Over at Sears, they’ve come out with a new Sears Craftsman ratcheting fixed-blade screwdriver set. That’s right, this is an 8pc set of ratcheting screwdrivers, each with its own ratcheting screwdriver handle.
I can’t say that I have ever seen anything like this before. In every instance I can think of, ratcheting screwdrivers have a 1/4″ hex bit socket, allowing users to swap bits as needed. Some work with industry standard 1/4″ hex bits, others with 1/4″ hex power bits, and some with proprietary or specially-sized 1/4″ hex bit with ball detents.
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Each ratcheting screwdriver can be set to 3 positions – right, left, and locked.
There are 4 Phillips sizes – (2) P1 drivers, and (2) P2 drivers, and 4 slotted screwdriver sizes – (2) 1/4″ drivers, a 3/16″ driver, and a 5/16″ driver.
“Sale” Price: $26.24 for the set
In addition to my usual hesitations of Sears Craftsman quality these days, a big question stands out in my mind: How good can the ratcheting mechanism be when the price per screwdriver come out to be $3.28 each?
If this was a few years ago, I’d be very curious. Now, I’ll let someone else be the guinea pig.
If you want a good ratcheting screwdriver, I recommend Channellock’s, reviewed here, and available for ~$25 via Amazon. If you want a recommendation for a standard 1/4″ hex bit holder, look at this Megapro model.
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Gary
WSJ this morning … Sears has hired advisers to prepare for a possible bankruptcy that could come ahead of a $134M debt payment due on Monday
Robin
Sears stock is currently trading at 41 cents a share.
Rumor is they may file for bankruptcy as soon as Friday.
eric
Lowes had these last year but under their Kobalt line.
https://mobileimages.lowes.com/product/converted/820909/820909651505.jpg
eric
I am not sure what happened to my earlier comment I tried posting, but I included a link showcasing that Lowes carried this last year, but under their house brand, Kobalt.
Obviously the product page is no longer on the Lowes website, so it was an image from a third party website.
Stuart
(First-time commenters must be manually approved to cut down on spam.)
I hadn’t realize that Kobalt had these last year. Looks like the same company made the new Sears Craftsman set tool. Nice find!
Lukas
Have you seen Rolgear? They make single blade ratcheting screwdrivers. I believe they are gearless too.
Kevin
Yes, I think they are gearless just like their ‘ratcheting’ bit holders. I like the bit holder that I have from Rolgear.
Raoul
I have a Rolgear and I like it a lot. I haven’t been impressed with a ratcheting screwdriver until this. In case anyone isn’t familiar, the Rolgear uses a roller gear instead of a toothed mechanism so the engagement is almost instantaneous. I hear a lot of good about the Wera too but never tried one.
fred
These do seem to be a first of a kind – but as you say there are many others that use insert bits:
There is also this Blackhawk model:
https://www.amazon.com/Blackhawk-Proto-9000R-2-Ratcheting-Screwdriver/dp/B005YSZK08
This one from Ideal:
https://www.amazon.com/Ideal-35-988-9-in-1-Ratch-a-Nut-Screwdriver/dp/B000NB85LM
You link to one from Channellock. and the Megapro
Rolgear is another option mentioned by Lukas.
Stanley, Irwin, Klein, Williams and lesser known brands also make ones,
Stuart
Curious – that Blackhawk looks a lot like the Bahco 808050P.
Tom
I have a similar Bahco, but mine has a little LED light. Really handy.
fred
It does indeed look very similar. A bit odd since I thought that Blackhawk – Proto are SBD brands – while Bahco is part of the SnapOn group. Could be both from the same OEM. The Blackhawk is made in Taiwan – I’m not sure if the Bahco is too,
ChrisP
And this one from Kinchrome Australia
https://www.kincrome.com.au/7pc-bent-ratcheting-sdriver
Almost certainly the same OEM
Sco Deac
Curious product. I am probably not thinking creatively enough but I am struggling to find a use for these. My view is no type of ratcheting driver replaces the need to have standard screwdrivers. For the times that a ratcheting driver works, are there situations where a multi-bit driver would not work but these would? My next question is do those few potential situations where something like this might work justify the valuable cubic inches of storage it takes to keep these?
Not a Dad
These are made to be crappy Christmas and Father’s Day presents…
Wife/Kid- “oh look at this neat screwdriver! And so cheap too! Perfect for last minute gift for Dad.”
Stuart
Yes, one could use a multi-bit screwdriver in place of a ratcheting screwdriver, but ratcheting screwdrivers can save on fatigue, and even time.
Let’s say you have long screwdrivers to tighten down, and you can’t use a power tool, either because of the delicateness of the work, or space constraints.
With a regular screwdriver, you turn the handle, release your grip, rotate your hand, and regrip the handle, and repeat.
