Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
High-end screwdrivers...
Phil Winn
>I want to purchase a premium high-end screw-driver SET, both tips in various sizes. I was thinking about wooden handles, but other options?
LN has a set of eight flat blades, but not the
other. Any suggestions? This is for a special
gift for a special person. Makes? Places to purchase at? Websites?
Thanks,
Phil
Re: High-end screwdrivers...
William R. Duffield on the Cohansey
>Note that the Lie-Nielsen screwdrivers are not a general purpose screwdriver set. They are specifically designed and configured to exactly fit the adjustment screws in Lie-Nielsen's planes. In other words, they are very will conceived and well built ACCESSORIES for the L-N tool lover who has everything, and doesn't want to mess up his L-N plane screw slots by using the wrong sized screwdriver. You wouldn't want to use any of them for hanging sheetrock, for example.
Re: High-end screwdrivers...
Adam Cherubini, NJ
>You know how much I love hand tools. Well by far the best screwdriver I ever used, and just about the most expensive was a snap on screwdriver. Its an expensive gift, but they sure are nice. The handles look uncomfortable, but they're not. They make sense if you think about it. Its not a grip like a handle bar, its something you twist. The business ends are nice too. My philips heads are all still nice and crisp, and they've seen hard usage.
Might be fun to stop the guy in the truck and make hom sell you just the blades and one handle. You could copy it using the jungle wood of your choice. I'd think that'd be pretty neat.
Kinda funny: I've loved those square handled screwdrivers for 10 years and it only now dawns on me I have similar handles on my chisels!
Adam
Re: High-end screwdrivers...
Angelo in Cornwall, NY
>I have to go with Adam here. After many years as a mechanic in a former life, the Snap-On screwdrivers beat everything else out there. The tips are hardened and I have only worn out one #2 phillips in 10+ years. The handles are comfortable, even though they don't look it, and give you a tremendous amount of torque. The guy on the truck should be able to sell you only the blades, when you finally do mess a screwdriver up and bring it back, he just swaps out the blade, giving you back your old handle with a new blade in it.
SnapOn or Klein
bill tindall
>
Re: High-end screwdrivers...
Jim in Burlington Ontario
>The LV ones with the wooden handles are very nice so are the lifetime guarantee ones maybe not as classy but very functional.
Sanp-On: Agreed
Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA
>I've scored a few at garage sales, and snap up (sorry) every one I see. They're SO much better than anything else I've ever used.
Re: High-end screwdrivers...
Randy Johnson Connersville, IN
>Of the brands mentioned so far the only one I have experience with is Klein. They are great for general construction use.
My vote for the best SET is the one sold by Chapman Tool Company. They are a little short on class - numerous interchangeable bits either in a plastic handle or a two-direction rachet - but they are hollow ground and hardened. The intended use is gunsmithing. The initial set has twelve straight bits that will take care of 98% of the screwheads out there, one #1 phillips, one #2 phillips, and a very small allen wrench.
These screwdrivers are available from large shooting supply houses like Midway. Dixie Gun Works in Union City, TN did sell a set of hollow ground screwdrivers with square wood handles that included a few that were a lot bigger than the ones in the Chapman set. I haven't seen a Dixie catalog in years but I'd be willing to bet they still sell the screwdrivers.
I have the Chapmans also...
John Longwitz-Doraville, GA
>...the set you mentioned with all the flat=blade bits and also an accessory set with 4 sizes of Phillips and another set with all Allen head. I've used the Allen head bits whenever I get a real stubborn/rusted in set screw. They are harder than the average Allen wrench so don't round off with excessive torque. Good stuff!...'course I'd really like to have a set of Snap-On's as well.
Re: High-end screwdrivers...
paul womack
>both tips
Both?!? Is that as in (Blues Brothers quote) "Both kinds of music"?
Off the top of my head...
BugBear
Re: High-end screwdrivers...
Alan Hamilton
>Phil,
I advised someone in a thread above to check out the screwdrivers at Garrett Wade. They have a "top end" set--with top end prices. I haven't held or beheld them in the flesh, but they look good to me. I believe they're called "cabinet makers'" drivers, or something else equally snooty sounding.
Alan
Re: High-end screwdrivers...
Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX
>...equally snooty sounding
That's funny, Alan, who'd have thought cabinet making has risen to the point that it has become so status laden? Only woodworkers..... :)
Pam
Re: High-end screwdrivers...
Tom MacGregor
>Are these hollow ground screwdrivers what I'm looking for? I've been running into screw heads with narrow slots that the average driver won't fit - first with old Disston sawnuts and now in an L.S. Starret level I snagged for $5.00. By the time I get down to a driver that fits the width of the slot the tip is too narrow to turn without messing up either the driver or the slot.