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Williams USA screwdrivers

C

Cgw1984

Banned
Joined
Jan 14, 2020
Messages
223
Location
Oklahoma city
Hey all,

I wanted a set of snap on hard handle drivers, but frankly, couldnt stomach the cost for a "want" and not a "need". So that led me to the williams hard handle set. I purchased on amazon for about $45 bucks. Got em in the other day, and thought you guys may enjoy some comparison photos with the one snap on hard handle driver i own (a used nut driver that i purchased with considerable wear). Of note- as the driver was purchased used, i cannot say if the color or the "feel" have changed over time. I can say as it sits, the snap on handle is considerably smoother.

Sitting next to each other the snap on is black, while the williams is more of a charcoal grey.
G133Fal.jpg

The williams handle has more pronounced flash. Looks like snap on takes a bit more time to smooth the casting.
Williams-
BZ1m4RH.jpg

lW9B9Bf.jpg

Snap on
a6DgY2k.jpg

The area where the shaft enters the handle is recessed on both drivers. Again, here, the williams shows more flashing
TN0I8ie.jpg

I hope that is in some way helpful. Couple small notes:

Upon opening the package i was disappointed to see "made in the usa and china". However, it seems the packaging (the cloth/plastic pouch) is china made. Each driver is marked "USA".
2 out of the 3 flatheads in the set were inserted off center. Not a major issue, but super irritating. I feel williams can do better.

I do hope this is helpful.
 
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T

Tallpilot

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 13, 2017
Messages
2,384
Location
Orlando
Cgw1984 said:
Hey all,

I wanted a set of snap on hard handle drivers, but frankly, couldnt stomach the cost for a "want" and not a "need". So that led me to the williams hard handle set. I purchased on amazon for about $45 bucks. Got em in the other day, and thought you guys may enjoy some comparison photos with the one snap on hard handle driver i own (a used nut driver that i purchased with considerable wear). Of note- as the driver was purchased used, i cannot say if the color or the "feel" have changed over time. I can say as it sits, the snap on handle is considerably smoother.

Sitting next to each other the snap on is black, while the williams is more of a charcoal grey.
G133Fal

The williams handle has more pronounced flash. Looks like snap on takes a bit more time to smooth the casting.
Williams-
BZ1m4RH

lW9B9Bf

Snap on
a6DgY2k

The area where the shaft enters the handle is recessed on both drivers. Again, here, the williams shows more flashing
TN0I8ie

I hope that is in some way helpful. Couple small notes:

Upon opening the package i was disappointed to see "made in the usa and china". However, it seems the packaging (the cloth/plastic pouch) is china made. Each driver is marked "USA".
2 out of the 3 flatheads in the set were inserted off center. Not a major issue, but super irritating. I feel williams can do better.

I do hope this is helpful.
Click to expand...

I've had a few QC issues with Williams. That can be problematic if ordered from Amazon since they don't always deal pleasantly with customers directly.
 
OP
C

Cgw1984

Banned
Joined
Jan 14, 2020
Messages
223
Location
Oklahoma city
measuredtwice said:
You wrote both http and https. Also the link is a web page, not a photo.
[IMG]http://https://imgur.com/G133Fal[/IMG]

Corrected below.
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/G133Fal.jpg[/IMG]

...which will look like this...

G133Fal.jpg
Click to expand...

thank you. Only forum ive ever had issues on. Fixed. Appreciated!
 
C

Chipm

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 10, 2020
Messages
428
Location
Georgia
Tallpilot said:
I've had a few QC issues with Williams.
Click to expand...
I bought some of these screwdrivers. Not at all impressed. All the chrome has hazy or rough spots. I've bought two separate P3's from two vendors and the shafts on both are way way crooked. I had hoped for better based on what I read here.
 
1

1982fxr

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2012
Messages
9,997
Location
Phoenix
Chipm said:
I bought some of these screwdrivers. Not at all impressed. All the chrome has hazy or rough spots. I've bought two separate P3's from two vendors and the shafts on both are way way crooked. I had hoped for better based on what I read here.
Click to expand...
Pics of crooked shafts?

These have been on my want list.
 
C

Chipm

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 10, 2020
Messages
428
Location
Georgia
1982fxr said:
Pics of crooked shafts?

These have been on my want list.
Click to expand...
It is hard to tell from the photo, but unusably crooked in person. Appears to be roughly 6mm off at the end.

I love the ones that were right. Comparable size to my Stanley 100-Plus but more resistant to brake cleaner. I can't deal with having to send a bunch back to get a good one though.
IMG_7823.jpegIMG_7824.jpegIMG_7822.jpeg
 
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Ohio Andy

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Joined
Jul 31, 2024
Messages
2,259
Location
Columbus, Ohio
Interesting, my sets all came out pretty good from Williams and I like them. Although one of my sets had the wrong screwdrivers in them, but Williams took care of it... I'm for sure the handle composition is different.

The differences are far more pronounced on the ratcheting screw drivers... Although realistically the thing that bothers me the most on the Williams ratcheting screwdriver is that it does not have knurling and I really really like the knurling on the snap-on ratcheting screwdrivers.
 
L

lardy1

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 17, 2019
Messages
3,396
Location
Michigan
I only have two of the Williams screwdrivers. I like them a lot. If I started over again with no screwdrivers I would probably buy a bigger set of them. Good value, imo.
 
B

bobg03

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 29, 2020
Messages
3,420
Location
conway sc
I always liked the Snap-On hard handles and I had two stubbies that were a gift. I could never justify the cost and I got a set of williams about 6 years ago and have been very happy w/them. No issues, they were new on E-Bay.
 
S

spyerx

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 29, 2019
Messages
134
Location
SoCal
bobg03 said:
I always liked the Snap-On hard handles and I had two stubbies that were a gift. I could never justify the cost and I got a set of williams about 6 years ago and have been very happy w/them. No issues, they were new on E-Bay.
Click to expand...

I also have a set of 8 I think it is black hard handle Williams and they have been good, got them maybe about same time, I got on Amazon at the time. They've been very durable and next to my snap on ratcheting screwdrivers I use them more than anything else I have.
 
W

woody 73

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Messages
11,542
Location
The Great State Up North
I like my Williams screwdrivers very much, never had anything appear hazy or crooked, on the other hand I picked up a tekton screwdrivers and I am not feeling the love with a few of their tips. (something about the grind that I don't care for).

I am sure whoever you bought them from will do a return for you.
 
O

Ohio Andy

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Joined
Jul 31, 2024
Messages
2,259
Location
Columbus, Ohio
1982fxr said:
Are Cat just Williams? Cheaper‽

I know some of their stuff used to be Snap-on...
Click to expand...
I was under the impression that cat was made by snap-on but cheaper.

I really like my Williams but there are differences from snap-on. I assume the same is true with Cat.
 
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C

Callelle

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Joined
Feb 3, 2022
Messages
637
Location
Depew NY
Ohio Andy said:
I was under the impression that cat was made by snap-on but cheaper.

I really like my Williams but there are differences from snap-on. I assume the same is true with Cat.
Click to expand...
If you actually take the time to go through it, there's probably more in the Cat catalog sourced from Williams than there is Snap On.
 
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