Gauging Interest in New Screwdriver Set

[txvwnut]

I’d like to see what you’ve come up with design wise and cost per set. We all know there are a lot of options out there in this market but if you can walk the walk then let’s see what comes out. I might even buy a set.

 

[T45]

Screwdrivers are the absolute biggest waste of budge in a modern toolkit. I really cannot stress enough how little value for money there is in buying the Nth set of screwdrivers. I have multiple sets of drivers on handles, bits, sockets, and all of that just like everyone else here.

The problem really is that torx and hex are sucking the life and the budget out of slotter and cross point. At some stage the primitive screwdrivers just need to be "covered", but they need to be covered economically and with high quality. THe most use of my 3/8 flat driver is as an ad hoc pryar. But I still need that around...just in case.

This market has PB Swiss, a half dozen german companies, some very good companies out of japan, and the US aerospace providers like axpex and zepher...and what not. There is no point in my mind trying to be a small-business and jumping into these shark infested waters. Those are all very, very good companies that charge more or less in line with their quality.

If you want a screwdriver play, I would focus maybe on contractor work or homeowners who may be more open to it. In general, if you work on machined tooling or engines and what not, I really think there is already too much money in the box dedicated to various screw-driver paraphanalia.

 

[Jgt1942]

I do mainly woodworking and almost always use a driver that accepts 1/4" hex shaft. I purchased a set of drivers, I think from Amazon. I like the idea that as the tip gets smaller, e.g. a T25 vs. T10, the shaft also gets smaller. While it is a full set covering a wide range of tips (Torx, Phillips, etc.) I don't think the grade is as high as I'd like. I very seldom use a hand screwdriver thus I'd be interested in only tips that I can insert into my driver. Also were possible I only use Torx screws but they are hard to find in sizes less than #8. As I get into the smaller sizes, e.g. less than #6 I might lean toward a screwdriver but most likely would use a low power electric driver.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Well, I would maybe disagree a bit with the "premium" part. But you might be right. The market doesn't care what I think, nor necessarily about alloy types and the like. If it seems premium to the market, then, well, it is!

Right, and that's one of the advantages with my idea. How many times is it the handle that fails? Pretty rare. Handle's still perfectly good. Why pay for another one? Just buy a replacement shaft and pop it in!

Well, my original idea was actually more on the affordability side of things. See, yes you can get the $10 9-piece screwdriver sets, but then if you need a single driver, because you lost it, or it broke, or it's a funky type you haven't run into before, that single driver will often be almost $10 too -- as much as a whole new set!

Plus it won't match the rest of your set, and that is slightly annoying. You end up with a hodgepodge toolbox instead of a thing of beauty.

So if you could buy just the bare shaft for, say, $3, because you're saving the cost of the handle, and then plus it's all part of one integrated set... that would be cool!

But how to market it, I don't know. Maybe a Kickstarter campaign?

Warranty? If I'm buying heirloom quality I'm going to expect it not to fail or to at least be replaced free when it does.

Honestly, coming from a business background, I don't think you can make these and price them in a way to sell enough to be worth your while.

 

[straightcut]

Finally, lest you think I'm some catalogue reading gobshite with a tool fetish...

Not that there's anything wrong with that!

 

[Firebrick43]

I would pass.

I do gunsmithing/customization and use brownells magnabits. Guy screws need parallel ground tips and the right thickness and width. Is your set going to be 80+ bits of flats?

Otherwise I rarely use a screw driver anymore. I almost entirely use an impactor with bits.

 

[Drive]

Everyone, this thread has exceeded my expectations by far. It's been really informative and useful. Dave455, your advice was especially great, as was you're too, IndyGarage, but really everybody's posts were great.

Thanks for your help. I am definitely re-thinking the idea and approach. Maybe it's just not feasible in any way and a waste, just due to the nature of the screwdriver business and market, as some of you have suggested. But maybe with just the right combination of features it could be successful.

Many have expressed happiness and complete satisfaction with their screwdrivers. So....

Is there any dis-satisfaction you have experienced with screwdrivers? I am including in "screwdrivers" torx and hex and everything, of course. Not been able to turn a certain screw without disassembling the whole dashboard, for instance, because you would have needed a really long offset driver, something like that? And am I the only one in the world who feels like 1/4" hex is just too big and many times, not just a few, means that you can't get at the screw?

 

[HanShotFirst]

Have you tried the Brownell set of screwdrivers? I used to have a set, very nice stuff, they send you a grinder bit so if you snap the tip, you can fix it.

Yes I have used them for decades.

 

[Billythekid1]

Op I like removable shank drivers what about selling them per piece like a handle cost x amount a p1 Phillips shank cost one price and a p3 Phillips shank cost a little more than a p1 shank if you do it that way each person can design the perfect kit for the stuff that they work on not everyone has a giant tool box next to them a lot bring a small kit with them to each job think furniture assembly (in house)plumbers electricians along with your leather tool roll I would b in for one and think others would too all in the way u market it personally engraved could be another ad on...