After driving around and blinding everyone on the road, I decided that it was time to adjust the headlights on my truck. When I opened the screwdriver drawer of my toolbox, I was momentarily overwhelmed with the many tools choices ready to tackle the task at hand.
We all know how important it is to have the right tool for the job. When I finished adjusting the headlights, I was thinking about how lucky I was to have been prepared with so many different kinds of screwdrivers. In all, I have over 12 different sets of drivers. Except for a few specialty drivers, I usually buy screwdrivers in sets.
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I thought it might be interesting to tell you about some of my favorite screwdrivers. Obviously, I can’t cover the design, type, and use of every kind of screwdriver out there; for that I would have to write a book! Over the next few days, I am going to discuss a few of my favorite screwdriver styles and why I like them.
As I tell you about my favorites, I want to hear about YOUR favorites as well. Which are your favorite handle styles? Which tips have the best fit? Do you hate drivers that have holes through their handles?
uthscsaedu
I see a common theme with the soft grips pictured.
The grip is fattest at the base of the palm, with the exception of the craftsman professional. This one is more narrow at the palm base, but gets wider at the top.
The question is, do you turn with your whole hand, or more with your fingers.
I really like the Snapon Instinct grip. The basic contour is more like the Craftsman pro. I tend to turn with my fingers.
fred
For years we bought nothing but Crescent-Bridgeport and similar Stanley (original 100 Plus did not have rubber grips) and Klein screwdrivers with plastic handles and rubber grips for general use. Slotted style (mechanics and electrician tips) held up decently – but Phillips and Pozidriv varieties never lasted worth a darn – even those with supposed hardened tips. Had a few sets of Craftsman (made by Pratt Read ?) thrown in that were no better or worse – but lacked the rubberized grip. When Fearson (Reed and Prince) and Clutch-Head screws were popular we used Proto brand drivers – but their yellow plastic handle were not well designed for comfortable grip. We use Hozan drivers for JIS and Stanley drivers for Robertson screws. Our original offset drivers were Crescent-Bridgeport but recent ones have been Stanley-Proto. Tried Chapman ratcheting offset drives but found them a bit too light-duty – preferring those that use a ratcheting box wrench (with a medium fine tooth mechanism) and an insert bit. Lately we swiched over to European drivers (not all the same – did not care much for CK’s handle style) by WIHA and WERA for Torx and Pozidriv. We’ve just started usin WERA stainless steel Phillips drivers that have serrated grip tips – that really seem to help. Never surveyed the troops about how they turn their drives – just get some feedback from time to time about what’s new and different that they like or don’t.
uthscsaedu
Also, I don’t see any problems with a hole in the handle.
Stuart
My current favorite screwdrivers are those with PB Swiss SwissGrip handles. Quite a few other drivers are tied for second place.
Richard
My favorite is a Snap-On ratcheting screwdriver, with ACR tips for phillips, and wherever I can use a torx screw, the appropriate torx bit.
PutnamEco
My Favorites would be the SDD series from Snap-on. I find I can use these square handled screwdrivers for a long time without my hands cramping up. They last next to forever and have a life time guarantee, alas they are no longer being produced so you get a different screw driver as a replacement when worn out.
J H Williams produces a replica, I can not vouchfor them, that they are the same quality as my Snap-ons.
My second favorites are an old set of Marples that have an oval beech wood handle, again very comfortable to handle. Very good steel as well, equal in quality to there chisels and gouges.
When I’m working I usually have a Klein 11 in 1 or a Crescent ratcheting screw drive with me at all times. The Klein when I don’t know where the day will take me, the Crescent when I know I’ll be doing a lot of repetitive screwdriving that I can not use power drivers on. I would carry a Snap-on ratcheting screwdriver, but I have lost to many for it to make sense economically, so my Snap-on stays in the shop.
Stuart
Ah, I know the Snap-ons that you’re talking about. After trying one, I ended up buying a set of the Williams.
I wouldn’t have thought the square handles would be so comfortable, but they really are.
Snap-on does offer replacement handles these days, so perhaps a new line of complete screwdrivers will be released as soon as the older stock is sold off. One can wish.
fred
Since Williams has been owned by Snap-on for some time now – the family resemblance is not surprising
Rick
I always loved the Snap-On ratcheting screwdriver, jack-of-all-trades – the one that you reach for for a good 90% of hand driving needs, then one day it slipped off the bench, landed just right and exploded into tiny bits. I gathered up as much as I could find, then tried to warranty it and the dealer refused saying that it was abused. I put all the tiny bits for the mechanism in a small plastic container, wrote ‘Snap-on sucks’ on the lid and there it sits on the shelf collecting dust for the next 17 years or so as a reminder that S-O is sometimes NOT the best solution.
Now mostly use Kleins.
Superautobacs
Another indicator that Williams and SO’s hard-handle screwdrivers are the same is this: with the exception of the ACR versions, they are all stamped with an “S” on the “wings” of the shaft.
Apo
I really like BAHCO BE Series Screwdrivers, as well as IRAZOLA Screwdrivers specially TEKNO PLUS Series. They have an ergonomic handles. Hexagonal profile shank with hexagonal nut too, allows the use of a wrench or open end spanner for demanding jobs which require extremely high torque power.