Looking for a nice screw driver set
- Thread starter jstroede
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haveissues
Well-known member
Not sure if I could bring myself to spend $50 on a set of 8 screwdrivers from harbor freight. Lots of good made in europe and usa choices at that price point.
decableguy2000
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Like most here I started with WF Craftsman. I than got some cushion grip Craftsman made by Pratt- Reed, these were my go to for a long lime and held well. They now can be found at Lowes under the Ideal brand. I also have tons of Klein for work and in my home box. Recently purchased Vessel Megadora. I have other specialty allen, torx sets from Tekton, Pratt-Reed, and Wila.
There will never be one perfect screwdriver for every one, for every job.
There will never be one perfect screwdriver for every one, for every job.
Snapped-off
Well-known member
I've got wera and the red/black craftsman pros. The weras were a SS gift here several years ago, and really nice. Still going strong. The cman pros are my favorite drivers. They're the only reason I haven't bought a snapon set.
I'd take a look at the black hard handle williams too.
I'd take a look at the black hard handle williams too.
nadogail
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I have had a lot of screwdrivers over the years; but I am really liking my Stanley Fat Fax screwdrivers.
Bubba Fett
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My Recommendations:
Williams Hard Handle. Same as Snap-On hard handle, and made in the same factory, but much cheaper. They only come in black, though.
Klein standalone drivers are made in USA and are popular among electricians. Some of their multi-bit driver that are made in Tawian, but they are still good.
Vaco is a Klein subsidiary. They do not have the rubber over-grip, and the handles are a bit oversized for more torque.
Ideal sells comfort-grip drivers at Lowe's over in the electrical section. USA-made, and I think the grips are more comfortable the Kleins.
Channellock acetate screwdrivers are also quite good (USA made by Ideal).
The new SBD Craftsman acetate handle drivers made in Taiwan are actually pretty good. They tips fit better than the old Western Forge ones in my opinion.
Wiha. My go-to brand for precision drivers, but their full size drivers are really good.
I like the old Ideal/Pratt-Read drivers sold under various brands (Master Mechanic, Masterforce, Martin, Wright, Wilde, Armstrong, SK, etc.) but these are now either no longer available or have been replaced with inferior imports.
I also like the old Stanley 100-plus screwdrivers. If you happen to find some at yard sales, etc, get them. Nearly indestructible. Same with old Proto screwdrivers.
Felo, Wera, Vessel, and Proto Duratech are all very good as well.
Williams Hard Handle. Same as Snap-On hard handle, and made in the same factory, but much cheaper. They only come in black, though.
Klein standalone drivers are made in USA and are popular among electricians. Some of their multi-bit driver that are made in Tawian, but they are still good.
Vaco is a Klein subsidiary. They do not have the rubber over-grip, and the handles are a bit oversized for more torque.
Ideal sells comfort-grip drivers at Lowe's over in the electrical section. USA-made, and I think the grips are more comfortable the Kleins.
Channellock acetate screwdrivers are also quite good (USA made by Ideal).
The new SBD Craftsman acetate handle drivers made in Taiwan are actually pretty good. They tips fit better than the old Western Forge ones in my opinion.
Wiha. My go-to brand for precision drivers, but their full size drivers are really good.
I like the old Ideal/Pratt-Read drivers sold under various brands (Master Mechanic, Masterforce, Martin, Wright, Wilde, Armstrong, SK, etc.) but these are now either no longer available or have been replaced with inferior imports.
I also like the old Stanley 100-plus screwdrivers. If you happen to find some at yard sales, etc, get them. Nearly indestructible. Same with old Proto screwdrivers.
Felo, Wera, Vessel, and Proto Duratech are all very good as well.
Just to mention ..... I stumbled across the 69 pc. Jeg's sets a couple years ago. Liked the first one so much I bought a second ... now still under $22. I know ... not fancy but they work well.
https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/80755/10002/-1
https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/80755/10002/-1
Kscardsfan
Well-known member
Careful. It can be hell on your finances.
Iridium rand
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Really comes down to personal preference, almost every tool manufacturer on the planet makes them and aside from the cheapest **** out there, the biggest or only difference between most of them is the handle styles which again, is 100% subjective what best fits your hands. on rare occasion you find some with special features that may appeal to you like the ones below:
my favorite is definitely wera, the lasertips are VERY effective at gripping screws that want to slip with every other driver, plus the chiseldrivers are quite useful but the handles are particularly divisive, they’re my favorite handles hands down but others hate them. Also Haven’t tried vessel impactas yet but the impact driver-lite feature sounds useful.
