16 minute read
Product Test
Product Test SCREWDRIVER SETS Product Test Rob Hawkins puts products through their paces
Most of us have at least one drawer of a cabinet or toolbox rammed full of old screwdrivers, and if their handles and tips are chewed, they still have their uses, so they are impossible to throw away. Even an old flatblade screwdriver with a bent shaft and half of its handle missing can still be used to open tins of paint and stir their contents.
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Perhaps, however, it’s better to invest in a good quality set of screwdrivers, dispose of all those battered old ones and free up some drawer space. If so, then one of the following nine sets of screwdrivers may be the answer. How many screwdrivers do you really need? Rob tries to fi gure it all out by testing a range of nine diff erent sets from Clarke, Draper, Laser and Sealey.
HOW WE TESTED THESE SCREWDRIVERS
We confess that when it came to testing a variety of screwdrivers, we soon realised this wasn’t going to be as easy as anticipated. We couldn’t for instance, attempt to undo a rusty screw with one screwdriver from each set because there was no means of ensuring the condition and tightness of the screw was the same in all cases. Tightening new fastenings with the screwdrivers would help to see how comfortable each screwdriver is to use, but that’s an aspect of testing that’s far too opinionated and subjective.
Instead, we decided to concentrate on the features included with each screwdriver set (magnetic tips, hammer thru’ shafts, Hexagonal bolster, soft-grip handles), the range of screwdrivers and tip sizes and whether they can be quickly identified. As you’ll discover from our findings, there’s a lot to consider and you may not agree with our scores or awards.
PART NUMBER: 040213813 PRICE: £39.59 FROM: Machine Mart WEB: www.machinemart.co.uk CONTACT: 0115 956 5555 The most comprehensive screwdriver set on test, comprising 17 screwdrivers, 10 Hex and Torx bits (with a separate screwdriver for them) and 16 Hex/Allen keys. Some of the tools feel a bit like overkill, especially those Hex/Allen keys, which are not only supplied in metric sizes from 1.5mm to 6mm, but also imperial from 1/16” to ¼”.
This is a neat and compact set with all of the tools stored in a plastic holder that can stand on a shelf or workbench, or be secured to a wall. Each screwdriver is located in a sturdy slot, and they are arranged so that the labelling on the handle for the type and size is easy to see. The two sets of Hex/Allen keys each have their own labelled holder, but are also located in dedicated slots and even the Torx and Hex bits are housed in a labelled hinged holder at the front of the plastic stand.
Shaft lengths of each screwdriver range from 75mm to 150mm (excluding handle length) and the tips cover flatblade/slotted widths from 3mm to 8mm, Phillips from PH0 to PH3, Pozidriv from PZ0 to PZ3 and Torx from T27 to T40. The only type of screwdriver missing is a stubby. The Torx bits cover from T7 to T20, whilst the Hex bits are from 3mm to 6mm. Along with the Torx screwdrivers, a wide range of Torx fastenings is catered for, whereas Hex sizes seem to be duplicated.
Each screwdriver handle has a soft-grip feel to it, which consists of a mixture of a plastic and rubber exterior. They’re ergonomically easy to hold and grip and the hammer thru’ end is sufficiently flat and wide to be able to hit it with a hammer, so hopefully it’s not so easy to slip and hit your hand. The shafts of the screwdrivers are made from chrome vanadium steel and have been tempered for greater strength and durability. The tips are magnetic, which helps with picking up a lost fastening or keeping it located on the end of the screwdriver when attempting to fit it. Despite the shafts being octagonal, they are too thin to use an open-ended spanner for greater leverage.
For the price, there are cheaper and similar screwdriver sets from Clarke and other manufacturers who have adopted the same design, but for roughly £10 less, check for features such as hammer thru’, Torx screwdrivers and magnetic tips. We liked all these features so chose this more expensive set.
2022 SCORE 18 OUT OF 20
There’s a lot more to a set of screwdrivers than simply having a few of them to undo crosshead and slotted screws. Short stubby screwdrivers are handy for tight spaces, whereas ones with a long shaft help to access fastenings that are similarly hard to access. Large screwdrivers, especially ones with a chunky handle, help to apply more force when undoing a fastening, and soft-grip handles can save your skin, whereas a Hex-shaped shaft enables a spanner to be attached to it for extra leverage. A hammer through (commonly known as hammer thru’) shaft means you can hit the top of the screwdriver with a hammer to help shock and release a fastening.
Magnetic tips can help to catch a metal fastening before it falls into the depths of an engine bay, and it also helps with fitting a screw whereby it will remain attached to the end of the screwdriver.
