Quality Ratcheting Screwdrivers
- Thread starter pacsguy
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blue dog
Banned
Do you have a ratcheting screwdriver fetish? why so many?
anyway, can you give us a play by play on the pb swiss and the wera?
where did you purchase the pb swiss driver? amazon does not have them or the insider.
Thanks in advance
anyway, can you give us a play by play on the pb swiss and the wera?
where did you purchase the pb swiss driver? amazon does not have them or the insider.
Thanks in advance
MOPARINMYCAR
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The best finished one for me looks to be either the PB Swiss and the wera and looking at the handles the Wera looks like it would be the most comfortable in the hand ?
tonydanzah
Well-known member
wera and pb swiss handles seem to be aimed at the more small handed user
blue dog
Banned
I swear by all the pb swiss stuff that i have. it is great quality and comfortable in the hand.
I work on medical equipment and I've been trying to find the perfect screwdriver!
I travel a lot and I'll be testing them all over the next several months and I'll pick my favorite.
This is where I got the PB swiss (when it was 30% off). I'll be honest. It feels awesome in the hand and exudes quality.
http://pbtoolsus.thomasnet.com/item...?&plpver=10&origin=compare&filter=0&CTypeID=2
I consider myself to have large hands (I'm 6'4") and the wera and pb swiss feel great.
The snap on hard handle feels very balanced as well. The softgrip handles feels good but not like the hard handle. It's almost too big and probably not ideal for my situation.
MOPARINMYCAR
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I will be intresting to see how the Wera holds up after a lot of work ? not sure it will do that well without seeing it close up as what stops the top part from rotating when its being used on a tight screw ? I can see the the bits in the handle will stop it rotating to much but are there any locating dowels to secure the top part locking it firm ?
blue dog
Banned
I will bet money that at the end of the day, the PB Swiss driver is the winner. keep us informed.
Of the 3 wera drivers only 1 has the bit storage. There is a button on the back of the driver that feels like it is spring-loaded. You press it and the front part of the driver pops forward revealing the bits. The handle does not rotate at all. I don't expect it to break but time will tell.
If you are worried about the bit-holding driver not being durable for the long term. The other two might be more viable.
Does this count?
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mooman
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I would say yes it does. It's also the same as the Matco, correct?
Deskmechanic
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I just ordered one of those PB swiss ones from Amazon. Let me know how you like it. I have a snappy long version and I like it much more than I ever thought I would.
canuckian
Well-known member
Like the look of those Wera's!! damn...now I gotta go buy one and try it out! 
I kinda have a little obsession with ratcheting screwdrivers.....just about have the full compliment of SO's hard handled ones...just waiting for the last one (24") to arrive this week!!
to OP...very nice selection. Looking forward to reading the reviews!
I kinda have a little obsession with ratcheting screwdrivers.....just about have the full compliment of SO's hard handled ones...just waiting for the last one (24") to arrive this week!!
to OP...very nice selection. Looking forward to reading the reviews!
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dwm
Well-known member
Nice collection (other than the Proto )!
I think most of us that deal with screws day in and day out wind up with many ratcheting screwdrivers. I don't have the Wera ones pictured, though I do have the pistol grip. Most of the rest of mine are Snap-On. Just a hint at the obsession... I currently have 5 colors of the Snap-On SSDMR4, task-loaded with bits. More handles means less time swapping bits.
)!I think most of us that deal with screws day in and day out wind up with many ratcheting screwdrivers. I don't have the Wera ones pictured, though I do have the pistol grip. Most of the rest of mine are Snap-On. Just a hint at the obsession... I currently have 5 colors of the Snap-On SSDMR4, task-loaded with bits. More handles means less time swapping bits.
pacsguy - When did you purchase the PB Swiss? I ask because, for a time, it seems they did not knurl the shaft. I have one on backorder and I really hope it shows up with a knurled shaft as I think that is fairly important for a ratcheting screwdriver.
http://pbtoolsus.thomasnet.com/item...?&plpver=10&origin=compare&filter=0&CTypeID=2
It's a little pricey... I bought it during black friday when it was cheaper.
