Tekton, a hand tool brand that has been strengthening itself these past few years with new tools and great customer service, mostly offers relabeled tools.
Sometimes their tools are generic in design, but they have also been working with domestic OEMs to produce new Tekton products here in the USA, such as punches, bungee cords, and pliers.
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These new Tekton screwdrivers are a little different, in how they are made in the USA, but with the handle being completely designed in-house by Tekton designers and engineers.
Everyone at Tekton seems to gush with pride every time the subject of these screwdrivers come up. They’re proud of their efforts and what they’ve come out with, and it shows. The result? Awesome ergonomics.
Tekton sent over a set of their new USA-made screwdrivers for review, and while the review isn’t quite ready yet, I can tell you that these drivers are quite nice. I was a little hesitant about the shape of the handles, but they turned out to be extremely comfortable.
These new Tekton screwdrivers have a tri-lobe handle shape design, which provides a secure grip for higher torque applications, while also being comfortable and ergonomic.
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Their handles are shaped in such a way that they can also be finger-spun for rapid turning of loose fasteners.
The end caps have clear size markings for easier identification.
Tekton says that the shafts and tips are made from a high strength premium chrome molybdenum steel with precisely sized tips for an exact fit in fasteners.
The screwdrivers are finished via a hot black oxide process that provides flake-free corrosion resistance.
Prices (at Amazon):
2pc set for $14.69
2pc stubby set for $8
4pc set for $17
8pc set for $25
10pc set for $30
12pc set for $35
I think that the 8-piece set offers the greatest value, and should cover all of most users’ Phillips and slotted screwdriver needs.
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While the review isn’t quite finished yet, I’ve been using the screwdrivers enough to give them a solid thumbs up!
If you’re in the market for new screwdrivers, and things like ergonomics, strength, fastener fitment, USA manufacturing, and value are important to you, definitely check these out.
Hilton
Looks like they took their cue from those excellent Wera screw drivers.
E. Baker
I’ve been patiently waiting for the 16 piece set to become available online anywhere so I can purchase it. Amazon keeps fluctuating between “temporarily out of stock” and “currently unavailable.”
I might just have to break down and order one of the smaller sets & fill in as necessary through open stock if that is ever an option.
Stacey Jones
Yeah, the 8 pc is unavailable
Pablo
How would you compare them versus the Beta MAX drivers?
I recently picked up a set, easily my favorites. I have Weras, Vessels, and Craftsman acetate handles, and the Betas are the most comfortable by a mile. These are tri-lobal as well though, so maybe it’s a good, cheap alternative.
ktash
I like tekton tools. Our local Meijer store carries them. One thing I got on sale were the ball tip allen wrenches. They were much less money than some of the premium brands, yet better than the random assortment of cheapies I had. These screwdrivers look great. On my list!
Jerry
If the quality is equal to their USA made pliers I have seen, I think they may have a winner.
Jerry
I wonder……do they qualify for the $15 off of $50 discount?
Hilton
Sadly no.
Hang Fire
While I would prefer parallel straight tips, these look so good I’m getting myself a set for Christmas. I can use my Chapman set if I really need the parallel tips.
fred
BTW – the “keystone” style tip was also referred to as “mechanics tip”
While the straight sided tip – was sometimes referred to as “electrician’s tip” and/or “cabinet tip”.
If both the sides and the flats of the tip were ground parallel to each other they were sometimes called jeweler’s or gunsmith’s tip.
Hilton
Fred, I bought a set of the parallel ground tips from Lee Valley. They even includ a small burnisher to create that little ‘lip’ on the end to make sure the screw driver is making proper contact with a brass screw head.
logan
hopefully those blades stand up to use better than craftsman
mike aka Fazzman
These look kinda similar to the old Snap on handles I used to love. Tekton makes good stuff nowadays. I am interested in trying these out. Never enough screwdrivers hehe.
