Screwdriver Reccomendation?

[hoye0017]

This shows your ignorance. You base your posts on assumptions. You've been hear 10 minutes and think you know it all.

Listen to the BS that's coming out of your mouth. (someone who actually owns and has used Snap-on)

LOL, that's real funny to assume.

Keep trolling

So based on this post, it sounds like you think someone's length of time on an Internet forum is equal to their knowledge in the real world.

I wonder how the head of engineering at Snap-on is able to do his job without being a super active member of this forum.

And you're gonna call him the troll...

 

[ADSR]

So based on this post, it sounds like you think someone's length of time on an Internet forum is equal to their knowledge in the real world.

I wonder how the head of engineering at Snap-on is able to do his job without being a super active member of this forum.

And you're gonna call him the troll...

That's not what i'm saying at all. He assumed I made my decision on one post, when in fact, there have been many posts here members have complained about the softness of the wera tips. I also made a thread a couple years back about how I hated the grips on them. I was willing to give them a try until I spoke with the regional manager who told me there were having a problem with laser tips being soft.

I'm not sure that has changed, but I still don't like the grips.

 

[hoye0017]

Fair enough. I'm actually having the opposite thought. I have a full SO hard handle set that I've noticed what looks like excessive wear on my #2 Phillips.
I also don't really like the square handles on them.

I've read some good reviews on the yellow handle wera screwdriver sets being able to stand up to a ton of abuse and punishment. The grip looks like I might like it better.

I was thinking of giving them a try and selling my SO set.

Regarding what you've heard on the Wera tips, was that on the 900 series with yellow handles or was it about the 300 series with green handles?

 

[ADSR]

Regarding what you've heard on the Wera tips, was that on the 900 series with yellow handles or was it about the 300 series with green handles?

That I'm unsure of. All he said was that he was aware of the problem with the laser tip drivers. I never followed up if there was a correction to the product. That was in 2014, so hopefully it's changed.

 

[Keyrick]

I like Kliens for flatheads, and Wiha for everything else.

 

[BMack37]

Fair enough. I'm actually having the opposite thought. I have a full SO hard handle set that I've noticed what looks like excessive wear on my #2 Phillips.
I also don't really like the square handles on them.

I've read some good reviews on the yellow handle wera screwdriver sets being able to stand up to a ton of abuse and punishment. The grip looks like I might like it better.

I was thinking of giving them a try and selling my SO set.

Regarding what you've heard on the Wera tips, was that on the 900 series with yellow handles or was it about the 300 series with green handles?

The yellow Wera chiseldrivers are more grippy than the green but the handles are essentially the same...just the tackiness is different. I have a set but haven't really used them enough to comment on anything else.

Felo is still my favorite, tips are strong and the grip is fantastic. I haven't been able to tell which one is stronger, PB Swiss or Felo they really don't show any wear. My only complaint with PB Swiss is that their handle is tiny, the PH2 is the size of most PH1s.

 

[Adam.C]

Just an opinion. After years of using Craftsman Pro screwdrivers, I find I do not like faceted (hex) screwdriver shanks. I sometimes hold the shank in my off hand. It also rides engine parts sometimes. I prefer round shanks.

And the worn Snap On screwdriver looks like it was used in the wrong screw. Not apologizing for the tool, but reminding that screwdrivers are meant to be used for specific screw heads like sockets. It's important to get the right driver for the job. The worn tip looks like a #3 Phillips that was used in a smaller, possibly #2PZI.

 

[HCNDM]

guys they all wear eventually.. even snapon and PB swiss.

Wera (and Wiha for that matter) does an affordable product with good heads that you can buy 4 or five times in the lifespan of say a snap-on or PB because they are cheaper.

They last a while if not abused either way. Both my 300's (green laser) and 900's are fine after seeing heavy use (not abuse).

As mentioned right type and size for the screw. Phillips 3 in a pozi 2 will damage the bit faster.

At the end of the day its a question of how you are going to use it, what handle you want, what you want to spend, and how often you want to replace it.

