Do you use a ratcheting screwdriver?

[Jacobson]

What's a good cheap one?
Is it really that much better?
Or just stick with traditional screwdrivers?

Either way, having a magnetic tip is key!

 

[Kirbot]

I had a craftsman that I liked well enough. I could probably count the times I used it on one hand though...

I sent it in a boxlot to a local auction and probably got $2 for it, never regretted letting it go.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

I have a Snap-On and like it. It's very handy.

 

[PavelK313]

I have 3 but don't use any.

 

[Jbullfrog]

I have an older Mac version of the "overdriver". I think Spec tools brought them back to market. It has a 4x planetary overdrive on the shaft to speed screws.

 

[metaldad]

i have them.
rarely use them

 

[tbaggz]

I have a few from different makers.matco,stanley,snap on and expert stubby ,long and bent handle.yes they are superior to regular drivers in that you don't have to loosen your grip each time you turn the thing.not so good if your screws are deep in a hole.
you should try a Stanley first.they are inexpensive and smooth.some handles adjust into L shape for more torque.

 

[devoncoolman]

Have a snappy ratcheting driver in every tool box. Don't use it much. Road calls ill grab it just for the versatility of it. Always been more fond of standard fixed blade drivers. Snap-on ratcheting drivers are some if not the best ratchetimg drivers on the market.

 

[qwik]

I have 4 SO's use all of them daily.....aircraft furniture.

 

[Bunit98]

Snap on ones are great!! Before I got the so ,I used the 7$ one from harbor freight it worked really good too.

 

[beatcad]

yes. sometimes.
depends on what i'm working on.
i got a snap-on and a mac shorty
both get used, but not as often as a standard screwdriver.

 

[Rory Bellows]

I am getting the Williams version for Christmas. I think I will use it quite a bit. Who knows? Haven't got it yet.

 

[metalart]

If you really wanna try one, home depot has the husky version on sale for 5 bucks....

 

[shooting4life]

Not really. I have one with a wire nut driver in the handle, use the wire nut feature, but was rather use the cman 4 and 1 for any actual screws.

 

[tbaggz]

not the cheapest but i like it alot.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00973RB58/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/176-8280458-5882909

 

[GreaseMonkey45170]

I just bought one this wednesday from our Snap on dealer. I dont see how i lived without one lol. Its super nice and smooth and very versatile. Its the "new style" so you can pull the shank out and put different shanks in. Theres still a place for a regular screwdriver but a ratcheting one sure is handy and speeds things up. I absolutley love mine!!!!

 

[shanny19]

wire nut driver

I had no idea. Want......

 

[Stealership]

Go for the snap on. I've had several and like it the best. It gets used quite a bit.

 

[HaroRider]

I have two Snap ons..one hard handle and one soft handle. I use them if I need to remove many screws for a job, but its not my go to.

 

[rednotch]

had a cheap craftsman I used for years until it started to slip, they stopped selling it and gave me the red one they sell now to replace it but haven't used it yet. Picked up a bunch of the gearwrench 56pc kits searsoutlet had awhile back for myself and a few other people. I find myself going for the T handle from the kit more then anything else since it doubles as a nut driver set.

Most of the time I use it for automotive interior work so the ratchet action comes in handy if I'm not using a power tool. Stubby handles tend to cramp my hand too much.

 

[shooting4life]

I had no idea. Want......

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NB85LM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1417150688&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX200_QL40

Helps me a lot. My hands cramp up when doing more than a handful of wire nuts.

 

[jmm]

At work, never. None of the guys in my shop use them with any frequency. But we're diesel mechanics, so about 80% of the time we're using flat heads to pull, pry, position, etc. Even though most of my work is diagnostic (not heavy stuff) and I use screwdrivers a little more often (messing with modules, under the dash, etc), I still prefer a normal screwdriver.

Away from work though, I'll use a ratcheting screwdriver if only to cut down on the number of tools I keep at home. I've got a cheap old Stanley that works very well.

 

[cheechi]

Have the 3 pc Williams T handle set.
Standard Williams aka SO hard handle clone.
Long (24" or so) SO hard handle.
kobalt double drive.
HF T/J handle. Really like the shaft has several detents for adjustable length.
Probably at least one more.

Usually if I'm not sure what I'm getting into I will grab whichever T handle is the right size, a standard handle ratcheting, and the fixed blade version and bring them all to the work. Sometimes it has really been useful to have them, sometimes it's for nothing. Still worth the 5 seconds it takes to grab them and go.

 

[JR 42]

I have a monstrously bulky Stanley import ratcheting screwdriver I recently rediscovered that I bought at a box store ten years ago. I find it handy for household projects, driving drywall anchors and adjusting screws and so forth.

Someday I'll replace it with a Williams or Snap-On, but for now it sits in the junk drawer waiting for the next honey-do project...

