Screwdriver comparison

[lincwelder225]

Hello everyone-

I have a complete set of Craftsman USA (WF marked) screwdrivers. Years ago (2000 or so) I had a snap on black handled set that was stolen a few years back. I liked the snap on set, my question is there a REAL difference in the actual driver part themselves, or are they all pretty much on par with each other? The slotted tips on the Craftsman seem to curl or mushroom more than the Snap on ones did if I recall. Not that they are junk or unusable, just curious if there is a big jump in quality or not between the two brands. Do the Phillips ones grab the screw better on one vs the other? Let me know what you think. Thanks

 

[countryroad82]

For me, I'm a pro though, about all I use Craftsman screwdrivers for are prybars or scratch awls. They will turn a screw not saying anything bad there. But my higher end screwdrivers just do it better and more comfortably.

 

[zendriver]

I thought the snap on had grit blasted tips that made them harder. Not positive, but I don't think the craftsman screwdriver had that until the red and black handle pro versions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[exmaxima1]

For me, I'm a pro though, about all I use Craftsman screwdrivers for are prybars or scratch awls.

They're more versatile than that. CM screwdrivers are awesome for mixing small batches of epoxy, and as handles for spray painting parts. I've tried them for cleaning buffer pads as well, and they work just fine....

 

[Fedwrench]

As others have pointed out, the love to hate, bargain priced, acetate handled Craftsman screwdrivers are great when used as anything except a screwdriver

But to answer your question, there is a huge difference on the driving end. Vapor blasted tips, anti camout ribs, fitment in screw heads, better & harder blade steel, hex bolstered blades for using a wrench to apply more torque, are a few key differences off of the top of my head.

The plain jane craftsman phillips#2 screwdriver is a screw killer. It just doesn't fit screw heads well. It can make a decent punch though.

Seriously, the only thing remotely attractive about craftsman screwdrivers might be the black friday sale prices and the warranty.

On a side note, I'm not saying that the snap on screwdriver is perfect. I'm not a fan of the instinct handle. There are also many German made screwdrivers that are great and are leaps and bounds better than a plain jane craftsman screwdriver. Get a #2 phillips from a couple of different brands and see that there is adifference

 

[Unruh]

There are also many German made screwdrivers that are great and are leaps and bounds better than a plain jane craftsman screwdriver. Get a #2 phillips from a couple of different brands and see that there is adifference

I recently did this and got to use a Witte screwdriver for the first time. I was kinda mad at myself for not trying them sooner. I put together a pretty basic item and the entire time kept thinking, "I could have been using these for all those years?!?". Try some different ones, but my drawers is now full of Witte drivers.

 

[ssdave]

I was stubborn about warrantying out and using my Craftsman screwdrivers for a long time. The #2 phillips were particularly bad, I remember having new ones round out on the first screw on more than one occasion. I found a #2 phillips, black handle driver under the hood of a car that I bought. It worked so amazingly much better that I paid retail to buy more SO drivers. The #2 would remove a screw AFTER the craftsman had stripped it out.

So, yes, there is a huge difference in them.

 

[woody 73]

Last week we had a GJ member crying in his beer...Oh my gosh the end of those clear handled screwdrivers, blah, blah, blah. They never were top notch in the first place, so many other good brands out there if you look hard enough.

Funny story but just this week I walked into a garage sale and they had a table full of screwdrivers; another man was drooling at the craftsman screwdrivers at something like 50 cents each, poor man I thought he was going to die from all the excitement and have a heart attack. I went over and told him the following:

I will collect ever craftsman screwdriver I find and give them all to you, if you pick up any yellow handled screwdrivers for me (work like a team as you say). He was overcome with joy and I walked out with a handful of older proto screwdrivers.

We were both happy that day, collect what you like but again there are better screwdrivers to be had.

 

[lincwelder225]

I was stubborn about warrantying out and using my Craftsman screwdrivers for a long time. The #2 phillips were particularly bad, I remember having new ones round out on the first screw on more than one occasion. I found a #2 phillips, black handle driver under the hood of a car that I bought. It worked so amazingly much better that I paid retail to buy more SO drivers. The #2 would remove a screw AFTER the craftsman had stripped it out.