Personally my Wera's are my go to set (also because i dont like to wear my PB's unnecessarily) and I dont mind replacing them every 5-6 years (the green 300 basic 6 set).

At that price point i wont cry if one breaks / gets damaged. The PB swiss on the other hand... rather not have to replace a driver every five years...

 

[Loscaldazar]

I don't have any Wera but I have Wiha. Is it me or are these German screwdrivers made to some metric std that we don't use in the US. The Phillips I think are all pozi. The straight slots all seem too narrow for a given slot thickness. Am I dreaming? Guess I could measure.

Just you.

The wiha phillips are most certainly not pozidrive. There are huge differences between the wiha pozi and wiha phillips. Not sure where you got that idea, other than it'll help discredit Wiha's quality.

 

[Adam.C]

The wiha phillips are most certainly not pozidrive. There are huge differences between the wiha pozi and wiha phillips.

You're right about the Phillips and POZIs. I may have only PZ wihas, but the sets linked above contain Phillips. Both companies make both tips.

As for the straight slots, I just pulled the specs and my suspicions were correct. Metric straight slots are different from inch series screws. The Wera/Wiha drivers fit metric stds. The metric slots are tighter. So if you choose Snap On, you may find you need a narrower screwdriver for any given metric slot. Snap On screw drivers appear to be made to the ANSI/ASME B18.6.2 std.

I can't say I've ever encountered metric straight slotted screws. So if you choose Wera/Wiha, a good fit in the slot will result in overhanging the screw head. Not the end of the world unless its countersunk or bored (set screws).

My anecdotal experience has been there's something I don't like about using German screwdrivers in straight slots, even though the quality of the screwdrivers is excellent. I think I now know why.

 

[BMack37]

Just an opinion. After years of using Craftsman Pro screwdrivers, I find I do not like faceted (hex) screwdriver shanks. I sometimes hold the shank in my off hand. It also rides engine parts sometimes. I prefer round shanks.

And the worn Snap On screwdriver looks like it was used in the wrong screw. Not apologizing for the tool, but reminding that screwdrivers are meant to be used for specific screw heads like sockets. It's important to get the right driver for the job. The worn tip looks like a #3 Phillips that was used in a smaller, possibly #2PZI.

The last time it was used was in a chewed-up, crusty PH3 head that I had to get tight, it cammed out twice. That's when I noticed the damage. My Felo had no trouble with the same screw and subsequent screws. At that point the Snap-Ons were basically retired. The SO PH2 doesn't look great either but has seen more use than the PH3 but still looks worse than the Wera that has been used more and abused by tool borrowers. Neither my Snap-on or Wera PH2s have seen high torque, I use my Felos mostly for that because I can always trust them and the grip is nearly slip-proof.

By the way, my point was never that Snap-On screwdrivers ****. My point was that there are better options and I listed five of those options, all of which are brands I own and have used.

 

[Pancho_Vanilla]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000T...8-66&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=wiha+set



I use these at work as a technician at a dealership and I swear by them. I had a Williams set before these but I sold them once I got the Wihas and I don't regret it one bit.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

 

[Bob Hall]

Wera has become my go to any time i need better bite on the screw head or a better grip than traditional Craftsman



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[L.Cheapo]

LOL yeah, fantastic product.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2606268&postcount=9

Looks like they'd make better "bedroom accessories" than screwdrivers.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I can only speak for myself, I have an assortment of Snappy Black hard handles, with a few Mac hard handles thrown in. They are still going strong after these many years.

I have also got a massive number of CM screwdrivers. The Snappys are my go to screwdrivers, they don't get hard use, but they just fit my hands better.

Just one man's opinion.

 

[decaf]

That I'm unsure of. All he said was that he was aware of the problem with the laser tip drivers. I never followed up if there was a correction to the product. That was in 2014, so hopefully it's changed.

Aware of the problem?? Sounds like it should be a big problem....i don´t think so.
I have never seen a wera screwdriver gone bad, everything is possible but that he was aware of this problem, sorry but i have to laugh.

