No love for Starrett?

[1cargarage]

Starrett precision/mini/jeweler's screwdrivers that is...

Countless threads abound on GJ bursting with conjecture and opinion regarding members' preferred precision screwdrivers for electronics/jewelry/etc. The usual suspects include Wiha, Wera, Felo, the obligatory HF zealot, and the occasional PB Swiss advocate, among others.

We all love Starrett (99% of us at least) if and when we have the option to. We all love precision screwdrivers (apparently).

So my question is: Where is the love for the Starrett precision screwdrivers?
Made in USA, not that much more expensive than the Euro counterparts, all metal, that classy old-school-cool look, etc.

S555Z-6 $86 (Direct price)

 

[measuredtwice]

Do you have them? Can you post some real photos... maybe even some side by side comparisons with other brands and some close ups showing how well they fit fasteners? As an American, I like to support American manufacturers.

 

[MrSurly]

The part# shown is for the six-piece set (no Phillips).
The image above is the seven-piece with the 0-size Phillips which is the -7 part #
As HERE at Amazon

I don't have them; they DO look intriguing, but the price is daaaaaaaaaaaannnggg.

 

[JR 42]

I wonder how much better they are than the Moody Tool version?

https://www.centraltools.com/58-0116-6pc-steel-handle-slotted.html

I've got a couple drivers in that handle style with interchangeable driver shafts from Moody that I'm happy with, but they don't see much use.

 

[B.S.A. (ret.)]

They are a "Professional Level" tool and as such the price you pay reflects the quality that you receive. You can get similar Offshore-sourced tools for a great deal less, just don't expect them to measure up to Starrett. If all you need them for is to tighten your eyeglasses once or twice a month, save your money and buy the cheap ones. Rather than ask how they fit fasteners, check to see if the other, less expensive brands are acceptable for the job at hand. If so, you will probably be fine with a less expensive product.

 

[measuredtwice]

I read the tool discussion for information about tools so I'd like to see how well the Starrett drivers fit fasteners. This forum would be much less interesting if it was only about common tools that anyone off the street knows.

 

[Steve_P]

I have some Starrett stuff, I love their pin punches, but for the $ those cost I'll stick with Wiha drivers - which I think cost about half as much per driver. Plus I'm no fan of the metal handles.

 

[Toolfool]

I was in the camera repair business from the mid-70's to late 80's. I still have the Starrett screwdrivers I used daily back then. Over those years I trained a LOT of new techs. We'd start each trainee off with a set of Radio Shack screwdrivers and as they gained experience they'd realize how important quality tools were and they'd invest in Starrett as well.
During the last 35 years as a GC, my favorite tape measures have been Starrett. Don't know if they still make them. Made sure I bought two dozen when they were on sale.

 

[Coach James]

I can't say I love any tools, but the few times I used something Starrett, I liked them. Just not in a price range I can justify for what I do.

Coach

 

[Davefr]

What you have in your image is a Jeweler's screwdriver set. These are Starrett's Precision screwdrivers:

The Starrett jewelers screwdrivers compete more with offerings from Horotec or Bergeon.

The precision screwdrivers compete more with Wiha, Wera, Felo, PB Swiss etc. In fact I'd be almost willing to bet Starrett sources their precision screwdrivers from Wiha. They sure look similar.

 

[OneDollarSaab]

I have a Starrett mini screwdriver rolling around in a toolbox, I'll take a pic of it for this thread soon.

 

[rlitman]

I wonder how much better they are than the Moody Tool version?

https://www.centraltools.com/58-0116-6pc-steel-handle-slotted.html

I've got a couple drivers in that handle style with interchangeable driver shafts from Moody that I'm happy with, but they don't see much use.

I have the Moody JIS set, and it is fantastic. It has the best tiny Phillips bits I've seen.

As for jewelers screwdrivers, I'll stick with no-name ones with interchangeable blades. Forget Starrett. When you're working with tiny precision slotted screws, you will often need to re-grind your driver bits on the fly.

 

[measuredtwice]

...The precision screwdrivers compete more with Wiha, Wera, Felo, PB Swiss etc. In fact I'd be almost willing to bet Starrett sources their precision screwdrivers from Wiha. They sure look similar.

They sure do look like Wiha. Even have the little emblem. Found the COO from a distributor's website and it will be no surprise that it's made in Germany.

 

[Rinspeed]

I sure love my Starrett 6" combination square and Snap Punch. For someone that hasn't used a Snap Punch they are the cat's *** if you're drilling a bunch of holes.

