Ratcheting screwdriver options???

[Exceller8]

I'm in the market for a few ratcheting screwdrivers. I actually don't own any at the moment. I know that Snap-On is the gold standard for ratcheting screwdrivers and I plan on buying at least one, but what other options are out there?

I know the Williams is about half the price, but is the quality there? I've read good and bad things about the Gearwrench? Kobalt is out from what I've read, but what about Craftsman?

Any other options worth looking at?

Note: I'm looking at buying three or four to keep around the home and shop.

 

[zkling]

I have the standard craftsman one. Red handle that comes with a good assortment of bits. IIRC I got it on sale for $10 and some change. For the money I am very happy with it, especially with the bits it includes. I personally prefer fixed blade screwdrivers, but the ratcheting does come in handy for repetitive or tight access areas or taking a bunch of different screw drivers on the road. However I don't use it enough to justify the SO price. Is the SO one better? Probably, has the craftsman one given me years of good service without a hickup? Absolutely.

One thing though. I treat it like any other ratcheting tool. If the screw is super tight I find a nice fixed screw driver to break it loose with first. Basically what I am saying is that I haven't put extreme amounts of torque on it. Never white knuckled it, and I don't know how well it would hold up to that.

 

[Exceller8]

I have the standard craftsman one. Red handle that comes with a good assortment of bits. IIRC I got it on sale for $10 and some change. For the money I am very happy with it, especially with the bits it includes. I personally prefer fixed blade screwdrivers, but the ratcheting does come in handy for repetitive or tight access areas or taking a bunch of different screw drivers on the road. However I don't use it enough to justify the SO price. Is the SO one better? Probably, has the craftsman one given me years of good service without a hickup? Absolutely.

One thing though. I treat it like any other ratcheting tool. If the screw is super tight I find a nice fixed screw driver to break it loose with first. Basically what I am saying is that I haven't put extreme amounts of torque on it. Never white knuckled it, and I don't know how well it would hold up to that.

Thanks! Since I'm going to buy a few of them I just can't buy all Snap-On. Glad to know that the Craftsman is a viable option. I do want a Snap-On for my shop though.

 

[turbodave]

I have two that I like, was holding out for a Snap-on one, but settled for the Williams version. The Williams one feels every bit as well built as the snap-on, just the handle is a different color/shape. I prefer the open bit storage these have, it's quick to dump the bits in your palm, grab the right one and get to work.

My other ratcheting screwdriver is a craftsman. http://www.sears.com/craftsman-ratc...p-00947144000P?prdNo=8&blockNo=8&blockType=G8 This one works well and feels solid, but I don't like the way the bits store in the handle. I ended up keeping this one in my truck and I just keep the rubber bit holder thing in the armrest bin with it.

 

[DanCo]

In addition to the Snappy HH & stubby HH, I also have these from SK.



I also have a regular handled Great Neck branded screwdriver with the same ratcheting mechanism as the SK's (keep torx bits on those). I've opened all of the up and put a dab of RLL, keeps them real smooth

Dan

 

[Exceller8]

I have two that I like, was holding out for a Snap-on one, but settled for the Williams version. The Williams one feels every bit as well built as the snap-on, just the handle is a different color/shape. I prefer the open bit storage these have, it's quick to dump the bits in your palm, grab the right one and get to work.

My other ratcheting screwdriver is a craftsman. http://www.sears.com/craftsman-ratc...p-00947144000P?prdNo=8&blockNo=8&blockType=G8 This one works well and feels solid, but I don't like the way the bits store in the handle. I ended up keeping this one in my truck and I just keep the rubber bit holder thing in the armrest bin with it.

Thanks for the link! I'm really leaning toward getting one Snap-On, two williams, and a couple of the Craftsman. I'd still like to hear other options though.

What about any German brands, Swiss??

 

[willhollin]

Snap On hard handle takes some beating.

I've picked up a few cheap off auction sites.

 

[ddo]

Megapro is my favorite. Nice tight action, good feel, and the storage is such that bits don't rattle around in the handle. Beats snap on price by a good bit too. Made in Canada I think.

 

[toolstools]

Stanely. But not the new style. I've had mine for 5 years and love it. They also have a stubby ratchet screwdriver.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Hey Exceller8,

I've got a brand new Matco. Here's a pic from google I pulled. I'll sell it and I'm 10 minutes from you.

If you're interested, let me know.

 

[Exceller8]

Hey Exceller8,

I've got a brand new Matco. Here's a pic from google I pulled. I'll sell it and I'm 10 minutes from you.

If you're interested, let me know.

I'm interested, sending you a pm.

 

[Brownsfan]

The gear wrench one at sears with the t-handle and the regular handle. Comes with a bunch of bits, sockets and extensions for $35. Goes on sale quite a bit. For the money it's hard to beat. I have this Cornwell set but it was like a 56pc and like $70 when I bought it. I guess this is the replacement. http://www.cornwelltools.com/webcat...-%2d-122-Piece-Ratcheting-Screwdriver-Bit-Set

 

[Brownsfan]

I also have all the snap on variations and those are the best of all. I use the gearwrench and Cornwell when I do on sight installs.

