Great screwdrivers are a machined piece of art. Art that fits your hand perfectly because these are a manual tool that needs to be comfortable. The tool needs to be strong and the head needs to grip the fastener. It sounds simple, but many on the market just don’t add up to be a great screwdriver. Just like art, each person has a different feel or want in a screwdriver so there are many on the market that appeal to different people.
So step one is to find a handle type that you like. The differences will be in the thickness, material used and knurling that could be used for more grip on the handle. This step really means you need to go to the store or a buddy’s tool box and try out all the screwdrivers you can. I have owned Craftsman screwdrivers for over 20 years and since Sears closed in my town, I can no longer return the broken ones monthly and get replacements. Over time I started to hate the plastic handle as it will bite into your hand in heavy use. As you see in the video, Jeff like the Craftsman line and deals with the lack of tip quality.
Step two in finding a good screwdriver is going to be some research with friends or the internet. You need to find a list of brands that have good tip fitment and quality. Many of the slightly more expensive models have higher quality, but the game here is to find a set that works for you and your price range. You can also look at places where these screwdrivers are made to help you figure out the quality.
For me, Klein Tools makes a great set of normal sized screwdrivers. The handles are not overly large, in fact they are a tough smaller than many and offer a plastic end to allow them to spin on your palm easily and rubber grips to comfortably allow you to apply pressure. The heavy duty ones also have a nut on the shaft to allow you to apply more pressure to a fastener. It should go without saying that most of the cheaper models will not have that included because the shaft might not take the toque that could be applied.
Klein Tools screwdrivers are also Made in the USA!!! We like to support American made products and companies as they employ Americans and greatly help our economy. While this comes into play, the machining and quality of the tips of the screwdrivers fit very well. Some of that could be the specs they are made to and the place they are made. Either way, we find these to be excellent. Klein Tools is a brand that many electricians use. If you think about it, electricians are probably one of the top trades that use screwdrivers daily at this point.
The top of each of the Klein Tool screwdrivers is labeled to show you exactly what each tip is. If your screwdrivers are in your belt or in an organizer in your tool box, you will always know exactly what screwdriver tip you are grabbing. This is a fairly big deal and is becoming more common as organization and lean construction take hold in our workplace.
I have to recommend you watch our YouTube video as we go over the 11 in one, multi-tip and ratcheting screwdrivers and give our opinion on those. Let us know what you feel is the best screwdriver for you.
Klein Tools 85078 Cushion-Grip Screwdriver Set, 8-Piece
How to Choose the Best Screwdriver – Klein – Snap-on – Dewalt – Craftsman What Makes the Best Great screwdrivers are a machined piece of art. Art that fits your hand perfectly because these are a manual tool that needs to be comfortable.
