Do you use a ratcheting screwdriver?

[Kracin]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VMWYCU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

love this 27RA from wera.

at work i deal a lot of all kinds of screws. anything from regular phillips, to posidrive in euro machines and robertson (square drive).

mostly i keep my screwdriver stocked with standard ball-hex bits from bondhus, from 1/8 up to 3/16. and the flat and phillips that came with it.

i like the ability to change the bits quickly and easily. not having to pull a cap off the back like the snap-on screwdrivers.

i've put everything i have behind this drivers handle to try and get some torqued allen heads off. and had to resort to throwing a wrench or pliers wrench on the shaft to get it to turn. so no worries about stripping the ratcheting mechanism like i've seen cheaper screwdrivers do.


very high quality, easy ratcheting. easy bit access.. my only complaint is that the bit storage could be magnet, or a little better designed for grabbing bits because if you drop it. your bits might go flying.... speaking from experience... otherwise it's perfect..


also.. the magnet is DAMN strong! with my 3/16 hex bit in the tip. i can pick up a 3/4 craftsman RP wrench with just the magnetic force of the driver tip..... that is crazy strong for a screwdriver magnet tip. making this also my magnetic pickup too for spots i can't reach, or picking up all those random loose screws and nuts/bolts in my cart after finishing something

 

[TonyCH]

Kracin, after I saw your pic I realized I also have a similar Wera and went to check my box. So, I actually have 2 Weras + 2 S-O's which currently don't get much use. Had forgot about the second Wera. Maybe I should start keeping them at arms reach so they would get used. Both Wera and S-O clicks are quite nice and smooth so no complaints with them.

Here are my 825/1 RA and 816 RA:

 

[DPG]

I had a black handled SO for years before it mysteriously disappeared from my garage last month. It was well made and I used it a lot. I replaced it with this - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002NI1LZK/?tag=atomicindus08-20
This one appears to be identical to my old one except for color. Nice piece, made in USA.

 

[Banjorear]

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

I use my Snap On almost daily. Love it and will be picking up a stubby version shortly.

 

[wild cowboy]

How about holding the flashlight in one hand and undoing under dash torx screws with the other?

do people still do this in 2014 with 800 lumen Cree headlamps that can be purchased for $36 including the 3400mAh rechargeable Li-ion batteries?

 

[Todd.Brock]

One thing that snap on gets right more so than others. This is my go to driver. I like to be able to swap out the bits. They are a full size screwdriver so I use it around the house for everything.

 

[gahrajmahal]

Have a Blackhawk set with about 50 different bits in a box. I grab that when I don't know what screws I will need to remove. Otherwise I have a Black and Decker cordless screwdriver. Really saves the wrist, has good torque and the battery holds a charge a long time, plus they are cheap.

 

[thesilverone]

snap-on here

 

[dnschmidt]

Before I bought about 10 Milwaukee, Bosch, DeWalt cordless screwdrivers I used them. To me this is something power tools put to bed. I first started using the cordless when AEG, and then Panasonic and finally Milwaukee imported the AEG jointed screwdriver. I think was like 3 volts or something. That made the ratcheting screwdriver as obsolete as a buggy whip.

 

[abk241]

Have a SO one that hasn't been out of the drawer since a month after purchase.

 

[Garagebound1]

I love my snap-on ratcheting screwdrivers. I'm a vending mach.repair tech. And I carry the long shafts hard handle driver all day. Along with the bits in the handle I carry a 1/4 in. adapter for sockets and I put 4-5 sockets on a chain and with a pair of needle nose pliers I can usually repair pretty much all of the calls I get. I liked them so much I ended up owning a half dozen in different lengths and colors.

 

[8comm13]

I have Megapro, Snap-On and Mac. The Mac doesn't get used much but the Megapro and Snap-On get used often.

 

[jsaw]

I have a Snap on ratcheting T handle driver that I don't use very much, and a MAC overdriver . I used to use them a lot, but now use cordless screwdrivers

 

[Bruce57]

I just bought the longer Snap On, got a deal I couldn't pass up. I have heard so much positive about ratcheting screwdrivers, I decided to try one. I like it but don't think I'll use it that much.

