Ratcheting Screwdriver comaprison

[Jsf721]

I have a few Williams Ratcheting Screw Drivers and I like them very much. One in the garage, car and office.

I gave one to my brother to borrow and he asked where to get oner so I told him to keep it.

I saw a Snap-On Ratcheting drive on sale here and picked up a new one and a stubby. Both were brand new. Great transaction with Split150. Fast shipping, new product in original packaging shipped fast and with tracking. Excellent communication through email and PM- Thank you-would definitly buy again.

Over the last few days I have had the ocassion to use it quite a bit. Other than the grip in the shaft of the driver they are equal to me. The Williams come with a Torx tip and the Snappy does not.

The stubby only comes with a philips bit and I was disapointed to see that the stubby does not hold any bits . I sould have asked. Oh well.

These Snap on drivers feel and work great and I do like them but for anyone intersted, the william are about 50% less $ and I would buy the williams if I were to buy another.

The life time waranty is the biggest differentiater I can see.

 

[CJinPA]

Just received my first SnapOn ratcheting screwdriver today in the mail. Mine was from eBay, dealer didn't have yellow. I've used my friends before and really liked it. I wouldn't mind having another one and if the Williams is equal to the SnapOn then I might just have to try that. Thanks for the comparison.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Yes.

If used daily and professioanlly, than the Snap-On is the easiest to justify the cost.

I LOL's at the bit holding in the handle comment.
Some love it . Some hate it.
The screw caps of the hard handles stay on far better than the bayonet caps of the soft grips .

Parts are a call or driver away for the ratcheting SO drivers and they don;t break very often if at all.

As for bits. Sorry.
It's time to buy your own baby bird.

It'd be nice if all tools came with 1000 extra pieces but go Snap-On bits or Wiha if frugal.

They are wear items. Sorry.

Glad you like them.

 

[Jsf721]

If it is not too much trouble could you please send me a link to the Snap on buts. Looking for a mix of torx, regular and philips. I get these through my mechanic but I need to get the part number, he give me the price and I drop off the $ and he getis it for mew to PU.

Yes.

If used daily and professioanlly, than the Snap-On is the easiest to justify the cost.

I LOL's at the bit holding in the handle comment.
Some love it . Some hate it.
The screw caps of the hard handles stay on far better than the bayonet caps of the soft grips .

Parts are a call or driver away for the ratcheting SO drivers and they don;t break very often if at all.

As for bits. Sorry.
It's time to buy your own baby bird.

It'd be nice if all tools came with 1000 extra pieces but go Snap-On bits or Wiha if frugal.

They are wear items. Sorry.

Glad you like them.

 

[jjjrmx5]

If it is not too much trouble could you please send me a link to the Snap on buts. Looking for a mix of torx, regular and philips. I get these through my mechanic but I need to get the part number, he give me the price and I drop off the $ and he getis it for mew to PU.

As someone pointed out to me last week as I was dutifully wrong, Zephyr make the snap-On bits.

So, if you want lower cost, buy from zephyr.
Wiha also makes very very good industrial quality bits.

For snap-on bits go to the snap on site.
www.snapon.com.
or here is the list catagories for all the 1/4" hex bits.
There is a lot of them.


Snap-ON
all catagories>screwdrivers>bits/hex shank





All Categories Screwdrivers Bits / Hex Shank
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bits / Hex Shank



Clutch A
Clutch G
Diamond Tip Bits
Double Square
Flat Tip
Hex, inches
Hex, mm
Mortorq® Bits
PHILLIPS®
PHILLIPS® ACR®
POZIDRIV®
POZIDRIV® ACR®
Reed & Prince
SCRULOX®
Tamper Resistant TORX®
TORX®
TORX® Insert Bits
TRI-WING®
Wobble Bits

 

[tjmonsen5]

Snap-on bits are lifetime warranty.

