Tips & tricks 101 Craftsman screwdrivers

[woody 73]

First off let me say Western Forge makes some very nice products, but in the clear handle screwdrivers I will only say they are just "ok". Now the reason I say this, from using them for over 40 plus years I have had them discolor from garage shop chemicals, the shafts sometimes will bend from Midwest rust, (heat and hand impact work best) and the tips just not have held up very well, at least for me.

Strange thing about the strong smell, because I have a lack of smell, I never had any problems with any gas coming off the clear plastic ones. Now I realize that there are many of GJ members that love them and I will add all the more power to you guys that love that model of screwdriver so keep using them.

The following tip is for a short lived series that did not last a long time, not sure why because they are fantastic in my hands and they can take the abuse.

Tip #1 When you head out to your local flea type places, garage sales, pawn shops etc., start looking for the series that came in the all black handle they will be marked professional in gold color with the WF stamp, although strong chemicals tend to work their magic on that gold color they tend not to kill the handle.

Happy hunting

 

[rlitman]

I have that set. I think that they're the best stuff that Craftsman has offered, with the red/black/chromed Craftsman Professional screwdrivers that came afterwards in a close second.

Note that these were sold in colors other than just black. I have a few with bright orange handles, and I've seen other colors here too.

 

[SRSemenza]

Also some were sold with the word "Industrial" in place of the word "Professional" . Same otherwise. I have them and they are quite good!

Seth

 

[Ohmthis]

I got o set of these when they first came out, LOVED them!!! I have a few left and I've been on a mission lately to find a screwdriver that fit as well as these. As popular as they seem to have been, why were they so short lived???

 

[cbacres]

I also have a set of these, I agree how nice the grip is. The tips are great too.

 

[ssdave]

I have two of those; they're the only usable Craftsman screwdrivers I have ever had for real screwdriver use. I'm not talking about opening paint cans and prying, of course any of them work okay for that. The only thing I found with them is that the sandblasted or vapor blasted tips on the philips wore smooth quickly, and then they didn't hold as well. The flat one I have is serratred, and works quite well. Mine are marked Industrial.

 

[itsvegas]

yeah the pro **** is so much better than the regular craftsman scrwdrivers which are junk imo!

 

[gdocktor3]

Tip #2 - Don't buy Craftsman screwdrivers....

No, I too have a set of the black Pro's and they are pretty good when compared to the rest of the Craftsman screwdrivers out there. I do have a few of those highly sought after bright orange ones hidden away though....

 

[PFSard]

I found a dozen or so of those a week ago at an estate sale for a buck apiece. Some black and some orange. Basically unused. I really didn't need any more screwdrivers, but I bought them anyways. They seemed like a quality product.

 

[Here2Learn]

I really like mine. A girlfriend bought me the 10-piece set for Christmas 1998. With her blessing, I returned the set along with $30 to get the 20-piece set. I don't use it now. They look good in their own drawer, though. I have about all of the semi-recent black and red version that I have for normal use. (besides Vessel for JIS)

 

[Pitalplace]

I have a set and they are my go to for screw drivers jobs. Others are used for the pry bar etc. use.
I love them.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I have a few of those black handled CM screwdrivers. While I have a bunch of the clear handled ones, I really like the black handled ones, a close second to my Snappy hard handles