I don’t quite know how to say this, so I’ll be frank. I have an irrational NEED to eventually buy these Bahco screwdrivers, preferably at a reasonable price.
A few years ago, while in England on vacation, I purchased a single Irazola Tekno+ 5mm ball hex screwdriver. It was the most comfortable screwdriver handle EVER. That 5mm ball hex driver is still my favorite hex tool as well. The overall driver was just beautifully made, with perfect machining, strong materials, and a great finish.
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My efforts at finding easy access to Irazola screwdrivers in the USA have been unsuccessful. The company was unresponsive, even when I emailed them in Spanish.
Oh, I probably should have started with this – Irazola is a Spanish-based screwdriver manufacturer. All they make are screwdrivers, and they’re good at it.
As mentioned in our tool brands and corporate affiliations guide, Irazola is now owned by Snap-on. I believe Irazola is technically owned by Bahco and Snap-on’s European division, but ultimately Irazola falls under the Snap-on corporate umbrella.
Because of this, Irazola’s Tekno+ screwdrivers are now Bahco-branded and are finally available in the USA.
Unfortunately, selection and availability of Bahco Tekno+ screwdrivers is extremely limited, but I suppose a 6-piece set (202020) is better than nothing. Unfortunately, the pricing a bit too high – $114 for a set of (3) Phillips drivers and (3) slotted drivers.
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I should point out that the two sets shown here are NOT the same. The boxed set is the one available in the USA, the loose drivers are shown to give you a better idea of the drivers’ geometries.
These drivers are great, but I’m only prepared to pay maybe $12-15 per screwdriver as part of a set, which means at $114 the 6-piece set is about $25-40 overpriced in my opinion.
So, this set will remain on my wishlist for now. If anyone knows of a less expensive source for these screwdrivers, please let me know!
If you’re looking for a nice set of soft-grip screwdrivers and are okay with the higher price, these drivers are definitely worth trying.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
I have thus far looked for these drivers under Irazola, Bahco, and Snap-on branding. Thus far they only seem to be available in the USA under Bahco branding, but that might eventually change.
Steve
Check out ebay. I searched Irazola and a bunch popped up with what seemed to be pretty reasonable prices
fred
I’m sure you noticed that amazon lists and alternative buying source (NIS – Spokane WA) that has it for about $5 less – and still with free shipping – still not exactly a bargain price – but saves a bit
Barrie
It’s funny that when you guys from the US come to Europe, you all get exited about the tools! It’s exactly the same for us when we go to the US. My first day of vacation always starts in Home Depot!
mikeh
You guys in Europe always get the cool stuff first and when it makes it way over here it seems to lose some of its cool – Stanley is a great example – there is a ton of stuff available in other countries that i can’t get my hands on (easily) here in the US – we need a trade agreement!
Hang Fire
Europe gets it first. US gets it cheaper.
Richard
At those prices, I think I’ll stick with my Kraftform Plus and Wiha Softtouch drivers. 🙁
Maybe I’ll find a single driver and try one out.
Stuart
That’s what I did. Prices in England were maybe $12-15 equivalent, and so I figured I’d try just one size. I could always use more Phillips #2 and 5mm hex drivers, and so I went with the 5mm. After a few months I started my search for additional sizes.
Yes, I could always buy off of ebay or dealers that ship internationally, but since I don’t *need* these drivers, I figured I could wait until they’re more reasonably priced.
Stan
Respectfully, with those prices, if this were me, I would go with Bondhus and Eklind. American made, but also you could buy more screwdrivers with the money saved over.
I like Bahco items, but wow those are a bit too rich for my taste.
Stuart, if you are truly interested in buying more for a lower cost, there is eBay as others have mentioned, but you could call Snap-On/Bahco and ask if there any distributors in the area that might carry these.
Grainger might sell these or someone might be selling a set of these on Etsy or so.
Stuart
Bondhus and Eklind don’t make regular Phillips and slotted screwdrivers, at least that I’m aware of.
The whole point is that I am after these drivers. I don’t need them, I’d like them.
In regard to ball hex, yes Bondhus and Eklind are American made, but they are also inferior products. I like my Bondhus drivers a lot, but there’s a clear difference in quality and comfort. This is of course reflected in the price.
I’m not looking to replace my Bondhus drivers. I have a bunch of other brands’ hex and Torx products for applications the Bondhus ones aren’t exactly ideal for.
There aren’t a lot of places that carry these drivers now (yet?). These drivers are listed on Ebay/Etsy/Etc, but not at any better prices.
