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Thread: OK, Who makes REALLY GOOD screwdrivers? Or, Apparently Craftsman is the new HF.

  1. #31
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    Dec 2010
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    Dumb luck, I guess, that I bought my Wiha set in the 1990's,

    They're still straight and undamaged. I do find the black handles increasingly difficult to locate, when I forget to put them away...

  2. #32
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    i bought a set of snap-on drivers around twenty years ago, it was a little packaged set of like two phillips and three straight in
    various sizes and the small phillips has been the best screwdriver i have ever had! grips hard from shallow to deep and no damage
    at all.
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    I Love The Smell Of Sawdust In The Morning!!

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  3. #33
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    Oct 2008
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    Columbus, OH
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    I've had my set of Craftsman drivers since I was a teenager and they've pretty much held up under less than ideal.. ..operating conditions. But they were showing their age and I needed a good driver to set some brass screws last year. So I bought a full set of Kobalt PRO drivers from Lowes for the everyday tasks as well as an extra #2 Phillips and Slotted that are marked and reserved strictly for what bit of fine work I might do.

    FWIW, I like the ergonomics of the Kobalt PRO drivers compared to my 35 year old Craftsman drivers. I'm not sure the tips are of any better or worse quality though. Good enough for my needs though.

  4. #34
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    Sep 2009
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    Atlanta, GA
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    Quote Originally Posted by jason thigpen View Post
    And on a related note, anyone looking for a great set of pliers, no matter what type, should seriously consider anything made by Knipex. Best pliers in the world, hands down.
    No foolin'!!

    I got lucky beyond belief.........a neighbor worked at a concrete forming supply/distributor and rebar fab company. They had been carrying the line, but with no real success, so they decided to stop.

    He casually mentioned it to me............and I got the entire set of display tools for about 50% of their cost - including 3 sizes/styles of nippers/cutters.

    Even at retail, they would be well worth it, IMO.
    When I started woodworking, I didn't know squat. I have progressed in 30 years - now I do know squat.

  5. #35
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    Dec 2006
    Location
    Toronto Ontario
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    Aside from the Euro names mentioned which are properly dimensioned for IEC components, I buy Klein pliers and screwdrivers.........Great product..........Rod.

  6. #36
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    Nov 2008
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    Northern Oregon
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    Quote Originally Posted by John Coloccia View Post
    Craftsman screwdrivers are made of cream cheese. I tossed every Phillips Craftsman I have. I kept the flat blades for prying things and putting on bandsaw tires. For everything else, I've been using Wera and have been very pleased.
    Every few years I take some Craftsmen stuff in for the "lifetime warranty". This time they said" Oh, we don't make those anymore",but they did give me some nice cream cheese.

  7. #37
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    Jul 2010
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    Northern Kentucky
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    Brownell's sell gunsmith screwdrivers which should last long time

  8. #38
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    Mar 2003
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    Monroe, MI
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    Looked at the offerings at Home Depot and Lowes and I'll pass on those. The Lowes are Chinese and the Home Depot line doesn't have a very good selection. Watching a Matco and a Snap On set on EBay.


  9. #39
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    Jan 2005
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    I went through the same problems with the usual screw drivers from HD & Lowes....I recently bought a set from Lee Valley that I think is very reasonable in price for what you get. So far they have proven to be much tougher than the others I have. Lee Valley calls them Lifetime Screwdrivers. They will "cheerfully replace free of charge as required". They have very nice handles and the larger sizes even have a place next to the handle that a wrench or pliers can be used on.

  10. #40
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    Jul 2005
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    Cincinnati Ohio
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    Quote Originally Posted by Matt Meiser View Post
    Looked at the offerings at Home Depot and Lowes and I'll pass on those. The Lowes are Chinese and the Home Depot line doesn't have a very good selection. Watching a Matco and a Snap On set on EBay.
    Did you check out the electrical section at Lowe's, That is where they stock Klein brand tools.
    "Remember back in the day, when things were made by hand, and people took pride in their work?"
    - Rick Dale

  11. #41
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    Mar 2010
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    Grottoes, VA.
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    Matt,

    You wouldn't break them if you didn't use that 36" piece of pipe for a T-handle.


    Seriously though, It blows to know that when I finally break the current Craftsman screwdrivers I have, the replacements are gonna suck. The one's I have now have quite a few years on them and they haven't lived easy lives.

  12. #42
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    Jun 2010
    Location
    Beaverton, OR
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    All of my Craftsman hand tools are 15-20 years old and while I've put a whole lot of force on the larger screwdrivers trying to pry on stuff, I've never had one fail. They've never been great screwdrivers, but the idea was you could simply replace them as needed, too bad it sounds like the new stuff is worse.

    I have three Klein screwdrivers (flat/phillips/square) and am very happy with them. The handles are large and soft, providing a good grip, and the type of tip is marked on the end of the handle which helps in identification. Even though the handles say not insulated from electrical shock, it's what my dad used for many years as an electrician so I make sure its in my hand too when I'm doing electrical work. As mentioned previously, made in the USA as well.

  13. #43
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    Dec 2008
    Location
    Northern Michigan
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    SnapOn here. Have had the same set for 25 years, but....

    When I need a chisel, I use a chisel. When I need a prybar, I use a prybar, SnapOn as well. When I need a good screwdriver, that is what I use.

    I have a drawer with ever changing junk screwdrivers that I do abuse, but the good set is just for screws. I did break one tip, but it was replaced free as is their policy.

    Larry

  14. #44
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    Dec 2008
    Location
    Northern Michigan
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    Just a note on Klein. The tools at the box stores are definately not of the same quality. I have carried Klein sidecuts for ever, and working out of town I hit one too many live wires with the old Kleins.

    Went to a box store and bought a pair and they were useless. Wouldn't cut Jack. Threw them out.

    So I looked up a electrical supply house and bought a pair from them, just like my old ones and am still using them daily.

    Not sure about their screwdrivers, but I would suspect that they have the same compromised quality to sell at a pricepoint at the Borg. Never liked their handles myself anyway.

    Larry

  15. #45
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    Jun 2006
    Location
    Independence, MO, USA.
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    Screwdrivers involve too much hand preference, once you get to good ones. I have Williams branded ones, that are sisters to the old Snap on hard handled ones, that are in my mechanics tools. I have older Craftsman ones that are around the house/light duty type of use, and can be modified if I need to make a special tool. I have some Napa branded ones that are made by Witte that are good (better then Craftsman but I prefer the hex bolsters to the holes in the handle for additional torque). I have the Rockler sold wooden handled ones that are rebranded Felo's, in my portable/car tool kit, because I couldn't afford the Wera Chiseldrivers I wanted at the time. (both have shafts that run all the way through for light impact use). My preference is the Williams or Wera (US or German made). Wera, Witte and Wiha and PB Swiss, all seem to be equal in general terms with feel and differences like handle hole verses hex bolsters. I DON'T like Xcelite with their pukey smelling ones (grew up around them).

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