Ratcheting Screwdriver Collection

[Dzmax77]

This is what I’ve accumulated so far:

Armstrong (Spec Tools) Long 66-583 (USA)
Armatrong (Spec Tools) Stubby 66-582 (USA)
Craftsman (MegaPro?) 41796 (USA)
Williams (Snap On) WRS-1 (USA)
Williams (Snap On) T-Handle WRST-1 (USA)
Vessel Stubby TD-6700W-23 (Japan)
Vessel TD-6804MG (Thailand)
Vessel 830-MG4 (Japan assembly)
Wera 816 RA Kraftform Kompakt Vario 05051461001 (Czech Republic)

Next on my list:

Snap On SGDMRC44BG (USA)
Snap On 4" Stubby SGDMRC11AG (USA)
PB Swiss 8510R-30 (Switzerland)
PB Swiss Stubby ‎PB 8453 (Switzerland)
MegaPro 211R1C36RD (Canada)
MegaPro T-Hansle 211R2T36RD (Canada)

Any other non Chinese/Taiwanese made drivers you all can recommend I can add to
My list?

 

[Dzmax77]

I may add this Felo into the mix too.

Felo 0715764539 ERGONIC K HANDLE https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086WKQN9M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Dzmax77]

Just my opinion here but, out of all of them so far, the Wera is great but Williams/Snap On is the best. I see some guys on YouTube giving the nod to Wera over the Snap On but I think the Wera is still a bit more rough and not as smooth.

 

[Dave455]

The only comment I’d make is that both the Snap On and PB Swiss that are next on your list are soft handle tools.

Personally, I detest soft handles. In a clean environment they might work, but in the real world they get grubby, can pick up grit and are hard to clean. If I’m paying “all the money” for a tool, the one thing I want from it is durability.

I must admit I like the short shank Snap On. The black one shown below is amongst my all time favourite tools. If you hadn’t got one of the T handle drivers I would have recommended one of those too.

My most used PB Swiss driver is the non ratcheting version with the classic handle. I like these so much I have one in my shop, one at home, and one in my “road box”!

 

[Dzmax77]

The only comment I’d make is that both the Snap On and PB Swiss that are next on your list are soft handle tools.

Personally, I detest soft handles. In a clean environment they might work, but in the real world they get grubby, can pick up grit and are hard to clean. If I’m paying “all the money” for a tool, the one thing I want from it is durability.

I must admit I like the short shank Snap On. The black one shown below is amongst my all time favourite tools. If you hadn’t got one of the T handle drivers I would have recommended one of those too.

My most used PB Swiss driver is the non ratcheting version with the classic handle. I like these so much I have one in my shop, one at home, and one in my “road box”!

I’d like to have all of those.

 

[bonneyman]

Don't count out the EASYDRIVER ball. I've had one for over 20 years of daily use. Still works. Some years ago I figured it was pretty wore out and cut it apart to see how it worked. Took pics, really wasn't worn much at all. Glued it back together with 2-part epoxy - and I'm still using it!

 

[Bubba Fett]

I like Megapro ratcheting drivers. Made in the People's Republic of Canuckistan.

 

[Dave455]

I’d like to have all of those.

Congratulations!

You have passed all the tests and may now be admitted to the Garage Journal Inner Temple…!

Consider also the Proto. These don’t generate a lot of discussion, but in my experience they are very decent tools! Sprag clutch “toothless” ratchet too.

In the U.K. they end up priced somewhere between Williams and Snap On, which seems fair. I carry mine in my road bag, together with the non ratcheting PB Swiss above. A good combo.

 

[visionguru]

I used to have more than 15:

I don't have a recommendation. Just some comments on the ones you already have or plan to get.

Craftsman 41796 USA is the worst quality ratcheting screwdriver I've seen. Basically, anything from Home Depot, or Harbor Freight are better.

PB Swiss is well made, beautiful workmanship, but the ratcheting is rough.

