Screw it!

[KCmetro]

I need a good screwdriver.  I go through so many, constantly losing them "misplacing them" (people tend to walk off with them).

 

I recently saw a really cool one at 11:08 in this video:

 

 

[samcool55]

15 minutes ago, KCmetro said:

I need a good screwdriver.  I go through so many, constantly losing them "misplacing them" (people tend to walk off with them).

 

I recently saw a really cool one at 11:08 in this video:

-snip-

That's the screwdriver he still uses today actually

Maybe he tells what it is in the "what do i have in my backpack" video, don't know for sure tho.

 

[KCmetro]

Yep! 6 minutes, 50 seconds into it, here it is with that time mark at playback:

* multi-head screwdriver

* bits: slot, small/medium/big philips, standard size roberts/robertson

* "snap-on ratcheting screwdriver"

Looks like it's only available through ebay, although I just did a quick search:

https://www.google.com/search?output=search&tbm=shop&q=snap-on+ratcheting+screwdriver

[corrado33]

Sorry, those multi headed, ratcheted screwdrivers are rickety and awful. Nothing beats a nice set of DECENT, WELL MADE screwdrivers. I personally have the Craftsman Professional Set. Lifetime warranty and they won't break the bank. They've been through much more than a typical computer nerd would ever put a screwdriver through and they show no signs of wear. Of course someone will argue that ALL craftsman tools are terrible and they only buy snap on blah blah blah. I don't care. These screwdrivers have serviced my cars for decades now. 

 

[Dash Lambda]

30 minutes ago, corrado33 said:

-snip-

Correction: Cheap multi-head ratcheting screwdrivers suck.

I don't know about Craftsman, the only craftsman tools I've used are hex wrenches (it's hard to get a steel bar wrong), but Snap-On is legendary and extremely well trusted.

 

As for the OP, I recently got a Wera Kraftform Kompakt 25, and it's easily the best screwdriver I've ever had. I haven't had it long enough to comment on its durability, but it has a very good reputation. Wera overall, by the way, has a similar reputation to Snap-On, except Wera just does screwdrivers and wrenches.

 

This is Linus's screwdriver (to my knowledge): https://store.snapon.com/Standard-Handle-Screwdriver-Ratcheting-Magnetic-Standard-Orange-8-3-4--P634146.aspx

 

And this is mine: https://www.amazon.com/Wera-05051024001-Kraftform-Bitholding-Screwdriver/dp/B001HSNHM2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480522411&sr=8-1&keywords=wera+kraftform+kompakt+25

 

I plan to get the Snap-On in the future because the Kompakt isn't ratcheting, but I don't have it yet, so I can't really compare them. Linus regularly uses his, though, and he's had it for 15 years... So I guess it's pretty reliable.

[Princess Luna]

Such fancy ones and here I am using the same cheap one for over 8 years already:
 

Spoiler

 

[Dash Lambda]

1 minute ago, Princess Cadence said:

Such fancy ones and here I am using the same cheap one for over 8 years already:
 

  Hide contents

 

Hey, if it works it works.

[ElZamo92]

I just picked the screwdriver that came in my car's toolbox, and it hasn't failed me once for the last 4 years've been using it.  

[SLAYR]

Here is one for $10 currently, the snapon is probabbly good, but for $60 not work it.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00009OYGW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480524746&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=ratcheting+screwdriver&dpPl=1&dpID=41BDkpNGyvL&ref=plSrch

 

Really the ratcheting part on the screwdriver is a bit over rated, if you aren't using it for hours on end a regular screwdriver works the same.

 

 

[Dash Lambda]

1 minute ago, SLAYR said:

Here is one for $10 currently, the Snap-On is probably good, but for $60 not worth it.

Buy cheap, buy twice.

 

[SLAYR]

4 minutes ago, Dash Lambda said:

Buy cheap, buy twice.

 

It isn't a cheap rip off brand though. Stanley is a well known brand. 