The quality of those tips is also important. Whilst most screwdrivers’ shafts are made from steel and chromeplated to prevent corrosion, the tips aren’t. Instead, they may be tempered for greater durability.
One of the most confusing issues about screwdrivers concerns Phillips (PH) and Pozidriv (PZ) types. Most comprehensive sets of screwdrivers cover both, and include various numbered sizes in each range, but do you need all of them? Both designs or classifications were created by the Phillips Screw Company. The Phillips (PH) type was the first and originated in 1934 as an improvement over the slotted flatblade design. It has a crosshead design with four radial slots to achieve a better grip and includes a range of sizes.
In 1959, the Pozidriv (PZ) arrived as an improvement over the Phillips, offering eight radial slots in the head of a screw instead of four, and a range of sizes.
Nowadays, few of us pay that much attention as to whether a crosshead fastening is a PH or PZ type and what size it actually is – most range from PH0 or PZ0 to PH3 or PZ3, but larger ones are available. We may try a larger or smaller screwdriver if the tip doesn’t fit into the head of the fastening – or it either jumps out or spins around when trying to undo the fastening. Having an understanding of sizes and types will help to get the most out of your screwdrivers.
DRAPER NINEPIECE CABINET PATTERN SCREWDRIVER SET SCORE
PART NUMBER: 29613 PRICE: £26.99 FROM: Draper Tools 17 OUT OF WEB: www.drapertools.com CONTACT: 023 8049 4333 20 A seemingly solid set of screwdrivers that caters for the three popular types of fastening. The wipe-clean PVC-coated handles provide a good level of grip and are all clearly labelled. Plus, the screwdrivers are colour-coded, so you can quickly learn that orange is for flatblade, blue is for Phillips and green is for Pozidriv. Each group has three screwdrivers, with a bias to the flatblades having the longest shaft at 150mm (the rest have a maximum of 100mm). Flatblade/slotted widths range from 3.2mm to 8mm, and the PH and PZ sizes are from 0 to 2. The labelling on the smallest screwdrivers is quite small, so reading glasses or a magnifying glass may be required.
With chrome vanadium round steel shafts that have been tempered (the tips are sand-blasted), four of the largest screwdrivers have a Hexagonal bolster to enable an 8mm-10mm open-ended spanner to be fitted for extra leverage, although you’d need an extra-long 8mm spanner to make a difference.
We liked the range of screwdrivers included in this set and the quality of the handles. We also liked the carrycase, which has a clear plastic cover and a sliding lock. A couple of stubbies would have completed the collection, but as a set to replace all those old screwdrivers, or an addition that can be left in its carrycase, this is worth considering. Plus, they all come with a lifetime warranty.
2022
SEALEY 13PIECE HAMMER THRU’ SCREWDRIVER SET
PART NUMBER: S0754 PRICE: £32.34 FROM: Sealey WEB: www.sealey.co.uk CONTACT: 01284 757500 If you need a set of Phillips and flatblade/ slotted screwdrivers, then this 13-piece set SCORE from Sealey’s Siegen range is definitely worth a look. Note however, there are no Pozidriv 16 OUT OF (PZ) tips, only PH0 to PH3 and slotted widths from 3mm to 8mm wide, with shaft lengths 20 from 38mm for the stubbies up to 200mm.
Each hammer thru’ shaft is made from chrome vanadium steel with a satin finish and shot-blasted and magnetised tips. The colour-coded (red for flatblade and blue for PH) soft-grip handles are labelled with the length of shaft and size and type of tip, making them easy to identify. The rubberised parts of the handle may after a while need a thorough scrub to remove traces of dirt and oil.
We liked the rounded flat ends (opposite end to the tip) for hitting with a hammer, would have liked to have seen a Hexagonal bolster to fit an open-ended spanner, but were reassured by the lifetime guarantee. Should you have a spare drawer ready and waiting to store these 13 screwdrivers (no carrycase provided), then they are worth considering.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCT 2022
DRAPER 16PIECE ENGINEER’S SCREWDRIVER SET
PART NUMBER: 56773 PRICE: £75 FROM: Draper Tools WEB: www.drapertools.com CONTACT: 023 8049 4333 This set of screwdrivers does what it says on the tin and provides the best range of flablade/slotted, Phillips and Pozidriv sizes without having to fill in the gaps with bits. However, at two or nearly three times the price of many of the other screwdriver sets we’re testing, this is a no-nonsense set aimed at professionals who want the right tools for the job.
