Serious question who is at the top regarding screwdriver tips.

[William Payne]

I have done a search but thought I would ask anyway. I have in my work tool box stahlwille screwdrivers (standard screwdrivers not insulated.) At home I have snap-ons. I also have insulated wera's in my work toolbox which I am happy with but they don't get as hard a time.

I am starting to round off the tips of my Phillips head stahlwille's. I can't be having that and I need to phase them out and replace them. I don't care what the cost is I just need to find a brand or a number of brands that will offer me a screwdriver with good resistance to wear on the tip, and really good resistance to cam-out.

I am considering taking my snap-ons to work. They have a nice tip.

 

[Wamsutta]

I think Snap-on makes a real good screwdriver tip; I've never had any problems with mine. I didn't know the Stahwille's had soft tips; thanks for the info.

 

[William Payne]

I think Snap-on makes a real good screwdriver tip; I've never had any problems with mine. I didn't know the Stahwille's had soft tips; thanks for the info.

Only my phillips tips are starting to round off. My flatheads are still fantastic. I love all my other stahlwille tools (nearly all my wrenches are stahlwille), but in my work environment the phillips heads arent surviving.

 

[Know Wosad]

Vessel.

 

[gdocktor3]

Williams, Proto, or Snap On IMO.

 

[JonnyMac]

I wore out my snap on phillips 1 very quickly.. ive got wera stainless, mac, wiha and Pb swiss... pb swiss have the hardest tips in my opinion..

 

[William Payne]

Thanks everybody, I am just going to let all you guys state your suggestions so that I can see everyone's opinion. Some great suggestions so far.

 

[M6erfan]

Wiha, Wera, Vessel, Witte

I've never put PB Swiss to any hard use so I can't comment on their longevity. My go to's are Wiha and Vessel

 

[98ssuck]

I wore the tip off my snap on Robertson screwdriver. All the rest of them haven't wore at all. I picked up a used Robertson screwdriver and the tip is fantastic. So Robertson makes the best Robertson tipped screwdriver, which makes sense.

 

[Jeff]

PB Swiss or Vessel.

 

[barrybeefburger]

Jeff, not being a **** but how would you know, none look like they have been used?

 

[Brownsfan]

Of all my screwdrivers the best tips are my Witte made Cornwells. Second is Snap On and Proto Durateks. The phillips tip on the Witte Cornwells fit the best. The Snap On and Proto are a very close second. Surprisingly the Cornwells were also the most expensive

 

[lazer50]

Well ill give my advice again lol.i have 35 years experience as the following.heavy equipment mechanic/cranes,loaders,trucks.welder/fabricator.industrial technician/us german machinery/3phase electricity and drive controllers.automotive mechanic.every kind of situation where good screwdrivers needed.i have snap on,pratt-reed,wiha,older craftsman pro,and witte.and without a doubt the witte are by far the best quality! My set is 13 years old shows little signs of wear,the tips including the phillips are in as good shape as new the coating may have worn off a little.i used 2 phillips often and the extra torque feature they have in the handle where you can insert another driver thru for extra twisting force works much better than the snap on shank feature! I just asked one of the european guys the other days how he compared that feature to the same feature that pb swiss has.and he replied witte is better! All my screwdrivers are good quality but in high stress/torque and comfort the witte stand alone! They make a new version now but i see no need to upgrade i think its max pro!

 

[bobcatdan]

Of all my screwdrivers the best tips are my Witte made Cornwells. Second is Snap On and Proto Durateks. The phillips tip on the Witte Cornwells fit the best. The Snap On and Proto are a very close second. Surprisingly the Cornwells were also the most expensive

I have the matco witte and I do think they are a notch above my SO. I grab the SO 95% of the time first because I like them and they work fine. If I run into a stubborn Phillips the SO can't do, if I stop before I destroy it and grab the witte, it will probably take it out. All said, is witte really better, or are my 20 year old SO just worn and the lightly used witte still got all their bite?

 

[T45]

edit - OP, the current stahlwille are OEM witte. You may want to use the snappy if you're stahlwilles are in fact Witte's that are wearing too quickly for your tase. The ACR feature does help prevent cam out, but cam out is usually a function of crappy hardware and poor fit as much as anything else.

