Pb Swiss

[ilovevocs]

I'm looking for a #2 Phillips #1 Phillips as well as a slotted driver for my cottage tool set. In lieu of buying cheap tools I have tried to limit the qty of tools and buy higher quality. I don't own anything from the PB Swiss line but I'm intrigued by them. They have several lines within their screwdriver offerings.

Looking for comments from those who have purchased them, would you buy again? What line do prefer and if you own multiples what is you favorite. I did a few searches but did not discover much. Links to previous discussions would also be appreciated.

Best,

Dan.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I'm looking for a #2 Phillips #1 Phillips as well as a slotted driver for my cottage tool set. In lieu of buying cheap tools I have tried to limit the qty of tools and buy higher quality. I don't own anything from the PB Swiss line but I'm intrigued by them. They have several lines within their screwdriver offerings.

Looking for comments from those who have purchased them, would you buy again? What line do prefer and if you own multiples what is you favorite. I did a few searches but did not discover much. Links to previous discussions would also be appreciated.

Best,

Dan.

I think of all the screwdrivers I own (like most people, that's probably way more than I need), the PB Swiss are hands down the finest ones. Best balance, best tips, nicest hard handles, great quality and fit and finish are a cut above the rest. They are really top shelf stuff and worth the premium if you're only going to have one set of really good drivers. The parallel cut tip on the flat bladed screwdrivers is great too, and works very well.

I would absolutely buy them again.

Here's a thread with a ton of pics. My favorite style are their classic hard handles in red, which you'll find in the first post. The green ones aren't dupes, those are PZ vs. regular Philips drivers. Again, awesome stuff.

 

[Davefr]

I have a very large assortment of PB Swiss from when Amazon was clearing them out. However I'd never buy them at current prices.

Go price out an individual PB Swiss #2 X 200mm and the price will be nearly $30 with shipping and handling. One cam out and it'll be ruined.

Screwdrivers are a consumable IMHO. I want something that's decent quality yet affordable and easy to replace. PB Swiss is neather affordable nor easy to replace.

 

[Tool Lady]

Well, here's the REAL SKINNY on PB Swiss Tools, Dan. The 8190.2-200 Phillips driver with a 200 mm blade (SwissGrip soft handle and size 2 tip) retails at $15.90. PB doesn't make the 190 (Phillips driver with hard plastic handle) in a 200 mm blade but they do make it in a 150 mm and a 250mm. Because I am one of only two authorized PB dealers in the US, I can replace it for you quickly and easily. If you break it, just send it back, I send you a new one. I pay shipping on replacements.

The shipping on new drivers depends on where you are (I'm in Washington state) and how you want it shipped. It can range in price from $3-4 to send it by first class mail or an much as $15 if you want it sent by UPS to a residence as well as other prices in between. Your choice.

You can also get discounts on PB products by using the specials in the Tool Lady newsletter 'TORQUE' that is posted on my website at www.toollady.com/news/newsletter. I send a new one out every 3 months. Next one will be mid-November. Every quarter I ask customers to tell me what they want to see on sale. If you want something at a 20%, just email me at [email protected]. You don't have to be an existing customer to get your favorite tools on sale!

I also now have about 50 items on Amazon, but there are no discounts there. I'm new at Amazon and haven't set up any sales there until I see if it works.

Let me know if you have any other questions, Dan. Thanks for your post. You can call me at 866.TOOLLADY (866.8966.5523) if you'd like to talk about PB Swiss Tools.

Barb Christy
Tool Lady Inc
www.toollady.com
[email protected]
866.TOOLLADY

 

[wmartin]

I'm looking for a #2 Phillips #1 Phillips as well as a slotted driver for my cottage tool set. In lieu of buying cheap tools I have tried to limit the qty of tools and buy higher quality. I don't own anything from the PB Swiss line but I'm intrigued by them. They have several lines within their screwdriver offerings.

Looking for comments from those who have purchased them, would you buy again? What line do prefer and if you own multiples what is you favorite. I did a few searches but did not discover much. Links to previous discussions would also be appreciated.

Best,

Dan.

PB Swiss is something of a hard sell since so many people bought them when they were way way discounted on Amazon (like me). The perceived value tends to be what you last saw something for sale for.

The PB Swiss straight blades are nice due to the shape of the tips, I'm not real big on the handle shape (and odor) but they're OK. For a 'cottage tool set', I'd be tempted to look at the wood handled Felos on Amazon which run about $18...or simply to buy a good set of screwdriver bits and a single handle for same.

As someone who owns all this ****, I'd go this way:

. Wood handles...Felo on Amazon
. Fairly clean work...Wera Chiseldriver
. Dirty work...Williams (or Snap on) hard handle.

 

[CWP1616L]

Get the SwissGrip handles!!