 

[Hammer1963]

I have Snap-on, Cornwell and Gearwrench and use all three. The Snap-on at work, the Cornwell as a spare and the Gearwrench at home. All work well but the Snap-on is the best out of the 3

 

[CNGsaves]

Well I'm going to throw in Kobalt ratcheting screwdriver as I just got one in the Lowe's BF deals. It ratchets really smooth and quick. Has the removable cap like others to put bits in there. Easy to change directions also. Will see how this one holds up long term but I'm going to make it my go to ratcheting screwdriver.

Will only break out the ole Screwball when I have a super tough rusted in screw. Keep losing bits from the screwball so don't use it as much.

 

[hackwelder]

Have a few of them and they are very handy for some jobs...especially like this one as it will pivot and lock at 0, 45 or 90 degrees

 

[supra90turbo]

I almost always have this kit with me that I made up.
Eventually I will upgrade the ratchet, and add more bits, but for now it's been handy.
8, 10, 12mm sockets stored in handle of driver along with ph2 and 1/4" flat bits.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

I have a few Britool ones which are well priced but I hardly use them

 

[PT Doc]

I got a kobalt blue anodized one from a set. Pretty heavy ******. Works very well. All kinds of bits make it easy for inside the house. I like it.

 

[Kracin]

Kracin, after I saw your pic I realized I also have a similar Wera and went to check my box. So, I actually have 2 Weras + 2 S-O's which currently don't get much use. Had forgot about the second Wera. Maybe I should start keeping them at arms reach so they would get used. Both Wera and S-O clicks are quite nice and smooth so no complaints with them.

Here are my 825/1 RA and 816 RA:

how do you like that 816?

i thought about getting that one. the only reason i didn't was because the extra bag to tote around would get bulky. i have carpenters pants for work and throw my wera in the long pocket on the right leg so i can grab it easily at any time.

i have the electrical screwdriver set with the replaceable blades, which is perfect for getting into the smaller terminals and such though,

the only thing that bugs me about the 27ra is the big tip area that you put your bits into... it doesn't fit into the small holes that are meant to fit just a screwdriver head, so i find myself reaching for regular drivers sometimes.

this is my actual driver. love it too, get a great grip on it

 

[TonyCH]

how do you like that 816?

Well, I guess its all right. The handle and ratcheting mechanism are great but the selection of bits was not totally ideal for me. It came with 3 square, 4 imperial hex, 5 torx, 2 phillips and 1 flat blade. I have no use for the square or hex, limited use for torx (only use tx20&25), very limited use for the flat blade and lots of use for the PH2 but virtually none for the PH3.

So, like always its a crapshoot when you buy a set with many bits, sockets, wrenches or whatever. You technically save some money but in the end some or even most of the tools are useless for you. In fact I would not buy the kit today if the handle is available separately.

But, like I said the handle is great. I can use it with my other bit kits so it has lots of potential - if I just would remember to use it more often.

This way its very usable if a thin and long shank is not needed:

And its quite short if I use a short bit directly to the handles bit holder, like this:

 

[firecracker]

Having been a carpenter for my living I had the very early type with the spinner
up against the handle, and it was 3times the diam of the shank so easy to spin.
Never to be seen again, I've had the old Yankee, not used since cordless drill/drives came into service. I have 6 wooden handled Stanley ratchet screwdrivers of the modern style. Oh and a couple of the plastic multi bit ones.

 

[Kracin]

the selection of bits was not totally ideal for me.

thats whats stopped me from buying some of the wera stuff too. they tend to specialize in sizes commonly found in europe. i don't blame em though, they aren't the most popular here, even though they should be. decently priced and top quality.

 

[TonyCH]

thats whats stopped me from buying some of the wera stuff too. they tend to specialize in sizes commonly found in europe. i don't blame em though, they aren't the most popular here, even though they should be. decently priced and top quality.

