Diamond Tip Screwdrivers

[WWheeler]

OK so a little over a year ago I bought a 'Craftsman Extreme Grip 14-Pc. Diamond Tip Screwdriver Set'. I usually stay away from Craftsman gimmicky tools, especially today's China-made ones, but I saw they got really good reviews on Sears and Amazon plus it was on sale and with SYW points I think I got the set for $26. I figured they were worth a shot.

Anywho, I've been really impressed with the diamond tips. They've come through for me every time so far on turning out stripped out screws where my brand new Snap On ratcheting screwdriver bits won't even begin to get a bite. If there's anything left at all to grab on these diamond tips will grab onto it, even when it doesn't look like there is anything left. I've never seen a screwdriver tip work half as well as these do.

The downside is that one of the screwdrivers so far, and without too much force at all, the shaft just started spinning in the handle, so, no surprise there from China-made Crapsman. It's now set aside to see if I can get a new one for it whenever the next time I make the trip to Sears.

Does any better brands of screwdrivers have Diamond-coated tips? If not I'm left wondering why? I gave a cursory search and came up empty except for some small precision sets.

Edit: Here's a link to the set I have:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-extreme-grip-14-piece-diamond-tip-screwdriver/p-00950844000P#

 

[WWheeler]

If they work that well, you might be better off to pull the shaft, degrease everything, and put it back with some epoxy.

I thought about that, but it's just going to be easier and better to swap it for a new one at Sears. That's the one thing they still have is a no questions asked guarantee.

The thing is, they actually do work so well I'd really like to throw a couple of these in my truck box, but not if there's a chance they are going to fail on me like that as I don't really have room to haul around duplicates of tools in my road box.

i would really like to buy a better brand set if they are out there. I'd easily consider spending a Benjamin and change for nice little set of Snap On or Wiha, etc diamond tip standard size screwdrivers. Are there none out there?

 

[scissorman]

Snap-on makes diamond tip screw drivers. https://store.snapon.com/SearchResu...i&IsPartsSearch=0&departmentName=Tool Catalog

 

[WWheeler]

Snap-on makes diamond tip screw drivers. https://store.snapon.com/SearchResu...i&IsPartsSearch=0&departmentName=Tool Catalog

Thank you for that. I'd already kicked around the site and didn't find those. Nice find!

I'm going to try out that 8pc set of bits for my ratcheting screwdriver for starters.

 

[Can I try?]

Here's a thread you may appreciate:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=339264

There's more than one way to get skinned by a cat.

 

[PureLeaf]

Because Ryan won't let user's delete their own content

 

[four.cycle]

[QUOTE="WWheeler]"...14-Pc. Diamond Tip Screwdriver Set..."[/QUOTE]

I returned a four-piece set of Craftsman "pick" tools because one of them had come out of the handle. They would only exchange the entire set, so I had to go back home and get the other three. They replaced the entire set.
Might want to bring the whole set with you when you return it.

 

[gdocktor3]

I don't think they sell/replace individual Extreme Grip screwdrivers. I could be wrong, but I've never seen them sold individually. You may have to bring the entire set in to exchange.

Also, many other brands offer diamond grip or "anti cam out" tipped screwdrivers. Stanley, Proto, Williams, Snappy, Wiha, Wera, etc, etc. Here's a thread from yesterday on this same topic. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=348871

 

[WWheeler]

I have a set of Snap On Instinct screwdrivers. They are great screwdrivers, but not even close to the same thing as diamond tips. I guess you'd have to use both of them to understand.

I'm just going to take the one in and see what they do. I hope they don't want me to take in the whole set, as I have a few of them at work and the rest split up between my boxes here. We'll just have to see.

 

[FMC1959]

I have a Wera screwdriver with diamond tip, and I know they also make bits with diamond tips. Also, years ago I bought a small bottle with a compound that has some abrasive particles in it. You squeeze a drop on the screw head and it mimicks a diamond tip screw driver.

The link by "can I try" has good ideas, such as toothpaste or or comet, which can work in a pinch, but this bottle I have (can't remember the name, need to run in the garage to check it) works better.

 

[T45]

IIRC, the diamond (dust) treatment is prone to premature wear, and I believe this is the reason they are not more widespread in actual use. Maybe someone else can chime in and confirm this.

 

[WWheeler]

I have a Wera screwdriver with diamond tip, and I know they also make bits with diamond tips. Also, years ago I bought a small bottle with a compound that has some abrasive particles in it. You squeeze a drop on the screw head and it mimicks a diamond tip screw driver.

