The PB Swiss Tools Twister ratcheting screwdrivers that I asked you about yesterday – they’re not $150, they’re ~$66 for the shorter one and ~$70 for the longer one. I could only find the sets in my searches, and they’re around $150 each. A reader turned me towards a UK source, and using the shorter model number I found the bare screwdrivers here in the States.
I still don’t know if it’s worth testing out and reviewing $66 and $70 ratcheting screwdrivers. Plus $10-15 in shipping fees.
Advertisement
Would you be interested in such a review, now knowing that they’re not actually $150? Well, the sets are still $150 – but many people would probably just start off with the ratcheting screwdriver and use the bits they have.
I know why PB Swiss Tools’ screwdriver bits command such a high price – they’re made with ultra-high precision, but not everyone needs to spend an extra ~$80+ for (20) bits and a case to hold everything in.
Given that these ratcheting screwdrivers by themselves are more in range of Snap-on and other industrial and automotive brands’ offerings, I’m less inclined to whip out the credit card to buy some test units. Maybe I’ll buy an extra for giveaway purposes to help make the most of the shipping fees.
Anyway, let me know. $66-70 is still a lot to pay for ratcheting screwdrivers – I’m usually happy with my ~$30 models – but maybe these drivers are sweet enough to be worth it.
What do you think?
And while we’re at it, how much is too much for a ratcheting screwdriver?
Advertisement
fred
I’m still pretty sure that I would not buy a $70+ manual screwdriver handle. It’s not exactly the price – but the utility or cost/benefit ratio. In my past commercial-industrial life I bought a few Cleco pneumatic screwdrivers that cost 20 times this – but we used them constantly – didn’t want downtime and $1300 or so for a production tool fit in with our budget and payback analysis.
matt
I am curious to hear your thoughts on the PB ratcheting driver, but more from a general interest/ curiosity standpoint. I have this driver- I bought it for work- and the quality is great, but I went back to using my snap-on ratcheting for a number of reasons.
So, I am interested in hearing someone else’s point of view on this one.
Matt
Tom
I don’t think that the review is really going to be worth your time unless you are going to compare them directly to the other expensive ratcheting screwdrivers (Snap-on and Wera come to mind). For me, a review on a $70 ratcheting screwdriver in a vacuum is not particularly useful.
But if I were to make the decision that I would be in the market for an ultra-premium ratcheting screwdriver, it would be nice to see a side by side with the other options.
John S
I agree – and once you start to compare it to the other high end models, you know that you will want to compare it to a few lower end models as well 😉
CB
I completely agree, I would love for this website to do more hands on comparison reviews. I know it would be a lot more work (time consuming & more expensive than a quick paragraph) but I think it would be very valuable to visiting readers.
I would love to see a comparison of the PB Swiss, Wera, Snap-On/Bahco, Milwaukee and so on.
Stuart
I’ll try to keep that in mind, but I can’t make any promises.
I’ve been meaning to do comparisons about a couple different tool types, but it’s extremely time consuming and eventually falls behind in priority and from my mind.
I’m very opinionated about ratcheting screwdrivers, and so a comparison seems like it would be right up my alley.
Richard
My opinion hasn’t changed – even at $70, it’s just too much dough for a ratcheting driver, although that puts it into the same range as the Kraftform Kompact driver kit… something I’d consider adding to a wish/gift list based on my love for Wera.
rhyino
I would be interested in reading your review of the PB Swiss ratcheting screwdriver. Thanks for considering our insight of this situation.
BikerDad
For me, a review of these would really only be of value if it directly compared against the standard run of the mill ratcheting driver. Answering the question of “how much better is this than a Kobalt/Husky/Craftsman ratcheting driver and why it may or may not be worth it to you.” A comparison to the Snap-On would be of intellectual interest, but again, without knowing what the extra $50-$60 is getting me in the first place, I don’t know why I should try to hunt down a Snap-On truck. (For some strange reason, they don’t seem to come around software firms very often….)
Dave L.
People who are expensing tools might buy them, cost not being such an object, so maybe they’re worth a review.
mike aka Fazzman
I’ll stick with my Wera ratcheting handles.
Grady
I still vote no. Keep the credit card in the safe. I max out at $30.00.
Nathan
I don’t know – depends on what you review it against. will you pit it against a snap on, or other vaunted brands? what’s the comparision going to entail. I sort do just because there are quite a few of the highly praised devices in that 70 ish range. I mean buy a new snap on model.
I guess what I’m getting at is with this hype and discussion I’d like to see a comparison review. I have both a Kobalt double drive, and a Sioux branded gearless device that I love – and will never use a cheapo device. so I’d like to know what more money would actually get me.
paul
Save your hard earned dollars, Stuart. I’d opt for my Milwaukee ratcheting driver that has proven itself for far fewer dollars.
Richard
How it compares to my now-discontinued Snap-On ratcheting screwdriver is the main question I have. These regularly go for $40-50 on ebay (and I’m considering buying a backup, as I’ve tried a number of others, although not the above-mentioned Milwaukee).
firefly
I would like to see a review as well in comparison to other high end screwdrivers. I have been eyeing some Wera Kraftform so I would like to see how the two stack up.
Gary T.
I think the price makes it a more reasonable choice to review. But a comparison with other ratcheting screwdrivers would also be a good possibility to give people a better ideal of how it stacks up to others.
derpson
I guess I don’t see what people use these for.
90% of the time a careful finger on an impact/drill is good enough.
5% of the time I need deep/thin reach for a recessed screw.
5% of the time I need the precision torque of a human hand and a screwdriver.
These handles attempt to speed things up with ratcheting (a motor wins every time) and in the process lose the thin construction of a dedicated screwdriver.
