so just before starting my new job i bought a set of six instinct handled screwdrivers off my snap on dealer at a great price,then due to my dislike of the instinct handles i oredered at great expenses all new red hard handles and had them fitted, anyway fast forward and at work and other co workers with snap on screwdrivers we have all noticed how poor the fit is on screws, we work on vintage metric cars and we all have the flat head and pozi head snap on screwdrivers and find there fit terrible the dont seem to fit screw very well so im probably going to either sell my set of have them as a set of home screwdrivers and am looking into a different set of screwdrivers really tempted with pb swiss, so anyone else have this issue?
snap on screwdrivers not fitting great?
- Thread starter merbie
- Start date
SASORacing
Well-known member
Impacting old screws is the only way to go. Higher chance of stripping out with a non impact screwdriver.
its not that the screws are old though we do restoration, we use all kinds of screws at first i thought that it must be the fatners but we get big crates of screws from wurth and they dont even fit modern screws that well
I'm ready for the flames...
There is no one size fits all for screwdrivers. I'm restoring a nanchang cj6 (chinese aircraft) I have found my snap on drivers to not fit well or at all esp in the slotted screws. Facom flatheads on the other hand seem to fit them nearly perfectly, then there are some that only want witte. The problem continues into the phillips. My facom ph2 is my rarest used driver, it wants to cam out every ms or an screw... but it is money on imported hardware. When saving hardware is crucial it's important to expand your screwdriver drawer as each make is different enough to make the smallest difference. When your only supply of oe hardware has to come via a shady network of contacts, limited availability, and some irreplaceable parts the cost of a set of screwdrivers from another manufacturer makes sense. Of course I may also have a slight addiction
Snap on in general is the hands down best, but when you get to working with restoration type things variety in screwdriver selection is nice.
There is no one size fits all for screwdrivers. I'm restoring a nanchang cj6 (chinese aircraft) I have found my snap on drivers to not fit well or at all esp in the slotted screws. Facom flatheads on the other hand seem to fit them nearly perfectly, then there are some that only want witte. The problem continues into the phillips. My facom ph2 is my rarest used driver, it wants to cam out every ms or an screw... but it is money on imported hardware. When saving hardware is crucial it's important to expand your screwdriver drawer as each make is different enough to make the smallest difference. When your only supply of oe hardware has to come via a shady network of contacts, limited availability, and some irreplaceable parts the cost of a set of screwdrivers from another manufacturer makes sense. Of course I may also have a slight addiction
Snap on in general is the hands down best, but when you get to working with restoration type things variety in screwdriver selection is nice.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I've had the exact opposite experience with my Snap-on screwdrivers. They all fit the screws very precisely with absolutely zero slop.
petalmasher
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Are they JIS (Japanese industrial standard) screws? They are similar looking,but not the same as phillips
skeletonizer
Well-known member
My black hard handle #2 does not fit as often or as well as my Wiha. ...just sayin'. I love my Snap-on tools otherwise.
PKile
Well-known member
+1 from petalmasher's post. One of the benefits of this forum is I just learned about JIS crosspoint fasteners a few months ago. I used to wonder why all the old Japanese stuff (like early 1970s Toyotas) had carburetor screws that would strip out with regularity. I always assumed the screws were made out of inferior steel. Turns out the JIS heads are really close to Phillips, but not exact. The mismatch is just enough to result in a stripped fastener with any sort of torque applied to it.
I just invested in a set of Vessel JIS megadora screwdrivers and a full set of JIS screwdriver bits. I became a full believer when I dredged up an old Toyota carb screw and stuck one of my Snap-On phillips drivers into it. A very slight amount of play was evident. Next came the Vessel JIS driver...it felt like it was magnetized into the screw.
If you work on old Japanese cars and bikes (or Japanese R/C hobby stuff, I'm told) a good set of JIS drivers is an essential part of your toolkit.
Cheers,
Paul
I just invested in a set of Vessel JIS megadora screwdrivers and a full set of JIS screwdriver bits. I became a full believer when I dredged up an old Toyota carb screw and stuck one of my Snap-On phillips drivers into it. A very slight amount of play was evident. Next came the Vessel JIS driver...it felt like it was magnetized into the screw.
If you work on old Japanese cars and bikes (or Japanese R/C hobby stuff, I'm told) a good set of JIS drivers is an essential part of your toolkit.
Cheers,
Paul
I don't get it. Are you using pozi screwdrivers in phillips screw heads? Quick stupid question: You know pozi and phillips are not interchangeable? Flat heads have different standards too. Metric straight slots are different from inch sized straights. I know it sounds like a buckle of prop wash, but there are metric and SAE straight screwdrivers. The difference is width and slot thickness. Its not a random screwdriver problem. Screwdrivers are designed to specific standards just like sockets.
PKile
Well-known member
Pozidriv screw heads have a little slash between each cross slot (looks like a second cross)
JIS screw heads have a dimple dot off to one side of the cross slot
Phillipa screw heads have no markings
JIS screw heads have a dimple dot off to one side of the cross slot
Phillipa screw heads have no markings
Dust Devil
Well-known member
I keep a 12 pc Wiha comfort grip set in my box for just this reason. Sometimes my Snap-on screwdrivers are not the perfect fit.
rlitman
Well-known member
Ok, so just to confirm, you ARE talking about the fit of slotted screws, and not something else (like Philips, etc.).
From my experience, nothing fits perfect, but the Felo parallel ground drivers I have are the best I have used to date out of the factory.
For times when it really counts (gunsmithing and watch repair) and when slotted screws are really common, there is no substitute for hand grinding each driver to fit perfectly.
bob15
Well-known member
Where they pozi drive screws? Or do you have a standard phillps and were on a pozi screw?