So, what’s in the kit that comes with a lifetime warranty? Typical of most of the sets we’ve tested, this one is biased towards flatblades, with seven out of the total of 16 screwdrivers that are for slotted fastenings. These range in tip width from 3.2mm to 8mm and in shaft length from 75mm to 200mm (excluding a stubby screwdriver with a shaft length of 38mm).
The Phillips tips range from PH1 to PH3 and also include a stubby with a PH2, whereas the Pozidrivs are from PZ0 to PZ3 and include a PZ2 stubby. We can guess as to why there’s one more PZ tip over the older PH and judging by the size and shape of the inside of the robust plastic carrycase, it would be difficult to squeeze any more inside.
Whilst the range of screwdrivers is impressive, their performance is also very good. Each shaft is made from SVCM steel in a satin chrome-plated finish with a sand-blasted tip. The larger screwdrivers have a Hexagonal bolster to enable an open-ended spanner (8-10mm) to be used for extra leverage, although you’ll need a longish spanner to help.
The colour-coded handles (red for slotted, green for PZ and blue for PH) are made from heavy-duty polypropylene, but have a soft-grip feel. The labelling on each handle for length of shaft and type of tip is displayed in white, so can easily get smothered in dirt, but the whole surface of the handle can be wiped clean.
SCORE 16 OUT OF 20 RECOMMENDED PRODUCT 2022
CLARKE 10PIECE PRO SCREWDRIVER SET SCORE
PART NUMBER: 040211522 PRICE: £33.59 FROM: Machine Mart WEB: www.machinemart.co.uk CONTACT: 0115 956 5555 16 OUT OF Supplied in an impressive-looking oval-shaped plastic carrycase with a 20 see-through panel so that you know what’s inside. The two plastic clips that lock the carrycase are very flimsy and we can’t see them lasting too long before they break off. Inside, there’s a neat arrangement of slotted (flatblade) and Phillips (PH) screwdrivers, ranging in length from stubby to 150mm long (shaft length) and covering slotted from 3mm to 8mm wide and PH sizes from 0 to 3. There are no Pozidriv screwdrivers. The sizes are clearly displayed on the handle of each screwdriver. Each screwdriver clicks into position inside the plastic case, so they shouldn’t rattle around when being transported.
Apart from the two smallest screwdrivers, all the rest have a Hexagon-shaped top (opposite end to the tip), so a 11mm or 13mm spanner or socket can be fitted over it for greater leverage. Each handle is made from plastic but includes four lengths of dimpled rubber to help improve grip. The shaft of each screwdriver is made from S2 tempered steel along with the tips.
We liked the feel of these screwdrivers, especially with the soft-grip style handles, although we can see them being difficult to clean if they get covered in oil and dirt.
Despite these screwdrivers are not advertised as being a hammer thru’ type, the Hexagonal head on eight of them is part of the shaft, so in theory, they could be hit with a hammer, although that could damage it and perhaps invalidate the lifetime warranty.
SEALEY 21PIECE SCREWDRIVER SET SCORE
PART NUMBER: S0923 PRICE: £28.74 FROM: Sealey WEB: www.sealey.co.uk CONTACT: 01284 757500 Supplied in a plastic carrycase with a clear top that’s locked with two flimsy-looking catches, this 21-piece screwdriver set includes six colour-coded flatblade/slotted, Phillips and Pozidriv screwdrivers (two of each with PH and PZ 1-2 and 6-8mm wide flatblades), along with an assortment of bits. Those bits are a confusing mixture. Whilst there are Hex/Allen key bits ranging from 2mm to 6mm (seven bits in total), there are only two flatblades/slotted (4mm and 5mm), a couple of large PH3 and PZ3 bits and three Torx from T15 to T25, making most of them seem like a token gesture. Perhaps they could have been replaced with a couple of stubby screwdrivers instead.
If you ignore the bits, then the screwdrivers are worth a look with their rounded chrome vanadium shafts and shot-blasted and magnetised tips. The soft-grip handles are clearly labelled for the size and type of tip and even the length of the shaft (75mm150mm), although they may take a little scrubbing to remove ingrained dirt and oil, but you can’t have it all. We liked the hanging hole near the top of each screwdriver, so if you don’t want to use the carrycase, the screwdrivers can be hung on hooks instead.
A good value for money 21-piece screwdriver set that carries the Siegen quality approval and a lifetime guarantee.