 

[gatewaysysop]

I have a very large assortment of PB Swiss from when Amazon was clearing them out. However I'd never buy them at current prices.

Go price out an individual PB Swiss #2 X 200mm and the price will be nearly $30 with shipping and handling. One cam out and it'll be ruined.

Screwdrivers are a consumable IMHO. I want something that's decent quality yet affordable and easy to replace. PB Swiss is neather affordable nor easy to replace.

One cam out, seriously?

I'm with you on the premium, they are pricey to be sure. But I think you're exaggerating just a wee bit on the quality. Not even my worst chicom stuff gets "ruined" by a single cam out.

 

[Davefr]

One cam out, seriously?

I'm with you on the premium, they are pricey to be sure. But I think you're exaggerating just a wee bit on the quality. Not even my worst chicom stuff gets "ruined" by a single cam out.

Yes, I was exaggerating. They are top quality screwdrivers. I just don't know if they're worth the current price.

You can get a 8 pc set of Williams for about the same price as just a few PB Swiss.

 

[DMAR]

Well, here's the REAL SKINNY on PB Swiss Tools, Dan. The 8190.2-200 Phillips driver with a 200 mm blade (SwissGrip soft handle and size 2 tip) retails at $15.90. PB doesn't make the 190 (Phillips driver with hard plastic handle) in a 200 mm blade but they do make it in a 150 mm and a 250mm. Because I am one of only two authorized PB dealers in the US, I can replace it for you quickly and easily. If you break it, just send it back, I send you a new one. I pay shipping on replacements.

The shipping on new drivers depends on where you are (I'm in Washington state) and how you want it shipped. It can range in price from $3-4 to send it by first class mail or an much as $15 if you want it sent by UPS to a residence as well as other prices in between. Your choice.

You can also get discounts on PB products by using the specials in the Tool Lady newsletter 'TORQUE' that is posted on my website at www.toollady.com/news/newsletter. I send a new one out every 3 months. Next one will be mid-November. Every quarter I ask customers to tell me what they want to see on sale. If you want something at a 20%, just email me at [email protected]. You don't have to be an existing customer to get your favorite tools on sale!

I also now have about 50 items on Amazon, but there are no discounts there. I'm new at Amazon and haven't set up any sales there until I see if it works.

Let me know if you have any other questions, Dan. Thanks for your post. You can call me at 866.TOOLLADY (866.8966.5523) if you'd like to talk about PB Swiss Tools.

Barb Christy
Tool Lady Inc
www.toollady.com
[email protected]
866.TOOLLADY

Great response, Barb. I like that you are ready to stand behind what you sell, and your willingness to offer a discount is great.

I'll look you up when I'm ready to try a set of these drivers, they sound like they're top notch stuff...

 

[ilovevocs]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I can't believe I'm putting this much thought into a screwdriver purchase. This is where I have come to be in life though. Very particular about the way my tools feel and perform and I try to be a good consumer. I'm only 31, enjoy wrenching and I am a contractor so my tools see allot of use.

I have been considering pb Swiss, felo, and wera. The cost of the wood handle felo as mentioned above seems tempting. My only mental block on the wood handle is that my first screw driver set that dad gave me was wood. They were junk when he bought them and junk when I got them. To this day I have a hard time holding on to wood tools. These had a poor fit and finish, and were a punishment to use. The handle itself was wobbled out and the shaft typically drifted as I screwed.

I just wish I could demo one before making a decision....I'm sure I'm over thinking this. I'm know I am, I made a post about it......

 

[posaune]

No worries- I don't think you are the only one guilty of overthinking a tool purchase on this forum.

What about buying one to try? Pick up something not in a set that you want (like a bigger or smaller driver) so you don't end up with duplicates if you end up liking them and buying sets later.

My PBSwiss Swissgrip drivers are my go-tos now and I love them. Of course, I bought them from Amazon for little money, but I'd almost definitely buy them again for full price if I lost them. The only time I choose not to use them is for very dirty work. For that, I prefer to have a hard handle that is easier to clean (SK) or black (old Craftsman Pro, but I'd love to have some Williams/SO).

 

[wmartin]

My only mental block on the wood handle is that my first screw driver set that dad gave me was wood. They were junk when he bought them and junk when I got them. To this day I have a hard time holding on to wood tools.

http://www.f-gear.biz/direct/catalog/images/NTD306.jpg

 

[Davefr]

I'm only 31, enjoy wrenching and I am a contractor so my tools see allot of use.

PB Swiss would not be my first choice for contractors or general auto techs.

I really think they're more suited for specialty machinists, electronic techs, hobbyists, precision tasks, etc, etc.

 

[davesnothere]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I can't believe I'm putting this much thought into a screwdriver purchase. This is where I have come to be in life though. Very particular about the way my tools feel and perform and I try to be a good consumer. I'm only 31, enjoy wrenching and I am a contractor so my tools see allot of use.

