have any Ergonic in a size I have in woodie, because it would never be picked up.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Im not buying screwdrivers just to have a matched set. I have multiple brands in my box and as long as they work, they stay. Some i like better than others.

The Husky phillips in my box at work, need replacing. I don't understand why the tips are made like they are. . . A 45° degree angle. Maybe that's why the 21 pc set was clearanced at $6.

 

[IndyGarage]

Seen is different from using. I have some of both, I have used some of both. I do not have any Ergonic in a size I have in woodie, because it would never be picked up.

To each his own. I guess it's good they sell them, and they are cheap.

The first time I used soft handles it was a Felo. I've used them a ton and it's still my favorite screwdriver.

I haven't had the desire to touch a wood handle screwdriver in years. It takes me back to the days of the old brown handle woodies where they gave you splinters and the handles were always loose.

 

[Wamsutta]

I have Klein, and their flat screwdrivers are excellent, particularly for electrical work, for which they are specifically designed. However, in phillips, the tips don't hold up.

When I did commercial electrical work for a few years, I had all Klein in my belt, except for a pair of Snap-on needle nose (had two pair of Klein also) and a black hard handle #2 phillips Snap-on. I caught a lot of hell from other electricians over the Snap-on, but the Klein phillips I had didn't hold up, and CED made me feel bad over repetitively warrantying them, so I quit and put Snap-on in my belt instead. I still use that same Snap-on #2, it lasted the rest of my electrical work, and has been in my electrical belt since.

I also don't like the handles as well as SO hard handles.

Are your Phillips drivers older than 2013 ?
http://www.kleintools.com/content/our-secret-sauce-new-improved-screwdriver-steel

 

[jeffmoss26]

I will contradict myself here for a minute: At least once a week I have a phillips screw on the back of a mortise cylinder that won't budge - I go to the other bench, grab my old felo #1 wooden handle, give it a tap with a ballpeen hammer, and it opens!

 

[Tallpilot]

To each his own. I guess it's good they sell them, and they are cheap.

The first time I used soft handles it was a Felo. I've used them a ton and it's still my favorite screwdriver.

I haven't had the desire to touch a wood handle screwdriver in years. It takes me back to the days of the old brown handle woodies where they gave you splinters and the handles were always loose.

I feel pretty much the same way about acetate screwdrivers. That's what we had in the house growing up but now they feel cheap and antiquated compared to modern trilobular designs. Screwdriver handles are almost as personal as ratchets; what one person likes another may hate. Fortunately there are tons of great options out there.

 

[Fedwrench]

I'm still amazed that nobody takes Klein screwdrivers seriously. They are probably the best example of function over aesthetics. They're not real pretty, but they function very well.

I take them seriously. I think they seriously ****

No one can recommend screwdrivers to someone else. It's like fingerprints and opinions, everyone's different. what feels good in my hands, might not fit yours worth a damn.

I do feel though that there hasn't been a better selection of screwdrivers ever available, then what you can choose from today.

Colors, handle shape, material, blade lengths, steel types, mix & match, get what you like

Proto Durateks are probably my current favorite. The timeless snap on hard handle is always great (not that ************* instinct handle), as is the old school Proto yellow handles.

 

[Tallpilot]

I take them seriously. I think they seriously ****

No one can recommend screwdrivers to someone else. It's like fingerprints and opinions, everyone's different. what feels good in my hands, might not fit yours worth a damn.

I do feel though that there hasn't been a better selection of screwdrivers ever available, then what you can choose from today.

Colors, handle shape, material, blade lengths, steel types, mix & match, get what you like

Proto Durateks are probably my current favorite. The timeless snap on hard handle is always great (not that ************* instinct handle), as is the old school Proto yellow handles.

I think your blood pressure goes up so much you lose about 10 minutes off your life every time you think about the Instinct handle.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I grabbed a set of the el-cheapos at NAPA last fall when setting up my school toolbox (and not wanting to pay a fortune for screwdrivers, which sometimes tend to be a wear item), Think they were all of $20 in one of their bin sales...

Good assortment of x head and flat drivers... I put them through their paces last year, and they've held up like iron. Kind you not, best twenty bucks I've spent on tools in a long while.

 

[ecotec]

I grabbed a set of the el-cheapos at NAPA last fall when setting up my school toolbox (and not wanting to pay a fortune for screwdrivers, which sometimes tend to be a wear item), Think they were all of $20 in one of their bin sales...

Good assortment of x head and flat drivers... I put them through their paces last year, and they've held up like iron. Kind you not, best twenty bucks I've spent on tools in a long while.

The best generation of Napa screwdriver, was the Witte Carlyle one. They were just plain terrific.

There are so many good screwdrivers. I prefer the Williams/Snap-on hard handles.