 

There are plenty of ratcheting drivers that are way cheaper and will last a while.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00Q2ZNZBS/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1480524746&sr=8-8&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=ratcheting+screwdriver&dpPl=1&dpID=21yZx2NJqjL&ref=plSrch

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D5YLERQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1480524746&sr=8-13&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=ratcheting+screwdriver

 

The only reason people recommend the snapon one is because Linus uses it, 

[Dash Lambda]

13 minutes ago, SLAYR said:

-snip-

It's not hard for a regular screwdriver to be perfectly fine, though ratcheting screwdrivers are a bit more complicated. I haven't found a cheap ratcheting screwdriver that I trusted.

 

That's not to say they don't work, it's just that they're not good.

 

But, to be fair, I'm a bit of a tool snob, so I'm a tad more critical than I may need to be.

 

EDIT: Oh, and yes the Snap-On screwdriver is usually recommended because Linus uses it. That's mostly because, on these forums, the people actually asking about a screwdriver are usually referring to Linus's.

[TidaLWaveZ]

I thought they used those iFixit tool kits, or at least they used to say they did...

 

I got a nice kit like this at Lowe's for much cheaper and have had no problems with it in 4 years. I'd just stay away from the super budgety variants you'll see for about $8. Get yourself a decent driver kit for ~$20+ and you'll be set.

 

 

[C2dan88]

2 minutes ago, TidaLWaveZ said:

I thought they used those iFixit tool kits, or at least they used to say they did...

They do but Linus uses a Snapon ratcheting multi-bit screw driver when assembling pcs. Linus only uses the ifixit kit for dissembling laptops/mac's and consoles etc.

[TopDollar]

The MacTools 123 piece bit driver set I have is one of the best and most useful tool set I have.

[SpaceGhostC2C]

10 hours ago, KCmetro said:

I need a good screwdriver.  I go through so many, constantly losing them "misplacing them" (people tend to walk off with them).

 

 

If people walk off with your screwdriver, investing in a great one doesn't seem like a good idea. Rather buy 1 Kg of $0.10 screwdrivers  

[NannerBeans]

I've been looking for a nice magnetic racheting screwdriver for a long time. The one Linus uses (Snap-On) is the best one out there but it's pricey. Could not get myself to drop $60 on it when I already had a $15 stanley non-magnetic one. A good middle-ground is the Williams WRS-1 which is made by Snap-On but it's their lower tier brand. Heard great things about it but I never got one. I might finally bite the bullet and get one because I love my precision magnetic screwdriver but really hate not having the racheting feature. 

[Guest]

An entire thread for screwdrivers....

 

Spoiler

I left don't worry 

 

[corrado33]

3 hours ago, Dash Lambda said:

Correction: Cheap multi-head ratcheting screwdrivers suck.

I don't know about Craftsman, the only craftsman tools I've used are hex wrenches (it's hard to get a steel bar wrong), but Snap-On is legendary and extremely well trusted.

 

True, I don't doubt the snap-on one would last a very long time, but I have other reasons for disliking multiheaded ratcheting screwdrivers. 

1. They don't fit in tight spaces. The head on a ratcheting screwdriver is wider to accommodate the bits. That wider bit doesn't always fit where I need the screwdriver to go. Ever try to unscrew a screw 4 inches deep in a plastic hole? 
2. The "bits" can fall off, at the WORST times. If I'm working in the engine bay of my car and I need to get a screw that's under 4 hoses, around the back of the exhaust manifold, and barely visible, I'm not going to want to worry about the bit falling off. 
3. The "bits" can get stuck in the screw if you turn it hard enough. My experience with most of those multi bitted screwdrivers is that when I'm done screwing something in, the bit will stick to the screw and it'll get stuck there, requiring me to pull it off with my hands. Now, this isn't a HUGE problem with flats or phillips, but with torx or square bits? Definitely a problem.
4. You have to manually switch it from forward to reverse. What if I wanted to ease a screw in, by turning it back and forth while I'm screwing it in? What if I need to suddenly take out that screw I just put in because I forgot to do something else? (It happens more than you think.) With a ratcheting screwdriver, you have to pull the screwdriver out of where ever it was switch it over to the other direction, then put it back in, all hoping the bit doesn't fall out. I'm sure the nice ones make this easier, but every one I've used was a pain to switch directions. That is not a problem, in any way-shape-or form with a normal screwdriver.
5. A good quality normal screwdriver will not break. Period. If I have to put my life in a tool (say in a car rescue tool kit) you'll be damn sure I'm going to have a full set of real screwdrivers in there.

