Good, Solid-Performing Mid-Grade, Screwdrivers?

[Coach James]

Which Stanleys? I have used some of the US-made "100-Plus" drivers and thought they were great.

The ones with the black rubber handles that look like Kleins. They have been lousy...very soft tips. My old Stanleys, the ones with the hard black and yellow handles, I think they were called "Handyman" are actually really good. A couple friends have the 100 Plus and are also very happy with them.

Coach

 

[e30bradley]

WILLIAMS! check amazon 8464788904 different sets, all nicely priced.

 

[Trucky]

ditto on the Williams hard handles... awesome screwdrivers at a GOOD price if that's what you want

I have many screwdrivers from a lot of mfg's (No Snappy for me.. too rich for my blood).
Wera, Wiha, Cman (regular and Pro), Pratt-Read, SK, and a few others.

For sheer availability, I have found myself buying the Cman Pro sets when they go on a decent sale (5-10$ off) and I haven't been disappointed one bit. The local Sears is a 10 minute drive, so if I screw any of them up I have a backup set and I can go warranty it at my leisure.

For value, I would say a few sets of Pratt-Read will do you very well. They're a little cheaper than the Cman, and for me they're locally available as well.

 

[pipsters]

IMO screw drivers are a WEAR ITEM get something you can easily warranty...this means local not boutique like off the wall European and US brands, and this means brands that carry an unconditional no receipt required receipt IMO...

I own Williams hard handled screw drivers they are decent but honestly my regular Craftsman are fine as well. I try to use replaceable tips before anything else because the tips are the things that wear, $0.50 for a new tip or 2 weeks and $3 in postage to send a screw driver in to Williams...no brainer.

Get some that have hex bolsters on them though like the Cman Pros or Husky Pros (same product).

I guarantee you that some people posting in this thread have 300 screwdrivers perfectly arranged in a drawer that were taken out of the package (if that) and put in the drawer and that is the extent of their experiences. Just keep that in mind!

 

[jvitez]

Fuller Pro 300's. Made in Canada, sold here in Home Depot's and Rona stores (Canuck version of Lowe's).

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/fuller-7pc-screwdriver-set/944459

$20 for a 7 piece set. The handle size and shape is one of my favorites, despite my having a bunch of other driver types. The tips wear at a reasonable rate. I've got a set that's about 15 years old and still going strong with regular homeowner use.

And you get a Robertson too. Go Canada!

 

[NC-Fordguy]

crafty pro and klein have worked well for me

 

[Monte]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-WIHA-GE..._Automotive_Tools&hash=item20c77c7084&vxp=mtr

 

[Davefr]

Klein are junk these days. The tips are softer then warm butter.

Old Klein was good.

 

[Davefr]

If warranty and B&M availability is important just get some Craftmans.

If you want tough and good value then get Williams.

If you want tough and poor value get SO. (same as Williams but at a large price premium)

If you're a tool polisher and want boutique brands that are expensive, hard to warranty but have the cool factor then PB Swiss, Felo, and the W's are for you.

 

[CoryZ]

Since the OP says "occasional home mechanic" I wouldn't worry to much about warranty. We're just talking screw drivers here.

Yes, they wear out after awhile, but it's not like they break constantly if you're not abusing them.

I have a set of Wiha. Got them during the sales last fall. They're solid drivers and haven't had a problem with them. I really like the grips on them.

 

[SMKS]

If you're a tool polisher and want boutique brands that are expensive, hard to warranty but have the cool factor then PB Swiss, Felo, and the W's are for you.

I would agree with you, except for Wiha. They have a big USA presence and a distribution center in Minnesota that will handle warranty claims. It would be mail-in warranty, same as Williams.

http://www.wihatools.com/Marketing/warranty.htm

I don't have any of the high-dollar Wiha stuff, but I have these Wiha drivers. This set is under $20 on Amazon and I've been really impressed with it for the price. Made in Germany.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002FTA4A/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Here's a review of these drivers on Toolguyd.