Vessel has 72 teeth. Back drag seems quite high.

 

[Dzmax77]

Don't count out the EASYDRIVER ball. I've had one for over 20 years of daily use. Still works. Some years ago I figured it was pretty wore out and cut it apart to see how it worked. Took pics, really wasn't worn much at all. Glued it back together with 2-part epoxy - and I'm still using it!

Is this still in production?

 

[Dzmax77]

Congratulations!

You have passed all the tests and may now be admitted to the Garage Journal Inner Temple…!

Consider also the Proto. These don’t generate a lot of discussion, but in my experience they are very decent tools! Sprag clutch “toothless” ratchet too.

In the U.K. they end up priced somewhere between Williams and Snap On, which seems fair. I carry mine in my road bag, together with the non ratcheting PB Swiss above. A good combo.

Thanks! Lol

Yes, I hought about including this in the list but perhaps it’ll be something I get down the road. The Armstrong/Spec Tools drivers I have also work on a clutch, but unlike this Proto, they don’t have a lock selection.

 

[Dzmax77]

I used to have more than 15:

I don't have a recommendation. Just some comments on the ones you already have or plan to get.

Craftsman 41796 USA is the worst quality ratcheting screwdriver I've seen. Basically, anything from Home Depot, or Harbor Freight are better.

PB Swiss is well made, beautiful workmanship, but the ratcheting is rough.

Vessel has 72 teeth. Back drag seems quite high.

The Craftsman does slip sometimes but the bits that came with it are great. I think they’re from Monatana Brand bits. I mostly use that for light duty anyway.

Im not impressed with any of the Vessel ratcheting screwdrivers. They’re below average IMO.

Im a bit ‘jelly’; I want all those Snapy’s and PB on your pic.

 

[bonneyman]

Is this still in production?

No. But I keep finding them at estate sales and thrift stores....as my collection keeps growing! lol

 

[bonneyman]

I also like the Gear Wrench driver set. Bought it off of the classifieds here.

 

[X1 Mike]

I've heard the Snap-On ratcheting drivers were nice.

 

[X1 Mike]

Does this qualify as a collection?

24" Ratcheting driver
Mini Ratcheting driver
1/4" Ratcheting driver
Ratcheting driver with black shank
Ratcheting driver with flat blade
Ratcheting driver with #3 Philips
Ratcheting driver with #2 Philips
Ratcheting driver with #1 Philips
Ratcheting bit driver
12" Ratcheting driver

 

[Dzmax77]

Does this qualify as a collection?

24" Ratcheting driver
Mini Ratcheting driver
1/4" Ratcheting driver
Ratcheting driver with black shank
Ratcheting driver with flat blade
Ratcheting driver with #3 Philips
Ratcheting driver with #2 Philips
Ratcheting driver with #1 Philips
Ratcheting bit driver
12" Ratcheting driver

Show off.

Nice!

 

[Dzmax77]

Felo is up next. For $30, why not.

This YouTuber, Wilson, always uploads video’s on odd ball stuff. I like that they’re short and he just shows how they look and gives a brief demo. He’s spending a lot of $ on tools and is doing a service for people interested in buying certain tools by doing these unboxing and brief demos.

 

[joseywales]

I like Megapro ratcheting drivers. Made in the People's Republic of Canuckistan.

I've hade for a while and took it for spin today, worked well and me likey. I just picked up the Craftsman 47473, really like that grip and ergonomics, but I can "feel" that that action isn't as good as my Williams, Megapro, Snapon, or Rolgear.

 

[joseywales]

No. But I keep finding them at estate sales and thrift stores....as my collection keeps growing! lol

I'm a dope. We cleared out my FIL's. Electrician/plumber by trade. Great generation. most of the tools he had were low end brands, but a lot of US made. I wasn't overly juiced about finding gems, really just helping to clear out, sell off what we could and junk the rest. I save some from the dumpster and he kept wanting to give us tools, which we accepted, even bought a few. "Is this going out for sale?" Yes. "How much?" $5. "I'll take it" That got me 3-piece Williams 1 1/2" socket, with 5" extension, and adapter, all nearly new. The actual Williams 1/2" ratchet a complete socket set, again - nearly new, he just gave Fun stuff like that.