The link by "can I try" has good ideas, such as toothpaste or or comet, which can work in a pinch, but this bottle I have (can't remember the name, need to run in the garage to check it) works better.

Yeah I checked out Can I Try's link above and saw the valve grinding compound mentioned. Makes sense as some lapping compounds use diamond dust or other similar abrasives like aluminum oxide or silicon carbide.

It's hard to explain how much better they work. ACR screwdrivers are awesome but they need something left in the stripped screw to bite on at least enough to catch a couple of the ribs or else they're no different than a standard screwdriver tip. The diamond coating though actually gets a bite on the tip of the screwdriver, not just on the sides. You can feel it.

I honestly don't use anything but my ratcheting screwdrivers all that much, and I only finally even tried the Craftsman diamond tips after my brother brought over some piece of equipment (he plays guitar in a band) he bought used - I don't know what it was, some sort of foot pedal controller - that you could tell had been opened up because every one of the screws holding it together were stripped out inside almost like someone had hit them all with a drill bit. I couldn't get any of them loose with my ratcheting driver, so I remembered the Craftsman set I bought and a couple minutes later I had them all out and opened up. I couldn't believe how good the diamond tips worked.

I almost always grab a ratcheting screwdriver instead of a fixed handle, either Snap On or Gearwrench. I actually only ordered the GearWrench set just so I would have the extra shanks, some of which that Snap On doesn't even have or the ones they do I could buy the whole GearWrench set for a lot less, but I've been pleasantly surprised by the Gearwrench drivers themselves to where it doesn't really matter to me which I grab. My only minor gripe with the Gearwrench is the selector turns the opposite way, counter-intuitive if you ask me. I more recently grabbed the GearWrench nut driver set for the same reasons. The shafts are interchangeable between all of them though the GW do fit a little looser.

That's why I've already ordered that set of Snap On diamond tip bits from the link scissorman provided. I'm psyched to get them. I'm probably going to get another set for at work.

 

[WWheeler]

IIRC, the diamond (dust) treatment is prone to premature wear, and I believe this is the reason they are not more widespread in actual use. Maybe someone else can chime in and confirm this.

I haven't seen that, but had this inkling suspicion just from using them the little bit I have. That's why I probably won't use them except as I have done so far just when I need to on a damaged looking screw.

 

[walrus]

Snap-on makes diamond tip screw drivers. https://store.snapon.com/SearchResu...i&IsPartsSearch=0&departmentName=Tool Catalog

Sure make me buy something

 

[FMC1959]

Yeah I checked out Can I Try's link above and saw the valve grinding compound mentioned. Makes sense as some lapping compounds use diamond dust or other similar abrasives like aluminum oxide or silicon carbide.

It's hard to explain how much better they work. ACR screwdrivers are awesome but they need something left in the stripped screw to bite on at least enough to catch a couple of the ribs or else they're no different than a standard screwdriver tip. The diamond coating though actually gets a bite on the tip of the screwdriver, not just on the sides. You can feel it.

I honestly don't use anything but my ratcheting screwdrivers all that much, and I only finally even tried the Craftsman diamond tips after my brother brought over some piece of equipment (he plays guitar in a band) he bought used - I don't know what it was, some sort of foot pedal controller - that you could tell had been opened up because every one of the screws holding it together were stripped out inside almost like someone had hit them all with a drill bit. I couldn't get any of them loose with my ratcheting driver, so I remembered the Craftsman set I bought and a couple minutes later I had them all out and opened up. I couldn't believe how good the diamond tips worked.

I almost always grab a ratcheting screwdriver instead of a fixed handle, either Snap On or Gearwrench. I actually only ordered the GearWrench set just so I would have the extra shanks, some of which that Snap On doesn't even have or the ones they do I could buy the whole GearWrench set for a lot less, but I've been pleasantly surprised by the Gearwrench drivers themselves to where it doesn't really matter to me which I grab. My only minor gripe with the Gearwrench is the selector turns the opposite way, counter-intuitive if you ask me. I more recently grabbed the GearWrench nut driver set for the same reasons. The shafts are interchangeable between all of them though the GW do fit a little looser.

That's why I've already ordered that set of Snap On diamond tip bits from the link scissorman provided. I'm psyched to get them. I'm probably going to get another set for at work.

This is the stuff I have
http://www.leevalley.com/US/hardware/page.aspx?p=32212&cat=3,41306,41329

For the price you can give it a shot, I find it definitely helps and is about like my diamond tipped bits.