 

[dleonard1122]

When I started my father gifted me his 26 piece Gearwrench set that he bought off of the Matco truck. He didn't use it and it was brand new so I was not complaining. Personally, I love this set and don't use it enough, but whenever I have a hex or torx bolt I use it and have not needed to buy hex and torx sockets (yet) because of it. It comes in a nice case that stores well, says GearDriver on it, and I find that the grip is good too. I am sure the SO version is very good and probably better than the GW version, but if variety is what your looking for ill give a +1 to the GW version.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I've had experience with a handful of them, ultimately there are only 2 worth buying IMO...Snappy Hard Handle, Snappy Ergo/Soft Grip...best ratcheting mechanism, nice feel, bulletproof, and overall the best.
Dont give up on a snappy due to price, Not that long ago I got a just like new hard handled snappy along with 4 various Craftsman screwdrivers and a Proto 5/16 combo wrench for $15.00 on CL. I've got 5 of the SnapOn Ratcheting screwdrivers, no 2 are the same.

 

[Biomed]

In addition to the Snappy HH & stubby HH, I also have these from SK.

Those SK drivers sure look like Bahco.

 

[Monte]

PB Swiss, Gedore, Wera, Schroder, Stahlwille

 

[willhollin]

Those SK drivers sure look like Bahco.

...and Gearwrench, KS Tools, Britool (Expert) amongst others.

 

[neophyte]

Schroder/Scroeder of Germany makes really nice ratcheting screwdrivers. The company sells the screwdrivers under their own name, as well as under others. The Gedore screwdriver Monte posted appears to have a Schroder ratcheting mechanism. They also manufacture ratcheting screwdrivers for craftsman and Witte.

http://schroeder-werkzeuge.de/en/about-us/2000-today/
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/WesternForge/47473.html
http://www.witte-werkzeuge.de/index.php?sid=g3m62ku5nh5sdsvepq6ctur1u7&con_lang=3&con_kat=92
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DZ6YRE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If you want a USA made ratcheting screwdriver, there's a company called SpecTools that manufactures under their own name, as well as doing private label manufacturing for some major US tool manufacturers. They also manufacture some other specialty screwdrivers.

http://www.spectools.com/faqs.htm
http://www.spectools.com/spec.htm
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00065UQ6M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

A last but not least option might be the Wiha Topra ratcheting screwdriver. It's part of the Wiha System 6/ Drive Loc VI series of screwdrivers that use 6mm blades, but Wiha does manufacture a 1/4" bit adapter that comes with a number of sets.


http://www.wihatools.com/pro_topra.htm
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WTATOG/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.kctoolco.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=topra

 

[Dave455]

Snap On (provided it's the hard handle version, the soft are just too soft for workshop use) or PB Swiss.

I have several of the PB Swiss and have found them faultless. Their 'cross handle' is my first choice at the moment, and their ratchet mechanism's are Superb!

 

[bonneyman]

I prefer the ratcheting ball drivers, but, I snagged this Kobalt at an estate sale, and it's pretty nice for what I put it through.

http://toolguyd.com/kobalt-ratcheting-screwdriver-lowes/

 

[jeremy v]

If I needed a few I would only buy the Williams ratchet screwdrivers. They are equal in all ways to the SnapOn other than the shaft knurling and handle shape. I prefer the Williams handle shape as the more "rounded off triangle" cross-section fits my hand better than the more square SnapOn handle cross-section.

I own a SnapOn ratcheting driver and now it basically just sits in a drawer because I like my 2 modified Williams screwdrivers better. I took a sawzall blade and drug it gently across the handle in a cross hatch pattern to make small cuts in the plastic that give me a lot more grip. I do that to a lot of my tools and it works great for a long time before needing to be touched up again.

I also cut my own simple shaft finger grip notches into the handle with a thin Dremel cutoff wheel. I never really liked the diamond knurling pattern of the SnapOn ratchet because there is not much bite to it for the fingers. My modified straight cut screwdriver now has 2-3x the finger grip on the shaft versus the stock knurling on my SnapOn and it is absolutely perfect for me.

Just for reference my Williams ratcheting screwdrivers are both black handled because they are actually CASE IH re-brands of the Williams ratcheting screwdriver, so they have a black handle instead of blue. Everything else is the same.

 

[gagreen]

I've got the sunex gearless and like it quite a bit and it's crazy affordable. I also have a gearwrench stubby and regular kit with a plethora of shafts (whole set up about 25 bucks off cripe a few weeks ago. The gw is very nice.

 

[ChevyEFI]

do your own research on this one but...

I think someone on here(?) referred to this one as the OEM of one of the SO models (or something like that.

http://www.eautotools.com/Skew-Products-SKEPPR-5330-p/skeppr-5330.htm

No personal experience with it. Yet.

 

[Exceller8]

I bought the Matco set from Mohawk Dave. Its awlays nice to meet another GJ member and Dave is a nice guy.

I also picked up the Craftsman set (#47144) on sale for $18.99. I'm pretty happy with it for the $$$. It will be perfect for around the house duty.

Thanks as always for your guys help. I've gone from zero to two in one day.