SteveR
These look very nice for the money. I think Hang Fire meant “cabinet” tips on the slotted screwdrivers. The other thing that might be desirable to have is a hex bolster where the shaft meets the handle. I’ve got that on a few of my larger screwdrivers; I’ve never used it, so I suspect few will miss it. If I have trouble removing a screw on, say, a brake rotor or other piece (owing to corrosion), I’d use a manual impact driver anyway.
The ribbed tips on the slotted are also a nice touch; less chance of slipping out of the screw when turning it. I appreciate the identification on the top of the handle, indicating slotted or Philips tips. The only other question is, are the handles solid plastic with a thin rubber overlay? That’s offered more and more lately, and provides a really solid grip for the user.
Kent
Tekton has always had a nice balance between price and quality – at least as good as Craftsman (the old good Craftsman), for less money.
I’m really surprised that they can make a set of screwdrivers in the US for that price.
$35 bucks for a full set of US made screwdrivers? Awesome.
I hope they continue this trend, and make a mid/high grade product for a fair price, here at home.
adam
I saw these a few weeks ago in Meijer, and took a quick second with them. The handle was definitely different than any other screwdriver I’ve held, and I didn’t love it, but I didn’t dislike it either. I think it would be more of a getting use to kind of thing. The quality felt good, but I didn’t find any loose screws to test out. I have a number of Tekton tools, and have been happy with all so far. Not all USA made, but seems they are trying for more, whereas the other black & red company is making less.
I do like that Meijer decided to switch their tool aisle from a bunch of companies to almost all Tekton. For the price & quality, I’d try to pick a Tekton up before a lot of other companies now. Plus their HQ is in my hometown. I’ll have to get a tour sometime
Bill
I recently purchased “complete sets” of the Tekton 1/2″ drive impact sockets in both SAE & Metric sizes, deep & shallow. I say “complete” with quotes because of one very annoying issue. While both the shallow (#4816) & deep (#4880) sets of the SAE sockets match, in that they are both 14 pc sets, 3/8″ to 1-1/4″ in 1/16″ increments, the same can not be said for the metric sets. The metric deep set (#4883) has a complete complement of 15 sockets, 10-24mm. However, the metric shallow set (#4815) has only 10 pcs. 11-24mm. With five missing sockets (10,14,16,20 & 23mm) it has cost me more than the original cost of the set to fill in the missing sizes. This makes no since and is both frustrating and costly!
Hilton
“With five missing sockets (10,14,16,20 & 23mm)”. The reason why these are missing is because they’re not needed. The only useful size is the #10 which will fit a M6 bolt. The others are not used and you probably wasted your money filling your set.
John
The others perhaps, but there is no excuse to not have the 10mm. 10mm is one of the most common size in automotive. 11mm is useless, if they wanted to skip one, skip that. I’ve yet to encounter ever having used 11mm on anything.
Hilton
“I’ve yet to encounter ever having used 11mm on anything.”. M7 is used a bit but certainly not mainstream. Definitely worth a skip. Perhaps the 10mm socket is considered too small for a 1/2″ drive? My 1/4″ set goes up to 13mm but I can’t remember what my Gedore 1/2″ set starts at.
Bill
Thanks for the input guys. Yes I considered that and assumed the same logic, but then why make a complete set of the deep sockets? And yes, it can be reasoned that the shallow sockets are most often used for the head of a bolt and the deep ones used for the nut end, where there is more variation in size, but I just don’t think it justifies the exclusions.
Allen
It’s good to see a company producing quality tools here, and some innovation to boot.
If I didn’t have more drivers than i knew what to do with I would be all over that.
Jerry
I personally think the 10 piece set is a better buy than the 8 piece. For $5 more, you get a #3 Phillips, and a bigger (I think 5/16) flat blade driver. If you have any use for either of those, I don’t know where else you could by drivers that large for $2.50 apiece.
