buco
Well-known member
Other than pb Swiss and Snap on, who else makes really good ratcheting screwdriver sets?
I'm looking to try and find a master set if i can.
Thanks!
I'm looking to try and find a master set if i can.
Thanks!
Ratcheting screwdriver sets
- Thread starter buco
- Start date
shoturtle
Well-known member
wera has a good one as well, some people I know like that funny T handle wiha screwdriver.
I like the tradition screwdriver, I prefer the wera design.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VMWYCU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I like the tradition screwdriver, I prefer the wera design.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VMWYCU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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waterboy12
Well-known member
^^^^^^^what he said!
briggsguy17
Well-known member
canuckian
Well-known member
Good plan! Read great things about them. Curious as to where you're getting it from? I'm thinking it's going to be one of my next purchases as well. Been looking around and finding them a little on the pricier side.
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
I think it's more a question of what do you want and what do you need.
Fixed shaft or removeable with different length shanks?
Nut driver option a'la gearwrench?
Bits? and if so what type?
Snap-On still is my choice if used heavily, but there is no "bulk buy" deal or markdown there. It's toatally pay-to-play.
I picked up a Ivy Classic (COO-Taiwan) ratcheting screwdriver with a 10 bit cradle that fits neatly in the handle as a test unit but it can be had for $18 or thereabouts.
Exactly like the MAC ratcheting screwdriver and on par with teh Snap-On units for 1/3 the cost.
And I;m a S-O ratcheting screwdriver fanboi out the a$$.
It's a killer deal that kicks ***.
Be wary of many ratcheting screwdrivers out there. They tend to look alike and can be money-down the drain if chosen poorly.
.
Fixed shaft or removeable with different length shanks?
Nut driver option a'la gearwrench?
Bits? and if so what type?
Snap-On still is my choice if used heavily, but there is no "bulk buy" deal or markdown there. It's toatally pay-to-play.
I picked up a Ivy Classic (COO-Taiwan) ratcheting screwdriver with a 10 bit cradle that fits neatly in the handle as a test unit but it can be had for $18 or thereabouts.
Exactly like the MAC ratcheting screwdriver and on par with teh Snap-On units for 1/3 the cost.
And I;m a S-O ratcheting screwdriver fanboi out the a$$.
It's a killer deal that kicks ***.
Be wary of many ratcheting screwdrivers out there. They tend to look alike and can be money-down the drain if chosen poorly.
.
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ruquik
Well-known member
I love my GW set. It's this one:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16722
This this has been used more than ANY of my other tool. It goes with me everywhere, everyday. Best single tool purchase because it's so vesitle and dependable (I'm a jeep guy and a junkyard scrouger).When you are a 1/4 mile from the junkyard entrance, it's about to start raining and you know you can't come back cause that stromberg ain't gonna be there tomorrow, suddenly that t-handle become an 8" ratchet. Had it for atleast 4 years now. Only broke the tiny flat blade and crack the clear part of the case.
I just bought the Matco branded GW set for my box.
Not sure if you are talking about a different pricing league, but it you are then yeah, my abused GW set was only $35 new.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16722
This this has been used more than ANY of my other tool. It goes with me everywhere, everyday. Best single tool purchase because it's so vesitle and dependable (I'm a jeep guy and a junkyard scrouger).When you are a 1/4 mile from the junkyard entrance, it's about to start raining and you know you can't come back cause that stromberg ain't gonna be there tomorrow, suddenly that t-handle become an 8" ratchet. Had it for atleast 4 years now. Only broke the tiny flat blade and crack the clear part of the case.
I just bought the Matco branded GW set for my box.
Not sure if you are talking about a different pricing league, but it you are then yeah, my abused GW set was only $35 new.
My Matco's are really nice and American made. They hold their own against my Snap On. Oh, the gearless design is kinda cool too.
wreckerman5357
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2011
- Messages
- 373
Two of my coworkers have the gearwrench set you have mentioned. Both really like the set and use it a lot. From what I have seen they are very nice sets and come with a good assortment of tools. The set pretty much contains everything I would need to take apart a door trim panel and remove mirrors and handles to prep the door for my bodywork. The only other tool you need is a trim tool. This convienence has made me want one but I get along fine without it so it has not been real high on the priority list.
vintagefan
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2012
- Messages
- 613
The Wera ratcheting screwdriver is VERY good. 
shoturtle
Well-known member
That is an excellent choice. Well worth the money.
