Better Quaity Screwdrivers

[rick7938]

I'm wanting to replace my set of Craftsman screwdrivers with a better quality set. Yesterday, I used my new 1/4" flat tip Craftsman to remove a screw from my old farm tractor. The blade tip twisted just from the torque I put on it with my hands. Plus, I have worn out several #2 Phillips on my woodworking projects.

What brand of better quality screwdrivers do you folks like other than Craftsman primarily for woodworking, but for other uses as well? I would rather pay more for a good new screwdriver once than spend $10.00 in gas to drive to Sears to replace one bad screwdriver with another bad screwdriver every few months. I can use the Craftsmans for opening paint cans and makeshift chisels.

 

[NCPete]

Posi-Drive. My father used these almost exclusively for mounting bindings at the ski shop my parents had when I was a kid. 25 years ago. Probably still in the tool box, if i dig far enough.

Nothing has a better bite, for a phillips head. If you are open to considering a major shift in your home shop, use square-drive screws, or combo (square and philips combined) drive screws. I have built a few outdoor projects with the combo headed decking screws, and would consider them a positive improvement.

I think the McFeely's catalog is a good resource for questions like this.

 

[SteveColes]

I'm wanting to replace my set of Craftsman screwdrivers with a better quality set. Yesterday, I used my new 1/4" flat tip Craftsman to remove a screw from my old farm tractor. The blade tip twisted just from the torque I put on it with my hands. Plus, I have worn out several #2 Phillips on my woodworking projects.

What brand of better quality screwdrivers do you folks like other than Craftsman primarily for woodworking, but for other uses as well? I would rather pay more for a good new screwdriver once than spend $10.00 in gas to drive to Sears to replace one bad screwdriver with another bad screwdriver every few months. I can use the Craftsmans for opening paint cans and makeshift chisels.

Almost the same thing happened to me. Except, the tip broke and the rest of the tip gouged my hand. I felt/feel the same as you. So I did a bit of research.

The best price for decent are these which you could buy under the "husky" name at HD, or at Mcfeelys. In fact you find these at a lot of places with different names.

These are the best flat blade I found, but may be overkill.

Good assortment of types but expensive.

I got all three brands, but that of course is ridiculous:slap: . I think the first group is the best compromise and are readily available

 

[JohnsonMBrandon]

Also as an FYI. Home Depot will exchange your craftsman for a Husky screw driver at no charge. That may help too!

 

[Tom Dunn]

I have a ratcheting Snap-on handle. All my bits are hollow ground and were gleaned mostly from various gunsmith supply places.
The most complete sets that I'm aware of are the sets from Brownell's, a gunsmithing supplier from Montezuma Iowa.

 

[PeteM]

If you can catch up with a Snap-On Tools truck they have some really good quality tools. If you know any mechanics or shop owners ask when the truck will be around and/or if they have a catalog.

pete

 

[mkepke]

Rick - I like the Lowes house brand (Kobalt) of the multi-tip screwdriver.

Design has been around for ages..you know the one with the little interchangeable tips that store in the handle.

The tips are readily available aftermarket and fit into a drill chuck too !

-Mark

 

[Tom Dunn]

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=417&title=MAGNA-TIP+SUPER+SETS?

$123. for the "deluxe cheesburger".
Generally, anybody with a business can get a pretty good discount on a lot of the stuff Brownells sells. Tools, however, are not among the discounted items.:crybaby2:

 

[BobN]

If you can catch up with a Snap-On Tools truck they have some really good quality tools. If you know any mechanics or shop owners ask when the truck will be around and/or if they have a catalog.

pete

You can order Snap-On tools on line at "Snapon.com". I have done this a few times being that my other hobby is cars, plus I was a mechanic at a Chevy dealership many, many years ago.

It may just be me, but I have found the Home Depot brand (Husky) and the Lowes brand to be worst than Sears.

Snap-On is a little expensive but they are very good tools.

Bob

 

[mshel]

These are supposed to be among the very best but a little pricey.

http://www.wihatools.com/

Mike

 

[D L Ames]

These are supposed to be among the very best but a little pricey.

http://www.wihatools.com/

Mike

Hmmmm..........I sure could use a set of those torque control screwdrivers to help prevent me from shearing of any more screw heads.:lol:

D L

 

[woodguy1975]

I use these from Lee Valley. A little more "woodworker" looking to me.

 

[frigator]

My favorite screwdriver is an old one, the Stanley Hurwood, the black ones, wooden handle with the shaft going all the way through the handle. They are kinda like the everlast chisels...You can find them at flea markets, etc and they are great. But I have never found any in philips.