JR

 

[wvrailroader]

I have a Snap On comfort handle ratcheting screwdriver that is my go to driver. I use it on pretty much every screw that I don't use a power driver on.

 

[e30bradley]

I have owned snap on ones. Never used a rat screwdriver I liked. Its not the tools fault, I just prefer the normal type. If I need to do a lot of screwing I'll use the cordless drill.

 

[Tronyadorable]

Nah. More gimmick.

 

[Philbert]

I had a Snap-On one in the Yellow color for twenty years. I broke it and years later gave it to my Father In-law for replacement from His Snap-On guy. He returned a few weeks later with the Hot Pink Snap-On ratcheting Screwdriver. Been rockin that thing for a few years now. I like it alot, it my go-to screwdriver. I even like the hot pink color, its much easier to see.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I have a SnapOn and a Gearwrench. The Snappy sits in my main box and gets used weekly and the Gearwrench is in my gunsmithing box and gets used occasionally. Overall, the SnapOn has much better bits (best phillips bits I've ever used) and a smoother ratcheting action. The GearWrench is probably 90% as smooth as the SnapOn, but it has a larger handle if that's important to you. I don't think ratcheting screwdrivers are a replacement for a proper set of screwdrivers, but they sure are nice to have.

 

[zoomzoomjeff]

Never used one. Thought they were gimmicky too, but appears lots of guys here use and love them. I guess for multiple screws or nutdriving, I'll just grab the impact driver.

 

[AnthonyJ124]

Between my work kit and various house/car kits, I have a snap on, a craftsman, a napa, a kobalt, and a no name brand ratcheting screwdriver.

The snap on one is great, I use it daily, but honestly I think the craftsman one works smoother and the quality of the bits is on par with the SO. The napa one is decent and the kobalt is equal to it.

If I had to buy another tomorrow, I'd get another craftsman and go out to dinner with the money saved over the Snap On.

 

[CNGsaves]

Used variety of Stanley or Craftsman over the years which are handy since they store variety of bits.

However, absolute favorite when lots of TORQUE is needed:

. . . . . Screwball . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . consider it strongest ratcheting screwdriver & old school !!

These old babies still command prices on Ebay from $18 to $30 depending on condition, and whether all the 4 bits are still there.

 

[BioNerd]

Yes. A husky

 

[Adam.C]

I didn't understand until I bought one. Replaceable tips mean no more rounded Phillips. Also, having hex, torx, and screwdriver bits, plus the possibility of sockets means you can bring a single tool to a job and get quite a bit accomplished with it.

Interchangeable shanks allow you to choose the length of screw of screwdriver that fits the situation. Typically, regular screwdrivers have their drives matched to handle size and shank length. Not so with ratchet drivers.

Last, ratchet screwdrivers allow you to work one handed. Bent over an engine bay? Now you can lean on one hand to save your aching back while removing hose clamps. How about holding the flashlight in one hand and undoing under dash torx screws with the other?

These things are great. My favorite set up is the Snap On stubby soft grip screwdriver with the 9" shank.

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

I have a snapon regular and stubby ratcheting screwdriver both hard handle and never use them. I find the handles are too bulky for my hand and prefer the feel of a traditional driver. For jobs that require a lot of screws I use my snappy screw gun.

 

[FreeTenthsDiag]

If there is enough room for a ratcheting screwdriver, there is enough room for an electric screw gun.

 

[Mazdaratti3]

I have 4 of the snappy version and I use them all the time... I don't know what I did before I had them.
One stays in my main box, one in the house, one in the truck box and one in the road bag.

 

[mrborohachi]

I was working on my fathers Previa this last week when I spotted an old Stanley ratcheting screwdriver he 5-finger discounted from me. I remembered the reason I bought it was for the easy accessible bits and the fact you could see what bit your taking out and if your missing a bit.

Yes I'm apart of the GJ lynch mob that's all for the Snap-On ratcheting screwdriver with bit storage in the handle, But seeing that stanley screwdriver again made me think real hard if I was to some how loose an SO screwdriver I'd be looking at my local HD or Lowes for that Stanley.

 

[TonyCH]

Bought a very short T-shaped one in early 90's and used it a lot with car interior work. After it broke (the detent ball fell off) I have bought 2 Snap Ons and a Wera. Have used the Wera maybe 10 times over 2 years and the S-O's even less. I use cordless drills for most of my screws and when I don't I grab whatever old fashioned screwdriver I have at arms reach.

 

[Pumpman1968]

I've had a Craftsman for about a year that I bought as a fill in to get free shipping......and have thought to grab it only a handful of times. I'm old school and change comes hard for me. In 1986, when I started out doing electrical work, I was told to buy a Klein 5 in 1 screwdriver............which I still carry everyday at work.

I'm so old school and hard headed, I just bought my first digital multimeter this month. Was taught on an analog meter when I started.......hell, even my amp probe is still analog.