 

[Monte]

boutique brands

What´s that ?

 

[shoturtle]

Trying to imply the german and european brands are sold in limited supply to keep their unique status in the US. That there is a certain cliental that goes for the Euro brands.

But in Europe, they are as common as craftsman, and are used by the everyday person.

 

[mrb]

i liked the Enderes screwdrivers. Still have one sitting around from probably 20 years ago. I tried to buy them about a year ago and they had temporarily discontinued them due to a supplier issue with the handles (pratt read had bought the company that makes the CA handles right before they went BK and everyone else who relied on handles got screwed) I guess they never got a new handle supplier. Too bad, i liked those drivers.

 

[lbgradwell]

I am a fan of Klein. However, based on reviews I'd sure like to hold a Felo

You live in Canada. You can hold a fellow any time you like. Hell, you can even marry him!

 

[gatewaysysop]

If warranty and B&M availability is important just get some Craftmans.

If you want tough and good value then get Williams.

If you want tough and poor value get SO. (same as Williams but at a large price premium)

If you're a tool polisher and want boutique brands that are expensive, hard to warranty but have the cool factor then PB Swiss, Felo, and the W's are for you.

Well, the first two lines seem helpful, but the last two remarks seem more like trolling to me. To each his own, I guess.

Personally, I would have recommended Klein up until recently, as the quality seems to be on a downward path, which several people have already mentioned. The drivers I have have been fine for me, but they were all purchased a few years ago at least, so it's probably not a good yardstick for today's quality.

I've had good luck with Craftsman pro, but believe the OP is looking for a non soft-grip handle, so that may not be the ticket either. In that case, I second some of the Wiha and Williams offerings. I have Wiha torx drivers in hard handle and they are outstanding. Also, if you're still interested in Felo or want to see them up close, most Fry's Electronics carry some of the basic sets and they were reasonably priced last time I looked at them.

Hope that helps?

 

[Davefr]

Well, the first two lines seem helpful, but the last two remarks seem more like trolling to me. To each his own, I guess.

No trolling intended. I'm just passing on my experience. I have just about every PB Swiss screwdriver made.

The problem with these "boutique" screwdrivers like PB Swiss and others is that they are:
1. Hard (or impossible) to find locally
2. Generally pretty expensive
3. Tips aren't any more immune to getting damaged then most other good grade screwdrivers.
4. If you want to replace an individual screwdriver it'll be very expensive. (shipping costs, min. order charges and you might not even be able to find a replacement outside of a set)
5. If you want to warranty one that can be even more of a hassle. (ex: PB Swiss)

I say buy decent screwdrivers locally and replace them individually when they get damaged or worn out. I view them as a consumable if you really use them. (vs. polish them).

 

[matthew]

For anyone who regularly uses screwdrivers, I think they can justify Wera / Felo / Williams / Witte if they want them. $25 or so is very affordable, not much more than the basic Stanley, Craftsman or Pratt-Read, and screwdrivers are among the most basic and most important tools to own, so a few dollars extra isn't wasted on just sitting unused in the toolbox forwever. And IMO the hassle of more difficult warranty replacement is probably not as much of a concern, the average non-professional user will take years to wear them out, by which time you might not get a matching replacement anyways, so at that point buy a non-matching replacement locally, or heck this is GJ, buy another set for fun...

There's a bricks & mortar place about an hour away from me that carries Felo, I plan to pick up a few when I get a chance. My Dad has some Felo's, and they're pretty much my favourites I've ever used. His Wiha precision drivers are also fantastic.

 

[shoturtle]

No trolling intended. I'm just passing on my experience. I have just about every PB Swiss screwdriver made.