In all honesty. Just look at what the professionals use. They all use good quality normal screwdrivers. (My brother, a professional car mechanic, uses 2 sets of normal, non ratcheting snap on screwdrivers.) Not only can you buy a really nice SET of normal screwdrivers for less than that one single ratcheting screwdriver, but you can also buy the things to mount them correctly!

 

A motto to live by is "Keep it simple stupid." Ratcheting screwdrivers are not simple. A normal screwdriver is. 

[Dash Lambda]

3 minutes ago, corrado33 said:

-snip-

1: That isn't ratcheting screwdrivers specifically, that's multi-bit. And yes, that's a downside, but every type of tool has pros and cons.

2: I'm not sure how secure the Snap-On bitholder is, but that ain't a problem with Wera's Rapidapter. That's one of the reasons I love the Kompakt 25.

3: I absolutely have that problem with my iFixit kit, which is one of the reasons I'm not too fond of purely magnetic bitholders, but again -Wera Rapidaptor.

4: Yeah, that's not really a problem on nice ones. You can usually access the cuff really easily without taking the driver off the screw. You should also be able to lock the blade when you don't want a ratchet.

5: I've broken plenty of normal screwdrivers. They're only as tough as the material they're made of, just like any other tool. I like multi-bit drivers because, if the bit wears or breaks, that's just the bit.
Though, yes, ratcheting screwdrivers are more complicated, so they're more prone to failure.

 

Multi-bit and ratcheting screwdrivers aren't universally better than fixed screwdrivers, they're just for different purposes. I wouldn't carry a bundle of normal screwdrivers in my pocket, I wouldn't use an iFixit kit to fix a mechanical watch, I wouldn't use a ratchet for fine adjustment, etc...

 

In general, multi-bit ratchets are very well suited for PC building. You don't need particularly high precision, you've got a couple different types of screws, you don't usually have very tight spaces, and the ratcheting function speeds up work.

[KCmetro]

47 minutes ago, corrado33 said:

These screwdrivers have serviced my cars for decades now. 

 

Different brands, I'm guessing more expensive = better quality; less expensive = lower quality; regardless of brand.

9 minutes ago, Dash Lambda said:

And this is mine: https://www.amazon.com/Wera-05051024001-Kraftform-Bitholding-Screwdriver/dp/B001HSNHM2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480522411&sr=8-1&keywords=wera+kraftform+kompakt+25

 

Is that one of DW's sonic screwdrivers?

4 minutes ago, Princess Cadence said:

Such fancy ones and here I am using the same cheap one for over 8 years already:
 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

I might do that instead of a fancy one. Given my track record of losing them, I'd hate to drop more money on one just to lose it.

[Dash Lambda]

2 minutes ago, KCmetro said:

Is that one of the Doctor's sonic screwdrivers?

No, just German. Germans do things like that.

Though I do often carry around a TWC sonic screwdriver.

... Shut up.

[KCmetro]

7 minutes ago, Dash Lambda said:

No, just German. Germans do things like that.

Germans are Gallifreyans?

[Dash Lambda]

Just now, KCmetro said:

Germans are Gallifreyans?

Possibly.

[KCmetro]

2 minutes ago, Dash Lambda said:

Possibly.

Gallifreyan Germans that are also computer wizards are time lords?