Like the look of those Wera's!! damn...now I gotta go buy one and try it out!
I kinda have a little obsession with ratcheting screwdrivers.....just about have the full compliment of SO's hard handled ones...just waiting for the last one (24") to arrive this week!!
to OP...very nice selection. Looking forward to reading the reviews!
Been trying to find a 24" snap on... the last one i saw on ebay went for over 120 bux which is crazy.
lwlobo
Well-known member
If you love ratcheting screwdrivers, you've got to try the pistol handled Wera. Top notch tool in every way. Very comfortable, and you can generate significant torque and downward force with it. I still want to get Snap On and Wera straight ratcheting screwdrivers. How do those two compare?
mrholeshot
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I have several Snap on ratching screwdrivers. They have a really bad flaw. The end of the handle where the bit storage is that when using it the cap screws off while removing screws. I fianlly removed the bits and put some locktight on the threads. Problem solved but just a poor design. Just goes to show that sometimes the people who design tools don't use them. I don't use it very often
mrholeshot
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That Wera looks really nice and well thought out
superautobacs
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Terrible design, indeed. You'd think SO would think through things a bit better, especially after so many years.
Here's my favourite ratcheting screwdriver that I've been using. It's a Megapro. Made in Canada. Its racheting is precise and smooth, and the rotation selector is firm and direct (best I've felt, and I've tried the common SO/Williams/Bahco, SK/Facom/Bost and KTC brands). The shaft has minimal play, provides adequate grip, and a good selection of double-sided bits that are securely mounted on a rotatable shaft.
I have two Williams/Snap-on phillips head screwdrivers (ACR tips) and the profiles are horrible when compared with the Taiwanese-made tips contained in the Megapro. But we all know SO is notorious for having poor quality standards.
If you want to compare the handle to the most common hard-handled ones, the Megapro will offer you more torque. I think the Megapro handle diameter is a tad larger than the SO.
The backstroke on the Megapro is lighter than the SO mechanism, and it just sounds more "quality". The sound part is subjective though, but I just think the ratcheting feel is more precise....if that makes any sense.
There's no knurling on the Megapro shaft, but that doesn't really bother me.
Hope that helps.
dwm
Well-known member
I've been using the Snap-On hardhandle ratcheting screwdrivers as my primaries for decades and don't recall a cap ever coming off or loose while using one. Not sure what you guys are doing differently than me, maybe using it as if it wasn't a ratcheting driver and hence repositioning your hand constantly?
mrholeshot
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Deskmechanic
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I'm with you, I've had them for years and never had that problem.
Anybody like the pistol-grip Snappy one? Had one but it grew legs, and I never got that attached do didn't replace it.
Anybody like the pistol-grip Snappy one? Had one but it grew legs, and I never got that attached do didn't replace it.
I have the mulit-position "pistol" style from SO, works great!!
cruiser808
Well-known member
No problems for me either. I admit I have a weakness for the pistol grip Snap-on's. I have three and they are my "go to" ratcheting screwdrivers. The staight one seems to just lay around the tool box. Maybe because I'm left-handed? :tard:
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Ive only been using mine for 5 years but have never encountered that Problem. I wonder if yours was ever overtightened and the threads got swelled?
Yes. It only has two settings. Forward and Reverse. There is no "stationary" selection.
ourkid2000
Well-known member
Say whaa??
This is definitely a problem with the soft-grip one but not the hard handle.
mooman
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x2 on that point.
mrholeshot
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I have 3-4 of them and the same problem. I really think it's more about how I use them although that factor should nave been designed in. Many times when removing a screw Ill bypass the ratcheting and use it like a reg screwdriver and pushing on the cap it makes it turn and then come off. I know some that swear by them and some that swear at them. It's a really bad when in the lock position. I have a old Mac bit screwdriver and have the same problem but worse because it doesn't ratchet. I wouldn't own but one but the others came as specials with screwdriver sets and some other special
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3 at 8
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i like this "Bahco" one
Anyone have this? Comments and input? COO?
coo = Taiwan. Also sold as "Blue Point"
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=22708&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
mrholeshot
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All mine are hard handle and I have that problem.