If this ever happends again to you under normal conditions and no abuse of the screwdriver, i will buy you a new set and send it to you.

 

[RMXR]

A bit of info for anyone interested; a Phillips is not always a Phillips. You've probably been doing it wrong for years.

Google JIS vs Phillips vs Pozidriv,
then Google Vessel Screwdriver 9006HS set. I have a set and practically worship them.

 

[phule]

Wow learn something new everday. Time to go analyze my screwdrivers.

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[Spira]

I have Wera Screwdrivers. I think they are ok. I think they are a bit short. Also h wih it could be easier to identify diffrent screw types (all same color in a set).
Also i will recomend Facom screwdrivers. They are longer than Weras, there are very good and they have very nice coloring depending on the screw type.

 

[M6erfan]

A bit of info for anyone interested; a Phillips is not always a Phillips. You've probably been doing it wrong for years.

Google JIS vs Phillips vs Pozidriv,
then Google Vessel Screwdriver 9006HS set. I have a set and practically worship them.

I have a set of the vessel screwdrivers, and while I don't worship them, I do like them an awful lot. IMO, they are a great value, whether or not you encounter JIS screws, they work great on regular Phillips as well.

FWIW, I like Wiha too and I'm not a big fan of Wera either...

 

[rodsnratfinks]

Witte/Matco is my favorite. I've tried nearly everything.

 

[lbhsbz]

Vessel.

 

[skunkape1]

After picking up a few NAPA drivers made by Witte a few months ago, I find myself reaching for them more often than anything else including all the top US made drivers and most top Euro drivers. Unfortunately, NAPA quit carrying these but fortunately the price I paid for them on clearance was criminally low and I kept going back to this store again and again to buy more of these for myself and to give to family/friends. The last I checked, Cripe was selling some of these as well at usual Cripe prices.

I'm definitely intrigued by this JIS vs. Phillips info and while looking at some Vessel drivers I also saw similar Japanese drivers by 'Hozan'. They get excellent reviews and are cheaper than Vessel. Anyone familiar with Hozan?

 

[PeterT]

I love my craftsman screwdrivers,, maybe a bit stinky,, but never failed me

 

[Brownsfan]

After picking up a few NAPA drivers made by Witte a few months ago, I find myself reaching for them more often than anything else including all the top US made drivers and most top Euro drivers. Unfortunately, NAPA quit carrying these but fortunately the price I paid for them on clearance was criminally low and I kept going back to this store again and again to buy more of these for myself and to give to family/friends. The last I checked, Cripe was selling some of these as well at usual Cripe prices.

I'm definitely intrigued by this JIS vs. Phillips info and while looking at some Vessel drivers I also saw similar Japanese drivers by 'Hozan'. They get excellent reviews and are cheaper than Vessel. Anyone familiar with Hozan?

If you need more this site has them. He is local to me and have bought from him before. He has a bunch of these screwdrivers in stock. Singles and sets. He also has other NOS Napa tools.

https://www.handtoolsforless.com

 

[skunkape1]

If you need more this site has them. He is local to me and have bought from him before. He has a bunch of these screwdrivers in stock. Singles and sets. He also has other NOS Napa tools.

https://www.handtoolsforless.com

Much appreciated. Might go for a full set as the store I visit has only had singles and not nearly all the sizes. Those screwdrivers at those prices are the best value going now by far IMO.

 

[M6erfan]

After picking up a few NAPA drivers made by Witte a few months ago, I find myself reaching for them more often than anything else including all the top US made drivers and most top Euro drivers. Unfortunately, NAPA quit carrying these but fortunately the price I paid for them on clearance was criminally low and I kept going back to this store again and again to buy more of these for myself and to give to family/friends. The last I checked, Cripe was selling some of these as well at usual Cripe prices.