15 OUT OF 20
PART NUMBER: AK4370 PRICE: £41.94 FROM: Sealey WEB: www.sealey.co.uk CONTACT: 01284 757500 A slightly confusing mixture of screwdrivers that manages to cover all the popular sizes in a roundabout way. There are 11 screwdrivers, which mainly have flatblade/slotted tips (five of them), so this type of fastening is well and truly catered for with magnetised shot-blasted tip sizes ranging from 3mm to 8mm and shaft lengths (round chrome vanadium steel in a satin finish) from 38mm for the stubbies to 200mm. The Phillips (PH) and Pozidriv (PZ) only cover sizes 1 and 2 but do include a size 2 for a stubby. Those missing PH and PZ sizes are catered for with a selection of bits and a couple of screwdriver bit holders (a stubby and a 100mm shaft, both with magnetised holders). The bits cover PH0 to PH3 and the same for PZ, but they also include flatblade/slotted sizes from 3mm to 6mm, five Torx bits from T10 to T30 and three Hex bits from 3mm to 6mm. Whilst the larger PH3 and PZ3 sizes have been covered by the range of bits, a more substantial screwdriver with a tip of this size is what’s missing from this screwdriver set to make it more complete.
Each screwdriver is equipped with a polypropylene and TPV rubber soft-grip handle that’s labelled at the end to show the type and size of tip. So even if you cover the handle in oil and dirt, the end of it should be easy to read and even if it’s also covered, it can be wiped clean. The rubbery soft-grip texture of the handle may need to be thoroughly scrubbed should it get really filthy.
We would have liked to have seen a Hexagonal bolster for fitting an open-ended spanner but were pleased to see hanging holes in the ends of the handles – there’s no carrycase. A promising-looking set of screwdrivers, providing you can manage with bits for PH3 and PZ3, and supplied with a lifetime guarantee.
14 OUT OF 20
DRAPER EXPERT EIGHTPIECE HEAVYDUTY SOFTGRIP SCREWDRIVER SET SCORE
PART NUMBER: 63589 PRICE: £35 FROM: Draper Tools 14 OUT OF WEB: www.drapertools.com CONTACT: 023 8049 4333 20 A no-nonsense set of eight screwdrivers that promise better torsional properties than chrome vanadium because they have SVCM+ steel shafts. We couldn’t find out what SVCM+ stands for, but discovered plenty of information explaining that it’s a type of shock-resistant steel and the + symbol means it has been tempered to achieve a greater degree of hardness.
Draper’s online description of this set of screwdrivers says that it’s supplied in a PVC storage case, but ours arrived in plastic disposable packaging. Just as confusing is the bias of flatblade/slotted screwdrivers versus Phillips (called cross slot by Draper) and Pozidriv (PZ). There are four flatblade/ slotted screwdrivers ranging in width from 3mm to 8mm (and in shaft length from 75mm to 150mm), yet there are only two cross slot screwdrivers (PH1 and PH2, 75mm and 100mm) and similarly, only two Pozidrivs of the same specifications.
We did, however, like the quality and feel of the screwdrivers, particularly the soft-grip handles with useful labelling on the ends of each one that’s a lot easier to read than having it displayed along the length of the handle that can easily get covered in oil and dirt. The handles promise to be solvent-resistant, and they are easy to wipe clean, although the black rubberised sections may need more of a scrub, but perhaps that’s the price you pay for a better grip. Don’t be fooled by the flats at the base of each handle, which are not there for fitting an open-ended screwdriver – there are only five of them, so a spanner will not fit. However, we did like the holes at the top of each handle, enabling each screwdriver to be hung on a hook. And we were pleased to see that these screwdrivers are supplied with a lifetime warranty.
As a replacement for your old screwdrivers, this set could do with a couple of stubbies and perhaps an extra PH and PZ.
LASER SIXPIECE POUND THRU’ SCREWDRIVER SET
PART NUMBER: 5985 PRICE: £30.74 FROM: The Tool Academy WEB: www.thetoolacademy.com CONTACT: 01623 555512 A potentially promising-looking set of screwdrivers with hammer thru’ for impact use and S2 steel octagonal shafts ranging in length from 75mm to 125mm. Confusingly, there are only two screwdrivers to cater for crosshead fastenings and they are only Pozidriv PZ1 and PZ2 (there are no Phillips PH tips), whereas there are four flatblade/slotted tips, ranging from 3.5mm wide to 6.5mm. Surely substituting two of the flatblade/slotted screwdrivers for Phillips would have been better?
We liked the flat tops of each screwdriver that provide a large area for hitting it with a hammer. We also liked the clear labelling on the rubberised handle of each screwdriver, which is displayed on a plastic surface that’s easy to wipe clean.
These screwdrivers won’t replace your existing collection, but they are a useful and seemingly robust addition that you may find you rely on more and more, providing you don’t have an extensive range of Phillips screws to undo.
