Whats your favorite screwdriver handle?
- Thread starter KnurledNut
- Start date
Ruination Fan
Well-known member
Felo and Heyco offer a wood handle version of limited sizes and tips. Felo also has a wooden handle bottle openers if you wanna go all in. I prefer Stahlwille and Wiha handles. They fit right in my hands and it also helps none of my coworkers have them so it's easy to spot if borrowed or left somewhere.
Machinehead
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I know this is slightly old thread, but I too believe the Tekton hard handles don't fit the fasteners well. To small and want to slip. I got them for a new van build out as a set. Not the best. Handles are nice.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
As I often find myself working from the top of a ladder, I've always gone for screwdrivers that don't roll. I'd have to say that my green-candy Heycos are the best for that--and the excellent tips.
But I picked up and somewhat restored this old Vessel the other day:
and I've grown so fond of the damned thing it's now the only screwdriver sitting on my benchtop--I seem to work on a lot of stuff with slotted screws.
But I picked up and somewhat restored this old Vessel the other day:
and I've grown so fond of the damned thing it's now the only screwdriver sitting on my benchtop--I seem to work on a lot of stuff with slotted screws.
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
I decided to try a couple screws just to see cuz I don't ever remember my tech than not fitting well so...
I started with a small brass screw.... I use it for woodworking. The only thing that really worked on that was my gray screwdrivers. No surprise. And the PB Swiss was close.
Next, I grabbed a small ph1 (Phillips)
My old Craftsman professional generation 2. Fit really well as did the new Milwaukee USA and the PB Swiss. The vessel didn't do well with it. Tekton didn't do great with it. Williams was okay.
Son, I grabbed my pH2 and I found that worked well in the tekton. It was amazing in the USA Milwaukee, okay in the vessel, nice in all the PB Swiss. I tried and nice in the Williams.
For number two Robertson I tried her one which worked well. High point very well PB Swiss very nice. Tekton was okay. Usa Milwaukee's were okay. Not as nice as I expected.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Maybe because the screw was Phillips and the Milwaukee is Phillips, but the Euro and Jap drivers are, respectively, ISO and JIS?
I was actually looking at these online recently - love the black handles. Are they full-size (like Stanley 100 Plus) or undersized like Craftsman phillips?
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
Bell System...
jfleisher
Well-known member
Full sized. Some of the ones on my workbench were purchased in ~1980, so 45 years old. Bonus: no acetate handles so not smelly!
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Snap-on hard handles. I love the feel and the fit of them and the variety of colors. Also a fan of the old smelly Craftsman handles feel and smell too lol.
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
JIS standard is apparently obsolete as of 2008 and I think PB Swiss (who claims to do JIS) and vessel now conform to DIN 5260-PH/ISO 8763-1
Someone mentioned that to me I think last year when I was talking about JIS screwdrivers. Lots of really fun information at this link below
Phillips vs. JIS (called "plus" in Japanese) vs. DIN 5260-PH/ISO 8763-1 Screwdrivers
Phillips vs. JIS (called "plus" in Japanese) vs. DIN 5260-PH/ISO 8763-1 Screwdrivers It seems that there is a lot of confusion regarding the various types of recessed cross-head screws and screwdrivers -- well, for me anyway! Most folks are aware that JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard)...
www.garagejournal.com
I contacted Tekton and I asked them what standards they were built to. And they did not have an answer and said... None.
I took this too mean that they simply contracted some company in the US that make screwdrivers and if I asked the actual manufacturer they would probably be more able to give me a definitive answer and it's just not anything Tekton ever thought about.
I think that one reason that the Milwaukee USA made grip so well is related to the coding that they have on the tip of their screwdriver.
Some of the Williams Phillips screwdrivers have serrations on the edges which I'm assuming are kind of digging into the screw, which is why those fit so well.
When I've tested screws in the past, at least Phillips, I found the tekton to mostly grip them pretty well. Most of the screws I was testing were relatively cheap screws and so I can't say for sure that they were manufactured well to tolerance of any sort. Well, the Robertson bits were really expensive and I specifically use them where it really matters what screw I use.
So I don't really hold it against the vessel that the pH1 didn't fit the screw well cuz this crew could have been garbage. And I only tested four screws one of each size.
Oh, and the only festival screwdrivers I tested were my megadors because those are the ones I have in my basement. I am more likely to be doing fine things while I'm in my basement and I really like the knurling on those megador vessels.
I also took a nice look at my older Craftsman professionals that I like so well and it looks like the PH2 driver s have had enough use. It's time to swap those out. Those are the last of my old Craftsman screwdrivers. I got rid of all the rest.
Not really related, but, some of the larger Tekton slotted screwdrivers are very smooth and I've never been convinced. That's a good thing. I prefer some kind of finish on the tip to help with gripping.
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
Related, has anyone tried the how discontinued large hard red-handled wright tools screwdrivers?
If you look for them a lot of places still show them, because they didn't update their photos. But if you order them they drop ship from the manufacturer and they come with these blue handles that I don't really like. I managed to get a hold of one. Red handled large screwdriver and I kind of liked it.