With a ratcheting screwdriver, you turn the handle, rotate your hand, and repeat.
Now imagine you have 20 screws to work with. The ratcheting screwdriver will save you some time and effort.
Corey
If you work regularly with screwdrivers you’ll find that bracing the butt of the driver on your index finger inside knuckle/callous allows to spin the driver with just your fingers, and pass on the perpetual re-grip wrist rocking. Same method you’d use on a driver with a spinner end, just takes some practice. Early practice I picked up as an apprentice when I found giant rachet handles to be annoying and tedious lol
Stuart
True, but that depends on the size of fastener. There are a lot of times where there’s just enough resistance that this doesn’t work.
Sco Deac
Sorry my post wasn’t clear. When I said multi-bit I should have clarified that I was thinking of a ratcheting multi-bit driver. I was wonder where a ratcheting fixed blade will function where a ratcheting multi-bit won’t if that situation arrives frequently enough to justify carrying what seems to be a very specialized tool.
CT
I can see the advantage of having different length blades. Even with the multi-bit drivers you would still need long, medium and stubby shafts.
Stuart
Ah. Good question. I have never once wished for fixed-blade ratcheting screwdrivers.
I use individually sized ratcheting combination wrenches often, but that’s a poor analogy.
Evadman
I do a lot of electrical work with small screws or where the screw is recessed into a deep hole. A bit holder screw driver is too wide to fit physically. That is the only use case I can think of. For example, taking the battery cover screw out of a multimeter. a #1 Phillips bit just won’t fit physically in my multimeters.
Stuart
How deep are the holes?
Some companies (Apex??) make reduced shank 1″ and 2″ bits. https://www.mcmaster.com/5750a87
fred
For those of us who are a bit long in the tooth – we remember when Yankee spiral ratchet screwdrivers were everywhere on the jobsite along with bit braces. That was a time when saying you had a cordless power tool meant that you had well developed arm muscles.
Most telephone installers also carried a Yankee push drill on their tool belts.
Both the screwdrivers and the drill used bits with a tang-drive held in place by a ball detent.
There are still some variants made:
https://www.amazon.com/Schroder-Spiral-Ratchet-Yankee-RS10324/dp/B007521Z0U/
https://www.amazon.com/Garrett-Wade-Classic-Drill-included/dp/B005CX7EMW/
Koko the Talking Ape
I started hankering for a Yankee screwdriver after I saw my idol, Jake Blues, use one to disable an elevator in “Blues Brothers.” Since then I have had three.
They are a little less cool in practice. It is a little hard to modulate the turning force, because it comes from you pressing (hard) downward on the butt of the handle. And you don’t actually get much turning force that way. It’s fine for things like sheet metal screws, but for driving #8 screws more than an inch or so into soft wood, it isn’t so great.
It does better in drilling holes in soft wood. They traditionally came with single-flute drilling bits, which are fast but leave a slightly rough hole. You have to be careful about blast-out on the exit hole, because you are pushing down on the drill to turn it.
They used to require Yankee-specific bits, with a strange notched bit end I’ve never seen anywhere else. But some can take regular 1/4″ hex bits now, and there are adapters available too.
Kevin
An electrician might use a tool like this to install devices into electrical boxes or for face plate screws. But the quality of the driver would be important.
satch
My thoughts as well since that was my line of work. However, for 99% of the devices I installed I learned to depend upon the Bosch/Skil IXO 3.6v rechargeable Li-ion screwdriver. The latest models are micro usb chargeable and run about $25 on sale at Lowes or Amazo .
They are lightweight, fit anywhere, and hold a charge for a long time. I packed one into the front bottom of my Veto Pro Pac MCT and it fit like it was made for it. Tucked the litle charger in a pocket on the other side. But if I were to use a hand driver installing devises again, I would make dure tomhave a ratchet model. The hand fatigue it saves makes it worth it. Interestingly the costmfor the little Bosch is less than most of these ratcheting sets.
Redcastle
If you like the IXO then you will really like the “blue” version the MX2. I had an IXO which I used primarily for electrical work and because the MX2 was priced at £80+ could never justify the upgrade but on the last Prime day it dropped to £40 and I bought one. The big advantage is it has two batteries (common charger with the 12v) but is very light. If you look at the prices Wera or Facom charge for racheting bit holders I cannot see how a screwdriver priced like the Craftsman set can have any real durability, I have had racheting screwdrivers fall apart on me before and they were much more expensive than these.
satch
Redcastle, you make a very valid point. Most of the multi-bit drivers I have used are not ergonomic in my hands. The MegaPros everyone seems to love are a case in point. They do not ratchet but disp,ay some of the issues of the ratchet models. Oversized grip. And many of the ratchets I find to benas you described. Clunky feeling. Still, if I had to do it manually a ratcheter would be the choice.
