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toolguyd.com: General Tools has come out with 2 new Express ratcheting precision screwdrivers that feature a dual drive mechanism that allows bit tips to turn in the same direction regardless of the direction of handle rotation.
8 comments:
Kimberly McSweeney
said...
I am honestly not quite sure what a precision screwdriver is, but a ratcheting screwdriver sounds like a pretty handy tool to have. From the images and information given in the article, it appears as if this tool has enough utility to be worth the 20 bucks to buy it on amazon. I constantly have trouble using regular screwdrivers in the sense that there is no ergonomic way to hold and spin them without constantly changing speed and pressure, which is a clunky and uncomfortable process. A ratcheting screwdriver would fix all the twisting at variable speed problems and the new T-handle would help significantly with the grip and pressure problems that come to light when using a standard screwdriver. I am definitely not in the market to expand on my standard tool kit right now past replacing my missing tape measure, but I will definitely keep my eye on ratcheting hand tools like this one.
A ratcheting screwdriver sounds like a really awesome tool to have. Ratcheting anything is a pretty cool tool to have. I especially like the T handle; it seems like a much more convenient and easier way to drive in a screw. I never quite understood why a normal screwdriver had to have the straight handle. It’s also really nice that they have a bunch of choices for bits, but I’m sure there are normal screwdrivers that have that same capability. I noticed though, that they do not have a robertson bit in the collection, which makes sense, it being an American company, but doesn't it make more sense to have a couple Robertson bits when you already have that many choices? This tool sounds interesting, but it also makes me wonder- how much of a problem is there with having to take out and readjust a screwdriver while you are screwing? What I always thought was the biggest pro for a ratcheting anything was that when you turn it you don't have to take it off whatever you are screwing to readjust- like you would for a wrench. I guess ratcheting would also help with getting it tighter, but by how much?
There used to be a lot of ratcheting screwdrivers on the market 50+ years ago but they really haven't been around since then. I like that they are coming back because it is a great idea and works. Now, I don’t understand how a ratcheting screwdriver can be a precision screwdriver because the whole point of a precision screwdriver is you can feel and know exactly how tight you are driving the screw. Which ratcheting, it makes driving the screw much easier but at the same time you loose the feel of how tight it is getting, especially with a t-handle which is also a great idea for ease of tightening but terrible to understand the precision of how tight you are spinning a screw. I also don’t like replaceable head screwdrivers because I want to quickly pick up the screwdriver I want and not have to switch the head. Especially if I am switching between a bunch of driver heads, it is much easier to just pick up a new screwdriver and not have to switch heads.
A lot of these carabiners seem to be really similar, just better ergonomically, so the ones that really stand out to me are the ones that have gates on the top or that completely change what a carabiner looks like, like the frog. I know a lot of these carabiners were either about reducing weight or adding locking mechanisms, but to be honest I prefer things to be simpler than that. I have two black diamond carabiners that I use and that I really like, and they’re really straightforward. They have a solid gate and a manual twist lock. I don’t trust things that don’t lock, and I don’t trust wire gates (especially because a lot of them don’t lock) for anything involving lifting people. The Petzl Angle L looks really cool, and even though I don’t own Petzl stuff (mostly because I don’t need it and it’s expensive) it’s something that I would consider using for gear. Most of the carabiners here that are about reducing weight I would use for attaching gear that I need, or maybe for setting up lead points because there’s a network of them, but other than that I wouldn’t trust them to be my connection to the rope (although it would be nice to have a lightweight carabiner for gear that I could count on in an emergency situation). A lot of these seem like cool carabiners that are better than some of the carabiners that are currently on the market, but only a handful of them are really innovative., and even though I probably have no use for them, I appreciate what they’re trying to do.