Witte/PB and SO have different shape tips. I agree that Witte and PB have the best tips for cross point in terms of general fit with good modern hardware. SO tips appear to be classic phillips, not the JIS/DIN hybrid tips. may be worth having both shapes in your box if you care about such things.

 

[Superbec]

I just asked one of the european guys the other days how he compared that feature to the same feature that pb swiss has.and he replied witte is better!

NO, I replied, I LIKE IT MORE , there's a difference , I didn't conduct any tests or did any science to them , I just like the go thru handles more ...but that's a feature I don't use so often, I have several impact screwdrivers for stubborn screws.

Also if you don't have any PB swiss just buy a few , you'll see the difference right away.

 

[Brownsfan]

I have the matco witte and I do think they are a notch above my SO. I grab the SO 95% of the time first because I like them and they work fine. If I run into a stubborn Phillips the SO can't do, if I stop before I destroy it and grab the witte, it will probably take it out. All said, is witte really better, or are my 20 year old SO just worn and the lightly used witte still got all their bite?

I still find I use the Snap On drivers more. Why? I think the instinct handles are the best out there. If I could put the Witte(cornwell) blades in the Snap On handle it would be the perfect screwdriver. The screwdriver handle is just as important as the blade IMHO. If its not comfortable to use then it doesnt matter how good the tip is because most people wont use it if its uncomfortable

 

[bcradio]

Bosch titanium bits are the best I've used. Literally have put one through thousands of screws on the impact driver and it has zero wear. Plus you get to use your favorite handled multi-bit driver.

 

[abvw]

I like my Vessel Impacta, use it on rotor set screws daily and shows no signs of wear after two years.

For delicate use, I really like the Snap-ons. The Instinct handle can put out more torque than the average round handle drivers, has a hex bolster, and the tip is blasted and stamped with anti camout ribs.

For work usage, buy one that is easily warrantied and always have a back up.

 

[ecotec]

I have been using Wera for Phillips. My 3 Klein #2 Phillips were all starting to round out. I would like to try the new Klein Phillips, though.

 

[William Payne]

edit - OP, the current stahlwille are OEM witte. You may want to use the snappy if you're stahlwilles are in fact Witte's that are wearing too quickly for your tase. The ACR feature does help prevent cam out, but cam out is usually a function of crappy hardware and poor fit as much as anything else.

Witte/PB and SO have different shape tips. I agree that Witte and PB have the best tips for cross point in terms of general fit with good modern hardware. SO tips appear to be classic phillips, not the JIS/DIN hybrid tips. may be worth having both shapes in your box if you care about such things.

Wow you are right. My current Stahlwilles look just like witte pro's. thanks for that info. In all honesty. Half my trouble is probably less a screwdriver issue and more a crappy screw issue.

 

[M6erfan]

Half my trouble is probably less a screwdriver issue and more a crappy screw issue.

One word; Hand Impact Driver! (OK 3 words...)

Seriously, small investment allows regular screwdrivers last far longer

 

[William Payne]

One word; Hand Impact Driver! (OK 3 words...)

Seriously, small investment allows regular screwdrivers last far longer

That's actually the funny one. My cam-out issues always seem to happen on new screws haha.

 

[Jeff]

Jeff, not being a **** but how would you know, none look like they have been used?

True, the Vessel's were brand new when I took the pics.

The drawer pic is my 'driver drawer', a varied assortment. All have been used around the house, on motorcycles, and cars.

 

[Pantsfall_McFixit]

I've read nearly every screwdriver thread, and the best of the best seems to be a trio of PB Swiss, Witte, and Vessel.

 

[dnschmidt]

I'm truly biased here as I sell them but TOPTUL makes terrific screwdrivers and screwdriver bits. I've used Wiha and PB Swiss and TOPTUL's stuff is every bit as good as either of those.

 

[jinx]

I've used SO instinct and the new MAC ones. And I find the Mac ones bite better and the handles on them are fantastic

Sent from my LG-K121 using Tapatalk

 

[Superbec]

I'm truly biased here as I sell them but TOPTUL makes terrific screwdrivers and screwdriver bits. I've used Wiha and PB Swiss and TOPTUL's stuff is every bit as good as either of those.

WHAT? THE STUFF DOESN'T SELL SO GOOD? I CAN'T HEAR YOU !


I do have all in question.

