geartow
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Which are the best hf screw drivers to get? I have read some are decent. But which set is it ?
hf screw drivers
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Fedwrench
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Coach James
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I have screwdrivers from several brands and those HF drivers work the best of all. Doesn't make sense, but they do.
Coach
lightning02
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x2 on these, i have set of them. very nice for the money
Wanna Ride
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Agreed, those are pretty good. I personally don't use them in my tools at home. But I buy them for the guys at work, and they hold up well.
kctyphoon
Banned
What they said..
popparoach
Banned
what he said.
what he and they said. I wish they made a larger assortment of sizes.
sberry
Banned
I only use common sizes, selection not a big deal. But at well under 2$ how bad can you get screwed? Certainly takes the pain out of replacing worn out stuff.
Ive picked a couple of these up at the flea market and they seem to be pretty good. The angle the Phillips are ground on fit the screws better than a lot of others.
http://www.harborfreight.com/22-pc-screwdriver-set-69420.html
A few in this set have the hex on the shank too.
http://www.harborfreight.com/22-pc-screwdriver-set-69420.html
A few in this set have the hex on the shank too.
pendragon1998
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I prefer them to my Craftsman pros.
Mrmontebuilder
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I am going to get a set of these tomorrow to keep in my truck. I have the freebie black handle ones and the other 7 piece black and yellow set and have zero can complaints about how either set has worked for me. Big bonus is not feeling bad if I lose one at the money these are going to cost me.
Mrmontebuilder
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Winlinmac- work with me for about half hour and you will realize I need about 100 screwdrivers since I lose the one I am using every 15 minutes LOL. I have more Craftsman than I can count but they are no longer my go to ones, the HF black handle freebies and my SO ratchet screwdriver are used on 99% of what I do anymore.
PSYKO_Inc
Well-known member
From what you guys are saying, I'm very tempted to get a set for the junkyard bag. Currently have a set of the black HF drivers in the bag but I'm not really a fan of them. At home I typically use Wera or my Snap On ratcheting screwdriver. Also have a drawer full of Craftsman, Stanley, and other miscellaneous/no name drivers that I will sometimes use/abuse if there a risk of damage since I can just chuck it in the trash afterwards and not feel bad about it.
Which is why I've intentionally scattered the free HF screwdriver sets all over the place. I think over the months, I've scored over '8' of those free sets and not one disappoints me. 
Where are these higher quality sets (with the rubber grips) made in?
Where are these higher quality sets (with the rubber grips) made in?
bwringer
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The free black ones are indeed pretty crappy, but yeah, the set linked above is weirdly good. I have no idea how or why.
HF also has a set with translucent yellow handles with a strange black motorcycle grip overmold. They look like absolute junk but down at the tips where it counts they are also bizarrely excellent.
But overall, I'd get the first set because the handles are much better.
It's the strangest damn thing.
HF also has a set with translucent yellow handles with a strange black motorcycle grip overmold. They look like absolute junk but down at the tips where it counts they are also bizarrely excellent.
But overall, I'd get the first set because the handles are much better.
It's the strangest damn thing.
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kctyphoon
Banned
Yeah you can't compare the free black handle sets to these. They are night and day difference. I believe these sets also have a magnetic tip if I remember correctly.. Also - if you goto the store, under the peg hooks there are loose screwdrivers sold. They have a matching large flat head that is $1.99 I think.. I would buy that also.. I have a drawer filled with USA craftsman but I still reach for the HF set first. The handles are very ergonomic, comfortable, and they just work really good. I might actually buy 2 more sets to keep on the work trucks. They are definitely at the top, of being one of the great surprises in that store. The composite ratchets are another. I've been using 4 of 1/4" composites at work with the multi colored deep metric sockets at work for years.
lightning02
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as ****** as the free black screwdrivers are they have improved them, not sure if anyone has compared the older sets to the newer ones. even the handles are better. not saying there "good" but there alot better then the older ones where and still cant be it being free. definitely a good set to keep around the house inside for little jobs. the newer set that is.
Super Mech
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I have to agree with everyone here that the 8pc that was linked is very good. In all honesty it's probably the best keep secret that HF has. Plus it has a pre-civil war price tag.
Mechanical Noise
Well-known member
The Pittsburgh Pro set is pretty good. I wonder if the "phillips" drivers are actually ground to the JIS standard? They fit the screws on my Japanese motorcycle quite well.
As an aside, I bought an 8 piece set of screwdrivers at the Sears Outlet center maybe 3 years ago. KR Tools brand -- Pro Series. Apparently some sort of Sears brand, it says Sears 13923 above the bar code on the bottom of the package. These screwdrivers have what look like the same shanks as the Pittsburgh Pros. Good fits, hard tips. The set was only $3.00!
The rest of the KR Tools stuff seems to just be cheap tools at a cheap price.
As an aside, I bought an 8 piece set of screwdrivers at the Sears Outlet center maybe 3 years ago. KR Tools brand -- Pro Series. Apparently some sort of Sears brand, it says Sears 13923 above the bar code on the bottom of the package. These screwdrivers have what look like the same shanks as the Pittsburgh Pros. Good fits, hard tips. The set was only $3.00!