The problem with these "boutique" screwdrivers like PB Swiss and others is that they are:
1. Hard (or impossible) to find locally
2. Generally pretty expensive
3. Tips aren't any more immune to getting damaged then most other good grade screwdrivers.
4. If you want to replace an individual screwdriver it'll be very expensive. (shipping costs, min. order charges and you might not even be able to find a replacement outside of a set)
5. If you want to warranty one that can be even more of a hassle. (ex: PB Swiss)

I say buy decent screwdrivers locally and replace them individually when they get damaged or worn out. I view them as a consumable if you really use them. (vs. polish them).

Unless you are buying craftsman, husky pro, or kolbalt. You going to run into the shipping cost for any other brand. As only the store brands have simple warranty without shipping.

Wiha, felo, pb swiss you can get every single size replace just like other us brands, excluding the chain brands. Just send them to the importer, like you would with klein, greenlee, pratt and reed to the manufacture.

I have been using wiha for well over 15 years. And have never had any issues with getting a replacement when they wear out. As all screw drivers do wear out over time. Only had to replace 1 Phillips in 15 year. But that was the one I used most, and that was like 2 years ago. So a good quality tip will last a long time. I replace the whole set before I even wore out other drivers form my older wiha set because I wanted the newer handles.

 

[jvitez]

How could I forget Harry Epstein? They have Pratt & Read, plus Wilde, in both Phillips and slotted. You can mix & match to get exactly what you want, and they show up at your door. Excellent!

http://store.harryepstein.com/merch...CTGY&Store_Code=1930&Category_Code=PhillipsSD

I bought a selection of Wilde screwdrivers to put in my travel trailer's tool bag. They seem about the same quality as the Canadian made Fuller's I posted about before, ie very good for the price, perfect for homeowner use as the OP desires.

 

[John316]

Crummy screwdrivers need to be replaced often. I have been cracking on these daily since December:

Especially the #2 and that sucker still looks brand new. It has been used for hundreds and hundreds of fasteners and I can see no visible signs of wear to the tip.

For 25+ years I have used just about every major brand of screwdriver and I believe these Whia drivers have the hardest tips I have used. For a shade tree mechanic or homeowner I doubt you would ever need to warranty them.

The best, most convenient warranty scenario is not needing to use it.

 

[TwoInch]

Went for years totally happy with Craftsman, then joined Garage Journal...

 

[M. Blue 240]

Went for years totally happy with Craftsman, then joined Garage Journal...

My standards were incredibly low until I joined gj...what was I thinking.


I'm using older Kobalt drivers, mixed in with hand-me-downs from Klein, CM, Cresent, Xcelite and a few others. My Kobalts are 5-ish years old and seem to be on par with cm.

On any of my tools I stay away from soft handles. I love working on old cars and old cars are covered in oil and road grime. My tools with soft or rubber grips are always dirty. I'm looking to get Wera Kraftform drivers as my next set. I like the grenade style grip and hard handles. Then I'll likely hunt down used cm drivers to supplement what I'm still missing. If Wera didn't grab my attention I'd likely end up with Williams.

 

[camarotoolman]

Go to some yard sales, I never pay more than $1.00 for crapsman, then take them to Sears and get new ones. Sometimes you can find SO mac and other usa cheap too.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

i picked up some hard handle gear wrench screwdrivers from fastnel a few weeks ago and i like them so far

 

[rocco]

I bought sOme cman pro's a while back, they are awesome for the money.

 

[Davefr]

I bought some cman pro's a while back, they are awesome for the money.

I agree. I generally don't care for CM but there's a lot to be said for these screwdrivers.

- They're a "top shelf" quality screwdriver
- You can buy them online or locally
- You can buy them individually or in sets
- They're good value and go on sale
- They're easy to replace (either warranty or otherwise)
- Made in USA

They just don't get the respect they deserve because they lack that "cool" factor.

 

[SMKS]

I bought sOme cman pro's a while back, they are awesome for the money.

I also like the new Craftsman Pro drivers.

 

[HandyManny]

I'm an occasional home mechanic looking to replenish my modest** tool chest and am looking for guidance on where to buy a good, basic set of screwdrivers.

