Pro mechanics: how long do your screwdrivers last?

[Bubba Fett]

An 11-in-1 with Robertson or Combo tips is a lifesaver.

I don't know if anyone else does this, but I often save screws out of old devices, or any extra screws that come with mounting kits, etc. I like having spares, so if one is stripped I can replace it. I have far more screws than I will ever, ever need.

 

[hobie18]

Don't forget JIS. Japanese Industrial Standard.
Mostly electronics (cameras) and such. The difference with phillips may be slight, but huge.

 

[Ohio Andy]

An 11-in-1 with Robertson or Combo tips is a lifesaver.

Only a couple of my combos have Square / Robertson, Slotted, and Phillips by default:

Craftsman CMHT68129 Precision ratchet screwdriver The following bits are present: S01|S02, T30|T25, T25|T20, PH3|PH2, PH2|PH2, PH2|PH1, and 1/4"|3/16". There are two T25 and four PH2 bits.

Megapro Original 15-in-1 Multi-Bit Screwdriver. This is the original driver with the following bits: 0 – 3, 1 – 2 square. PH0 – 3, PH1 – 2, Slotted 4 – 6, T10 – 15, T20 – 25, and ¼" hex nut driver. I don't care much for this handle but it does get the job done.

Megapro Amigo Has Bit Sizes PH1 – 2, Slotted 3/15 – 1/4, and Square/Robertson 1 – 2. I have 4 colors. This was the big surprise of the day, especially since I find these comfortable and I paid $3 each for these.

LTT 12-in-1 Multi-Bit Ratcheting Screwdriver includes Phillips (PH-0, PH-1, PH-2) Hex (#2, #2.5, #4) Slotted (2, 4, 6) Square (S-1, S-2) and a Magnet bit (more helpful than you would think).

If I did this often, I might take one of my PB Swiss combos and just add the bits I want; for example, if I wanted pozi in the mix. PB Swiss does not include the Robertson / Square drives in a multi-driver of which I am aware.

I don't know if anyone else does this, but I often save screws out of old devices, or any extra screws that come with mounting kits, etc. I like having spares, so if one is stripped I can replace it. I have far more screws than I will ever, ever need.

I have been doing this for years. I might go years without needing something specific and then I suddenly need 8 of them. Of course, when I just get too many of them I throw them away, but otherwise I embrace my hoarder tendencies on this. If they get in the way, pitch them, if not, well, it can save a bunch of time to not have to run out and get something.

 

[dnschmidt]

Have you tried Milwaukee ECX bits?

Klein makes these as well and for electrical work they are good. Best tool I've found for electrical wiring is the #1 Robertson (Square Drive).

 

[ZRX61]

I have some CK Classics that I bought 40 years ago.

 

[mrbillh]

Replaced my 40 years old craftsman screwdrivers due the handles braking down and making my tool box smell bad (always took pretty good care of my tools). Now they are yard drivers, weed removers and prybars! Replaced with Proto, Snap-on, and Williams.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

Have you tried Milwaukee ECX bits?

Nope, and I'm not gonna.

**** them. We wouldn't be in this situation (needing ANOTHER stupid drive) if they hadn't made multi-screwdriver screw heads. I'll live the rest of my miserable life stripping screws and cursing before I buy one of those.

 

[Beerhippie]

Have you tried Milwaukee ECX bits?

I never knew anyone made bits just for these stupid fasteners!

I just ordered a handful. Thanks!

I've been using a Robertson #1 screwdriver, but, as mentioned above the holes are so shallow that even that tends to strip out.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I never knew anyone made bits just for these stupid fasteners!

I just ordered a handful. Thanks!

I've been using a Robertson #1 screwdriver, but, as mentioned above the holes are so shallow that even that tends to strip out.

From where did you order your handful?

 

[Beerhippie]

From where did you order your handful?

Amazon. IIRC, around $5 for two.

I do enough electrical work to make these worth having in the electrical tool bag.

Someday, I'd like to have a little talk with the guy who invented the "one fastener fits all" head. Just me and my leetle hammer. Then I'd like to find out why metal electrical enclosures, while very expensive, are such POSes.

 

[Max]

Don't forget JIS. Japanese Industrial Standard.
Mostly electronics (cameras) and such. The difference with phillips may be slight, but huge.

Also Japanese motorcycles. JIS heads are marked with an indented dot.

 

[Beerhippie]

Also Japanese motorcycles. JIS heads are marked with an indented dot.

I can't even begin to list how many things I'm finding around the brewery and my vehicles that fit JIS better than anything else! Once I bought a set of JIS screwdrivers and bits, I quit cursing those *!^$%!%% POS screws.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Amazon. IIRC, around $5 for two.

I do enough electrical work to make these worth having in the electrical tool bag.

Someday, I'd like to have a little talk with the guy who invented the "one fastener fits all" head. Just me and my leetle hammer. Then I'd like to find out why metal electrical enclosures, while very expensive, are such POSes.

Thanks, I was curious. Amazon isn't too bad, especially if you order Three packs of two (The one and the two), which is roughly twice the cost of one pack of two. But I can get it for almost the same price at my local Ace hardware. Okay, my closest Ace hardware doesn't usually have them in stock but the one just down the street usually does when I want more. I just tell my local Ace hardware to order them so I don't have to travel that extra two miles.

Total price is probably cheaper for three packs of two from Amazon. I usually have both the longer ones and the shorter ones. Longer ones in a cordless and shorter ones in a hand driver.

Shorter for under $5.

