Looking for some good screwdrivers at a decent price that don't suck.

The last set of craftsman I had OK luck with, the flat blade ones would twist if you put to much torque on them, phillips were decent.


Anything better for around the same price range?



Andy

Are you actually going to use them for their intended purpose? Or like me, use them for chisels, pry-bars, and stabbing devices? :D

Craftsman screwdrivers are the worst tool they make... handles suck when you have then wet, sweaty or any oil on them and the flats snap with moderate torque...

I have used many brands and I really like the classic Snap-on drivers. Not because they are snapon but because I like then. My Mac drivers are too rounded on the handle and as they wear they get smoother and you cant really get that last gripturn you want...

I have used a buddies Cornwells and they were ok from what little time I used them... For a hobbies or even trail tools I try to get the repos from the snapon guy cause they are cheap and still have the warranty...

JOSH

Oh and I dont like the Matco drivers cause they have that fuzzy felt finish that gets dirty and then gets everything else dirty. I dont like that!

JOSH

I like the old style Snapon ones. I have the fancy cushion handle shit that gets all filthy and then gets everythign else filthy.

wooden handled mac's. absolutely love them. i also like proto and hazet.

ive got snap on ones, they work great and ive actually put a wrench on the little hex head deal under the handle and w/ someone pushing down used said wrench to turn screw driver to loosen screw. no probs.

Enderes screwdrivers are the shit. They can be had for around $7 per, and have lifetime warrenty against failure (but i don't think it covers wear and tear). i tend to find them at mom and pop tool stores.
I also use enders chisels, punches, and bars.

I like Klein's.

Its a tie between klein, older style snapon, and the wooden handled macs mentioned above.

Wiha makes some really good stuff. All of the shop screwdrivers and stupid Torx wrenches at work are Wiha.

I like Klein's.

Must be an Electrician ???

JOSH

Kliens here as well.

Must be an Electrician ???

JOSH

Used to be. Still have my tools.

The Craftsman Pros are OK, but the regular one SUCK hard. I also have a set of SK's I like pretty well.

Screwdrivers are about the only reason I'd go in the snap-on truck.:smokin:

Snap On here as well.

If I was shopping for new screwdrivers.. I'd look into SK.. the Expert2 line.. I have thier torx set, and they are GREAT ! But for the bigger/longer stuff.. I'd prob go with snapon.

http://www.skhandtool.com/Default.aspx?fusemode=10&pid=83562A

Must be an Electrician ???

JOSH

Me too on the Kleins. Rubber grip is everything. Either they have cheap tips or I have a good forearm - cuz I'm snapped a couple from torque alone. :D

Third vote for the Kleins. I only pull mine out when using quality fasteners though. I use my Husky set for china screws, they never fit right anyways.

OK...I guess I could throw some useful information in here. I use the old-style, black handle Craftsman. They have been through hell and have held up great.

I like Klien for the garage. For the trail rig I have a "10 in 1" craftsman that I actually really like. It's black and yellow like a klien but it just fits right in my hand. The "10 in 1" is for screwing and a giant craftsman is for pounding.

I went in the local Ace. They had some screwdrivers with their own brand on them that looked exactly like the yellow and black Kleins. They were made in Tiawan. Where are Kleins made now?

Andy

I like craftsman screwdrivers personally, maybe it's just because it's what i've always used. Although after craftsman has dropped it's quality i have no idea how good they are now.

It's just a plastic handle with some ridges on it you can grab ahold of, nice and simple. I cant stand those smooth rubber handled screwdrivers that snap-on, mac, and s&k sell. They just dont have any grip to them, at least i think, and once they get dirty they're hard as hell to clean. With a plastic handle you just wipe it off with a rag and your done, you got to throw those rubber handled bastards into a parts washer or something to get all the dirt off of them.

I'm posting for two reasons - to tell you what not to buy and to see what I should buy...I just bought a new set of standard Craftsman's - used them about twice and they're going into the "old pile of shit" tool box! I used the #2 Phillips once and it rounded off a little - and I'm pushing 40 so I've used a screwdriver a few times before. My last set was a Stanley Pro set and they worked pretty damn good - lasted about 5-6 years of good use. Used them to completely (inside and out) remodel my old house, work on my old Mustang and lasted a couple year of my Jeep. I may just go buy them again...? I thought I was moving UP when I bought the Craftsman's but I guess not. I'll have to go check

I've had good luck with the black handled craftsman.... is that their pro-line? That and snap-on, and the old craftsman.

Had the Matco (Whitte) fuzzy ones. Hated them since new. Replaced them with the 3 sided rubber Snap-On ones (work) and took the Matco ones home.

I like my black handle craftsman, I have a normal craftsman screwdriver set that was a gift plus some that just ended up in my collection, they kinda suck. It's nice to have them warrented, but going to sears every weekend gets real old. :shaking: I have used the snap-on ones and didn't care for them...I will have to search out some different brands. Thanks for the opinions guys!
-Justin

Another vote for the black handled craftsman professionals. I have been using them for 6 or 7 years and they have held up great. I chiped the tip off the largest flat blade using (badly abusing) it as a chisel or prybar, but thats my fault. The standard craftsman junk is too soft to chip, they just twist like a pretzel.

any high quality one that is easy to get warrantied

The hard handle snap on is hard to beat. I see a lot of people here like the old style, but the new hard handles have grown on me considerably. You might want to put one in your hand the next time you're on the truck...

+1 on older style Snap-On (non cushion grip).