So, yes, there is a huge difference in them.

I've had similar experiences on #2 Phillips... unless the screwhead is brand new... always thought the metal of the screwhead was too soft or was rusted. Now I know

 

[lincwelder225]

Last week we had a GJ member crying in his beer...Oh my gosh the end of those clear handled screwdrivers, blah, blah, blah. They never were top notch in the first place, so many other good brands out there if you look hard enough.

Funny story but just this week I walked into a garage sale and they had a table full of screwdrivers; another man was drooling at the craftsman screwdrivers at something like 50 cents each, poor man I thought he was going to die from all the excitement and have a heart attack. I went over and told him the following:

I will collect ever craftsman screwdriver I find and give them all to you, if you pick up any yellow handled screwdrivers for me (work like a team as you say). He was overcome with joy and I walked out with a handful of older proto screwdrivers.

We were both happy that day, collect what you like but again there are better screwdrivers to be had.

Hey buddy don't knock the clear or colored acetate plastic handled nutdrivers and screwdrivers.. especially Vaco or Xcelite!

 

[lincwelder225]

Ok... I am getting the general consensus here, the Craftsman is low quality. I've had some issues with the Phillips in the past (In their defense, I live in the rust belt). That is why I'm considering replacing them. Is the wila/witte or other foreign screwdrivers better than Snap On?

 

[bcradio]

Ok... I am getting the general consensus here, the Craftsman is low quality. I've had some issues with the Phillips in the past (In their defense, I live in the rust belt). That is why I'm considering replacing them. Is the wila/witte or other foreign screwdrivers better than Snap On?

You need to clarify this a little better. The clear handled Craftsman screwdrivers are low quality. The Pro versions are just fine.

 

[exmaxima1]

You need to clarify this a little better. The clear handled Craftsman screwdrivers are low quality. The Pro versions are just fine.

I had bought about 20 of the CM Pros during the recent craze, and sold them all last month. Didn't like the quality: curved shanks, bad fitting Torx, plating flaking off. I like my Eastwood and Felo much better. But I still keep a stash of standard CM for those disposable jobs.

 

[lincwelder225]

You need to clarify this a little better. The clear handled Craftsman screwdrivers are low quality. The Pro versions are just fine.

Those are the ones I have... That is what I was referring to. Sorry for the confusion, I should have specified that I had the clear handled ones.

 

[lincwelder225]

So what are the best screwdrivers out there? I understand that this is a vague and subjective question... Should I set up a poll?

 

[Wamsutta]

The biggest difference in professional grade screwdrivers in the shape of the handle. There's no point in buying a screwdriver for the tip if you hate the handle.

 

[lincwelder225]

I agree.... I'm going to launch a poll. Please give some input/ experience that you have on it. Thanks

 

[paulsomlo]

I agree.... I'm going to launch a poll. Please give some input/ experience that you have on it. Thanks

Already been done many times over on GJ. Do a search - you'll be reading posts for five hours. The names that bubble to the top are snap on, williams, proto, pb swiss, wiha, wera, felo, vessel.

 

[achirdo]

Literally today a clear handle craftsman #2 stripped a brand new screw, and my snap on #2 pulled it right out. Craftsman clear handles are junk

 

[lincwelder225]

Literally today a clear handle craftsman #2 stripped a brand new screw, and my snap on #2 pulled it right out. Craftsman clear handles are junk

Sorry I jinxed you!

 

[Snakebyt]

I got some Wera torx drivers, so far they are great, love the handles. Planning on ordering some screwdrivers next time they go on sale

 

[jgromada]

The Craftsman acetate handle screwdrivers were simply a consumable. They do the job but people love to hate on them. There are better screwdrivers out there, but be prepared to pay more.

 

[shortcircuit]

vaco screwdrivers rule

 

[vtcat]

The Craftsman Extreme Grip are definitely better than the standard ones.
I have a set of the Japan made Vessel screwdrivers,very nice and reasonably priced.
I see a lot of operator malfunction,you need to push on the driver before you half strip the screw.