I have been considering pb Swiss, felo, and wera. The cost of the wood handle felo as mentioned above seems tempting. My only mental block on the wood handle is that my first screw driver set that dad gave me was wood. They were junk when he bought them and junk when I got them. To this day I have a hard time holding on to wood tools. These had a poor fit and finish, and were a punishment to use. The handle itself was wobbled out and the shaft typically drifted as I screwed.

I just wish I could demo one before making a decision....I'm sure I'm over thinking this. I'm know I am, I made a post about it......

I hate it when the shaft drifts as you screw.

 

[ilovevocs]

No worries- I don't think you are the only one guilty of overthinking a tool purchase on this forum.

What about buying one to try? Pick up something not in a set that you want (like a bigger or smaller driver) so you don't end up with duplicates if you end up liking them and buying sets later.

My PBSwiss Swissgrip drivers are my go-tos now and I love them. Of course, I bought them from Amazon for little money, but I'd almost definitely buy them again for full price if I lost them. The only time I choose not to use them is for very dirty work. For that, I prefer to have a hard handle that is easier to clean (SK) or black (old Craftsman Pro, but I'd love to have some Williams/SO).

That's a good idea, I should purchase just one, that isn't part of a set. Thanks for the advice.

http://www.f-gear.biz/direct/catalog/images/NTD306.jpg

Those look really nice.

PB Swiss would not be my first choice for contractors or general auto techs.

I really think they're more suited for specialty machinists, electronic techs, hobbyists, precision tasks, etc, etc.

I would likely be using these in a hobby Capacity. The tools set these are slated for is for servicing and upgrading my snowmobiles. Just stating above that I do a little bit if everything. This is good to know though. Do they just not hold up under abuse or do you feel the cost doesn't warrant the abuse / heavy use.

It seems like screw drivers on job sites often are subjected to misuse. I yell at guys for using my drivers as prybars. Prybars are for prying.

I do a little machine work as well electronics work....I'm not afraid to break anything and I am really stubborn a out paying anyone to complete a project. I enjoy staying busy and would rather invest in the tools than pay someone. This mode of operation often fails me though. Thanks for the insight.

I hate it when the shaft drifts as you screw.

Super annoying...perhaps the root of my fear of purchasing a cheap screwdriver. Once you get a feel for fine tools its hard to back. Especially if your the kind of guy that looks at them as an investment and takes care of them as such.

 

[bart1]

PB Swiss would not be my first choice for contractors or general auto techs.

I really think they're more suited for specialty machinists, electronic techs, hobbyists, precision tasks, etc, etc.

Why?

I bet they would hold up as well as any comparable driver.

 

[Davefr]

Why?

I bet they would hold up as well as any comparable driver.

I'm not sure the Swiss Grips would hold up to beating. I would also be concerned that the parallel tips of the slotted screwdrivers aren't as strong as std. tapered screwdriver tips. (much less metal in the tip).

Finally do you want to risk a screwdriver that costs big bucks to replace?? I doubt PB Swiss warrantees abuse.

Now if you never subject your screwdrivers to abuse then these are excellent high end precision tools. If you get these then get a set of "beaters" too.

The OP mentioned "contractor" so that was a warning flag IMHO. Auto Tech usage would also send up a red warning flag.

P.S. I use my PB Swiss screwdrivers almost every day but for real tough jobs I use Craftsman Professionals or Williams.

 

[cbracer]

I have the swiss grips and they hold up just fine. Get dirty easily but also clean easily afterwards. If the classic handles were thicker, then I'd do those, but they are just so darn small for my large sized hands. I've yet to wear out my #2 screw driver. I get amazed every time I torque down with how well it grips. So you won't wear it out because it won't slip out. I did have some slip on a screw just today, but the screw was already partially damaged from the driver bit I was using before. The screw driver end held up just fine.

Many think of screw drivers as replaceable items, because they tend to use them for things they weren't designed to be used as.... pry bars, scrappers, etc. You just have to not do those things with the PB Swiss items because you wouldn't want to harm them. though they will likely stand up to the abuse more. The hardness of the material is second to none.

 

[shoturtle]

Think the problem with most US users are they are afraid to damage them. But that seems to be the same for felo, wera and wiha as well with US users, with all these concerns. But in Europe these are everyday drivers used in auto repair shops, construction sites and for electronic work depending on the driver type.

PB Swiss makes a great screw driver, just like felo, wiha, and wera. I like the size of the handles better. Coming form kline, which I always felt were a bit to bulky for the work they were intended. And with Snap on are good as well but the handles were in the same boat as kline and craftsman pro. A bit larger. But they are aimed at automotive, so it gives them the perception of being more shout. But all the hard handle form the PB Swiss is just as shout.