Lastly if it matters to you, it’s nice to have a hex or square shank so you can put a wrench on it, but I only ever use that for flatheads since philips can’t take that much force anyways and I usually use torx/hex bits in a bit ratchet rather than fixed blade
my favorite is definitely wera, the lasertips are VERY effective at gripping screws that want to slip with every other driver, plus the chiseldrivers are quite useful but the handles are particularly divisive, they’re my favorite handles hands down but others hate them. Also Haven’t tried vessel impactas yet but the impact driver-lite feature sounds useful.
Lastly if it matters to you, it’s nice to have a hex or square shank so you can put a wrench on it, but I only ever use that for flatheads since philips can’t take that much force anyways and I usually use torx/hex bits in a bit ratchet rather than fixed blade
I love all the ideas guys. I use them for general shop and auto use. I know the handles are a bit subjective. All of these European brands are a little out of my wheel house, but it seems from the consensus that they make pretty good products. Now I just have to find a set for a decent price that fills the need. I swear I have a whole drawer full right now, but never seem to have exactly what I need.
John
John
CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
Screwdrivers are so hard to recommend because there are so many variables. I did what a lot of the posters here have done and bought a bunch of PH #2s to test out the brands. I dig the tri-lobe feature of my Tekton and Witte screwdrivers. I love the laser tip of my Wera. I'm debating if I want to try the French-made Craftsman V-series just because I have no French tools and now I may go for those Williams too. Maybe you could go the same route, OP? Buy a few drivers from the various manufacturers and that way you get a good feel and you can pick and choose which sizes. A lot of the screwdriver sets have a ton of slotted drivers that I never use anymore.
woody 73
Well-known member
Fun story that happened to me this past week in that my wife and I braved the covid crowd and we went to a small antique mall. Well after turning the corner of the mall I found a box of 10 screwdrivers for $5.00 dollars, oh man I could not get my money out fast enough to pay for that box of screwdrivers...
I guess what I am saying is for the op to try as many brands as possible and find one they like, if you cannot find them used; then pick a few of the above-mentioned screwdrivers and buy a few (not full sets in case you hate them) and give them a good work out.
If you need any information about some of the brands already posted above, just look under my old posts, happy hunting.
I guess what I am saying is for the op to try as many brands as possible and find one they like, if you cannot find them used; then pick a few of the above-mentioned screwdrivers and buy a few (not full sets in case you hate them) and give them a good work out.
If you need any information about some of the brands already posted above, just look under my old posts, happy hunting.
seber
Well-known member
Clean it with a solvent and spray a clear finish. I prefer polyurethane.
javyLSU
Well-known member
Williams 100P-8MD. Snap-on USA black hard handle screwdrivers at a little more than 1/4 of the price off the truck:
I beg to differ. Cheap screwdrivers have very brittle ends, soft shanks and sometimes they simply are not machined right-resulting in easier cam-out of the fastener head. Im not even talking dollar store stuff either..
rawen2
Well-known member
Thanks for the tip. Will have to give it a try.
Renegade1LI
Well-known member
I was just in lowes, the acetate handle craftsman screwdrivers are made in Taiwan and they look pretty decent. For the money and warranty you really can’t go wrong, I’m going to pick up a few sets for work, my guys will definitely put them to the test.
MrPink
Well-known member
I have sets from Snap-on, Craftsman, Stanley, MAC, and now the Horusdy from Amazon, My mother got me them for Christmas. I needed a new set and the Vessel ones I really wanted were double, almost triple these as far as cost and quality but, she picked them out. They are pretty decent for what they are, here is the link.
www.amazon.com/HORUSDY-44-Piece-Magnetic-Screwdriver-Go-Thru/dp/B07YQNGWX2/ref=sr_1_19?crid=2UXKHLGJQIDR6&keywords=horsey+screwdriver+set&qid=1642624596&sprefix=hoursey+screwdriver+set%2Caps%2C778&sr=8-19
www.amazon.com/HORUSDY-44-Piece-Magnetic-Screwdriver-Go-Thru/dp/B07YQNGWX2/ref=sr_1_19?crid=2UXKHLGJQIDR6&keywords=horsey+screwdriver+set&qid=1642624596&sprefix=hoursey+screwdriver+set%2Caps%2C778&sr=8-19
johnson_n
Member
I have a couple Vessel philips and a ball grip if you want to feel before purchasing some (in KC). I had the Wiha picofinish set but like these better. I also have some PB Swiss soft grip but they may be outside of budget of you're looking to get a complete set.
