Recommend me Screwdrivers

[Fender1325]

I currently have a random assortment of mostly craftsman screw drivers. Some are better than others. My coworker has all snap on "instinct" model screwdrivers. I must say, when there's an old screw in that has been there for decades and needs to come out, those snap ons of his give good torque in the grip and they bite nicely.

I doubt I'll spend snap on money on screwdrivers, but, having experienced a better quality screwdriver makes me want to upgrade.

Can anyone recommend a set that has similar characteristics for a better price?

 

[buffalobill]

Carlyle are good screwdrivers...

 

[tarbellb]

See that search button, about right ------------------------ ^^^^ HERE ^^^^

Lots and lots, and even more results typing in "screwdriver".


That said, I will contribute- Tekton Trilobe- USA made, super comfy, cheap, above all- work well.

 

[packet]

Wiha, Wera, PB Swiss. Choose your poison.

 

[noid]

Pb swiss.

Hollow ground tipped swiss goodness.

Proof of magic attached. Picture was uploaded from my phone, which auto rotated it, so youll have to turn your head.

 

[eyeball]

I really like Williams screwdrivers. The tips bite well and the handles allow me to get a firm grip. Between that set and my Snap-on ratcheting screwdriver (great tips), I rarely reach for anything else.

Once you settle on a new set, hold on to the old ones as well. I find it very handy to have a good selection of damaged screwdrivers to be bent, twisted, hammered or ground into specialty tools when nothing else fits...

 

[Bross956]

Felo wooden handle screwdriver set. Check Amazon or kc tools....
IMO, if you like the snappy check out proto duratek line.

 

[M6erfan]

For rusted tough fasteners get yourself a good hand impact driver like Proto, Vessel, Ko-ken, etc. Really saves your screwdiver tips.

That said, I like Vessel and Wiha for PH screws and PB swiss for slotted

 

[tym]

Chapman Mfg is also worth considering. You can get a screwdriver handle and extension for their bits.

 

[PFSard]

Picture was uploaded from my phone, which auto rotated it,

Darn rotation. Hope this is better.

 

[johndeereman]

I really like the 2 set's of Carlyle's i have one set in the tool cart and the other in the service truck. THEY have been flawless so far and really comfortable.

 

[Farmall450]

Keep an eye on eBay for SO Instincts or Williams Hard Handles.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239689

 

[mfa81]

I've been happy with Wiha the last couple of years! Great quality and not that expensive!

 

[mmason7764]

Fender,

Both ends of the screwdriver are important. The end that fits the screws gets discussed a lot. All of the brands mentioned will have durable tips and good fitment.

The other end must interface with you. Small, Medium, or Large hands? do you like round, square, tri-lobe ?
Do you need a handle that retains it's grip when greasy?

Mark

 

[Wamsutta]

PB Swiss soft grips is what I'd get if I wasn't already overflowing with screwdrivers.

 

[redvalkyrie]

Vessel Megadora or Impactas.

 

[ThomasNORWAY]

I will Also recommend the pb swiss drivers! They have an amazing finish, just Looks and feels very good! I have the Vessel woodys on order aswell. for greasy jobs they should retain their grip.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[VinceG]

I only have one screwdriver I use it for everything. No its not photoshopped it is a 4 ft screwdriver

 

[gearhead1]

I bought used snap-on. I like snap-on stuff in general but not the prices.

Compared to Craftsman, you can get more torque with a Snap-on, it’s not a gimmick. When I was a teenager hanging out at my cousin’s shop, the Snap-on truck came. He had a torsion tester and various brands of screwdrivers you inserted them and twist to see how high you get and of course Snap-on screwdrivers would outperform. Me being a skeptic went to my cousin’s box for a Snappy and my box for a Craftsman. Sure enough, Snappy won again. He had a similar tester for rounded off bolt heads. I am a big Craftsman fan, but I also think Snap-on stuff is more engineered.

If you like Snap-on find some used ones.....

 

[thatguysb]

IMO spend the money on the snap-ons.

anyone ever used the gearwrench set? seems like a very close snap on replica.

 

[belvedere]

The Williams screwdrivers are excellent.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have always been a fan of Snap-on, Klein, and Enderes. A coworker has a set of Felo wooden handle screwdrivers that are really nice.

 

[Wamsutta]

I have always been a fan of Snap-on, Klein, and Enderes.

The Kleins are the fastest spinning if you're impatient and want the screw out right now.

 

[kctyphoon]

Milwaukee is coming out with a new set of forged screwdrivers..
the Kleins are nothing magical. I've had them in the past. I even have their ratcheting model and I'm not crazy about it. The bit arrangement makes no sense to me on the double sided bits, and the bit retention is horrible.. other than the name attached to them, I don't think you get anything noteworthy with the Klein drivers.

The Milwaukee demolition screwdrivers are pretty impressive though. They get hammered on for all sorts of things and neither the flat head or Phillips has had any damage to the tips yet.

 

[Fender1325]

Milwaukee is coming out with a new set of forged screwdrivers..
the Kleins are nothing magical. I've had them in the past. I even have their ratcheting model and I'm not crazy about it. The bit arrangement makes no sense to me on the double sided bits, and the bit retention is horrible.. other than the name attached to them, I don't think you get anything noteworthy with the Klein drivers.

The Milwaukee demolition screwdrivers are pretty impressive though. They get hammered on for all sorts of things and neither the flat head or Phillips has had any damage to the tips yet.

