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Snap-On driver modification?

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X1 Mike

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I have no idea if this is possible or if it was ever sold like this but here goes.

Like lots of guys here I love my S-O Orange hard handle tools. I am particularly fond of the ratcheting screwdriver and the 1/4" ratcheting driver I just got today. My one beef about the ratcheting screwdriver is I'd really prefer a ratcheting #2 or #3 (derrrr obviously one of each) screwdriver that had a solid shank without the bit. I've never really had an issue with losing bits but for some reason the more specialized a tool is the more I like it.

Has anyone customized one or did they ever make such an animal and if not why not? :bounce:
 
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nelstomlinson

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They used to sell interchangable phillips and straight blades for the soft handle ratcheting screwdrivers. Now you can only find them on ebay for too much money. If you luck onto some, take your hard handle apart and reassemble without the little plate that retains the shaft.
 
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X1 Mike

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nelstomlinson said:
They used to sell interchangable phillips and straight blades for the soft handle ratcheting screwdrivers. Now you can only find them on ebay for too much money. If you luck onto some, take your hard handle apart and reassemble without the little plate that retains the shaft.
Click to expand...


Hmmmmmm Any idea what the part numbers would be?
 
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Dave455

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O.P. I know where you are coming from. I use a bit driver a lot, but sometimes (if a dropped bit would be a problem, or if access is tight) you are better off with a conventional shanked driver.

Have you considered any of the various interchangeable blade drivers, rather than interchangeable bit? They tend to be favoured in the electrical trades, and are available from a lot of makers.

P.B. Swiss probably offer the best selection. Here is my heavy duty interchangeable blade driver (with a No.2 Phillips blade). The second picture shows it with the optional ratchet unit, and the third the alternative T handle, which is also ratcheting.
 

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Lassen Forge

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Darn, I thought you were talking about moodifying our S/O VAN driver... I had a suggestion about not treating walk-ups like moldy cheese (especially when they have other types of "green" in their mitts ready to unload in his direction)...

There is another solution, but it involves epoxying the bit to the shank... kills the interchangability of it, but solves the lost bit / FOD possibility.
 
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X1 Mike

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Dave455 said:
O.P. I know where you are coming from. I use a bit driver a lot, but sometimes (if a dropped bit would be a problem, or if access is tight) you are better off with a conventional shanked driver.

Have you considered any of the various interchangeable blade drivers, rather than interchangeable bit? They tend to be favoured in the electrical trades, and are available from a lot of makers.

P.B. Swiss probably offer the best selection. Here is my heavy duty interchangeable blade driver (with a No.2 Phillips blade). The second picture shows it with the optional ratchet unit, and the third the alternative T handle, which is also ratcheting.
Click to expand...

Lassen Forge said:
Darn, I thought you were talking about moodifying our S/O VAN driver... I had a suggestion about not treating walk-ups like moldy cheese (especially when they have other types of "green" in their mitts ready to unload in his direction)...

There is another solution, but it involves epoxying the bit to the shank... kills the interchangability of it, but solves the lost bit / FOD possibility.
Click to expand...


I'm much less concerned with other options of drivers or FOD. My primary interest is I love Snap-On orange handled anything and I want a cool one off tool. :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
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Dave455

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X1 Mike said:
I'm much less concerned with other options of drivers or FOD. My primary interest is I love Snap-On orange handled anything and I want a cool one off tool. :thumbup: :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I still have sympathy! The material they make those handles out of (a DuPont material of some sort I think, perhaps Zytel?) is almost perfect for the job. Very durable, and even polishes slightly in use. I slightly prefer the red or green personally, but same logic applies!

I’ve seen those drivers in the aviation industry with a couple of decades of hard use, and still looking good!
 
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X1 Mike

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plinker said:
They will work fine after slight modification to the driver (non permanent), see link below.

They also made a torx blade set, T10 - T30.
Click to expand...


Thanks to you and gj67stang for the great info.

When I do the modification will the blades be fixed or interchangeable? I'm hoping that it is one blade per tool.
 
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plinker

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X1 Mike said:
Thanks to you and gj67stang for the great info.

When I do the modification will the blades be fixed or interchangeable? I'm hoping that it is one blade per tool.
Click to expand...

You can do it either way. If you want interchangeable, leave out the shank retainer and all is well. If you want fixed, reinstall the retainer, but you need to get the depth right or the reverse cap wont seat. I'd measure the how far the shank stick out of the reverse cap before removing the retainer for an accurate measurement.

I had put a short bit shank in one driver I have as I wanted it to be a "fixed" unit and reinstalling the retainer to the correct depth was trail & error until I got it right.
 
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X1 Mike

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Awesome, I have a bit driver with the *" long shank that is a little sticky. I may pull that one apart first to clean and lube and see what it looks like.
 
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X1 Mike

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Well, my first try went pretty well. I started with a #3 Philips because quite frankly I use that size a lot less and it would be a good test mule. As far as I'm concerned it was a great success. I reinstalled the retainer on the #3 shaft because I wanted a fixed drive and not interchangeable. The links below are what I used if anyone wants to copy my set up. I think I may try to make my own how to video for my next one now that I know how to do it.

https://shop.snapon.com/product/SSDMR4BO

https://shop.snapon.com/product/SGDMRC4-P3
 
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X1 Mike

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Here are the pics of my Frankendriver.

a155540f57a0bf898e56d2b24e2f613f.jpg
6a224f96b651d13d4cd08c9e17bf7c72.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
 
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