Who makes a good, precision screwdriver?

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

If I ever do get some, they will be of the hollow ground tip variety with parallel sides to the tip of the flat blade.

I didn't know they made such a thing. I thought the purpose of tapered screwdriver blades was that, if you had the correct size of screwdriver, you could get 100% contact between the screwdriver blade and the slot in the screw.

[Scott Douglas]

That's what I thought too. The screws in question are not tapered on the slot, they are very much square so a 'normal' screwdriver doesn't contact the sides and wants to come out. I wish I'd taken the time to take a picture of them as they're very impressive looking screws. They almost look as if they're ground from stock rather than machined normally.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Bergeon. Swiss made for working on watches.

For the Win

[red-beard]

The "best" flat slotted screw driver uses a different profile. It is not a "wedge". It has a taped curve. This is great for those screws with a square profile slot.

See here:

[sc_rufctr]

FWIW Rolex specifies specific screw drivers for their fasteners. They are "Hollow Ground" so they fit all the way down the slots. And yes they're more expensive than regular Swiss made screw drivers.

[stevej37]

[speeder]

Just read this thread and I guess that you guys are talking about very specialized screwdrivers for gunsmithing and the like but for regular old automotive work, I'm beyond impressed with the cheap ones that Harbor Freight is selling these days. Really nice handles and tips, magnetic and cheap enough to have at least an extra set for me. This is coming from a guy with a very complete set of Snap-on screwdrivers, I think I actually like using the cheap ones better!

I'll get some pictures when I go by the shop tomorrow.

[70SATMan]

My regular drivers are Greenlee. They just feel right and the tips have held up well. Had a couple of old Snap-On from my Pops era. Never liked the handle shape for some reason.

[pwd72s]

Mostly USA "craftsperson" here. Both the traditional style and the red and black handled "professional". Also recently bought a ratcheting bit "Megapro Automotive". The Craftsman my main "go to" screwdrivers, but I can already tell I'm going to love the Megapro in some situations...very strongly magnetic. Available on Amazon for less than shown here:

https://shop.megaprotools.com/products/automotive-ratcheting-star-screwdriver

[wdfifteen]

Glad you got it fixed!
What kind of machine Scott? You need surgical tools to work on Vicki’s Berninas, but you only need a pipe wrench and some baling wire for her Innova.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by speeder

I'm beyond impressed with the cheap ones that Harbor Freight is selling these days.

Yeah, I know what you mean. there were some new Husky brand ones at the dump shop for a dollar (that's 60 cents to you guys) each. So live dangerously I said to myself and bought a bunch of them. I really like them. A nice big handle to get lots of torque. Well shaped hard tips, quite nice.

[speeder]

These probably cost me $2-3 each and I like them better than my $40 Snap-on drivers:

[pwd72s]

The best tool? The one that does the job. (edit) Actually, harbor freight has been doing some quality upgrading over the past several years.