Toolfreak
When a company can’t be bothered to even send a canned reply, that should tell you something.
Despite however great their products may be, what happens when you need to get a warranty replacement? Do they even have a warranty or you’re just SOL if you get a defective piece?
As great as they may be, the high price, scarce availability, and zero customer service are all huge marks against something to be used as a tool.
harry
Don’t those guys make the current blue point screwdrivers?
Stuart
The Blue-Point drivers currently listed at Snap-on’s site have different handle shapes. They are said to be made in Spain, and could very well be made at the former Irazola factory, but they appear to be different screwdrivers.
SteveR
Stuart–From my experience, anything that is a Snap-on corporate product (Snap-on or Blue Point branded), will be expensive. Unless you buy them around certain promotional holidays (Father’s Day, Christmas, etc.), you will likely pay their full asking price. Even then, the discounted price will only be about ten percent lower.
As these screwdrivers are an industrial-branded item (i.e., Bahco/Irazola), I suspect you won’t be able to find these at a greatly reduced price on the open market (at least, for awhile). Before the internet, we didn’t have many alternative sources. Today, I’ll see a tool I want from the Snap-on catalogue that I know or suspect is made by another company. I search Amazon and other retailers for the original version, then purchase it at a lower price from this other source.
You might also try to source these from a distributor in Canada. They may have a different pricing structure than here in the U.S. The fly in the ointment, though, may be the customs charges, and the extended wait time to receive the order. It’s worth a look, though.
Stuart
Thanks for the advice! I am perfectly okay waiting to see if better pricing comes around. I purchased Bahco and Williams tools before at reasonable prices before, and figure the new “Bahco” drivers might eventually come down in price as well.
dan
These in VDE form are available on amazon.co.uk £25 for a 7 piece set but one is a voltage tester. Individuals are still expensive at £12 to £15 each though. These are not so commonly found in tool shops though, Stanley, cheap rubbish and the German brands are more common but I think availability of Bacho is increasing, 10 years ago you could pretty much only find their chisels, hacksaws and auger bits (Sandvik).
Steve
I ordered 3 bahco ratchets. One in each size through Amazon. I received two of the three ratchets and was sent bahco branded drivers. Which had the handles that I believe you like except with the blade going completely through the handle and creating a what seems to be a striking surface. I was pissed since my ratchet didn’t show up until I saw that this six pack costed 3-4 times what the ratchet did. Waited a year later and they sent me the exact set of drivers again. I can’t remember for sure but the ratchet was under 50 bucks for sure. $35 keeps coming into my head. This was before my tool addiction started and I thought they sent me some plasticy rubbery China made junk. Didn’t take me long to figure out that i actually scored some awesome drivers twice. A coworker traded me an older set of snap on insulated screwdrivers with orange handles. They were never used because they wouldn’t fit into the newer electrical controls. They just sit in my box. I finally had to order through eBay to get my bahco ratchet. I guarantee they would have sent me a third set without even asking me. The Amazon add also said that they had the ratchets in stock.
Randall
So which ratchet do you order to ‘accidentally’ get the screwdriver set?
mike
Imo bahco does some good stuff and some not so good stuff, (compared to the absolute best stuff on the market). The hacksaw blades are good, and also the actual hacksaws. the adjustable wrenches/spanners are good (they invented it). Needle files adequate. and so on. Basically they make to much/diverse stuff to make all of it really good. And for screwdrivers I would definitely look somewhere else. just saying.
Diplomatic Immunity
What about this place?
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Bahco-039-001-100-Hand-Tools-Screwdrivers-Phillips
Carlos
Buy Orizola and will only have to buy once.
Excellent, but very difficult to find even in Spain, i think they have been bough off by Bahco who is putting their sticker to them.
I think is a gekky collector item nowadays.
Jon
Williams seems to have rebranded the basic tekno+ screwdrivers into an ERGO line. Still seem to be a hassle to find, but the pricing is much more affordable.
https://www.williams-industrial.com/us_en/products/screwdrivers/ergotm-screwdrivers-with-rigged-rubber-grip-colour-id.html
Kamran Kureshi
Knipex should watch their quality. As opposed to the much hyped German! tool makers quality I recently received a diagonal cutter of medium grade quality.
I can assure you I wasn’t thrilled! In fact disappointed —for want of a better world…
Ball_bearing
https://www.williams-industrial.com/us_en/catalogsearch/result/?q=Supertorque
The Williams Supertorque. But the colors are not as nice.