Milwaukee Shockwave ECX 1/2 in. X 1 in. L Impact Insert Bit Set Alloy Steel 2 pc Mfr# 48-32-4440 - Ace Hardware

The Milwaukee Shockwave 2 ECX #1 Impact Driver Bits are engineered to be the Most Durable, Best Fitting driver bits for the most demanding applications. The Wear Guard Tip delivers increased wear resistance which protects the fit over the life of the bit. The Shockzone is optimized for each...

www.acehardware.com

Longer for under $5.

Milwaukee Shockwave ECX 1 and 2 X 2 in. L Impact Power Bit Set Steel 2 pc Mfr# 48-32-4443 - Ace Hardware

The Milwaukee 2 Piece SShockwave 2 ECX Impact Driver Bits are engineered to be the Most Durable, Best Fitting driver bits for the most demanding applications. The Wear Guard Tip delivers increased wear resistance which protects the fit over the life of the bit. The Shockzone is optimized for...

www.acehardware.com

I never could bring myself to buy the standard screwdriver with the bit for like $14 to $15.

 

[Max]

I can't even begin to list how many things I'm finding around the brewery and my vehicles that fit JIS better than anything else! Once I bought a set of JIS screwdrivers and bits, I quit cursing those *!^$%!%% POS screws.

I’m on my phone at the moment so I have limited access, but I think there was a melding of metrics and JIS such that JIS works for both. And I love my Vessel screwdrivers.

 

[Yarpo]

Oh man, I've had my old Gearwrench and Wiha sets for like 7 or 8 years now and have seen no signs of serious wear or need to replace.
That said I feel like I rarely ever use my screwdrivers for much...pretty much anytime I come across a Phillips unless its tiny tiny or on something that needs little/no torque I'm using Zephyr bits in my impact which is like 98% of the time so Im sure mine will last forever.

I've actually accumulated like, 5 sets and I'll probably sell them off except the Wiha and Gearwrench.
I've got Caryle, Craftsman, Tekton, Williams USA, and as mentioned Wiha and Gearwrench at work.

 

[Boogerman]

Not professional mechanic, do millright type work pretty randomly. Snap-on #2 last a few months to a year or two. Flat last longer, I file or belt sand them back to square/sharp for several years before warrantying. I use a lot with a ratcheting wrench on the hex bolster to torque harder. That breaks or bends them fairly often. I go through a half dozen cheap flat screwdrivers a year, keep a couple on the bench all the time to pry, chisel, etc with. Replace them anytime I get a used but new condition one that looks better quality than average. Use them for tent and other anchor pegs after they've been on the bench a couple months. Saves wear on the Snap-On ones, they only get used for screws typically. I have pry bars when I need those, and they work better than screwdrivers anyway.

Probably use five to ten 1/4" insert #2 phillips a year, and I buy Zephyr. Dewalt, I'd go through 50 or 100. Probably about 3 or 4 each of most common torx per year.

What wears phillips out the most is odd sized cavities in some fasteners I have to remove. Not phillips or pozi, just ill fitting. Combine that with rust and weird angles and you wear out drivers fast.

 

[plinker]

Mostly use hex bits, Apex/Zypher/Snap-on. I have not replaced any in a while. P2R seems to fit the best overall for phillips #2 screws. I dont really use normal screwdriver much unless I need a thinner blade to get in some where.

I do have a Matco/Witte T10 for tpms sensors that took about three years of constant use to need replacement. The Snap-on T10 I originally bought was replaced about three times in a year and a half, though some of that time was waiting for the guy to show up.

 

[Max]

Not professional mechanic, do millright type work pretty randomly. Snap-on #2 last a few months to a year or two. Flat last longer, I file or belt sand them back to square/sharp for several years before warrantying. I use a lot with a ratcheting wrench on the hex bolster to torque harder. That breaks or bends them fairly often. I go through a half dozen cheap flat screwdrivers a year, keep a couple on the bench all the time to pry, chisel, etc with. Replace them anytime I get a used but new condition one that looks better quality than average. Use them for tent and other anchor pegs after they've been on the bench a couple months. Saves wear on the Snap-On ones, they only get used for screws typically. I have pry bars when I need those, and they work better than screwdrivers anyway.

Probably use five to ten 1/4" insert #2 phillips a year, and I buy Zephyr. Dewalt, I'd go through 50 or 100. Probably about 3 or 4 each of most common torx per year.

What wears phillips out the most is odd sized cavities in some fasteners I have to remove. Not phillips or pozi, just ill fitting. Combine that with rust and weird angles and you wear out drivers fast.

I'm _not_ saying that you are doing anything wrong. But something that might help you would be an impact driver screwdriver. I have a set of these but have not had to use them yet so I can't comment.

980 Series

980 Series Megadora "IMPACTA" 2-in-1 Screwdriver

www.vesseltools.com

 

[CS454]

These have 3 or 4 years on em

 

[KnurledNut]

These have 3 or 4 years on em

Felo?

 

[CS454]

Felo?

yip. Coffin nail tough for how rough they look, though the shank on the flat blade is both twisted/bent from my being the absolute most responsible with it

 

[mikey03]

. My basic set of Snap On hard handles are still pretty pristine from 1994. PH2 is starting to get a little dull. The handles are worn pretty smooth.

How do you wear the handle of the screwdriver are your hands like sandpaper

 

[bongkar_YES_pasang_NO]

what are common size(s) of slotted/flat?
is there any size as common as phillips #2 which should cover most?