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ToolGuyd > Hand Tools > Screwdrivers > New Klein Demo Phillips Driver and Awl

New Klein Demo Phillips Driver and Awl

Jul 16, 2014 Stuart 13 Comments

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Klein Demo Phillips Screwdriver and Awl

Klein came out with their first demolition screwdrivers two years ago. They are now expanding that line with two new drivers – a #2 Phillips driver (603-4DD), and a combination scratch and punch awl (650-DD).

Klein Demo Driver Action

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Both new demo tools have metal striking caps, heat treated full-tang blades, and cushioned handle grips.

Unlike other non-demo screwdrivers, these are designed and tested for prying, chiseling, and other applications that would otherwise be described as abuse or misuse. Such applications include punching out knockouts from electrical boxes, tightening locknuts, and being hammered into utility poles to hang tool pouches off of.

As with Klein’s two other slotted-tip demo drivers, the new additions are also made in the USA.

Price: ~$17-20+ each.

Buy Now(Phillips via Amazon)
Buy Now(Awl via Amazon)

Competitors’ demo drivers are priced at $10 for 2-piece sets:

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Compare(Dewalt 2pc Set via Home Depot)
Compare(Milwaukee 2pc Set via Home Depot)

First Thoughts

I see the appeal for a Phillips #2 demo driver, and the previously released slotted demo drivers, but don’t quite know what to think about the awl. The pointed tip looks to be ground similar to a pin punch for strength, which is good, but might make it better for punching and piercing tasks and a little less suitable as a scratch awl.

Milwaukee, Dewalt, Stanley, and I’m sure a few other brands, also have a couple of demolition drivers in their hand tool lineups. The Stanleys I own are pretty decent and were made in England before production shifted over to Taiwan. As far as I am aware, Klein demo drivers might be the only ones currently being made in the USA.

If you ask me, everyone should have at least two demolition screwdrivers – Phillips #2, and 1/4″ or 5/16″ slotted drivers. Hopefully Klein will pair the Phillips and either slotted drivers together as part of a two-piece set.

Related posts:

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Sections: Made in USA, New Tools, Screwdrivers More from: Klein

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13 Comments

  1. Stan

    Jul 16, 2014

    Wow, I’ve been wanting a American made awl with a solid steel plate and a demolition awl for a long time now.

    Seriously, this is awesome news Stuart, thank you for sharing this. Best of this is 100% made in the United States of America so in buying this product, this will actually support modern USA jobs.

    Reply
  2. Sean

    Jul 16, 2014

    Your site is my absolute favorite tool review “blog” and have read nearly every entry you’ve ever posted, but I am very curious as to why the posts on your site and Tools in Action’s site are getting close to identical. In the past week you have posts either the same day or a day or two after about identical products, random videos, etc.

    I’m sure it’s probably that you are updated by certain manufacturers via email at the exact same time, and then you each quickly research and write a post about the product you’ve gotten updated on, but now I’m seeing duplicate videos of slow-motion wood cutting. I know readers have a choice to read one, both, or neither, but personally I like to read multiple sites, and lately I’ve been going “didn’t I JUST read this…?”

    There was a post about the Klein demolition drivers on TIA the same day as this post. Several days after TIA mentioned two upcoming Milwaukee products you did a summary of those tools plus several more. Finally, there was a similar situation with the upcoming Makita Brushless Drill, and, of course, the slow-motion table saw.

    I know the CONTENT of your posts and their posts are different and each of you does your own research, so neither is “plagiarized” and both are valuable, but why are the TOPICS getting eerily similar? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Stuart

      Jul 16, 2014

      I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t know where TIA get their information from, I only know where I learn about the tools I post about. I learn about a lot of new tools through press releases, press portals, social media e.g. brands’ YouTube channels, and through brands’ sites, corporate filings, preorder product listings, and reader tips.

      The way I discover new tools to post about hasn’t changed in the past few years. I’m not going to change now, just because TIA or other sites might look to some of the same places for new tool news and info as I do. Does it really matter? Neither site copy-pastes press releases verbatim, so there’s always different takes on things to absorb. It’s not as if you see something on either site and don’t find value on the other.