In looking around, I'm not finding much that looks like good, mid-range quality, reasonably priced and without retarded rubber overmolded or just plain weird handles.

I have some old USA-made Craftsman and USA-made Master Mechanic screwdrivers that I like, but neither Sears nor True Value seem to sell drivers this good anymore. I did sort of like the old Craftsman Pro screwdrivers with the all-black handles, but they are discontinued. Do not like the current red/black series handles.

I'm not too impressed generally with Stanley, ACE, Husky or their ilk, though the ACE Pro Series of screwdrivers strongly resemble Klein in fit, finish, quality control and appearance. I am considering those.

Are the Kobalt screwdrivers from Lowes any good? Harbor Freight? (doubtful)

Klein Tools perhaps? Channel Lock? I've no experience with either of them.

Any suggestions?



**Please don't chime in about Snap-On and the other high-end tool makers and your arguments for the long-term value of higher-priced tools. I'm interested in mid-grade/good value, not top-of-the-line. Deal with it.

Don't waste your money on Klein. I don't know how they are regarded as a pro grade screwdriver. The tips are too noticeable soft compared to other drivers.

Stanley 100 Plus were a great indudtrial grade screwdriver at one time, but one thing I've seen common on all the new makes is the shafts are not set in straight, seem cantered or crooked. Just not the same standard as they used to be.

Both of those should be an indication that Made in USA doesn't always mean high quality.

The basic clear handled Craftsman (USA) screwdrivers have served me well over the years, but mine are several years old. For the money I like them.

Stanley also still makes some of thier other basic screwdrivers here in USA and they seem to be fair pirced. Check them out.

 

[wrh3]

Craftsman Pro screwdriver sets on sale (not a lot but a bit of savings) now as well, I picked some up yesterday and have to agree that they are nice for the money.

Also have the Wiha MicroFinish that I think are the best, easy to grip with oil/grease on hands and durable- these were a great deal last year when they were closing out the black ones to make room for the pink/purple/black replacements.

 

[amolaver]

I am really please with these
bigger sets are available

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002NH5X2I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

have to +1 this. great quality tips, love the hard handles, and durable. i got the two separate big selections of flat and phillips, but in retrospect, that smaller combo grouping would have covered me for almost everything i do. hell, i use the giant flat blade to get grease out of a tube for non-zerk applications

ahm

 

[Mike007]

Klein are junk these days. The tips are softer then warm butter.

Old Klein was good.

Ive used Kleins in my trade forever. I really like em, but I recently finally gave up on them. It's true, the tips are now horrible. I wrecked one in a few short months recently.

 

[bigbearcraig]

Just ordered some Wiha from Amazon. Really never liked my Cman.

 

[KinzeMech]

For serious use, I like my Craftsman Professional screwdrivers. They're tough, I haven't broken one yet, regardless of screwing, chiseling, prying, or beating.

For recreational use, Stanley's FatMax are tough to beat. Cheap, available everywhere (walmart), and a good comfortable grip. Ugly as **** on a stick, though.

 

[wmartin]

I'm getting lured into an old thread, but I think the best deal for non-greasy work is these:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XDNSQ2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

18 bucks. Free shipping.

 

[Toolhorder]

The Witte Napa rebrands seem like a good deal.

 

[Trucky]

Just bought a 6 piece SK set off Amazon, got it today. I'm going to put these to work... hopefully the quality is still there.

 

[Jtoddaz]

Has anyone used the Bahco thru blade screwdrivers? I guess they're not really mid priced, but they look awesome, especially the driving end caps.

 

[e30bradley]

wera, whia, williams..

 

[Exceller8]

Go to some yard sales, I never pay more than $1.00 for crapsman, then take them to Sears and get new ones. Sometimes you can find SO mac and other usa cheap too.

I agree 100%! I've been finding some great quality screwdrivers for next to nothing. Yes, there's a ton of junk out there but half the fun is looking.