Nathan
there are cases where a motor will either over speed, easily over torque, or it unhandy in the area. Example screws into fibre-fill plastic – yes you can motor them in – but if you run in too fast you can actually distort the threads and loose grip. better by hand, and with something in a fine machine thread, you want a ratcheting device? I like them for most jobs and the other that spots where there is really deep – narrow recesses – one of my ratcheting devices will reach in there – and if it doesn’t a 2 inch or 3 inch jobber bit does. I have plain style screw drivers in common parts – but I almost never use them.
Nathan
didn’t mean the question mark – and can’t edit.
Brent
I like the comparison with Snap-On and Wera. I will say this seems to have garnered interest.
Brent
Your site is great now(including your Youtube channel), i am sure your new site will be great, i will stick around even if things are buggy/irritating in the interim. Get the programming behind you so you can get back to YouTube & Toolguyd site reviews!
Jerry
My experiences with ratcheting screwdrivers are that the tips are more important than the driver. I have a 20+ year old Craftsman driver that I paid maybe $5 for, but it still ratchets smoothly, and has never failed me. The ‘fineness’ of the ratchet isn’t as important on a screwdriver head as a ratchet handle, provided it operates smoothly, fits your hand comfortably, and the teeth are fine enough. I’ve bought some replacement tips, but see no need to replace the handle.
Conversely, if one were to buy a $70 ratchet handle, and put crummy tips in it, you’d have nothing but frustration.
For me, personally, if you had $70 to spend on a screwdriver test, buy a few examples of tips from various makers. I’m more curious who makes the best tips (or best for the money). Which is the best at any price, the best value, etc. just how much better are PB Swiss, Wiha, or Wera bits are than say Vermont American, Irwin, or Craftsman bits. I might even suggest trying a couple of the USA made bits Menards started selling not too long ago. I haven’t needed any bits, so I haven’t bought them yet, but they are competitively priced, and seem to be made with precision.
I know that the definition of best may vary from user to user, so maybe ranking them for things like precision fit, strength, resistance to cam out, etc might be helpful so users could pick the best bits for their application.
Michael
I agree that in this price point, the precision and strength of the bits is more important than the handle.
firefly
Agreed about the bit. But there are more that should be taken into account. First whatever you paid $5 then expect to pay between $25-35 now for something comparable. Secondly it’s about consistency and uniformity between batches. This is extremely important if you are buying them in large quantity. For home use, then it depend on how much you value your time. If you happen to receive a less than perfect product do you just live with or do you go through the hassle of returning (which will cost you time) them?
If you pay $20 for a piece of steak, the chance of getting a bad one is much greater than paying $100. It’s not that you can’t get a good piece of steak for $20 but it won’t be guarantee to be consistent. But for $100 you can have your meat personally hand pick by a knowledgeable butcher from a reliable supply chain along with a personal guarantee…
Stuart
PB Swiss bits, such as the ones included with the Insider (review: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/pb-swiss-tools-insider-bit-driver-review/%3C/a%3E%29 and $150 Twister sets, are of phenomenal quality.
I particularly like the hollow ground slotted bits.
But do most users need that level of precision? No.
I wouldn’t invest in PB Swiss bits for use in power tools. They might last longer than other brands’ bits – I’m not sure – but you’re not going to get extra value or performance per dollar. I don’t think you’ll be able to take advantage of the superior bit qualities with power tools. Or rather, there’s not enough advantage over less expensive but still premium high quality bits, such as Wera.
For hand drivers, where bits last a very long time before needing to be replaced, I might go for a one-time investment of PB Swiss bits. For applications where someone might need a box of bits for every project or job, these bits just aren’t cost effective despite their top quality and stellar fitment.
Nathan
I’d love to find some USA made bits. but I have plenty already.
fred
I used to buy lots of bits (in bulk) from Apex – and they were USA made – at least they were a few years back when I bought the last batch – and Grainger still list their COO as USA
Chris
While probably exceptionally well made, it still seems expensive for what the average or above average Joe would use it for. I’d like to see a review of a multi-speed ratcheting screwdriver made by Spec Tools. They’re made in the USA, so that’s always a plus.
https://spectools.com/
I’ve had their original Overdriver Pro for about 20 years but have finally worn it out. Reviewed here: http://www.rpwoodwork.com/blog/2013/08/26/the-best-screwdriver-i-have-ever-used/
I believe it was replaced by the Overdriver model OD-2001, which may or may not have also been discontinued: https://spectools.com/shop/overdriver-model-od-2001-2/
And possibly replaced by the Overdriver model RGO-5412: https://spectools.com/shop/professional-overdriver-model-rgo-5412/
Anyone have any experience with their products? Crutchfield used to sell their offset ‘Skewdriver’ model for people who were always needing to get at out of the way screws under dashboards, etc.
richard
I agree about the bits. I do a lot of work on equipment that has metric hex socket head screws. The screws themselves are stainless (M3-M4 size, button head), so the fit and manufacture of the bit makes a huge difference in removing the screws without stripping them.
Matthew
I have one of these from Mac, part of a kit with the ratcheting driver, a standard driver, and well north of 100 bits. I think it runs about $150 but has pretty much every security bit you can imagine, and in every size. Horribly useful, especially as I just don’t like power screwdrivers.
Caleb
I believe I currently have 2 ratcheting screwdrivers – one is a Stanley that was on sale for $3 at ACE and stays in the garage. The other is a Craftsman with LED lights and was around $15 at Sears and I had free points to burn. It stays in the kitchen drawer. Both get use because I have them and where they are stored. It is faster than going to get “real” tools. I would maybe add a couple more inexpensive ones to car kits, but if I have $60 in the budget for tools I have way more pressing needs.
Dave
Check out the Rolgear. Rolgear.com its silent. Seen em in store, havent biught one yet,