I have some old screwdrivers that have a hex on the end of the handle. It allows you to put a socket or wrench on the end of the screw driver. I can't seem to find any new ones like this. Has anyone ever seen these or know where to buy them?
Screwdriver with hex handle
- Thread starter ottoguy
- Start date
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Snap on makes them with the Bolster. I believe Mac ones are also like this. Some use a hex shaft, but i forget who.
njfl
Well-known member
Stuey
Well-known member
Can't say that I've seen any new drivers with this feature.
superautobacs
Well-known member
Ko-ken 2769F (featured in 1/4" drive size only):
Art From De Leon
Well-known member
I remember some brand (Proto?), that had yellow plastic handles that had a short hex at the very top of the handle. I assumed that that was nothing more than a decorative feature.
mooman
Well-known member
dumb question. Why would you need this?
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
For additional torque. Like very tight or rusted screws. It allows use of a wrench to give more torque.
Here you can see the hex bolster on the shank:
It seems odd but somehow it is easier to get more torque on a tough screw sometimes. The ones I had were cheap harbor freight type things that I got years ago. The hex on the shank would work too, but it looks a bit small.
I was looking around the sears site for some b-day ideas for myself.
I was looking around the sears site for some b-day ideas for myself.
njfl
Well-known member
They're are nice to have and you never know if you'll need them, but I find that I rarely use them. If you're needing to apply that much torque to get the screw loose, the large amount added by the length of a wrench on that bolster is likely going to mess up the screw head. Additionally I find that I spend as much effort steadying the wrench as I do on pushing down on the driver and with teh added torque you need to push down a lot.
plewlandsbob
Well-known member
Teng ,do hex shaft screwdrivers
Coincidentally, I used the hex on the shank today for the first time ever. I was taking apart a piece of exercise equipment, and there was a phillips screw very close to the floor, so I had little clearance, making it difficult to get a good angle to really apply a lot of torque to the screwdriver using my hands. Even so, I was really cranking at it, but had no luck. The screwhead was in perfect shape (no slipping), but the screw just wasn't budging. I went to get my Wiha heavy duties (with the hex on the shank) and a 10mm open end wrench and had the screw turning freely in no time at all. I had always wondered if the hex on the shanks really worked well, and now I'm a believer!
Coach James
Well-known member
I saw some at HF recently that had a hex bolster on top of the handle.
Coach
Coach
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yes, Harbor Freight, the store with over 10 million satisfied customers has a version.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94899
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94899
dede2897234
Well-known member
Monte,
Which European hand tool manufacturer is represented by "JM"? Which other European hand tool companies manufacture screwdrivers with a hex bolster on top of the handle?
Thanks,
Dave
dede2897234
Well-known member
SK_Farmer,
Can you please take a picture (or post an SK website link) of the SK screwdriver you own that is an extension with a handle formed around it? Does SK still manufacture this screwdriver? What is the SK model number associated with it?
Thanks,
Dave
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
tatra
Well-known member
i could see that being beneficial as an impact driver or gun could be utilized on a deeply recessed fasteners............
I thought someone had posted that the F408 Snap On handle could be used as extension, too...but I don't see it mentioned on the listing.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...2&group_ID=231&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...2&group_ID=231&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
superautobacs
Well-known member
In that regard, the Ko-ken one I pictured is stout as it's a shaft-through design; no chance for slipping.
I would take a stab at this and say that you won't find new, innovative (?) tools like that from any of the 'core' tool manufacturers in Germany. I know Monte won't take offense to that; he knows just as well.
That said, the product you see there is more than likely a product from Taiwan, somewhere. Here's a similar product from a Japanese brand that compliments (?) their tool lineup with imports from Taiwan:
Suekage (SEK):
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caper
Well-known member
That's the dumbest design for a screwdriver I've seen.That nut on the end will dig in your hand when your trying to push on the end of the driver to keep the blade from torquing out of the screw.If you want a driver with a hex get one that's on the shank not the handle.At least then you can apply some pressure to the driver to hold it in the screw your trying to turn.The one pictured is a gimmick to get people to buy some more useless tools.Is it made by the same guys who came up with the Cold Heat soldering gun?
That's the dumbest design for a screwdriver I've seen.That nut on the end will dig in your hand when your trying to push on the end of the driver to keep the blade from torquing out of the screw.If you want a driver with a hex get one that's on the shank not the handle.At least then you can apply some pressure to the driver to hold it in the screw your trying to turn.The one pictured is a gimmick to get people to buy some more useless tools.Is it made by the same guys who came up with the Cold Heat soldering gun?
If the situation allows use of a screwdriver with the hex on the shank, that's preferred for the reasons you say. But there are certainly applications where you won't be able to get a wrench on the shank and this design would work out better.
caper
Well-known member
I've never came across anywhere that this would be better in twenty years of working on cars.Anywhere you can't get a wrench on the shank it would be just as difficult to get the wrench on the handle.An since the wrench is on the handle now,how do you apply enough pressure down on to the screw to keep it from camming out.Anywhere this would be required would be better served by using a ratchet,an extension and a bit socket.I know when I use a screwdriver about 50% of the time my hand is up on the end of the driver where that nut is.It would be jamming in my hand all the time.It would be in the way more than it would be usefull in my opinion.To me it looks like a tool designed by someone who never uses them.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Me and Caper, we don't often like screwdrivers that aren't hard-handled Snap-ons. 
I think this is really the key, and of course, you're right...if you've got the bit socket, then the scenario I mentioned is better dealt with in this way. (if you don't have the bit socket, I still assert that the scenario I outline could occur, but again, you're right that you're better off investing in bit sockets to deal with that situation instead of these funky screwdrivers with the hex on the handle)
Anyways, I lose again!
@Dave:
like superautobacs already mentionend these types of screwdrivers are Taiwanese (or chinese) Imports. The "*******" on tool handles seem to be an asian speciality. There are pictures in this thread with different handle designs and brands : click and click. The "JM" tools are sold by a car parts wholesaler here (JM ="Johannes Matthies") http://www.matthies.de/
like superautobacs already mentionend these types of screwdrivers are Taiwanese (or chinese) Imports. The "*******" on tool handles seem to be an asian speciality. There are pictures in this thread with different handle designs and brands : click and click. The "JM" tools are sold by a car parts wholesaler here (JM ="Johannes Matthies") http://www.matthies.de/