ActAppalled
Well-known member
I had the Gearwrench set that everyone is talking about and I returned it the same day I bought it. I already had the Craftsman ratcheting screwdriver but wanted something with removable shanks. Maybe I'm missing something, but I thought it felt a bit chincy and it didn't seem as smooth as the Craftsman. I also like the heft that the Craftsman has.
shoturtle
Well-known member
The Wera ratcheting screwdriver is VERY good.
PB Swiss and Wera are my top picks for ratcheting screwdrivers, follow by snap on.
Going to be a LOT of personal preference and intended application.
I'm not 100% a fan of the GearWrench set, but I do see as a current tool of choice for SOME applications. The handles are LARGE, which is good and bad, and the blade fit is a bit sloppy, which is bad and bad.
Gearless designs feel a bit funny to me, smooth, silent, good maybe but a little funny not as tactile maybe. The Wiha Topra gets a lot of use from me.
I'm actually trying hard to move AWAY from the ratchets and use a powered driver.
I'm not 100% a fan of the GearWrench set, but I do see as a current tool of choice for SOME applications. The handles are LARGE, which is good and bad, and the blade fit is a bit sloppy, which is bad and bad.
Gearless designs feel a bit funny to me, smooth, silent, good maybe but a little funny not as tactile maybe. The Wiha Topra gets a lot of use from me.
I'm actually trying hard to move AWAY from the ratchets and use a powered driver.
shoturtle
Well-known member
I tried that power driver at work, only problem is on smaller screws if you are not careful you can strip the head with a power driver still. They go not give you the feel when the screw max torque vs over doing it and stripping out the head. But they work way faster for removal of the any size screw. So it is a give an take.
ruquik
Well-known member
Who uses the gearless design, my GW goes clickity-clack
Have it. Not in the same league as SO and the other big names, sorry
have to disagree. have SO, Williams (screwdriver + mutliple T-handle types), and multiple GW (screwdriver + multiple T-handle types). GW holds up just fine in comparison. i use the williams screwdriver handle style the most, but the GW are in my track box and emergency vehicle kits. at the track, the GW stuff doesn't get used as often, but it is not treated nicely - regularly in the dirt/sand and rain - and they have been great. i really like the t-handle style and williams does have a long shaft t-handle that is probably my favorite (when it fits).
to me, the biggest upside to the williams/SO is the included bits are of very high quality. they have held up better than the GW-included ones although the GW ones aren't bad. the gearwrench set that ruquik posted is an AWESOME value. i got mine i think during a thanksgiving or christmas-time sale at sears a couple of years ago for like $20. incredible value IMO. ratcheting action quality and durability every bit as good as the SO/williams.
ahm
powertrip
Well-known member
There was another thread about GW ones recently. Someone stated that the GW screwdrivers use/buy/borrow or lease (not sure which)the snapon technology from snapon and that the shanks interchange somehow. Anyone know of this?
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
Willams ratcheting screwdriver is shared patent technology with Snap-On best to my knowledge.
I highly doubt Gearwrench is.
As for the shanks, do a search. I think the shanks on the GW driver are too big to fit the Snap_on units IIRC.
You can file the receiver hole larger or use a small extension shaft and then plug in the GW driver to that. Craftsman shanks fit just fine in all my S-O ratcheting screwdrivers from the start new tho. Go figgure.
powertrip
Well-known member
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129023Willams ratcheting screwdriver is shared patent technology with Snap-On best to my knowledge.
I highly doubt Gearwrench is.
As for the shanks, do a search. I think the shanks on the GW driver are too big to fit the Snap_on units IIRC.
You can file the receiver hole larger or use a small extension shaft and then plug in the GW driver to that. Craftsman shanks fit just fine in all my S-O ratcheting screwdrivers from the start new tho. Go figgure.
Found the thread I was referring to. Post#4
The Red Handle Craftsman is nice and useable. I use a Black Handle Snapon at work and they feel the same. I returned my GearWrench set as well.