Anyway, after getting a nice Williams set, an SK 1/4" set, a decent Craftsman G1 travel set, I now have remorse over not saving that Easy Driver Ball set. It had the dome, but was missing most of the pieces. If it were complete, I would have kept it. Probably should have anyway. Mistake # 1,646,432…

 

[bonneyman]

No worries. You'll probably run across another one in the wild, then you'll know to snag it. The drive accessories are the difficult things to find. Like Yankee spiral drivers - the drivers can be found lots of places but the OEM bits are like hens teeth. Though there are ways around that problem, too.

They made the smaller 1" balls along with the 2 1/2" regular ones. Nice for doing repetitive work on small screws like on thermostats (what I used the tiny ball for).

 

[bonneyman]

That 24" driver is impressive, X1 Mike!

 

[X1 Mike]

That 24" driver is impressive, X1 Mike!

Thanks!!!!

That is the unicorn, so tough to find. I had it in my eBay search for over a year until I found it.

Funniest thing is it is admittedly toolbox jewelry but the day I got it in the mail I had to use it and it saved me a bit of time. I was working on the wife's quad and I couldn't get at a screw except for going from the top through the frame rails and I needed every inch of that length and the ratchet made it go fast.

 

[Highland]

X1 Mike,

I like those drivers with the individual blades! I have the six piece blade set, but only one orange ratcheting handle for them to share.

So far anyways, I keep hoping I'll find some cheap ratcheting handles!

 

[X1 Mike]

X1 Mike,

I like those drivers with the individual blades! I have the six piece blade set, but only one orange ratcheting handle for them to share.

So far anyways, I keep hoping I'll find some cheap ratcheting handles!

I love the bit drivers but I never liked interchangeable bits. I bought the individual blades and then bought ratcheting drivers and reassembled them using the spring clip that the bit driver has so those blades stay in the handle. I put way more money into it than it is worth but I really like them and think they're cool. I still have 2 flat blades that I need to get ratchet handles and make drivers of but honestly flat blades are way less useful so it's kind of back burner.

I did also forget to include this driver. If you notice the bit has yellow paint. It is a JIS bit for Japanese motorcycles.

 

[bonneyman]

I got a wild creative burr up my **** some years ago and took the guts of a Snappy ratcheting driver and installed it into an EASYDRIVER ball. The Snappy driver had a cracked handle, and the ball center square retainers had broken off. So by combining the parts I was able to make a usable tool. Came out pretty good. he-he

A forum member bought it.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I love the bit drivers but I never liked interchangeable bits. I bought the individual blades and then bought ratcheting drivers and reassembled them using the spring clip that the bit driver has so those blades stay in the handle. I put way more money into it than it is worth but I really like them and think they're cool. I still have 2 flat blades that I need to get ratchet handles and make drivers of but honestly flat blades are way less useful so it's kind of back burner.

I did also forget to include this driver. If you notice the bit has yellow paint. It is a JIS bit for Japanese motorcycles.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachments/img_8530-jpg.1526547/

 

[KnurledNut]

Craftsman 41796 USA is the worst quality ratcheting screwdriver I've seen. Basically, anything from Home Depot, or Harbor Freight are better.

Bumping old thread. What didnt you like about this screwdriver? I picked one up recently and seems to be good quality. Magnetic retention is excellent, better than many others I have. Silent ratchet mechanism, assuming sprag clutch, is smooth and precise. Direction selector is solid and middle position lockup is good. Bit holder is typical Megapro build quality and holds bits well. I was surprised to see your disdain and was curious what I am missing.