I'm definitely intrigued by this JIS vs. Phillips info and while looking at some Vessel drivers I also saw similar Japanese drivers by 'Hozan'. They get excellent reviews and are cheaper than Vessel. Anyone familiar with Hozan?

Yes, familiar with Hozan. You're correct in that they are cheaper than vessel, in every way...

I was not impressed, the Hozens are no where near as nice as the vessels.

 

[48548]

Best value around

That was the set I purchased...

 

[bwringer]

There was some guys talking about a new Tekton set being good.

Yep. HUGE bang for the buck. Excellent quality and made in USA, too.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014US26JU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And if you live where there's a Meijer store, you can go check 'em out in person.

The Tekton three lobed alien fist screwdriver handle is a very odd-feeling shape -- it's very effective, and the coating works great if your hands are slippery, etc. But it feels a little strange the first few times you use them.

 

[Tonyuk]

I've been buying wera or wiha for the last 10 odd years and they're the best imo.

 

[IndyGarage]

I've tried a bunch over the years and settled on Felos for the shop. They are very high quality and the handles are great for my grip. I've had a single set for several years and not broken or worn out any of them. Of course I have a bunch of "expendable" screwdrivers for the nasty stuff - prying, hammering, etc. I found the cheapest Stanley yellow/blacks work fine for that duty and are pretty durable as well.

At home I have a nice set of Weras and they work almost as well as the Felos, and like most, my backup is a bunch of old Craftsmans that I got from various places.

 

[openwheelracing88]

I prefer Wiha for almost all projects including automotive. They are so comfortable and fits great.

However I only use Klein drivers for electrical in the US. For whatever reason the Kleins fit better.

Another interesting set is the Craftsman "Diamond Tips". I've read nothing but great reviews. They are made in China, but may be worth the price for a unique disposable product. I try not to spend too much on screwdrivers. They all eventually wear out. A new Chinese Craftsman is still better than a worn out Snappy. You can't bring it back to life like a ratchet.

 

[JohnDeere1]

Get some good German screwdrivers Felo,Wera,Wiha,Witte all are just as good or better than the Snap on instinct screwdrivers. I love my Witte screwdrivers from Napa and Matco they are stronger than my Snap ons I believe and cheaper ,I also have Wera and they have nice tips but the grips are odd for me. My mini screwdrivers are Wiha and they are great. For your price you could buy some of all that's what I'd do buy 1 or 2 from each brand and try them out and see what you like the best.

 

[Tallpilot]

Also remember reading something on Tekton screwdrivers being really good and made in the USA. This topic comes up quite often on here. Do a Google search and you'll find more info than you'll know what to do with.

Actually, here's the link which contains the Tekton screwdrivers http://toolguyd.com/category/hand-tools/screwdrivers/

I use them and think they are the best value in screwdrivers at the moment. It's a bonus that they are made in the USA. But I don't use screwdrivers nearly as much as ratchets and impacts. If I used them all day I would probably try Wira or Williams.

I am not sure why the Tekton screwdrivers and USA pliers + punches don't get more accolades on this board.

 

[D-Vice]

Love my vessel

 

[Codejack]

I've always liked acetate handles; old craftsman, or even the cheap ones you used to get at the part store.

I'm looking at these:

https://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-heavy-duty-screwdriver-set-66173.html

Simply because they have the bolster on the driver and not the end of the handle.

 

[visionguru]

Surprised that nobody mentioned exchangeable tip screwdrivers.

When lots of torque is needed, shouldn't we use tips? Those made with S2 steel. The tips would be far superior in strength than Snap Ons or whatever brands.

 

[lbhsbz]

I replaced my snap-on with Vessel a while ago and I've been very happy with them...especially the "impacta".

http://www.toolpan.com/Vessel-Tools...MIqJqy7_Gp1QIVloSzCh0HxQrlEAYYASABEgKO9fD_BwE

 

[tarbellb]

Old thread... but Ill weigh in.

Tekton USA made TriLobe are awesome so far. Only been in service for a few months but they feel great and have yet to give me any issues with wear. Oh, and cheap!