Well, I don't know. I believe the square bits are more like Canadian stuff (?) and the imperial hex USA or UK. Nobody in modern Europe uses any of that stuff. Maybe this kit I have is UK version? They still like to use some weird stuff

EDIT: just googled and yes, Brits use square drive too. So, yes my Wera kit is most likely the UK version.

According to what I have read the square drive screws are not that bad of an idea. We don't have those though - torx is popular here nowadays.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

Ratcheting screwdrivers speed up things a little bit, and they can be useful to have around. I use a t-handle one sometimes, I'm going to buy a Snap-On soon.

 

[Jim C.]

All the time. I've been using this one for the past 20 years, and it still has all of its original bits. It's one of my most frequently used screwdrivers.

Jim C.

 

[Sine Swept]

I've got the soft grip SO, short and long bit shanks and a 1/4 drive shank to top it off! If you are doing lots of interior trim removal this is what you need. Powered drivers can be tough on brittle plastic (especially plastic in older cars), especially if you do not adjust your torque settings.

I also have a Milwaukee ratcheting driver and was decently impressed for the $20.

 

[Farmall450]

I have both Snappy and Gearwrench variants...I use my normal Snappy and pistol grip Snappy the most, with T-handled gearwrench taking second. Very useful IMO

 

[McFarmer]

I have a snap-on and a Megapro. First is magnetic but I use the Megapro more, better bit storage.

 

[geojag]

I have a couple of xcelite ratcheting screwdrivers, one straight handle and one T handle. They seem to have some kind of friction engagement, not geared. I barely use them because you have to use their bits and I don't have a large assortment. I could definitely see it being handy in tight quarters though.

 

[whyNick?]

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

How is it I never heard of these (wire nut drivers)?? I went through a serious illness a couple of years ago and lost a lot of muscle mass. I've done a couple of wiring projects at home since then and I've found it tough to twist the wire nuts hard enough to get them secure, especially when using no 12 wire. I'll be ordering one of these asap!

On the OP's question, I use ratcheting screwdrivers all the time. My Snap On used to be my favorite but I recently purchased a GearWrench set that came with a straight handle and a T handle. The mechanism of the GearWrench is almost as good as the Snap On and with my strength issues I've found the larger straight handle and the T handle to be easier to use. Not to mention you can pick up a nice GearWrench driver set for under $20 if you watch Sears' website.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Here's mine. I had it for almost a year. I made a conscious effort to use it one day...it worked, but I prefer a standard driver or screw gun.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have several of the Snap-on ratcheting screwdrivers, don't use them constantly but they sure are nice!

 

[Kracin]

Well, I don't know. I believe the square bits are more like Canadian stuff (?) and the imperial hex USA or UK. Nobody in modern Europe uses any of that stuff. Maybe this kit I have is UK version? They still like to use some weird stuff

EDIT: just googled and yes, Brits use square drive too. So, yes my Wera kit is most likely the UK version.

According to what I have read the square drive screws are not that bad of an idea. We don't have those though - torx is popular here nowadays.

wulftec wrappers we have use pretty much all SICK sensors. those sensors are german made and are assembled with robertson (square) screws. for one example.

in america pretty much the only thing that comes as square drive are deck screws (for assembling exterior decks/patios on houses)

 

[Jsf721]

I have a WIlliams and a Snap on, they are equal except for the texture on the shaft.

Bought the snap on from a member here virtually new. I like them for certain jobs.

 

[SantaAna12]

I have the Williams, regular and stubby. I use the long a few times, but I find that it rolls away when I set it down. I have heard that the knurling is the only diff( like Jsf above). I have an old non-ratcheting Mac that I use just about as much. An old red handle mag with tools storage in the handle.

 

[Mazdaratti3]

do people still do this in 2014 with 800 lumen Cree headlamps that can be purchased for $36 including the 3400mAh rechargeable Li-ion batteries?

Link please

 

[defektes]

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

Ideal makes them under the twist a nut line. A few of the guys at work have them, and they like them.

 

[sonvolt]

I have a Craftsman one and rarely use it I usually just grab a standard one, maybe this thread will get my *** in gear.