If you look for them a lot of places still show them, because they didn't update their photos. But if you order them they drop ship from the manufacturer and they come with these blue handles that I don't really like. I managed to get a hold of one. Red handled large screwdriver and I kind of liked it.
Madjik Man
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If I ever feel like I can get any dumber, I’m going to try to insert a Vessel shaft into a Tekton handle.
That would be the ideal screwdriver
OP
KnurledNut
Well-known member
I don’t think anyone has mentioned the made-in-Spain Blue-Point screwdrivers. They have a comfortable grip.
Machinehead
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Have never seen those online or in person. But they look intriguing.I don’t think anyone has mentioned the made-in-Spain Blue-Point screwdrivers. They have a comfortable grip.
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
The Felo wood handles are my favorite, as they remind me of a different time, as well as having the shaft go through a leather washer so they can be used as an impact screwdriver in emergency repairs.
My second favorites are my Williams and my Tekton hard handles. Mainly because they have more sizes.
My second favorites are my Williams and my Tekton hard handles. Mainly because they have more sizes.
rooster59
Well-known member
Snap-on
Instinct® Hard Grip
My opinion could simply be a product of my core trade but Klein is hands down my favorite. Between grip and spin-ability they rock. It’s a damn shame the quality of the steel went to **** 20yrs ago. Now my favorite fastener fitment is wera, I just don’t much care for the handles. They’re fine for torquing it loose or tight, but the spin-ability rating *****.
Andres26tnt
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Favorite handles is the ones I've printed, surprisingly strong 
. Need to redo some stuff to make them more impact resistant. 
. Need to redo some stuff to make them more impact resistant. The VACO screwdriver handles are my favorite. They are standard old fashioned plastic with deep grooves. They allow for very good torque and have good handling. Square or triangle handles might be good for breaking tight screws loose, but after that, the handling and speed are not good.
B_Bimmer
Well-known member
Stanley workmaster is the best. Snap on hard handles get used the most.
Schurkey
Well-known member
Late-ish 1980s, The Snap-On Guy comes around with screwdriver sets--perhaps five different colors. Green, Orange, Yellow, and...Pearlescent white. Maybe some other color(s) as well, but those are the ones I remember. I thought the white/pearlescent were the prettiest tools I'd ever seen. I also knew that if I bought them, I'd never use 'em for fear of getting them dirty.
These 'drivers also had the wonderful hard-handle tri-lobe shape.
I bought the orange ones, and "orange" has been "MY" preferred tool color ever since.
No photos, though. I suppose I should fix that.
These 'drivers also had the wonderful hard-handle tri-lobe shape.
I bought the orange ones, and "orange" has been "MY" preferred tool color ever since.
No photos, though. I suppose I should fix that.
nadogail
Well-known member
My favorite Screwdrivers are the Stanley Fat Max set I picked up at a Big Lots store over 25 years ago. My other "Go To" is a Whia that
i bought in 2022.
The Square handled Crescent Screwdriver in my box has been another top choice since I bought it in 1968 or '69.
i bought in 2022.
The Square handled Crescent Screwdriver in my box has been another top choice since I bought it in 1968 or '69.
Nobody-named-Olli
Well-known member
Snap-On Instinct. I haven’t found any other handle that can transfer torque as comfortable and well as these. The second I come across any type of delicate/ stubborn fastener it’s instinct time.
Felo Ergonic are a close second for me.
Kind regards,
Olli
Felo Ergonic are a close second for me.
Kind regards,
Olli
EricN.
Member
Wiha,and Snap on
Machinehead
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Look at this guy. Waltz's in with this and sets his b*lls on the table in front of you. Do you sell these perhaps?Favorite handles is the ones I've printed, surprisingly strong
Garagebound1
Well-known member
I never knew there were do many different types, brands, handles. I've got S-K, the Craftsman and Snap-on. Once I found the Snap son hard handles like Genog showed I don't go for anything else and usually its a S-O ratcheting screw driver.
Andres26tnt
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I do not as i need to figure out, how to make the walls thicker and more durable. These were printed from PLA plus. very strong material, but brittle unfortunately. They have lasted me a few months now. Will use petg and ASA next to test the impact resistant.
cody1325
Well-known member
These are probably acetate, but I've found these old Proto handles are the most comfortable, and I can get decent torque. Plus no rubber to eventually start breaking down.
Urrea still has the molds as a result of their Protomex roots, so I'm going to accrue an entire set from my local mine supply. They're even cheaper than Tekton! But they're still very nice drivers. My other slotted "Proto" is a modern Urrea.
Urrea still has the molds as a result of their Protomex roots, so I'm going to accrue an entire set from my local mine supply. They're even cheaper than Tekton! But they're still very nice drivers. My other slotted "Proto" is a modern Urrea.
Stick-man
Well-known member
For wrenchin in the shop on greasy things, these are my favorite. At work, not much grease, I like Klein black rubber handlesI like these the most
Maybe because I am so used to them.....
I also like the older Snappy triangular grips too
Semi-hole mechanic
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I have an older Torx driver with a tri-lobe handle that I bought at work (TSC). It’s a MasterHand which use to be our store brand before we changed it to JobSmart. I have no idea who the manufacturer is, but I wish all of my screw drivers had this handle.