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
And the fact that GW uses Snap_On internals is still only that---speculation.
The GW ratchteing screwdrivers I have handled do NOT have the access opening and dual prongs to remove and rebuild the internals, a'la Snap-On . Hmmmm.
Now that's not to say it's not possible, but show me a side by side of the internals and we can talk.
Until that point, and having used GW drivers from co-workers, they are a great deal for thier value, but they are not IMHO professional "day in and day out" reliable quality. Again, I'm around these things daily and they get used hard. 75% of what's out there are weekend hobbiest gimmicks and not the real deal sadly.
The GW blades I've seen were $3 to $4 each, Snapon is MORE a lot more.
GW blades won't go in SO handles, but SO blades will go in GW handles.
Clearly personal preference with ratchet handles etc., so buy some and try some.
Power tools work great for disassembly, but I don't bother on reassembly unless I have a bunch of the same where its practical to tweak around with the torque adjustment on a power tool. Usually I want the positive feel of a plain screwdriver for reassembly, or at least starting a screw etc.
GW blades won't go in SO handles, but SO blades will go in GW handles.
Clearly personal preference with ratchet handles etc., so buy some and try some.
Power tools work great for disassembly, but I don't bother on reassembly unless I have a bunch of the same where its practical to tweak around with the torque adjustment on a power tool. Usually I want the positive feel of a plain screwdriver for reassembly, or at least starting a screw etc.
powertrip
Well-known member
I in no way said that it was true, I just asked if anyone had heard this before. You are just too damn sensitive. Nobody said your snapon was junk. The original quest of this thread was to find an alternative to snapon an pbswiss. That is what the GW is, an alternative.
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
My apologizes, and I was not pushing the Snap-On kool-aid thankyouverymuch. Trust me.
LOL.
All I noted was that there is no evidence AT ALL that GW and S-O were sharing technology.
Give us a side-by-side pic of internals and then we have a discussion.
Ratcheting screwdrivers are still an area where you get what you pay for. Especially if used daily or professionally. I;ve seen it and deal with it from assembly folks that ***** about crappy tools daily.
Buy what you want.
I. do. not. care.
Alternates may come cheap but at the lack of warranty or the price of replacements a few times which negates a "killer deal".
The GW set is a very good deal for a fine tool that I;d be happy to use all the time. But not if my job or profession depended upon it daily.
As for sensitive.... I do occasionally drive a Miata, so WTF.
Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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powertrip
Well-known member
Were good. As for the Miata, sorry. But since you have a snapon, what its the shortest shaft that can be purchased from them? A length that puts the bit as close as possible to the handle end wouldbe ideal for meMy apologizes, and I was not pushing the Snap-On kool-aid thankyouverymuch. Trust me.
LOL.
All I noted was that there is no evidence AT ALL that GW and S-O were sharing technology.
Give us a side-by-side pic of internals and then we have a discussion.
Ratcheting screwdrivers are still an area where you get what you pay for. Especially if used daily or professionally. I;ve seen it and deal with it from assembly folks that ***** about crappy tools daily.
Buy what you want.
I. do. not. care.
Alternates may come cheap but at the lack of warranty or the price of replacements a few times which negates a "killer deal".
The GW set is a very good deal for a fine tool that I;d be happy to use all the time. But not if my job or profession depended upon it daily.
As for sensitive.... I do occasionally drive a Miata, so WTF.
Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ricleh
Well-known member
powertrip
Well-known member
Thanks3 1/4" SGDMRC1-10
My favorite is my old Snap-on that I installed a shorter shank on (The hard handles aren't interchangeable shanks, but you can install them).
The Mac is a darn nice one as well. However, they all turn screws just the same... And although the Snap-on has the best bits I've used, they are made by Zephyr. You can get them for anything...
Still need to get a Wera.
As for Gearwrench. I've heard the Snap-on design was licensed to them. Dunno... I just know that the Gearwrench I have isn't near as smooth as my Snap-ons, and the bits are meh... As well, you can put Snap-on shanks in a Gearwrench, but you can not put Gearwrench shanks in a Snap-on.
plinker
Well-known member
+1
This is the best shank/handle combo, IMO.