 

[maintenancemike]

I have done a search but thought I would ask anyway. I have in my work tool box stahlwille screwdrivers (standard screwdrivers not insulated.) At home I have snap-ons. I also have insulated wera's in my work toolbox which I am happy with but they don't get as hard a time.

I am starting to round off the tips of my Phillips head stahlwille's. I can't be having that and I need to phase them out and replace them. I don't care what the cost is I just need to find a brand or a number of brands that will offer me a screwdriver with good resistance to wear on the tip, and really good resistance to cam-out.

I am considering taking my snap-ons to work. They have a nice tip.

I find that wiha micro finish are the toughest. They're hard chromed, which of course is one of the most durable coatings known. Other manufacturers like SO do not have tips with a Rockwell hardness of 58-62. They're also machined better than most. I have 2 #2 Phillips that haven't chipped, worn, or broken in 15 years of everyday use. I have the type with the steel shank which runs all the way through for tapping with a hammer. I own SO, Wera, Klein, Felo screwdrivers, and they're easily the best. My snap on stuff is reserved for scraping and poking tools now, because they're literally garbage in comparison.

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

 

[William Payne]

Thanks for all the suggestions everybody.

 

[thor80]

I'm not sure if I'm too hard on phillips but mine don't last, no matter the brand, my last two experiments were felo and williams and they are starting to wear pretty bad after moderate use, I've gone to a bit holder with quality bits. Using a felo handle and felo diamond coated bits, they seem to last forever. Flatheads are no prob, any of the above last fine

 

[mikebaker1129]

Klein was rebranding some Witte drivers for awhile.

 

[enrare]

Has anyone tried those diamond tip screwdrivers Snap-On offers?
https://store.snapon.com/Diamond-Ti...nd-Tip-Soft-Grip-Screwdriver-Set-P650154.aspx

 

[Jaysreal]

I still find I use the Snap On drivers more. Why? I think the instinct handles are the best out there. If I could put the Witte(cornwell) blades in the Snap On handle it would be the perfect screwdriver. The screwdriver handle is just as important as the blade IMHO. If its not comfortable to use then it doesnt matter how good the tip is because most people wont use it if its uncomfortable

while I suspect made by oplast I love the Gedore screwdrivers. Their handles are my favourite out of ALL brands incl SO.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[roemaster]

My wiha and wera's are classic. I prefer wera for precision work. However I have recently been exposed to the Witte brand. They just feel luxurious in my hands.

https://www.kctoolco.com/screwdrivers/

 

[rick carpenter]

All screwdriver tips wear. Just replace them when they wear too much. I've had my Williams set for general driving and my Kleins for electrical work for a few years, plus an old Roscoe Two-Fister slotted. I'm pleased with how long they've lasted, but they won't last forever.

 

[William Payne]

All screwdriver tips wear. Just replace them when they wear too much. I've had my Williams set for general driving and my Kleins for electrical work for a few years, plus an old Roscoe Two-Fister slotted. I'm pleased with how long they've lasted, but they won't last forever.

Yes they do wear out over time. What I am talking about is wear happening rapidly. Thanks for all the suggestions everybody.

 

[Danglerb]

If I basically like the screwdriver I will dress the tip with a triangle file until all sign of rounding is gone. Trouble fasteners get special tools asap, impact driver mostly.

 

[seber]

Firearm maintenance screwdrivers use the same tips that are used for electric drivers. These are very hard and will break before they wear out. Easy to replace at 50 cents or so.

 

[rlitman]

If I basically like the screwdriver I will dress the tip with a triangle file until all sign of rounding is gone. Trouble fasteners get special tools asap, impact driver mostly.

I don't think that a Phillips tip is something that lends itself well to filing. The geometry just doesn't follow a shape that would file well. And once you remove material, the flukes get thinner, which makes it twist out more quickly.

As said above, tips wear. For slotted tips, I'll recut them (either with a file or a stone), but that's not an option for Phillips. And I find that #2 Phillips is the biggest issue with burning up tips (with the other sizes, I find that the fasteners tear out faster). That's one reason that I try to use replaceable tips when it comes to putting any stress on a Phillips fastener. And for that, Apex is the best. Also, an impact driver, whether hammer or rotary, puts more force on the fastener, while wearing the tips less (if handled correctly).