77Mini
Well-known member
Thats terrible. Those are supposed to be high quality tools and they are worse than most box store brands.
Williams USA Screwdrivers Bent Is This Normal?
- Thread starter Rubber_Duc
- Start date
I compared the offset in the shanks of my brand new Williams sets against my craftsmans. The Williams are definitely sloppy.
There are some measurable differences. There is also 20 year age difference. I can measure roughly .020 everywhere but there is also .010 between the two snap-on drivers I have.
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AceofSpad3s
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2014
- Messages
- 1,808
Agreed, for a while I was thinking about getting a set but I am completely turned off from them now. If you are paying that much, the least they could do is actually have quality control. Hell, my pitts pro screwdrivers where $8 and none of the shafts are in the handles cockeyed.
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DeliveryGuy
Well-known member
I have almost every black Williams screwdriver, and a few are crooked, but none that bad. I have Snap On hard handles that are worse though. I'll take some pics at work if I remember.
OP
Rubber_Duc
Well-known member
I guess I feel better knowing that even the SO are crooked sometimes, but it just seems like to me for 55+ dollars a screwdriver set should be straight, especially when they "tout" that it is USA made quality is all. Maybe I'm a minority, but it seems they should be at least straight enough that it isn't painfully obvious is all
OP
Rubber_Duc
Well-known member
Just thought some might want an update, the seller sent me a new set and here is the result, Williams definitely has some QC issues, I'm returning both sets and got a new set of Snapon Instinct drivers:
That slotted blade is also not indexed in-line with the flats of the handle, which is another complaint I've seen about these screwdrivers, but that wouldn't bother me as much as the shank not being installed straight.
It's a shame they have some issues because I love these handles and the fact that they're USA-made at an affordable price point, but I'm hesitant to purchase any more of them.
SweetD
Well-known member
Too bad, I bought a set maybe four years ago of that exact black-handled Williams series, and they have served me well. Zero defects.
I hat to see that stuff.
I hat to see that stuff.
espyking83
Well-known member
Completely talking out of your *** here.
espyking83
Well-known member
*Buys quality USA made slotted screwdriver at bargain price*
******** and returns them because the screwdriver is slotted and works great but handle position in space isnt proportionally aesthetically pleasing*
*Starts thread and realizes the only thing that is really consistent about drivers are the tips*
******** and returns them because the screwdriver is slotted and works great but handle position in space isnt proportionally aesthetically pleasing*
*Starts thread and realizes the only thing that is really consistent about drivers are the tips*
OP
Rubber_Duc
Well-known member
LOL, we must have different ideas of "quality"
And by the way the tips weren't very nice either like others have stated. I hate when someone touts "USA made quality" when you can't even make it look as good as much cheaper "****" brands, aesthetic or not. And by the way a bent screwdriver CAN be an issue in tight spaces not just that it looks worse than a free HF screwdriver. All that does is bring the phrase "Made In The USA" down. Your statements makes zero sense my friend 
: If you don't care that a company doesn't have pride in what they do, fine buy it then...if "good enough" is ok with you fine, but don't start bitchin' at others when they expect a higher standard ESPECIALLY because the name "Made In The USA" is stamped on it, that means something to a lot of people.
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demolitionman
Well-known member
But from what I can tell, they are non bolstered drivers right? I've become so accustomed to bolstered drivers that I have no interest in ones without.
All this wah waaaahh'ing over a few drivers that aren't "lined up" or whatever seems , well, kinda silly to me. Probably same kind of type that uses a caliper to see if every single last wrench he has is perfectly concentrically bored or not.
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OP
Rubber_Duc
Well-known member
Not sure if this is directed at me, but since I started the thread I'll respond to it. I have never "wah waaaaaahh'ing" over anything related to indexing or "lined up". Holy $hit the screwdrivers are crooked some 1/2", all of them and most on both axis, like a monkey put them in there. I never said anything about the indexing, although it does look like **** but whatever I would live with that, but not crooked screwdrivers, give me a break.
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demolitionman
Well-known member
Ok, I see my post was more of a "kneejerk" reply. I haven't seen your drivers in person so frankly, I should just keep my mouth shut. As a owner of those tools you have every right to post how you feel about the ones you own: Let me apologize. That post was indicitive of me being an ***. Sorry.
1950mercury
Well-known member
Proto makes them with and without bolsters. With are more$$
My set's fine... all of this is anecdotal... guess what, though... you never hear about the good sets; people only take the time to post when something's wrong... that skews the evidence against the product.
I'd sent them back too given that there are better choices.
IMHO this is not a "tool polisher"/aesthetic issue.
You want the centerline of the handle, shank and tip to be the same or the forces you're applying to the screw will not be as intended.
I think this could be an issue with stubborn Phillips screws where you're often right on the very cusp of a camout situation.
If it were a stubby it might not matter, but the longer the screwdriver the more this comes into play.
IMHO this is not a "tool polisher"/aesthetic issue.
You want the centerline of the handle, shank and tip to be the same or the forces you're applying to the screw will not be as intended.
I think this could be an issue with stubborn Phillips screws where you're often right on the very cusp of a camout situation.
If it were a stubby it might not matter, but the longer the screwdriver the more this comes into play.
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OP
Rubber_Duc
Well-known member
Ok, I see my post was more of a "kneejerk" reply. I haven't seen your drivers in person so frankly, I should just keep my mouth shut. As a owner of those tools you have every right to post how you feel about the ones you own: Let me apologize. That post was indicitive of me being an ***. Sorry.
No problem, I just was clarifying
I did, I sent them back. Wait a second, you know what I'm starting to agree with you, I didn't see it before! I think it is just plain stupid that someone would expect a 60 dollar screwdriver set to be straight, I mean the nerve, I should have known that is not possible with modern USA technology, sheesh what was I and everyone else that had an issue thinking
Bingo, exactly right. I guess some people just don't get it (see above lol). And I was in that situation when I tried using the phillips for one screw on a piece of furniture. It was right up against the piece and was starting to strip it out, coincidence, maybe but I doubt it, but according to some we shouldn't care about that b/c we got them for 60 bucks
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Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
I looked at mine they all appear to be straight.
However I would be disappointed if they were not.
However I would be disappointed if they were not.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
I just went and checked my Williams and Snap-On set. All are straight and the slotted are indexed "properly". It really wouldn't bother me if they were not indexed properly though. I probably would have never noticed
What exactly would cause such an issue? A milling machine or lathe type tool that is woefully in need of calibration? I feel silly not knowing exactly how screwdrivers are made. Whatever the issue it is definitely not acceptable even at sub $40/set drivers.
demolitionman
Well-known member
If assume it's just simply the press machine that fits the finished shaft into the handle. As the two pieces are mated the alignment must tweak a little one way or the other. I have 5 Williams drivers and all mine are great with super nice flats on the slotted's and clean cut pozi drive on my the Phillips.