Brian
I’ve had these for a couple months. I like them quite a bit but I wish they finished the tips a little better. The edges on the phillips are a bit sharp…but you’re at about twice the price of HF screwdrivers and less than half the price of a Klein so I can overlook this flaw. I hope the expand the USA screwdriver line more. I actually prefer these to Klein.
adam
While in Meijer tonight, I saw they also have nut drivers with this same style handle. I wanted to take a picture, as the diameter of the shaft coming out of the handle varied, but didn’t vary accordingly to size. sort of haphazardly. They don’t look to be on Tekton’s site. I’ll take a pic, or maybe Stuart has these already for review.
Also, Tekton tools will be B1G1 at Meijer on Friday 11/27.
Stuart
I haven’t seen any nut drivers yet.
I know that Tekton made a recent cosmetic tweak on the screwdrivers that will be showing up on their next production run.
If you can easily take a pic, I would love to see what you’re talking about.
I can’t think of a reason why the size of nutdrivers shafts wouldn’t vary based on their socket size.
Bill
I’m a little confused by both comments. Most nut drivers have a hollow shaft to accommodate the threaded body of the bolt, thus as the nut size increases so, typically, does the diameter of the bolt. It follows that the diameter of the shaft on the nut drivers must also increase. To keep manufacturing cost down, it stands to reason that you could use one shaft size to accommodate maybe two or three close socket sizes but then a change would be necessary. This is the case with an old set of Craftsman nut drivers I have. The set of seven, ranging from 1/4″ – 1/2″ has three different shaft sizes.
Tim Waldvogel
Please please I wanna read the review
My old craftsmanscrewdrivers from dad have been disappearing on me, and I’m looking for a new screwdriver set
robert
Was picking up medicine for a friend at Meijer and passed a massive Tekton display. These new screwdrivers felt great in the hand! I really liked them.
Finally got to get my hands on the Wilde slip joint pliers in person, too (via tekton). The handles are forged thick. Much more comfortable (to me) than my thin cobras and pliers-wrench (don’t have multi-component handles).
Charlie
I got the 8 piece set for cheap on eBay and I am only using the 1/4-4″ standard and the #2 Phillips – 4″. The other 6, to me, are useless and I thought the stubby screwdrivers would be good but I don’t like how bulky they are. They are bulkier than the regular ones and are only good for torquing. But I do love the feeling of the 4″ drivers. I’m an electrician by trade, and I recently replaced my Klein Phillips with the tekton. It feels better in my hand, torques easier, and also made in USA which is awesome.
Hilton
Charlie said “I’m an electrician by trade”. Any reason you don’t use VDE screw drivers?
Charlie
I have a set of insulated drivers which I use when working with high voltage work if energized but on my day to day I work on 120 to 480 volts and not usually working on energized equipment. If it is and can’t be turned off, I am just very careful while working. I don’t suggest anyone else that isn’t a trained electrician to do any type of live work, insulated driver or not though.
Hilton
Thanks for the reply Charlie.
Scott K
These just showed up on my suggested products section of Amazon and I though I remembered seeing a post. I’m eager for your review because they look great and I’m in the market for a quality multi bit but could be convinced to go with a set. This handle design is starting to appear on other Tekton tools as well- hook and pick set for one.
Shawn
To the author – I love you reviews/articles until I come across grammatical errors. You’re getting product from companies and doing reviews, publishing articles, etc. The least you could do is learn the differences between their, there and they’re. This is elementary school English class, c’mon!
Scott
I believe you meant to say “your reviews.”
Hilton
Touché
Stuart
I am so sorry my grammatical errors offend you.
I proofread everything multiple times, but some errors will inevitably makes it through.
You could perhaps point out the errors, more politely bringing them to my attention.
Stuart H
I feel like this was fate finding another Stuart talking about screwdrivers, as I was looking for a new set of screwdrivers to upgrade from my rather cheaply made ones I bought when I first got out of college.
Lynyrd
Does anyone know who manufacturers these for Tekton. Tekton designs but does not have a manufacturing facility.
Possibly Western Forge, SK?
Brian
I think it was established that Wilde produces their US-made screwdrivers, along with their US-made pliers.
Hans
Are Tekton’s screwdrivers still made by Great Neck in Mineola, New York?