Dude.....anytime I see you post it's pushing Milwaukee.

 

[Farmall450]

Dude.....anytime I see you post it's pushing Milwaukee.

Lol true. I'm sure the demolitions are impressively imports

 

[kctyphoon]

Lol true. I'm sure the demolitions are impressively imports

Just like the concrete and everything else they get hammered on.. except the telephone poles. Those are made here.. find me a ship auger bit that drills faster and cleaner than the new Milwaukee shockwaves and I'll pay your mortgage...

I comment with a lot of Milwaukee stuff, cause I own a lot of Milwaukee stuff.. for good reason too.. and you can get them right from Home Depot instead of buying stuff that nobody has ever heard of and no one on planet earth sells in a store.

 

[Farmall450]

Just like the concrete and everything else they get hammered on.. except the telephone poles. Those are made here.. find me a ship auger bit that drills faster and cleaner than the new Milwaukee shockwaves and I'll pay your mortgage...

I comment with a lot of Milwaukee stuff, cause I own a lot of Milwaukee stuff.. for good reason too.. and you can get them right from Home Depot instead of buying stuff that nobody has ever heard of and no one on planet earth sells in a store.

Imported concrete, that's an interesting one. Must be cost effective to send it by the truck of ready mix. C'mon lol. Milwaukee makes great cordless tools but the imported knives, promo stuff and now tools isn't all that and a bag of chips. Just like about any company's private label imports...ie Channellock, SO...

 

[anndel]

#1. Snap on with Instinct handles (in my shop)
#2. Tekton, 12 pc for $34.29 at Amazon (in my office and emergency truck box)

 

[oldldh]

Tekton ---- Made in USA...

From Amazon....

10 pc --- $ 27.48

12 pc --- $ 34.29

16 pc --- $ 40.48

Good drivers --- Good price...

 

[packet]

Tekton has been really hit or miss for me in the past. Some of their stuff is as good as the usual Taiwanese imports. Some of it is worse than HF. Not sure how to tell the difference from a listing photo.

 

[kctyphoon]

Imported concrete, that's an interesting one. Must be cost effective to send it by the truck of ready mix. C'mon lol. Milwaukee makes great cordless tools but the imported knives, promo stuff and now tools isn't all that and a bag of chips. Just like about any company's private label imports...ie Channellock, SO...

I suspect you don't own one of the Milwaukee hardline knives.. I've pried up handhole lids with the tip of the blade.. D2 steel, not sure what more you can ask for. I just bought the newer style magnetized tips screwdriver set, so I can't really comment on those yet - but another style of drivers is coming. Pliers, no. Not Milwaukee's best stuff..

But here are the new "new" ones coming, available for preorder. Forged shanks with hardened tips. You guys realize that just cause something has a foreign name and isn't widely available- doesn't by default, make them "better". half the people on the board will judge screwdrivers just by the handles.. hardened metal is not exotic technology.

I have 7/16" hex drive adapters turning 1 and 1/8" nuts with impacts at work. Not sure why nobody makes drivers outa that metal, but then you'd never need to buy more would ya?

http://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools...gwW6w30YYzgKve5CmXsm9zobXRkuwsrhoCUzwQAvD_BwE

And yes - some concrete (or the minerals used to make it) is imported into the USA. Not a lot, but some.. china is the worlds leading producer of cement, but most of our imported stuff comes from Canada and Greece.

 

[kctyphoon]

Tekton ---- Made in USA...

From Amazon....

10 pc --- $ 27.48

12 pc --- $ 34.29

16 pc --- $ 40.48

Good drivers --- Good price...

Wonder if they're made by Wilde Tool..

 

[-OSIS-]

Get the snap on instincts. Easier to warranty it seems than European offerings. I didn’t know if I wanted to drop the coin but they’ve been worth it.

 

[whisperinsam33]

Down to Wera and PB Swiss. Now price weighs in.

 

[Tonyuk]

Wera lasertips, accept no substitutes.

I'm also a fan of their hammer through screwdrivers and Facom ratcheting screwdrivers, but the lasertips get the most use by far.

 

[cbacres]

The Williams hard black handle set same as the old SO are great. Bought a set earlier this year.
The tips are etched and they work great. About $100 for a 18-19 pc set.

 

[MainelyMechanics]

The new Mac Soft-Grip Screwdriver set is expensive, but without a doubt is worth the money. The handle feels awesome in the hand and is machined really well. No problems whatsoever.

 

[Fender1325]

I guess it ultimately comes down to personal preference. I appreciate all the suggestions. One term I wasn't familiar with is "trilobe" for the handles. I realize that was part of the allure for me with the snap ons. They're large and easy to torque down on. To buy a set of instinct Phillips and flat head id be in the hole $300 if not more. It's one of those tools I don't use too often, but when you have it there, it makes a real difference. They get you by the balls don't they?

 

[Tonyuk]

I guess it ultimately comes down to personal preference. I appreciate all the suggestions. One term I wasn't familiar with is "trilobe" for the handles. I realize that was part of the allure for me with the snap ons. They're large and easy to torque down on. To buy a set of instinct Phillips and flat head id be in the hole $300 if not more. It's one of those tools I don't use too often, but when you have it there, it makes a real difference. They get you by the balls don't they?

Thats crazy money for a set of screwdrivers, you can have a good sized wera set of chisel drivers for less than £50 here;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MUJ39AM/?tag=atomicindustr-21

Maybe a bit more in the states but still should be far less than that, and they have large good sized handles to torque down on.