How to replace Snap On Hard Handle screwdriver blades?

[wxm]

Called Snap On today for the two broken tips of the hard handle screwdrivers and have the new blade on the way. But I have never tried to replace the blade before. Anyway knows how-to?

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Hold handle on vice. Turn shaft with wrench. You will get the idea when you get the shaft.

 

[usdemt]

Hold handle on vice. Turn shaft with wrench. You will get the idea when you get the shaft.

Whatever you do, don't do this or you will ruin your handle. The blades have tabs that keep the shaft from spinning. Turning the blade against the tabs will strip out the handle, if you can even turn it.

Clamp the bad blade in a vice. Then use a prybar to pry the handle straight up and off the shaft. I use a flare nut wrench as a "bushing"n in between the pry bar tip and the handle to avoid damaging the handle but a socket or washer, or many different things will work to protect the handle. I use my jawhorse to then press the new blade in, but you could get by just hammering it down with a mallet too I would think.just don't damage your new tip when you do it.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Oh sorry. haha

that's what I heard how it's done.

 

[MrMark]

The snap on man clamps the blade in a vise and beats the handle off by beating on a wrench placed on the handle. He then puts the new blade in the vise and beats the handle on with a hammer. Neither operation is optimal, obviously. Use the above-noted prybar method. Clamp the blade in the vise using an old belt to protect the new blade. Beat the handle on with a soft face mallet.

Moose posted a tutorial on doing this and it was quite good.

 

[bgott]

My retired Snap-on guy used to beat 'em off and on with a hammer. The last few years he had a fixture in his truck that used a small bottle jack to remove the handle. I never remembered to take my camera to get a picture, I had wanted to post it as a " What is it?" thread.

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

The last few years he had a fixture in his truck that used a small bottle jack to remove the handle.

this is how all mine have been done

 

[MoToys]

The snap on man clamps the blade in a vise and beats the handle off by beating on a wrench placed on the handle. He then puts the new blade in the vise and beats the handle on with a hammer. Neither operation is optimal, obviously. Use the above-noted prybar method. Clamp the blade in the vise using an old belt to protect the new blade. Beat the handle on with a soft face mallet.

Moose posted a tutorial on doing this and it was quite good.

My snap-on guy chipped a handle once beating it off with the wrench. I remove all my drvers now and just swap the blade with him.

this is how all mine have been done

Picture of the aparis please.

 

[powertrip]

I don't for the life of me understand this practice of swaping out blades/handles. Seems like a cheap way of doing business to me. I really like the screwdrivers but not to replace the whole thing when you break a tip is insane. Especially with the price they charge. Not saying that craftsman screwdrivers are better, but they will replace the whole screwdriver no questions asked ( even HF replaces the whole screwdriver no questions asked). I believe if all the professionals and hobbists that use/love snapon screwdrivers went on an email campaign to stop this out of date practice of swapping out blades/handles they might change their warranty policy on this. Just seems *** backwards to me and the customer ends up saying "WTF I paid X$ for these screwdrivers and they can't even replace they whole thing, F-this." I mean really how much do plastic handles really cost?

 

[warmpancakes]

if they swap the driver assembly then a 2 year old set wont match

 

[whelenfan]

I suppose that if I were comfortable with my drivers' handles and had them for years, I too would want to keep the handles and just get new blades. I don't turn wrenches for a living though.

 

[DRhodes]

I don't for the life of me understand this practice of swaping out blades/handles. Seems like a cheap way of doing business to me. I really like the screwdrivers but not to replace the whole thing when you break a tip is insane. Especially with the price they charge. Not saying that craftsman screwdrivers are better, but they will replace the whole screwdriver no questions asked ( even HF replaces the whole screwdriver no questions asked). I believe if all the professionals and hobbists that use/love snapon screwdrivers went on an email campaign to stop this out of date practice of swapping out blades/handles they might change their warranty policy on this. Just seems *** backwards to me and the customer ends up saying "WTF I paid X$ for these screwdrivers and they can't even replace they whole thing, F-this." I mean really how much do plastic handles really cost?

They will replace the whole driver if you like. When you buy a matching set though and they change handle designs you would only want the blade replaced so you can keep your matching handles in tact.

 

[powertrip]

They will replace the whole driver if you like. When you buy a matching set though and they change handle designs you would only want the blade replaced so you can keep your matching handles in tact.

Thats good to know. I stand corrected.

 

[Hiball]

There is a Thread around here somewhere showing how to do it with a vise and a 2x4 and a Hammer.

 

[walrus]

My Snap On guy clamps the shaft in a vise and uses a pry bar against the vise and the bottom of the handle, prys it right off

 

[powertrip]

Do they use some kind of glue on ths new shafts

 

[Honda guy]

I don't for the life of me understand this practice of swaping out blades/handles. Seems like a cheap way of doing business to me. I really like the screwdrivers but not to replace the whole thing when you break a tip is insane. Especially with the price they charge. Not saying that craftsman screwdrivers are better, but they will replace the whole screwdriver no questions asked ( even HF replaces the whole screwdriver no questions asked). I believe if all the professionals and hobbists that use/love snapon screwdrivers went on an email campaign to stop this out of date practice of swapping out blades/handles they might change their warranty policy on this. Just seems *** backwards to me and the customer ends up saying "WTF I paid X$ for these screwdrivers and they can't even replace they whole thing, F-this." I mean really how much do plastic handles really cost?

Our Matco guy says "Matco gives you the whole scredriver, and Snap-on just gives you the shaft".

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

Picture of the aparis please.

Unfortunately the Snap On guy that came to our shop passed on recently. Maybe MrShaun or Chadster1 can post up a pic if they have this tool on their truck

 

[Sancho]

I have a handful of chicom deepwells that I'll put over the shaft. The trick is finding the size larger than the shaft but still smaller than the "cup" in the handle. Then a prybar and vise and its done.

For installation I use a pass through socket and extension and gently press the shaft back in.

If you dont want to screw up your handlea absolutely do not try and unthread them or you will destroy the handle

 

[SlickRick2]

I know this is a very old thread, but here's what I did for two Phillips drivers. The first driver was one I got from ebay because I wanted an extra to keep in the car and wanted the handles to match my set. I also bought two new Snap On Phillips blades from ebay.

I used a 21mm socket to tap the handle off as in the first photo. The handle moved a little, but then wouldn't budge so I sprayed a little Nano penetrating fluid around the blade base and let it soak a couple days. Then it came off with no trouble. My Phillips from the late '60s came off with no trouble.

To install the new blade, I used a 7/16" socket and just rested the socket on the vise (didn't clamp the blade). Tapped it on with a rubber mallet, being careful to line up the tabs of the blade with the slots in the handle. Went right on both times.

 

[ssdave]

The last two I warranted, the rep on the phone wanted to send me new screwdrivers, was surprised when I wanted to keep my old black hard handles instead. But, they sent out two blades without question when I said that's what I wanted.

I use two lady slipper bars with the blade clamped in a vise to remove the blade. Then, put the tip on a 2x4, and tap the handle on with a rubber mallet. Short ones i press in with the vise instead.

 

[rick carpenter]

You'd think a new blade would just snap on...