      Some ToolGuyd content these days is written and scheduled a few days or even a week or two in advance. Because of this, certain content will precede, coincide, or follow coverage on other sites. Coinciding coverage is unavoidable when everyone sees news about the same tools at the same. I’m not going to avoid talking about a product because others might be talking about it too. And to be honest, these days I don’t have the time to check other sites to see what they’re posting about, not that it would make a difference.

      I saw the slow-mo wood cutting video in a Tools of the Trade newsletter, which is why they’re linked to in the first paragraph. Can’t tell you where TIA saw it, you’ll have to ask them.

      I didn’t see TIA’s Milwaukee post yet. If you go back and take another look at mine, I point to Milwaukee UK’s 2H 2014 promo flyer. Again, I know my source, I don’t know theirs.

      Makita’s brushless drill was promoted in a banner ad that I saw and clicked on a Contractor’s trade mag RSS feed, and it led to a Makita microsite. There was enough info there that I didn’t see reason to wait for a press release.

      Reply
      • Sean

        Jul 17, 2014

        Sorry, Stuart. I didn’t want that to blow up into a new thing and didn’t mean to soud accusatory. I also tried to convey the same things you said in your reply: that you probably learn about tool updates from the same “emails” (press releases, manufactor websites, etc) and that two different discussions of the same product can be valuable, informative, and unique.

        I just was browsing these two sites at the same time and the most recent 10 or so posts looked familiar. I was just a little disappointed that my hunger for tool updates wasn’t being satisfied fast enough. But I guess that is the nature of a comparatively slow industry as far as new products or updates. Your site does make the tool world more exciting and innovative than it often appears when walking through the retail stores every few weeks. Keep up the good work.

        Reply
        • Stuart

          Jul 17, 2014

          It’s the middle of the summer, so it is a slower time of year for new releases. Even so, only a fraction of new posts are based on new press releases and email blasts.

          I know you meant well, and didn’t take your comment the wrong way. I also spoke to Dan earlier, who said he also heard a comment or two about the matter, but the ones he heard weren’t put as kindly.

          I hadn’t had the time to check other tool sites, so as far as I was aware, I was covering original topics. I’ve also been a little slower to break news lately, making it look like I’ve been playing “follow the leader,” but that’s not the case.

          Reply
  3. Dan

    Jul 16, 2014

    These look good but I already have some of the Bahco / Irazola high impact screwdrivers, they have hex shafts and bolsters and are really heavy which can only mean there is a lot of metal in them.

    Reply
  4. fred

    Jul 16, 2014

    When I want to hammer on a awl I use the all-steel 66385 one from Klein:

    http://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-66385-2-Inch-Scratch/dp/B0002RI83M

    Reply
    • Stuart

      Jul 16, 2014

      That looks like my Dasco Pro. I actually have two – one I only use for scratching, and another I use for punching or tapping with a hammer. If hammered strongly, the point would probably dull, break off, or fold over quickly.

      Reply
      • fred

        Jul 16, 2014

        Actually one reviewer on Amazon complains about the point not being well-ground. But for punching a starting hole in wood – or driving a knockout – I find that its just fine. For Leatherwork and as a scratch awl – I prefer using ones from CS Osborne.

        Reply
        • Noah

          Jul 16, 2014

          I use several different CS Osborne punches and staple pullers at work. I didn’t know about the company until till a few months ago, but now I love them!

          Reply
          • fred

            Jul 17, 2014

            C.S. Osborne’s catalog says that they have been in business since 1826 – now in Harrison NJ.
            I learned about them about 50 years ago – using their leadworking tools (caulking irons, yarning irons, solder pots and ladles) in plumbing work (when plumb-ing was still using lead – and where “plumb” came from the Latin for lead.)

  5. Jason O

    May 26, 2016

    I don’t really get the use of a demo Phillips. My Phillips need all the help they can get to keep their shape. I found some random brand demo Phillips and ground it down flat to use as a beater

    Reply
    • Stuart

      May 26, 2016

      Me neither, but I do like my Stanley FaxMax demo drivers, and use the Phillips quite often. I’ve never used the striking cap, but I do know that some users will hammer on their Phillips drivers to help shock-loosen really stubborn and stuck fasteners.

      Reply

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