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

The hard handle ratcheting screw drivers used to come with a T15 but they switched it to an additional phillips bit

 

[Jsf721]

maybe the new Williams did the same thing. Mine are about 7 Months old.

The hard handle ratcheting screw drivers used to come with a T15 but they switched it to an additional phillips bit

 

[Jsf721]

Good point. Not sure I would chew out enough to see the sense. I am just a light duty user at this point. I know just enough to get myself in trouble.

Snap-on bits are lifetime warranty.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Sometimes I feel like I am the only member (with a serious tool collection) who doesn't own a ratcheting screwdriver...I just don't think they really save that much time/effort...

 

[jjjrmx5]

Sometimes I feel like I am the only member (with a serious tool collection) who doesn't own a ratcheting screwdriver...I just don't think they really save that much time/effort...

Work in a job with a TAKT time/hourly and they do. BIG time.
Battery tools are great but in many cases a no-no due to goons stripping fasteners.

As for bits, some drivers warranty them (if you are on a big route or with a big account ) and others do not.

They are a wear item and bits can be used in both hand tools and power tools.
Since power tools take their toll, the push back is on owner use.

Bits are still a disposable to me and even at Wiha prices.
I have no beef with that.

 

[nutjob]

I think the other difference is the knurled section on the shaft. The Snap On has it. Seems like it would be nice to have. Never used one.

Kevin

 

[j.c.whitney]

The bent handle model looks odd but is very comfortable in use. No picture but the SGRMINI is a favorite amongst Motorola Techs.

 

[SlowPoke-Canada]

Sometimes I feel like I am the only member (with a serious tool collection) who doesn't own a ratcheting screwdriver...I just don't think they really save that much time/effort...

I've got a couple but I know what you mean.
If I'm working off the tool cart, I use it. If I'm working near the cabinet, I use regular drivers as a preference.

 

[NissanTechWill]

Snap-on bits are lifetime warranty.

Yes they are, at least if you are a good customer. I am a SO preferred customer and my SO dealer will warranty anything, even it is considered a consumable.


-Will

 

[tube_guy]

Sometimes I feel like I am the only member (with a serious tool collection) who doesn't own a ratcheting screwdriver...I just don't think they really save that much time/effort...

I never really saw the use for a ratcheting screwdriver. Normally, when I use a screwdriver it's with two hands. Left hand pushing on the end of the driver's handle with my right hand doing the turning. I just let my right hand slip on the back stroke and that's effectively the same thing as a ratchet. I've always thought the ratcheting screwdrivers are more bulky so they don't fit into the same places a normal driver will and I doubt a ratcheting screwdriver will handle the same torque.

But then I bought a house and ended up working in a lot of places where I can only grip the driver with one hand and cannot let it go for the back stroke. I'm talking about being all contorted, up on a ladder, holding a gutter up with one hand while screwing a gutter bracket into place. I have to say that places like that are where a ratcheting screwdriver really shines.

 

[steveo3002]

my ratcheting snap on is one of my most used tools , got 3 of em now

could use some new bits soon...need some that fit in the snap on carry case, noticed some brands are too tall

 

[Rich5667]

I have the WRS-1 from Williams and it works great for the odd jobs and repairs. Comes with two phillips, two slotted and one hex bit. Plus there is room in the handle to add additional bits. I always like magnetized screwdrivers and this one is. Can't remember where mine came. Worksmart Products has them for $28.11 delivered. http://www.worksmartpro.com/WILWRS-1/?. Tools Delivered has them for $29.16 delivered . http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Williams-WRS-1-Hand-Tools-Screwdrivers-Bit-Drivers

 

[tube_guy]

Maybe it's just me, but another thing I dislike with most ratcheting screwdrivers is that removable end cap that makes the handle into bit storage. They make using the screwdriver properly, with one hand pushing on the end, much more complicated. I end up picking that end cap up off the ground more often than I use the handle for storage (which is never).

 

[decaf]

I was very skeptical of a ratcheting screwdriver before I had bought this one.