I also checked and while I have some diamond tipped screwdriver bits, the Wera screwdriver is laser etched, not diamond encrusted.

 

[superautobacs]

The Snap-on diamond-tipped bits and screwdriver shanks are sourced from Wera.

IIRC, Wera was the first screwdriver company to introduce it, and has been making them for 10 years or so.

 

[scissorman]

Sure make me buy something

No worries, you guys have caused me all kinds of financial grief the last couple years so just trying to return the favor.

 

[Monte]

Athlet makes them too:

 

[wvrailroader]

The Snap-on diamond-tipped bits and screwdriver shanks are sourced from Wera.

IIRC, Wera was the first screwdriver company to introduce it, and has been making them for 10 years or so.

I looked at the COO on the Snap On site right before I read this. They are made in the Czech Republic. Definitely Wera sourced.

 

[bonneyman]

I always wondered if I could go down to a local jeweler and get some of their "used" polishing rouge and dip a driver in it when I need some extra grip.

 

[Nodakwalleyer]

I have the craftsman also and surprisingly have had good luck with them!

 

[Hornman]

Isn't anyone on this thread old enough to know the old mechanic's trick of dipping the tip of a screwdriver in the can of valve grinding compound to get extra grip on troublesome screws?

 

[WWheeler]

Isn't anyone on this thread old enough to know the old mechanic's trick of dipping the tip of a screwdriver in the can of valve grinding compound to get extra grip on troublesome screws?

I believe you're the 3rd to mention it in this thread. Anywho, like I wrote before in response to the suggestion, I could easily see how that would be similar as lapping compounds use diamond dust or other similar abrasives like aluminum oxide or silicon carbide.

I haven't tried lapping compound I suspect that the diamond tipped screwdrivers would work better and would be easier to have them handy in my case at least than grinding compound.

 

[Danglerb]

I've got a few different types of anti cam out bits and drivers, as well as some of the grit paste. Only time I needed the paste was to get some security screws out of a metal door where the slotted head would only turn one way. I had to cut shallow slots with a dremel and use the paste to get them all out.

The laser cut tips are also good.

 

[Snakebyt]

I returned a four-piece set of Craftsman "pick" tools because one of them had come out of the handle. They would only exchange the entire set, so I had to go back home and get the other three. They replaced the entire set.
Might want to bring the whole set with you when you return it.

I had the same problem with the same pick set.

 

[openwheelracing88]

I had the same problem with the same pick set.

Big plastic red/black handle (I believe these are made in Taiwan), or black handle (USA)?

 

[bonneyman]

Isn't anyone on this thread old enough to know the old mechanic's trick of dipping the tip of a screwdriver in the can of valve grinding compound to get extra grip on troublesome screws?

Sounds perfect! Think I'll try this stuff.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d....oap?ck=Search_N0408_-1_-1&pt=N0408&ppt=C0139

 

[bleomycin]

I looked at the COO on the Snap On site right before I read this. They are made in the Czech Republic. Definitely Wera sourced.

So the bits and shanks are Wera sourced but the Instinct drivers are all USA according to the snapon page? So these are actually made by snapon?

https://store.snapon.com/Diamond-Ti...iamond-Tip-Soft-Grip-Screwdriver-P650152.aspx

 

[decaf]

Try Wera Lasertip instead.
Here is a rusty screw that is sooked with penetrating oil and the grip is still amazing as you can see.
In this case i wouldn´t made it without Weras lasertip:

 

[uncwstudent]

I'm pretty sure that Stanley has a diamond tipped set of screwdrivers...they may even be the manufacturer of Craftsman's for all I know.

 

[SRSemenza]

I can confirm that the Wera Laser tip for one piece drivers is very good. I have both philips and slotted. and the Diamond tip for driver bits is also good. I don't know about longevity of the diamond tips.

Seth

 

[JohnDeere1]

I've seen the wera ones they look nice I've never tried diamond bits at least I don't think but I do have some that look like they're coated like that but doubt it.

 

[SRSemenza]

One thing to note on the diamond Weras ....... you won't see a bunch of sparkly diamond pieces, it is very fine. Hard to see at all but you can feel it with a fingernail. I also compared the regular Wera bit to the diamond side by side on a few equally tough screws (#2 phillips in a hand driver). I could feel a grip difference it was not a big difference but it was there.

On the laser tip screwdrivers the difference is very noticeable. I really like those.

Seth