If you want tight fitting flat blade screws you need a hollow ground set like this:
http://www.forsterproducts.com/store.asp?pid=24836
or
http://www.graceusatools.com/item-details.php?item_id=31&category_id=2
logixjock
Well-known member
I've noticed on my older (late '90's) SnapOn phillips shanks, they fit most screws great, but the newer ones (since they started grinding the profile instead of forging them), the fit wasn't so great. My solution after comparing them to a co-workers Wiha's that seemed to always fit very well, was to use a diamond file and take about .020" off of the very tip. They fit very well now. Seems the tip is too long preventing them from engaging fully into the screw. I complained to my dealer and he confirmed lots of complaints from other customers, but had no solution beyond replacing the shank if I was dissatisfied.
Dave455
Well-known member
Merbie - I've got quite a few PB Swiss drivers and I reckon they are the best out there by far, but... only if you are working on metric screws (and only if you go for the hard CAB handles)!
I use my PB Swiss on metric screws, and use Snap On drivers on Inch sized screws, and both fit great, but obviously wouldn't the other way round!
I have some older Snap On Pozi's and the fit is fine, can't comment about the later ones though!
Pozi's seem to be hard on drivers for some reason. I used a lot of CK drivers before I got into PB. The flatheads wear fine, but the Pozi's always seem to get mullered over time!
Some of the older British made drivers use a different steel for the Pozi's and they stand up fine, as do the PB's! I don't use either on crappy screws though - I have so couple cheapo's for those!
I use my PB Swiss on metric screws, and use Snap On drivers on Inch sized screws, and both fit great, but obviously wouldn't the other way round!
I have some older Snap On Pozi's and the fit is fine, can't comment about the later ones though!
Pozi's seem to be hard on drivers for some reason. I used a lot of CK drivers before I got into PB. The flatheads wear fine, but the Pozi's always seem to get mullered over time!
Some of the older British made drivers use a different steel for the Pozi's and they stand up fine, as do the PB's! I don't use either on crappy screws though - I have so couple cheapo's for those!
Toyota mechanic
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- Sep 18, 2014
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I only had a problem with my Instinct set! I thought it was just me. I had some older black hard handle, blackk oxide shank drivers, and they fit alot better. Interesting, forged to grinding huh? I have been using GearWrench and Cman pros lately.... The only other set I had besides HF ones.... those are not in my main set.
The big difference with JIS is the depth of the tip. Snap-On designs their Philips to work in both JIS and standard Philips.
add me to the list. traded mine in, use mostly wera now
As a student many years ago we were taught the proper way to dress a screwdriver tip. Do you not know how to do that, or is that not taught anymore? I have a few old screwdrivers that I have no compunction when it comes to grinding the tip to fit the screw that need a bit of extra care or torque.
lg
no neat sig line
lg
no neat sig line
Where you get Wera or Witte at?
Farmall450
Well-known member
Cornwell and Matco both sell rebranded Witte screwdrivers with something that looks like Velcro on the handles. Homedepot.com was/is offering Witte sets also. Wera can be purchased on Amazon. Keep in mind there is no liberal warranty on German branded drivers like there is with Cman or purchases off the truck though. You break it, you buy it again.
that makes a good argument for getting the matco wittes. They replace the screwdriver if it fails. Although I've got a set of the witte maxxpro natures and well over a year of service and not a single complaint. I like the cork grip but the matco grip is starting to win me over.
Snap_cap
Well-known member
Hasn't the Wera screwdrivers manufacture been offloaded to Taiwan (or China), rather than still being "Made in Germany"?
Could of sworn there was a thread on that...
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Some people don't realize that there's different sized screwdrivers for different sized screws. They use one screwdriver for everything and expect it to fit all the screws.
bcradio
Well-known member
Looks like you spelled it wrong. Here, let me fix it for you:
Wiha!!! Best screwdrivers out there!
Ever since that snob Wera rep got on here and touted how their product was basically perfect and any problems encountered were user error I've sworn to never buy their products.
This was in reference to one of our members who had a legitimate issue with one of their products. He got a 3 paragraph reply of basically 'our product is perfect, it must be you, but we'll replace it for you just once.'
This was in reference to one of our members who had a legitimate issue with one of their products. He got a 3 paragraph reply of basically 'our product is perfect, it must be you, but we'll replace it for you just once.'
Last edited:
bcradio
Well-known member
Who is that rep? So I know to avoid him/her.
My bad, it was actually Wera, not Wiha, so apologies to them. Here is the thread and reply in question when a members Wera handle started to disintegrate which isn't exactly a rare occurrence with older screwdrivers.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1827428&postcount=29
Super Sport
Well-known member
They are now made in the Czech Republic, IIRC.
retDAC
Well-known member
Just in case, there is a thread regarding Wiha pliers made in Vietnam: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=261985&highlight=Wiha+vietnam
I had the same issues with my Snap Ons, the older tips fit well, the Instincts not so much. I ended up with a set of Wittes from Napa (they don't offer them anymore) and they are considerably better. I'd be out of luck if one broke but the tips are very durable and the handles are comfortable. I ended up with the cork nature set here at the house and I have some of the Matcos at work too.
petalmasher
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That was me. My issue wasn't so much about their being from Vietnam, but that it simply wasn't what I ordered or what I would have ordered if I had known. I couldn't get All Spec to deal with the situation in a timely manner and I ended up having to use the pliers and couldn't return them. The pliers are working fine, but I won't be buying from All-Spec again.
petalmasher
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If you like the European drivers, you might also look at Felo