Reader Find: Craftsman Ratcheting Screwdriver
By Chuck Cage
Rick says: “As for my favorite tool — That’s gotta be my ratcheting screwdriver… Anytime something needs fixing, I grab that first to go check it out. If a friend calls that they have a loose door, busted door knob, some electric problem, or that their refrigerator door opens the wrong way, I just grab that screwdriver and the figure what else (if anything) I might need.”
The one pictured above comes from Craftsman for $25, though some readers suggest that the Snap-on version is quite desirable at $42.25.
The Craftsman Ratcheting Screwdriver [via] [Sears]
Snap-on’s Ratcheting Screwdriver [Snap-on]
Update: This seems to be the one that our readers enjoy from Snap-on.
November 29th, 2006 at 10:04 pm
I have more than a few ratcheting screwdrivers. I have the GearDriver (Matco version) as well as a few Craftsman… but my all-time favorite is this one from Snap On:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=65&group_ID=702&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
In my humble opinion, this is the best out there. If you’re going to buy just one ratcheting screwdriver, mke it this one. You’ll never be sorry….
November 29th, 2006 at 11:56 pm
totally agree with eschoendorff. There is simply no better…
November 30th, 2006 at 7:21 am
So where does one get double-ended bits, anyway? I’m unlikely to ever need the square drivers that come with these tools, but I’d love a wider variety of Torx sizes. Also, I’d like to trade in all but one of the straightblade tips for a full set of Philips sizes. I find all sorts of places offering single-ended screwdriver tips, but nobody seems to have the double-ended ones for individual purchase.
November 30th, 2006 at 9:16 am
Hey Myself…
They are out there.. just a matter of finding a retailer that has them.. Vermont American for one makes them:
http://www.vermontamerican.com/Products/productdetail.htm?G=191847&GRP=191847&I=72136
November 30th, 2006 at 9:20 am
In fact - Amazon carries a bunch…
Amazon Search for Vermont American Double-Ended
November 30th, 2006 at 10:24 am
Thanks, Rick!
It’s funny that you can get 4 sizes of Torx in 2 bits, but if you want 4 sizes of Philips, you’re screwed. (ha!) You can get 3 sizes of Philips, but it takes 3 bits and you get a bunch of redundant straightblade tips while you’re at it. Oh well. I just need a small CNC lathe and a pile of hex bar stock….
December 1st, 2006 at 8:09 pm
[…] Reader Find: Craftsman Ratcheting Screwdriver This looks like the perfect tool to grab when you’re heading out the door to work on a project — it’s like having a bag full of screwdrivers in the size of one. The Craftsman is particularly cool because it uses double-ended bits (you only have to carry half as many) and the bits snap right into the tool iteself for carrying. (Thanks, Rick!) […]
December 2nd, 2006 at 4:37 pm
Those aren’t double ended bits. They’re normal ones positioned back to back. Which is good.
March 30th, 2007 at 11:08 am
I just picked up a terrible screwdriver and some lousy bits. Just to warn people: I am partial to the Ridgid ratcheting screwdriver, now off the market. So, having stopped at a total of three places and not found it, I gave up and bought a Stanley screwdriver.
It’s far heavier than it needs to be, and for all that weight, the magnet is very weak - adequate to hold the tip, but not enough to make it possible to pick up screws with the tip. Very disappointing.
Also, I found a wonderful set of Craftsman tips years ago. Unable to locate them, I grabbed a set of Skil tips that looked okay to me. The build on the housing is terrible, and the tips themselves aren’t much better.
I will find a place that sells the Snap-On and spend up. I would far rather spend a few dollars extra than make do with this garbage.