Screwdriver bits: assembling a set.

[Chandos]

Hi, all,

I recently acquired a set of Snap-On ratcheting screwdrivers, and I want to put together an ultimate (for me) set. I have no need for security bits. My interests are in maintaining my '77 F-150 Ranger XLT and in restoring/operating my vintage wood and metal working machines.

I'm curious: what selection would you make? I have excellent sets of fixed-shaft screwdrivers, but the more I use the SO, the more I like them, and I'd like a go-to assortment of bits. I have a pretty good notion of what I want, but I respect the collective experience of this group, and I'm always willing to learn something.

Many thanks!

Chandos

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Well, first off, I'd buy APEX or ZEPHYR bits...who makes SO stuff. Get the ACR bits for Phillips. Get an ECX for doing electrical at home (I know, it's not the truck)...get long ones and short ones that you want.

And then, either get a bit holder from a yard sale..DeWalt / Milwaukee /etc and fill it up. Or, Mechanics Time Saver makes a cool one that I want to get for the workbench. I'll find it now... here..POST #6..http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140982

and to buy...https://www.google.com/search?q=mec...1YGoBA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAA&biw=1360&bih=631&dpr=1

 

[Canadian Charlie]

I picked up a set of 50 or so screwdriver bits for silly money (a few bucks), something like in the picture below

 

[1950mercury]

Snap on sells a bit kit...the nice thing about snap on is they warranty them

 

[ADSR]

What about a set from Bahco?

 

[orca8589]

fifteen years ago, I worked for a moving company, taking down & rebuilding furniture. I needed the same thing you do.

I bought this set, just for the box:
http://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.co...N6TexTN6z7w-RonbKBRAOYTVkVnUK6o73axWDECrw_wcB

I dumped the bits out, and filled it with only the bits I needed. One row for each type of bit: Phillips #1, #2, and #3 each had their own row, slotted had their own row, SAE & metric hex each had a row, torx had a row, etc.

With this set-up, I also had the standard-size eazypower isomax screwdriver handle [pg. 2 here]:
http://www.eazypower.com/eazypowerreg-catalog-section-8-isomaxreg-hand-screwdrivers.html

That allowed me to use either a magnetic or non-magnetic 1/4" adapter, any length. These are the same adapters that work in cordless drills, so I saved a lot of space this way; everything fit in my drill case.

But here was my nightmare: the biggest challenge was that the 1/4"-hex adapters all have a sleeve that the bit fits into - but that sleeve won't fit into some of the tight spaces that I had to get it into. The eazypower handle allowed me to use long 1/4"-hex bits (Phillips, hex, torx, etc.) directly in the handle.

At one point I had eleven 12" long, 1/4"-hex driver bits. The above set-up allowed me to eliminate a three-drawer tool box that wasn't mobile enough for the work I was doing. (Some of our guys were carrying 30+ screwdrivers of various types & lengths, so you can imagine the room taken up just from the screwdriver handles themselves.)

~Chris