Tekton’s multi-bit screwdrivers are fantastic buys, offering good quality, a comfortable handle, and very affordable price.
For just $9, you can get a 6-in-1 driver with USA-molded hard-style handle.
The handle is made from tough glass-reinforced nylon that’s impact and scratch resistant, and it also holds up to common workshop chemicals.
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This style features 6 bit tips – Phillips #1, #2, slotted 3/16″, 1/4″, and 1/4″, 5/16″ nut driver hex sockets.
You can buy the same screwdriver handle with different double-ended bits, and they’re all the same price. The black-handled model is $1 more on Amazon, but the same price via Tekton directly.
The handle has a nice feel to it, and as a general rule hard-handled screwdrivers can get a little slippery if your hands are very sweaty.
It won’t deliver as high torque as a screwdriver with a chunkier and grippier handle, but that also means this driver takes up less space and is easier to slip into a pocket or tool pouch.
I bought this same screwdriver with a black handle, and have had zero regrets so far. There are other fantastic multi-bit screwdrivers on the market that I can also heartily recommend, but I’m glad to have this one in my kit.
I think these screwdrivers are a fantastic bargain, and would buy this one again in a heartbeat, although perhaps not as my first-and-only multi-bit screwdriver.
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Price: $9
If you’re more interested in dedicated-tip screwdrivers, Tekton has that too, via Amazon and direct.
Steve
Nice! I’m slowly building 3 emergency kits for the vehicles and I add items like this when I find them on sale. The Klein 5-in-1 screwdriver is another good USA made option and it’s currently only 0.98 more on Amazon.
Stuart
I don’t believe the Klein screwdrivers are USA-made anymore.
Klein is definitely another great choice. I bought the 11-in-1 to include in a recent DIY tool kit package. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015SBILG/?tag=toolguyd-20
JR Ramos
I have three of these, love the handle. I drilled a small hole in the end of one of them to allow for a smidgen more bit tip clearance (different brand of bit) and it is indeed a nice glass-filled nylon. I would disagree about the torque – I find that I get as much or more than some other handles but for me the best have always been the Felo design (Wera being a close second). I don’t find it slippery, either. The shaft could be better but retention in the handle is good (much better than many on the market these days) without much slop. I’d certainly recommend these as a basic do-all screwdriver unless someone knows they’ll need torx or something and doesn’t want to have two of these or keep track of extra bits…no shortage of screwdriver and bit holders to choose from these days (or ever).
This became my #1 most used screwdriver. Good old 6-in-1 was just a great invention. I prefer it over the couple of Kleins and an Ideal that I have and even the old Endres, which is superior in slop/tight fit but has an old less comfortable handle. Two live in the main tool bag and the third is convenient at home. I love their option to just buy everything separately, which is what I did with two of them so I could get just what I wanted. The only thing that I possibly like better is the PB Swiss one that holds bits in the handle. If PB Swiss made a 6-in-1 I’d be all over it.
Stuart
Torque is a factor of grip. The wider the handle, the more torque can be exerted with similar hand-turning force. Narrower handles exert less torque.
If some of your turning force results in even just a little slippage due to a handle being smoother than one with a rubbery bi-material overmold, that too will affect torque output.
You’re not going to easily feel the difference when tightening a fastener, but there will be differences on the action-side of the screwdriver. You will feel differences when loosening tight fasteners.
JR Ramos
True mechanically but that’s not how our human hand and arm muscles work exactly, and ergonomics testing helped us to see that decades ago. Larger isn’t necessarily better, frictional grip and corners to get purchase on aren’t necessarily better. Felo grip being an outstanding example even in their less expensive smooth hard poly options.
Totally possible that any other screwdriver is better for your muscles or your style of screwdriving than might be best for me. We got a lot done with comparatively crude screwdriver handles back in the day before we had the nicer choices we do now. I think Tekton’s grip is a winner although it’s 2nd place to me.
After using the standard Klein grip and also their rounded triangular grip (nice, and different than the ribbed triangular handles at the time…long discontinued), when I first tried the Felo design I had a project where I drove something like 110 1-1/4″ drywall screws into wild oak pallet wood (no pilot holes). I did that with the Felo grip with ease up until about the last fifteen screws or so when my muscles got tired. I’d done a similar project a couple years earlier with the Klein and I was good for about 35-40 screws before taking recovery time. There was no slipping and I definitely did feel the difference – a lot. The Klein being both larger and grippier….so. Despite those attributes I was clearly working harder and getting less torque to the work than I was with the Felo. Also, don’t ever do a project like that – use a drill. 🙂
Zack
Felo Ergonic is the best torque bar none
fred
Hard to know why you would buy via Amazon versus directly from Tekton. The price is the same – they seem to ship for free – they don’t collect sales tax for many locales and if you have an account with Tekton you accumulate 10% off to use on future purchases.
Stuart
Convenience?
Speaking for myself, on Amazon I get 5% back in credit card points, vs 10% reward point that can only be used on Tekton tools. I ordered my black-handled screwdriver from Amazon.
I provided links to both. Let’s say 10 people purchase the screwdriver. I would estimate that 9 would be from the Amazon link, and maybe 1 from the Tekton link.
Bob
I was actually quite excited by these screwdrivers and they had me at a Philips version which includes a #3!
Went to Tekton to buy some and found out they don’t ship to the USVI sadly not an unusual experience.
Any other brands that include a #3 Philips head?
James
Megapro
JR Ramos
That was one reason I jumped on this when they first introduced it. And you can get the #3 in phillips/flat or double phillips. I know Greenlee had replacement bits with a #3 and Klein might, if you can find those. Eazypower (much harder to find now) has several in both hex sizes…I’ve wondered if that’s who Tekton is getting their bits from. Those are bits only…don’t think any of them include a #3 in a complete driver option (Eazypower might but those are usually sold by the box if you don’t find them in a store).