Now about that MX2. I have seen those and thought one would indeed be idesl for what I described. And more importantly, they ha e the 1/4 inch hex quick change bit holder. They are not imported to the States but I have found sources online. The charger issue is big. I am unable to tell if the charger you speak of has a slot for each battery type or somehow uses the same slot. And second, whether such charger is the same as my 12 volt model with U.S. plug or is something different for UK and Europe only with the proper 240 volt plug for each region it is sold in. If I could charge it with my current U.S. Bos h charger I would buy one in an instant. Thank you for mentioning it.
satch
Redcastle, it looks very promising. I just popped into the garage and looked at my bc330 charger. Right on the front labeling it is clearly printed “4-12 volts”. On the data panel on the back of charger it is also clearly marked “Input 120v. Output 3.6-10.8v”. So we are indeed looking at the multi-voltmcharver and should work with the mx2 batteries.
Now to find a vendor who wupill sell to me. When I first looked into them they were about 60 quid or 80-ish dollars dpending upon exchange or vendor. The only listing I see on U.S. Amazon is from two listings at 180 USD each. Ouch. The search is on now though. Thanksmagain for the heads up on the charger.
Redcastle
Satch
Pleased that you found the information useful.
None of the main stockists in the UK carry them as regular stock and at one point I even tried Amazon Deutscheland but they were not listing it at all and I just had to sit on y hands until Amazon UK cut the price by 50% on Prime Day. Amazon UK does do Black Friday so that might be a good time to try.
fred
Klein and Greenlee also makes offset handle screwdrivers that operate with a crank-like motion to speed screw installation. They are presumably aimed at electricians for installing/removing plates etc. I don’t know how well they work or are liked:
https://www.amazon.com/Screwdriver-Rapi-Driv-Klein-Tools-670-6/dp/B000BO9T3Y/
https://www.amazon.com/Klein-67100-Interchangeable-Rapi-Driv-Screwdriver/dp/B07G3B6YKY/
https://www.amazon.com/Greenlee-0153-53C-Action-Screwdriver-Phillips/dp/B003NFTBEK/
fred
Both Klein and Greenlee sell crank-handle style cabininet tip and Phillips tip screwdrivers aimed at electricians. Klein has one that take insert bits too. I’m not sure how popular they are.
Klein calls theirs Rapi-Driv – and the bit-holder one is part #67100
The Klein 670-3 and 670-6 are cabinet tip – 3/16″
The Klein 671-6 is 1/4″ cabinet tip
The Klein 682-6 has a Phillips #2 tip
I tried posting links – but the spam filter may have gotten me.
Nathan
didn’t someone put out a ratcheting handle that took fixed blades. I don’t mean like the snap on that has the different shaft lengths and the bit holder on the end (though I do like that)
Take the same thing as posted have a set of 6 blades and one handle. Maybe I imagined it as I sure can’t find it. I would buy something like that only because when I have to use my normal screw drivers I find it a touch annoying. And often I have to use them because it’s in a hole that is too narrow or very deep for any of my ratcheting devices.
I suppose you could do the same with 4 inch bits
Curtis
Wera makes one, sort of. Their 002990 Vario set (comes with a standard non-ratcheting handle) can be paired with their 002901 Vario ratcheting handle.
Mike S
Wera has a product like you describe – a few actually. One takes some proprietary blades; and the other takes anything with a standard 1/4″ drive.
Wiha has fixed handles that take 1/4″ drive, but not one that’s ratcheting (that I’m aware of – I wish that they did have one like that).
fred
There is the Xcelite 991R ratcheting handle that takes their screwdriver and nutdiver blades:
https://www.amazon.com/991R-Reversible-Ratcheting-Screwdriver-Interchangeable/dp/B004UNFQ4I
fred
“I have to use them because it’s in a hole that is too narrow or very deep for any of my ratcheting devices”
The narrow hole problem – usually requires a solid shaft driver.
But the deep hole can be solves using extensions (1/4 M hex to 1/4 F hex) or using a long driver like this Williams
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DNUZL2/ref=twister_B06XF2WRPL?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Ryan Jacob
It’s too bad Sears is about to file bankruptcy! I think at this point I wouldn’t buy anything from them.
Another Jeff
Well, I’d certainly not buy anything from Sears other than in person and walking out with what I bought, and I’d certainly run to the store tonight if I had gift certificates.
skfarmer
looks much like the reverse gear drivers made drivers once offered by sk and others,
seems too good to be true for the price. pretty sure i will pass.
