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Screwdrivers and bit drivers

Started by Hickory n Steel, Jan 23, 2025, 05:24 PM

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Hickory n Steel

I'll start this off with a recent addition of mine.

I was watching this set on EBAY for at least a year, no takers and the seller offered me a deal I couldn't refuse a couple weeks ago.
I haven't seen another set or solitary driver anywhere online,  the only trace or pictures I could find are from this Ebay listing.
I know the basic story of THE BUDD COMPANY and am fairly familiar with both Woodings Verona and Harrold.

upload pictures online



Boy is this set hard to photograph..


This is probably the 1st time I recall ever seeing a set of screwdrivers that came in their own blow moulded case.
Overall they seem quite high quality and heavy duty, they even bothered to crimp wings into the square shank flat blades so they not only wouldn't turn but also would pull out.

The grips are a bit shorter than thet could be, but overall I really love the contour and the thickness of them.
If I ever find out that there were more of these offered I'll have to track them down, I bet the handles on the stubby drivers are great if they exist.
I have a hammer addiction,  and a 1/4 ratchet addiction, and a pry bar addiction,  and a screwdriver addiction, and well I just have an addiction to hand tools in general.

Hickory n Steel

#1
A couple months back I bought a large box lot of random screwdrivers and bit drivers cheap on ebay.
This was about the pick of the lot, an NOS early original 4 in 1 driver from I guess the 70's.


It's not something I'm likely to actually use much, but the quality and tolerances are the highest I've ever experienced.
These early 4 in 1 drivers are probably the highest quality of this type ever made.
I have a hammer addiction,  and a 1/4 ratchet addiction, and a pry bar addiction,  and a screwdriver addiction, and well I just have an addiction to hand tools in general.

skfarmer

i like that clear handle 4 in 1. i have several red handle versions floating around but have never seen a clear one.
from the ashes shall rise a phoenix.

Uncle Buck

Better hold onto something boys cause i'm fixin ta stand on it!

Hickory n Steel

I am a very huge fan of Chapman MFG, in my mind their bits drivers and extensions are the best.
When it comes to gun type screws and working on vintage fishing reels anyways.

Aside from the new machined aluminum driver handle I haven't bought yet, I own every drive tool they currently offer.
All the handles, ratchet, and palm ratchet.

Not too long ago they introduced this cool custom tool board that can be wall mounted or stood up like an easel, with the racks removable by magnet so you can just grab one and go.
They're not cheap and probably not worth it to most people, but as a functional practical storage / organization solution that also doubles as shop art decoration I love it.

I was using one handle and a strip of bits at the time but this is my set plus a couple custom/ DIY handles



I have a hammer addiction,  and a 1/4 ratchet addiction, and a pry bar addiction,  and a screwdriver addiction, and well I just have an addiction to hand tools in general.

skfarmer

somebody spent some cash with the chapman crew..... ;D
from the ashes shall rise a phoenix.

Hickory n Steel

Quote from: skfarmer on Jan 26, 2025, 10:36 AMsomebody spent some cash with the chapman crew..... ;D
Yeah I think the board was around $250.
The thing that got me is the fact that I don't really have or need that many of their bits, but don't like swapping handles constantly so I keep adding driver handles.
I like everything about the Chapman system so much that I'm not willing to just go exclusively to any fixed driver sets.
I think the Brownells sets are the only way to get a fixed driver set that offers the amount of tip options you get with a bit set anyways.
I have a hammer addiction,  and a 1/4 ratchet addiction, and a pry bar addiction,  and a screwdriver addiction, and well I just have an addiction to hand tools in general.

Hickory n Steel

This VA magna brand bit driver came in that lot I purchased.

I pulled the little friction ring and it's perfect for Chapman bits.
Then I added a textured gripping surface to the aluminum shaft.
host pictures
I love the size/ contour of the handle,  and it's my go-to when I need more torque.
I have a hammer addiction,  and a 1/4 ratchet addiction, and a pry bar addiction,  and a screwdriver addiction, and well I just have an addiction to hand tools in general.

Hickory n Steel

#8
This one here was an odd Apex specialty driver of some kind that I had no use for ( same box lot ), so I put the handle on the shaft from another VA made bit driver that had a chewed up handle.

And as with that MAGNA I pulled the tension ring so it'll work with Chapman bits.
I have a hammer addiction,  and a 1/4 ratchet addiction, and a pry bar addiction,  and a screwdriver addiction, and well I just have an addiction to hand tools in general.

bonneyman

I don't know if Ace hardware still offers this, but I snagged a set before I left and it is a nice one including comfy driver and bits in a snap cover  box. Ratcheting, too!

The part number is visible if anyone wants to check on availability.

Hickory n Steel

Quote from: bonneyman on Jan 27, 2025, 01:47 PMI don't know if Ace hardware still offers this, but I snagged a set before I left and it is a nice one including comfy driver and bits in a snap cover  box. Ratcheting, too!

The part number is visible if anyone wants to check on availability.
I've seen these same sets many places, the truck stop where I work maintenance has them under the Road pro brand, I think Walmart might have something extremely similar under the Hyper Tough brand, and there might be a Husky equivalent at HD.
I have a hammer addiction,  and a 1/4 ratchet addiction, and a pry bar addiction,  and a screwdriver addiction, and well I just have an addiction to hand tools in general.

Hickory n Steel

I just received a couple 2 in 1 drivers in the mail.

I bought this Enderes from HJE.


And this Channellock 21A pocket screwdriver from a distributor on Ebay,  I think they're discontinued now but are still available plenty of places.


I don't know who the manufacturer was for their previous generation reversible and 6 in 1 drivers,  but I love how they did the tips on the flat blades.

My acetate hand 61N has tips like this, but the new 61H with the Mayhew handles has the telltale course grind tip finish you get from Enderes.
I have a hammer addiction,  and a 1/4 ratchet addiction, and a pry bar addiction,  and a screwdriver addiction, and well I just have an addiction to hand tools in general.

Hickory n Steel

Normally I'm fairly obsessed with having having full complete matching sets of tools, but after a lot of foolishness I finally realized that there's no perfect driver handle or set.

This is my set of main use screwdrivers.

The William's are my favorite handle for higher torque, but the Stanley 100 plus offer more finesse, the Tekton hard handles are a good higher torque handle for some stuff, and the same situation goes for the stubbies.
The 2 PROTO flat blades I just like using.
I have a hammer addiction,  and a 1/4 ratchet addiction, and a pry bar addiction,  and a screwdriver addiction, and well I just have an addiction to hand tools in general.

Hickory n Steel

I just rediscovered this Apex that I received in that Ebay box lot.
The handle could stand to be a bit bigger but it's not bad and it's a very solid bit driver.
It holds the bits very well with very little play.

The plating on the end was all worn off so I cleaned it up a bit and it appears to be some kind brass-ish alloy.
I have a hammer addiction,  and a 1/4 ratchet addiction, and a pry bar addiction,  and a screwdriver addiction, and well I just have an addiction to hand tools in general.

bmwrd0

I picked up this SK bit driver, among other things, last time I swung through the Restore