Epstein is in downtown and KC Tool is in Lenexa/Olathe area but I'm not sure if they're open for in-person yet.
The wiha set and vessel were purchased from Amazon.
Epstein is in downtown and KC Tool is in Lenexa/Olathe area but I'm not sure if they're open for in-person yet.
The wiha set and vessel were purchased from Amazon.
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MJK
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Of what's in my toolbox: Vessel 930 > Williams hard handle >>>> WF Craftsman USA
X1 Mike
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My preference is an orange S-O hard handle. If you're not as particular about the color as I am a Williams hard handle is pretty much the same thing. Not a bad price for a complete set.
Ton ton
Well-known member
There's a Geodore set of screwdrivers in the garage journal classifieds.
I got an email from Tekton promoting a screwdriver sale. Buy any set over fifty dollars and get a ten dollar coupon. I didn't read all of it (don't need screwdrivers) but it looked like it worked like the Rewards thingie. Spend it on future purchases. Their screwdrivers are quite functional. I have a few of the hard handles and like them. Pretty good value on at least a mid range product with an excellent warranty.
Excuse me while I wipe the Kool Aid from my chin.
Excuse me while I wipe the Kool Aid from my chin.
Ton ton
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LOL. Well written, Lardy1.
Iridium rand
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Agree 100% that’s why I said “besides the cheapest” and most instead of all, there are certainly exceptions out there like even snap on I regularly hear of people breaking the tips off of instinct screwdrivers. But GENERALLY speaking if you buy from a known brand of decent quality they’re all functionally the same, tip tolerances only need to be about as tight as the screws they’re turning which isn’t particularly strict. Take one screwdriver and one screw that fit perfectly with no wobble whatsoever, try it on a different screw and you probably won’t get the same result
Iridium rand
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The true GJ answer! Just Buy em all!
in all honesty they’re so cheap, one of the most often used tools in any industry or DIY, and are a wear item anyways. no reason not to buy a bunch of different ones and figure out what you like the most going forward
Thanks for the offer and thanks for the heads up. I had heard of KC Tool, but have never bought from them. I have a little budget to work with especially if it is from Amazon because I got some gift cards for Christmas. I stopped in Clarks Tool yesterday and the only thing they really had was some Felo. They felt a little odd. Not a huge fan of the Williams/Snap On style either. They are robust, but I prefer more rounded handles. I actually liked some Channel Lock drivers that Clarks had, but they appear to only be like that in nut drivers (and the colors are not my style).
John
Plenty of options. I’d go Williams like the post above suggests. You also have Klein, Proto, Mayhew and other domestically made drivers to choose from. If not USA, Vessel and Wera are my choices there.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
The Gearwrench 20 pc. red and black set, which is now discontinued, is still available on Amazon for $80.
It would be a good middle-of-the-road set, with professional features, and comes with a toolbox friendly tray.
I have the large flat head that has been abused as a beater and has kept on ticking.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001M0O170/?tag=atomicindus08-20
It would be a good middle-of-the-road set, with professional features, and comes with a toolbox friendly tray.
I have the large flat head that has been abused as a beater and has kept on ticking.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001M0O170/?tag=atomicindus08-20
tool_scrounge
Well-known member
I bought the 19 piece hard handle Williams set (above) for the shop at work. Not super fancy but well built.
Reminds me a bit of the green hard handle SK screwdrivers I always liked.
Witte makes screwdrivers with super soft comfortable handles. But I later found out they are very hard to keep clean and rodents just love chewing on the handles. Worse, years later the handles became hard as a rock. I suspect they have improved their handle materials since then but...
Reminds me a bit of the green hard handle SK screwdrivers I always liked.
Witte makes screwdrivers with super soft comfortable handles. But I later found out they are very hard to keep clean and rodents just love chewing on the handles. Worse, years later the handles became hard as a rock. I suspect they have improved their handle materials since then but...