Paul K
I use a ratcheting screwdriver for just about everything. Even if you like the palm and spin method with a standard driver that method works on a ratcheting driver as well. Only times i don’t use them are when I’m using the screwdriver for something other than fasteners (prybar) or when the thicker shaft of the ratcheting driver won’t fit (recessed screws on electronics). That would be a use case for these, especially if you’re doing it all day long…except those screws generally require so little torque that the palm and spin method would probably be quicker on a manual driver, at least for removing, maybe not driving.
satch
As an aside, I see lots of rumours today that Sears may file for bankruptcy before the end of the week. They have a 134 million dollar debt payment due Monday from what I can gather. I don’t realy pretend to know thendetailsmor how all this works but if I had the points thingnor whatever itnis they do, I would use them fast.
satch
Sorry lads. My fat fingered self is always hitting extra keys in an effort to post. Made the last sentece in prior post look like the handiwork of a kid in grade 4.
JeffD
I prefer my SO with bits in the handle. One tool, 6 uses.
Toolfreak
I wouldn’t touch these, or most new items that have appeared at Sears in 2018.
It seems they have been sourcing even cheaper options over the last year or two, and lots of their tool sets and more stuff still in the pipeline is a downgrade in quality from even the China-made stuff they’ve been selling over the last few years.
The “Z-” marked China-made stuff seems particularly low quality, compared to the “S-” marked China/Taiwan stuff that is mostly rebadged/slightly different Gearwrench/Apex stuff.
If Sears stays in business much longer, I suspect they will just be pushing this low-end stuff to make money on the Craftsman name and SBD will be taking over the “real” Craftsman tool biz and maybe even getting the China/Taiwan made Apex stuff in the transition to USA-made SBD stuff.
Mahalo
Happened to be at Lowes today when I read this post. Ran across the Kobalt version of this set and gave the handle a twist. The ratchet mechanism on the largest driver (5/16 slotted) appears to have 24 teeth by my count. 20 bucks for the set of 8 ratchet drivers plus 2 offset non-ratcheting drivers. *regular non-sale price*
Rory
Ive got a great screw driver. Any 12v milwaukee screw driver or impact driver.
Cr8on
The only Snap-on tool I have or will ever buy is their ratcheting screwdriver. If I were to get another it would be the Williams version at 1/2 the price.
JoeM
Let’s just face it. Sears is dead. Sad to say, but all discussions about what products are, or are not, available there is just another wasted topic. And it’s not our fault, it’s theirs.
I really can’t continue on the topic without using language so foul it’d offend drunk sailors.
Mahalo
Sears is dead, but Craftsman is not. The brand (division?) wss sold off months ago.
JoeM
These are from the dead part of the division. The side that is going bankrupt. SBD won’t be taking care of these, or in any way servicing them. If you buy these, you’re SOL.
Redcastle
From time to time “Craftsman” tools appear in the UK normally in the form of large sets of sockets and screwdrivers. Given the bifurcation of Craftsman I am curious as to which version will be sold in the UK going forward and if it is the SBD flavour whether they will seek to use the power tools to try and recapture what was Black & Deckers entry level position which has now been taken by house brands.
ToolOfTheTrade
This may very well be the last tool that the Sears craftsman brand ever manufactures. Bankruptcy is inevitable for the very near future. The right people are being brought in for the purpose of bankruptcy preparations and Lampert is not going to bail Sears out again to keep the doors open for another month. I don’t blame him. Lampert has gotten rid of all valuable assets and the only thing he has for collateral (commercial real estate space from store closings) is not enough to interest investors to consider restructuring the debt. The shares are less than 50¢. They’re done. Stick a fork in it. How do you go from being the largest retailer in the world to bankruptcy and out of business? It starts and ends at the top and the decisions that were made that led to the shit hitting the fan. I’m sure that Mr Sears and Mr Roebuck are rolling over in their grave.
Sco Deac
I hope you are right. I would like to see or get a refresher on the fine print of the agreement by which Sears could source and sell Craftsman tools (royalty free for a period and then in perpetuity with a royalty). I hope that right isn’t some sort of asset that has value in some way to the bankrupt estate. If so, the confusion could go on. I don’t recall which Sears entity had the rights, e.g. Sears Brands, Sears Holdings, or some other entity. I think they the path to market had to be a Sears stor(K-Mart too?). But even in a Chapter 7 liquidation, a “Sears” store may emerge. Just look at some discussion of bring back Toy-R-Us. There is even a new Service Merchandise online retailer now.
I would not be surprised if the bankruptcy trustee doesn’t try to shake down SBD to buy out this possibility.
Michael
I think RolGear has been making single shaft drivers for about two or three years. I’ve only seen them on their website.
Also, I’m curious why your suggested ratcheting screwdriver is a ChannelLock? It’s a rebranded MegaPro.
Stuart
The Channellock is rebranded Megapro, but it also less expensive than the Megapro equivalent.