Now i really appreciate this screwdriver. Saves a lot of space aswell

 

[SMKS]

These Snap on drivers feel and work great and I do like them but for anyone intersted, the william are about 50% less $ and I would buy the williams if I were to buy another.

The life time waranty is the biggest differentiater I can see.

It's not clear to me what is the warranty difference.

I see people going back and forth about the bits having warranty or not. Doesn't the Williams ratcheting screwdriver have a lifetime warranty? Are you only referring to a warranty on the bits?

Many Williams tools have a lifetime warranty, and I believe it includes screwdrivers. I've warrantied a non-ratcheting screwdriver with them before.

 

[Burgerkong]

Personally, my favourite is the Megapro ratcheting, made in Canada to boot!

http://www.megapro.net/products/drivers/ratcheting/

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I have both the snap on long and regular ratcheting drivers as well as a craftsman. Honestly, I like the craftsman better. The ratchet is lighter, it's just as strong, and I like the handle better. It's been used in a professional environment for two years and looks brand new. It has the storage in the handle, but the end cap rotates to reveal a bit. I personally don't like it, but others may. It comes with a rubber keeper with a bunch of bits in it, some double because they're most commonly used. I've sprayed it down with brake clean to clean it and had no issues. I like the snap on one just the same, but the craftsman is the one I grab the most.

 

[jjjrmx5]

It's not clear to me what is the warranty difference.

I see people going back and forth about the bits having warranty or not. Doesn't the Williams ratcheting screwdriver have a lifetime warranty? Are you only referring to a warranty on the bits?

Many Williams tools have a lifetime warranty, and I believe it includes screwdrivers. I've warrantied a non-ratcheting screwdriver with them before.

Sanp-On bit warranty varies from driver to driver depending upon your account and purchases.

If only warrantied one or two at a time and once or twice a year at a small or medium business, most drivers are fine.

Cust. service and call in warranties can be problematic I have found.

Use the bits in mfg. and medium or high production and they balk quickly at replacing them.
Wear item then and that's fine with me.



As for Williiams ratcheting screwdrivers, I can only assume the driver has a lifetime warranty. Bit's may be more iffy.

If I need parts for my S-O driver or a rebuild kit, my weekly driver stocks them in the truck and can fix on the spot. major issues and they just hand you a new driver. BTDT.

Since I am unaware if the Williams and S-O internals are the same , I will guess with the williams they will send you out a rebuild kit if available or just have you ship they old one back and replace via snail mail as a swap out. Check that online warranty.

Since I have several of the S-O's I am never worried about being without one, but YMMV.

You pay more for the S-O units due to the truck accounts per usual, but parts are and will be for a long time available for them vs. the lower cost brands.

They are not for everone but with replaceable bits, magenetic bit holder that holds the screw on the bit end and a solid built shaft design, I find them worth every penny.

I always suggest to "test drive" several different mfgrs for ratcheting screwdrivers as they vary greatly from low end to high end.

 

[cheechi]

Have any of you warranted the Williams with your SO driver?

For the bits, is the official answer yes, no, or maybe on the warranty replacements. Too many different answers, hard to tell them apart.

I recently got my Williams ratcheting screwdriver, all the bits are labeled SO & USA except for the Torx. I didn't see a label I recognized, no COO. Is that typical? I like the SO bits very much but not sure if they are more cost effective than getting dewalts on sale on HD for 15c each.

 

[zkling]

I was very skeptical of a ratcheting screwdriver before I had bought this one.

Now i really appreciate this screwdriver. Saves a lot of space aswell

WOW that looks nice Just looked up the price. Never mind. Looks like I will stick with my <$10 craftsman ratcheting driver.

 

[cheechi]

You pay a lot for the long bits in that set. I wish they had a ratcheting version of the 'james bond' style as some have called it.

Always makes me think of Newman with the Barbasol at the beginning of Jurassic Park. But hey, I hear Roger Moore does it for some people so I'm not supposed to judge.