 

[Rinspeed]

They sure do look like Wiha. Even have the little emblem. Found the COO from a distributor's website and it will be no surprise that it's made in Germany.

I don't think Starrett has ever made anything with any plastic on it ever.

 

[jonshonda]

I want a Starrett spring loaded center punch something fierce.

 

[JR 42]

Had one, it got jacked, worked great for popping tempered glass out of scrap vinyl windows... looking forward to finding another someday.

 

[JR 42]

I have the Moody JIS set, and it is fantastic. It has the best tiny Phillips bits I've seen.

As for jewelers screwdrivers, I'll stick with no-name ones with interchangeable blades. Forget Starrett. When you're working with tiny precision slotted screws, you will often need to re-grind your driver bits on the fly.

I saw that JIS set digging up that link, and put it on my buy someday list...

 

[L.Cheapo]

They sure do look like Wiha. Even have the little emblem. Found the COO from a distributor's website and it will be no surprise that it's made in Germany.

I have a large Craftsman set that I bought in the 1990s that looks exactly like those. Also made in Germany, and the font was suspiciously Wiha-like. Always thought they were.

 

[Bubba Fett]

They sure do look like Wiha. Even have the little emblem. Found the COO from a distributor's website and it will be no surprise that it's made in Germany.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure those are Wiha Picofinish drivers. Excellent, but why not just get the Wiha version?

 

[Shelbylex]

I have one. Please look at the link (no idea how to add picture on the https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=391577

 

[Firebrick43]

While I like starrett pin punches, and love the small center ouches, rules, and combination squares, the jewelers screwdrivers not so much. I much prefer the wera’s but the wiha’s are good to.

 

[1cargarage]

Do you have them? Can you post some real photos... maybe even some side by side comparisons with other brands and some close ups showing how well they fit fasteners? As an American, I like to support American manufacturers.

I do not have any. I haven't seen any locally (San Diego) ever, and I don't recall seeing them on any tool websites (besides direct from Starrett). That's why I was asking. Either nobody seems to own them or nobody considers them in their pursuits - at least that's what it seems whenever I read a thread involving precision screwdriver opinions/recommendations on GJ.

I read the tool discussion for information about tools so I'd like to see how well the Starrett drivers fit fasteners. This forum would be much less interesting if it was only about common tools that anyone off the street knows.

Exactly.

What you have in your image is a Jeweler's screwdriver set. These are Starrett's Precision screwdrivers:

The Starrett jewelers screwdrivers compete more with offerings from Horotec or Bergeon.

The precision screwdrivers compete more with Wiha, Wera, Felo, PB Swiss etc. In fact I'd be almost willing to bet Starrett sources their precision screwdrivers from Wiha. They sure look similar.

Mea culpa.

 

[tym]

For watchmaking work, I need some incredibly tiny screwdrivers (like 0.5mm flathead) and Bergeon has never let me down.

 

[1cargarage]

For watchmaking work, I need some incredibly tiny screwdrivers (like 0.5mm flathead) and Bergeon has never let me down.

I always like learning about new tool brands - especially those well-regarded within very specialized fields. I hadn't heard about Bergeon until posting this thread. I don't do watchmaking/repair, camera repair, jewelry. When I need small screwdrivers, it's usually for electronics (phone repair). In the last ~12 months though, I have had to drastically expand my small slotted screwdriver selection, as I have been working on my industrial sewing machine(s) a lot. Industrial sewing machines are crazy expensive if bought new, but very reasonable when purchased used, but the sweat and swear equity is very real as well. Also, I don't know of another type of machine that has such a size range of screws, springs, pulleys, etc. They range from ~3/4" down to 0.invisible.

 

[HenryAZ]

Screwdrivers aside, Starrett made their name in precision measuring. I have 3 of their combination squares, one is the 12" full set (square, centering, and protractor heads). Laroy Starrett did invent and patent the first combination square, after all (in 1878). I also have some 6" and 12" rules, a center punch set, and a level. For micrometers and calipers, I look to Mitutoyo. Precision screwdrivers, usually Wiha.

 

[isaiahprivratsky]

Personally if we are going to talk "professional tools" nothing comes even close to what wera is putting out if you're looking at it bang for buck.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[Tallpilot]

That is interesting that Starrett uses Wiha. It shows what we have long determined here. Just because a company makes excellent X is no guarantee they will make excellent Y. Personally I prefer companies that stick to their core competency. If I needed calipers, micrometers or gauge blocks, Starrett would be at the top of my list. If they started marketing sockets; I'd probably stick with someone else.