The rest of the KR Tools stuff seems to just be cheap tools at a cheap price.
wow, I am 180 degrees opposite on that. the old black freebies were surprisingly good. I can't stand the new ones. they are softer tips, and the smaller handle is uncomfortable and just looks noticeably cheap. I dislike the new ones so much I don't even bother getting them anymore to giveaway, just stick with the flashlights and tarps now...
bcradio
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I have a set as well and while they are very durable, they certainly don't work the best. Their fitment is mediocre at best.
lightning02
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iv had the opposite experience. weird. the flashlights are hit and miss as well. just a few weeks ago i got one that didnt work. thats happened to me 2 or 3 times with them. tarps are good tho. guess you cant complain much for free junk. the magnet trays probably has to be the best free thing they ever offered, iv had 5 of them for some years and they all have helped up very well.
I always test the flashlights before I grab one, and always at eye level, the ones at the top or shoved behind---may be much older than the fresh stock...I have an entire case of the larger round magnetic trays, the ones int he cardboard box, before they switched to the smaller ones in the blister pack. they are both good but I like the larger ones better. when I can, I get the blue multi-LED lights instead of the black aluminum ones. I have 8 of those now. The aluminum round ones, BTW, fit scope rings perfectly and can be used on a ghetto rifle build, so that's a bonus...
The Pittsburg Pro screwdrivers are fantastic. I need to pick up another set.
I also have a set of these that I like quite a bit. They're a Snap-On Instinct knock off. There's a couple Torx drivers in this set too.
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/screwdrivers/33-pc-comfort-grip-screwdriver-set-61255.html
I also have a set of these that I like quite a bit. They're a Snap-On Instinct knock off. There's a couple Torx drivers in this set too.
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/screwdrivers/33-pc-comfort-grip-screwdriver-set-61255.html
lightning02
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That would make sense. Most of the time my gf use to pick out the free things bc she used them other then the trays. We are no longer together lol
kctyphoon
Banned
I was thinking about it, and I gotta say these screwdrivers would probably be the "best buy" I ever got at HF. I have some other things I'd call really good for the money, but I don't think you'd ever spend the $7 (or whatever it cost) and find a better screwdriver set than these.
If the handles were a little more professional looking, I think if most people spent $29 on them being sold under a different brand name, people would still say they were worth it.
If the handles were a little more professional looking, I think if most people spent $29 on them being sold under a different brand name, people would still say they were worth it.
How many screwdrivers do we really need?
I'm beginning to like the Williams Set I received recently. The use of my Craftsman set is slowly heading down to memory lane.
I don't have the hf screwdrivers pictured but I mays grab a set to have some more around.
Two years ago I got the black handled Williams screwdrivers, they are in face the same as snap on hard handles with a black handle with some texture instead of smooth. I got the 8pc set for something like 40$ and those along with a set of gearwrench 60 tooth ratchets started me down the road of "if I'm going to use it more than once I'm not suffering with a cheap tool".
I never got the hype of "expensive" screwdrivers until I used one. I've yet to strip anything with them, whereas the cheap craftsman and Stanley's I had stripped more than they took out, and have gotten out pre-damaged stuff with little fuss at first glance I had no hope for. I also never understood why anyone would spend so much on "uncomfortable" hard handled screwdrivers till I tried them. They're grippier than you think, don't hurt your hands like they appear they would, and let you exert way more force than you think something without a cushion would allow.
I know they're 4x the cost but trust me when I tell you they're worth it.
But once again I might grab a set of these at 10$ for Junkers.
bwringer
Well-known member
I've noticed that too. I have an actual set of JIS screwdrivers, but the HF screwdrivers also fit these screws perfectly.
I guess it makes sense that screwdrivers made in Taiwan would fit Asian screws.
I've been using my Vaco 7 piece set since I got them 2 weeks ago. I bought them as new old stock off ebay for $20. Klein bought Vaco a while back. I don't know if my set was made before or after Klein bought them.
But those HF Pro ones are nice. I had a set of those that I ended up giving to the nephew along with some other tools. The red HF Pro 33 piece set (red handled) are nice too, and you get some torx drivers and a handle/bits in the set as well.
http://www.harborfreight.com/33-pc-comfort-grip-screwdriver-set-61255.html
But those HF Pro ones are nice. I had a set of those that I ended up giving to the nephew along with some other tools. The red HF Pro 33 piece set (red handled) are nice too, and you get some torx drivers and a handle/bits in the set as well.
http://www.harborfreight.com/33-pc-comfort-grip-screwdriver-set-61255.html
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fastbike02
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I also prefer the hf over my cman professional.... but with the quality of craftsman now days i find myself using a lot more hf tools.... the plastic grip ratchets have become my go to item when working on stuff at home
Mechanical Noise
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I don't know why all phillips screwdrivers aren't ground like that. The sharper interior corners work fine with either type screw. A driver with more rounded interior corners just buggers up the Japanese screws.
But, as far as that goes, I don't know why old school phillips screws are still around, either.
Mpower5266
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The Pittsburgh pros are seriously good. I have a set in every car I own.