JR Ramos
When Tekton had free shipping on all orders it was a no-brainer to order from them and I liked that they got all of the profit in doing so. Since they went to $5 for less than $25 orders it makes more sense to go Amazon for onesies and small items. Not a huge Tekton user myself but their reward dollars have been handy and I got a couple “free” tools that way.
Amazon tacks on their fulfillment fees and other fees, so the prices go up a tad over direct from Tekton, but now it’s more economical for small orders. But many of their items are either not listed on Amazon or they go out of stock frequently, while they are pretty much always available direct.
I’ve always been charged sales tax on my Tekton orders. Thank you, South Dakota…
It’s pretty rare now but every so often I’ll order from a small outfit and don’t get charged tax – their numbers must remain low enough to clear the caps (which varies by state) where they’re required to collect and remit.
Peter
$3.95 on HJE
https://www.harryepstein.com/products/tekton-6-in-1-combination-screwdriver-2799
Stuart
That’s the old imported model. I don’t know if the bits are different, but the handle definitely is.
ITCD
Used to be free shipping on all orders, now there’s a $25 minimum. If someone has Prime and only wants the driver Amazon would be the better deal.
$25 minimum isn’t too shabby though. Channellock was doing free shipping on all orders then bumped it all the way to $100 threshold.
Jared
This looks like a decent and robust multi-bit driver for not much money, so I’m not critiquing it – but I prefer my Picquic screwdrivers over this style.
If the “full-sized” Picquics are too bulky, the “Dash 7” or “Compact” models are good alternatives.
They’re not “made in the USA”, but the handles are made in Canada, the bits in Taiwan.
The bits are quite good too – precise, robust, on some models they seem to have a chrome or maybe Nickle coating.
Mark
I have found the piquic bits to be the weak point. I haven’t tried the chrome/nickel coated versions but the regular bits rust unbelievably fast. The first time it happened to me I blamed myself, figuring I must have gotten it wet or something. After I ponied up for a set of their replacement bits that corroded within a few months I figured it was piquics issue.
Mark M.
Agreed, the Picquic line is awesome and under-appreciated by many. I found combo packs of the Dash 7 + Teeny Turner on clearance at Tractor Supply for some stupid price, like $6, and bought every one they had. The folks I gave them to as gifts still rave about them. As you said, the bits are very good. I’ve put them in an impact driver before and gotten some almost stripped heads to move. Love their stuff.
Schill
Looks like a set of 4 with all available types is $32.
Nathan
Love the tekton driver. I’ve bought 4 more for friends. Great in the kitchen drawer device.
Also while at it get their pliers rack and if you find you need a flare nut crowfoot they make some good ones
Wayne R.
6-in-1 screwdrivers are fantastic. The more-bits-is-better models are just too fiddly for me to want to fool with, but these hit a sweet spot.
I have found the Klein Extended Reach model to be even better some things, the bits & core are longer, 7.25 inches versus 9 overall.
Joellikestools
Looks neat. I have been pretty pleased with Tekton. Might pick one up for work
Plain+grainy
Glad to learn about this. I think Tekton is based in my state. I have a few Performax 15 piece ratcheting/ extendable screwdrivers( probably made in China). They are a little under$9 after rebate in Menards. 15% off during bag sale.
Berg
I have two of these, one all slotted and another all phillips, that are some of my go-to screwdrivers in my garage. I love having the 5/16 slotted driver with a hollow ground tip and a shorter more manageable length than dedicated drivers. It’s a size I use a lot when restoring/tinkering with old tools like hand planes.
I wish they made a standard 1/4 inch magnetic bit holder in the square hard handle version, I have their high torque one but I’m not really a fan of that handle shape.
Mike
My favorite is the Wiha 11 in 1 screwdriver. Has square and hex bits in addition to phillips and slot.
Little more expensive ($16 at Lowes) and made in the USA
Dave P
I’ve got over 20, 6-way screwdrivers and I’m just about positive that none of them cost $9. Most have had hard use and have held up well. Even with the inflation we’ve had lately, I don’t see $9 as a great buy.
Stuart
Out of those 20, which is your favorite, and why?
ITCD
SK is going for twice as much and doesn’t involve any USA manufacturing. Wiha is currently $11 (normally $16), Craftsman is $10, Lenox is $10, a cheap-and-cheerful Performance Tool is still $8.36, Klein is $16, Lutz is over $11, the Amazon Basics is nearly $14 for some reason.
Honestly $9 is a pretty good price. Not the absolute most bargain bin doorbuster price out there, but cheaper than a lot of recognizable brands and involves some USA for those who like that.
JR Ramos
I think it’s a good buy overall – the quality is there. I don’t think the bits are the best compared to old USA ones but they are excellent (and I suspect may be made by Eazypower or whoever makes theirs). Shaft is Taiwan and is actually less sloppy, closer to the old USA brands, than any of the China ones I’ve seen the last many years. That’s always been my biggest gripe is that often the shaft comes out of the handle too easily and/or has way too much slop – the Tekton is excellent here, even after a lot of use.
PW
I have a couple of these with a variety of bits. I do like the handle design. It has a good feel. I really like the shape and the glass nylon material. It’s not slippery but not rubberized, which always gets grimey and drives me nuts.
The bits are ok. They seem to have fine fitment on fasteners. They’re not very corrosion resistant though. Some of them started to rust after a couple seasons in my unconditioned garage.
Still it’s a good product, and I do like the handle better than my other 6 in 1s.