I've had my ratcheting one for almost 20 years. Only complaint is that the cap for bit storage occasionally pops off because the threads don't hold anymore. I never use the handle bit storage, so I'll probably just epoxy the thing shut.

For Philips I use an Apex Bit on almost everything. You always have a nice sharp bit that way. I like the ACR style ones with the little ridges to keep from slipping. If you get a really tough-to-grip philips screw, use a dab of valve grinding compound for traction. Apex bits marketed for installing deck screws usually have the ridges if you don't want to buy the Snap-On bits at 98 cents ea.

If you come across a lot of oddball size slotted screws, search in a gunsmithing supply catalog for a specialized gunsmith's screwdriver set. They come with about 50 different sized flat apex bits - enough sizes to fit any slotted screw you may come across perfectly. The valve grinding compound trick works for slotted screws also.

I've also used the "Grabit" damaged screw removal bit for when screws are too trashed to remove any other way. $20 well spent - works very well.

OK...I guess I could throw some useful information in here. I use the old-style, black handle Craftsman. They have been through hell and have held up great.

same here, too bad they don't make them anymore.

Sears has their 10 piece pro screwdriver set (ones that replaced the black handle) 1/2 price until tommorow.


http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947203000P?keyword=screwdriver+set

Sears has their 10 piece pro screwdriver set (ones that replaced the black handle) 1/2 price until tommorow.


http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947203000P?keyword=screwdriver+set

I've seen those, they have nothing on the black ones.

Their quality didn't appear to warrant the "pro" name either.

Sears has their 10 piece pro screwdriver set (ones that replaced the black handle) 1/2 price until tommorow.


http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947203000P?keyword=screwdriver+set

I bought a couple of sets. I used the $10.00 coupon that was in the newspaper ad. Price is good until noon today.

Another vote for the black craftsman ones. Much better than their standard set. Ive been abusing mine for 4 years now with no gripes

I have had good luck with all the Kobalt tools i have ever used... they are primarily found at Lowes...

I like craftsman screwdrivers personally, maybe it's just because it's what i've always used. Although after craftsman has dropped it's quality i have no idea how good they are now.


I've got a set of standard Craftsman, all but 1 Phillips has rounded off taking cheap china screws out of PLASTIC. Also, all but the largest flat head is twisted at the tip.

Another vote for Kleins. Have a wide variety of consumer grade 'drivers in my toolbox, and the Kleins beat them all hands down. Stanleys are my second favorite(with the black and yellow handles), but I've managed to bend the tips on two of the flatheads using them as prybars :p

I have the option of buying what I want from whichever truck I want. I pick and choose what I think are the best.

Snap-On screwdrivers are hands down the best I've used. Between the hard plastic handles and the hex bolster, they're hard to beat and I use them every day.

If I need an oddball that isn't in the set I bought, it's off to eBay I go!

PT

I definately love Klein screwdrivers. I use tools HARD at work and am still on the ones I got over three years ago. We are talking daily use in a factory. I also have some Kobalt nut drivers with some wierd contoured rubber handles that are EXCELENT for the price. You may want to check out some kobalt screwdrivers.

Snap-On here as well

I like the Stanley ones...even the cheap ones are better than the crapsman ones I have, One set I got a few months ago is the Stanley Fat Max Demoliton Screwdriver, full tang with a metal cap, very beefy.

339722

I don't have any Klein screwdrivers, but by Grandfather (long time electrician) swore by them.

On a side note...last time I was a Sears I stopped to look at the cheapo 19 piece Screwdriver set... 2 of the screwdrivers in the package had the wrong end of the screwdriver blade inserted into the handle. :laughing::shaking:

I've got couple snapon, they are really nice.

There is a german or dutch company called, wera. I got a T8 screwdriver from a sandvik rep. It is nice, I plan to get a set from them when the time comes.

I'll add another vote for klien, i got introduced to them doing some electrician work last summer and i'm hooked. Their tools are top notch.

i use snap-on old style and they work great.

-Thomas

I don't know if you get them over there but I recently got my hands on a set of Wera slip-stop screwdrivers. They have a lasaer etched/hardened tip and the screvdriver stuck like it was superglued into the screw. I had to work freeing the screw from the blade after it was loose.
I don't know how it will hold up to use as I've only used it a few times.

just picked up a set of 8 older (red handle) snap-on's from some tweker

$50 :D

im in love

I have a classic flathead Craftsman and man does this thing rock.

i was toying the with notion of buying the craftsmand professional set that was recently on sale for 39.99, but then i walked through lowes and noticed they have their own professional line of screwdrivers for 34.99 and they have more pieces int he set and they weren't on sale....

has anyone tried the kobalt professional series? i think for 35 bucks i'll 'risk' it

I use the hard handle Snap-On screwdrivers. A great feature is that they are bolstered (you can use a wrench on them just below the handle).

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/objects_lg/42200/42141.JPG

Changing gears a little....

Who uses the Snap-on/Williamson ratcheting screwdrivers? They seem really good quality and user friendly... but are they practical?

i got a set of the regular craftsman screwdrivers for my 16th b-day.
still have them. i used to get the Klien 10 n 1 out of my work truck before i used the regular craftsman ones.

a couple weeks ago i bought a set of craftsman pro series. so far i like them, they are holding up well, and the handle is comfy and easy to get some twist on. they also have the little wrench spot under the handle and the tips of the screw drivers are not cromed, like the Kliens.
so far i am not dissapointed.

I also like Klein's im not an electrician, just like the way they feel, and they are pretty good quality. I also have some of the hard handle Snap-On's shown above.