In this recent screwdriver thread, several people mentioned they like multi-bit drivers, and seemed sheepish about it. I like the convenience of carrying one tool, so I use them and like them. I have several around the house and cars.
Of course that means that right away I had to buy another one. I need another screwdriver like a hole in the head, but I saw this one on Amazon and bought it because I just liked the look of it and wanted it.
This is the OEMTools #22588 "13-in-1" multi, made in Taiwan. I put 13-in-1 in quotes like that because it really isn't, which I'll get to.
Initial impression when taking it out of the package and gripping it is pretty positive. It has some heft to it and looks nicely constructed.
Handle: The green acetate handle is attractive and well-shaped for good, positive grip in my average-sized hands. It's a six-fluted handle with a wide cove at the bottom end and narrower one at the top end, alternating narrow and wide flutes. I'd compare it roughly to a Craftsman acetate handle; but where the Craftsman handle resembles a London pattern, this is a little less like that, in that the flutes continue past the coves. I actually prefer this because it allows better grip. The tool is nicely balanced at the wider cove, and your finger naturally goes there when you grip it, but still allows you to naturally shift your grip forward past that cove for more grip on the flutes. Two of the dark flutes are not quite flat, a little higher on one side than the other, but this in no way affects grip. The **** end of the handle is not a dome like most screwdrivers, but is concave so you can rest your finger in it and spin the handle. I'm not sure how much use that will be, because the driver is too handle-heavy to use like a precision driver; it wants to tip over when you hold it like that. But it will certainly discourage hammering on it.
Shaft and bits: The shaft piece is decently chromed but not heavily so. The bit inserts look as though they might be stainless. It comes with five reversible blast-finish bits:
And of course the shaft and inserts can be used as nut drivers in 1/4", 5/16" and 3/8" sizes.
So five 2-tip bits and three nut sizes = 13 in 1, right? Well, not exactly. You get five bits, but there's only room for you to have four at a time installed, and no place to store the fifth. So although there are 13 functions included in the package, they're not all "in-one." They're in-two, and that doesn't really count. This is an 11-in-1 driver with an extra loose bit. I knew this going in, because Amazon reviewers complained about it, but I figure I'm unlikely to use the Schrader piece except in my garage, so I can leave it there.
Comparing it to other multi-drivers in my collection, it feels very nice and snug, without a lot of wobble where the bits and inserts snap together. It actually wobbles less than some of the 6-in-1 drivers I have, which is interesting because you'd expect that to come out the other way. The closest thing I have to compare it to is the Ace 11-in-1. The shaft and bits appear identical, and in fact are interchangeable, but the shaft locks more securely into the OEMTools handle, with virtually no wobble. It's shorter than the Ace driver but still allows better grip, which is nice. The Ace tries (and fails) to imitate a Klein. The OEMTools is more of its own thing and does better.
Bottom line is that I like it, in spite of the slightly disingenuous "13-in-1" claim. It feels good to use, is nicely balanced, is grippy without being uncomfortable or needing rubber overmolding, and appears durable.
Of course that means that right away I had to buy another one. I need another screwdriver like a hole in the head, but I saw this one on Amazon and bought it because I just liked the look of it and wanted it.
This is the OEMTools #22588 "13-in-1" multi, made in Taiwan. I put 13-in-1 in quotes like that because it really isn't, which I'll get to.
Initial impression when taking it out of the package and gripping it is pretty positive. It has some heft to it and looks nicely constructed.
Handle: The green acetate handle is attractive and well-shaped for good, positive grip in my average-sized hands. It's a six-fluted handle with a wide cove at the bottom end and narrower one at the top end, alternating narrow and wide flutes. I'd compare it roughly to a Craftsman acetate handle; but where the Craftsman handle resembles a London pattern, this is a little less like that, in that the flutes continue past the coves. I actually prefer this because it allows better grip. The tool is nicely balanced at the wider cove, and your finger naturally goes there when you grip it, but still allows you to naturally shift your grip forward past that cove for more grip on the flutes. Two of the dark flutes are not quite flat, a little higher on one side than the other, but this in no way affects grip. The **** end of the handle is not a dome like most screwdrivers, but is concave so you can rest your finger in it and spin the handle. I'm not sure how much use that will be, because the driver is too handle-heavy to use like a precision driver; it wants to tip over when you hold it like that. But it will certainly discourage hammering on it.
Shaft and bits: The shaft piece is decently chromed but not heavily so. The bit inserts look as though they might be stainless. It comes with five reversible blast-finish bits:
- 3/16" slotted and #1 Phillips
- 1/4" slotted and #2 Phillips
- #1 and #2 square
- T10 and T15 star
- Schrader valve and Core removal
And of course the shaft and inserts can be used as nut drivers in 1/4", 5/16" and 3/8" sizes.
So five 2-tip bits and three nut sizes = 13 in 1, right? Well, not exactly. You get five bits, but there's only room for you to have four at a time installed, and no place to store the fifth. So although there are 13 functions included in the package, they're not all "in-one." They're in-two, and that doesn't really count. This is an 11-in-1 driver with an extra loose bit. I knew this going in, because Amazon reviewers complained about it, but I figure I'm unlikely to use the Schrader piece except in my garage, so I can leave it there.
Comparing it to other multi-drivers in my collection, it feels very nice and snug, without a lot of wobble where the bits and inserts snap together. It actually wobbles less than some of the 6-in-1 drivers I have, which is interesting because you'd expect that to come out the other way. The closest thing I have to compare it to is the Ace 11-in-1. The shaft and bits appear identical, and in fact are interchangeable, but the shaft locks more securely into the OEMTools handle, with virtually no wobble. It's shorter than the Ace driver but still allows better grip, which is nice. The Ace tries (and fails) to imitate a Klein. The OEMTools is more of its own thing and does better.
Bottom line is that I like it, in spite of the slightly disingenuous "13-in-1" claim. It feels good to use, is nicely balanced, is grippy without being uncomfortable or needing rubber overmolding, and appears durable.