 

[mudflap]

The Craftsman acetate handle screwdrivers were simply a consumable. They do the job but people love to hate on them. There are better screwdrivers out there, but be prepared to pay more.

All screwdrivers are a "consumable", same with bit sockets..

 

[Qualitytools]

The Wiha and Wera's are very good and their handles are very comfortable and ergonomically correct for my hand and I have big hands. However, what fits well in one man's hand may not in another it comes down to a matter of choice. I found that the German made screwdrivers have better tips.

 

[Ifixvws]

Williams makes the screw drivers for Snap on. Available from a bunch of places. I have three sets around the house, the Kart track and the shops second tool set. I love them.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002NH5F30/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[1950mercury]

Williams makes the screw drivers for Snap on. Available from a bunch of places. I have three sets around the house, the Kart track and the shops second tool set. I love them.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002NH5F30/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Wrong. Snap on makes them. Snap on owns Williams

 

[Kasal]

The best ones for me are wera and vessel.
Wera 100% German manufacture.

 

[stercorarius]

I have dozens of wera drivers. None of them made in Germany. All from Czech Republic. That being said it makes no difference to me and still love them for the price. Semi-relevant to the thread KCTool has 20% off everything right now so it's a great time to buy if you want to try any German screwdriver brands. The were 6pc set is like $20 after the discount.

 

[Kasal]

Yes, sorry I look at it now and they are made in the Czech republic, I co-founded with another brand, (knipex).

 

[Furious Filipino]

All screwdrivers are a "consumable", same with bit sockets..

Which is the reason I’m primarily moving to bit holders. I personally prefer the Wiha “SlimFix” drivers that can capture the bits, as they seem to be the narrowest.

 

[BMack37]

Yes, sorry I look at it now and they are made in the Czech republic, I co-founded with another brand, (knipex).

Knipex screwdrivers are made in Germany by Witte.

 

[Kiwi Canuck]

The best ones for me are wera and vessel.
Wera 100% German manufacture.

I also have Wera and Vessel, and love them both, but the Wera's are now made in Czech Republic, not that there's anything wrong with that.

Wera also makes many different styles, with different coloured handles.


Good luck with whatever you buy.

I still have a few left over craftsman but do not use them as screw drivers anymore.

 

[mikebaker1129]

I recently did this and got to use a Witte screwdriver for the first time. I was kinda mad at myself for not trying them sooner. I put together a pretty basic item and the entire time kept thinking, "I could have been using these for all those years?!?". Try some different ones, but my drawers is now full of Witte drivers.

Me too!
I like the fit of the Witte drivers on screws the best, but I like the old SK green hard handles the best. The blades on the SK are good also,just not like the German stuff.
Try a few different brands and see which works best for you. It comes down to basically 2 things, the blade/ tip and what feels most comfortable in your hands.

 

[Al Borland]

Go get some SK screwdrivers with the green handles.

 

[NC Rick]

I still have some usable Craftsman screwdrivers from the 1960s because they didn’t get much use. We had good luck with Vaco phillips drivers in the seventies as the tips would last. Around then, I purchased a full set of Snap-on screwdrivers and in my opinion, Snap-On screwed me. They were average with regard to steel and after some years the handles began to smell and break down. I called Snap-On and was told to send them to a sales office. I did so, via fed-ex and never heard back from them. I will never buy another new snap on product again.

Wera screwdrivers are reasonably priced and fantastic quality. Very reliable, excellent tools.

 

[mowkep]

Wiha>Felo/Wera...imho

 

[tym]

How about Chapman Mfg bits (they're great) with an extension and screwdriver handle?

 

[Rustypigeon]

My Wera Kraftform screwdriver set just arrived in the mail a couple of hours ago. I wish I bought them a long time ago.

My Craftsmans always cammed out of phillips and JIS screws especially. The first thing I did when I opened the box was test the #2 on JIS screws. The Wera #2 fits perfect with no slop. Very nice set for $25ish.