I really am on the fence about lots of speciality hand tools. At some point I feel like all the money one could save by buying fancy hand tools one could pool into buying a couple nice power tools that might actually make a structural difference in the kind of work you can do in your shop. In this example, after one buys a $20 set of Fat Max Screwdrivers for Phillips & Flathead, how many more hand screwdrivers do you really need, speciality bits aside. Ratcheting drivers are great and all, but it is really worth spending more money on a tool with redundant functionality.
Granted, the T handle functionality is pretty cool and definitely an innovative form factor for a ratcheting screwdriver that I have not seen before. Perhaps if I had extra money to throw around I might buy one, but really.. what is the point of having two things that perform the exact same job...
I have a ratcheting screwdriver that I love, and it’s probably the tool that I use more than any other tool. I also have a cute little General electronics screwdriver that doesn’t ratchet, but I wish it were constructed as well as the one in this article. There are a lot of plastic parts, one of which is unfortunately starting to crack, so I’m hoping to replace it at some point soon. I like the ratcheting, and I think that it will be really useful when it comes to having to do work in tight locations where having to remove the screw driver, rotate it, and then reinsert is too awkward to manage. My only complaint is that the grip, which is a really useful shape for a lot of purposes, is awkward for working inside electronics. It would be really cool if it had interchangeable handles that could be used for different purposes. Also, this set doesn’t have a security torx head, which isn’t super common, but as someone looking for sound tools that is definitely a deal breaker.
8 comments:
I am honestly not quite sure what a precision screwdriver is, but a ratcheting screwdriver sounds like a pretty handy tool to have. From the images and information given in the article, it appears as if this tool has enough utility to be worth the 20 bucks to buy it on amazon. I constantly have trouble using regular screwdrivers in the sense that there is no ergonomic way to hold and spin them without constantly changing speed and pressure, which is a clunky and uncomfortable process. A ratcheting screwdriver would fix all the twisting at variable speed problems and the new T-handle would help significantly with the grip and pressure problems that come to light when using a standard screwdriver. I am definitely not in the market to expand on my standard tool kit right now past replacing my missing tape measure, but I will definitely keep my eye on ratcheting hand tools like this one.
A ratcheting screwdriver sounds like a really awesome tool to have. Ratcheting anything is a pretty cool tool to have. I especially like the T handle; it seems like a much more convenient and easier way to drive in a screw. I never quite understood why a normal screwdriver had to have the straight handle. It’s also really nice that they have a bunch of choices for bits, but I’m sure there are normal screwdrivers that have that same capability. I noticed though, that they do not have a robertson bit in the collection, which makes sense, it being an American company, but doesn't it make more sense to have a couple Robertson bits when you already have that many choices? This tool sounds interesting, but it also makes me wonder- how much of a problem is there with having to take out and readjust a screwdriver while you are screwing? What I always thought was the biggest pro for a ratcheting anything was that when you turn it you don't have to take it off whatever you are screwing to readjust- like you would for a wrench. I guess ratcheting would also help with getting it tighter, but by how much?
There used to be a lot of ratcheting screwdrivers on the market 50+ years ago but they really haven't been around since then. I like that they are coming back because it is a great idea and works. Now, I don’t understand how a ratcheting screwdriver can be a precision screwdriver because the whole point of a precision screwdriver is you can feel and know exactly how tight you are driving the screw. Which ratcheting, it makes driving the screw much easier but at the same time you loose the feel of how tight it is getting, especially with a t-handle which is also a great idea for ease of tightening but terrible to understand the precision of how tight you are spinning a screw. I also don’t like replaceable head screwdrivers because I want to quickly pick up the screwdriver I want and not have to switch the head. Especially if I am switching between a bunch of driver heads, it is much easier to just pick up a new screwdriver and not have to switch heads.
A lot of these carabiners seem to be really similar, just better ergonomically, so the ones that really stand out to me are the ones that have gates on the top or that completely change what a carabiner looks like, like the frog. I know a lot of these carabiners were either about reducing weight or adding locking mechanisms, but to be honest I prefer things to be simpler than that. I have two black diamond carabiners that I use and that I really like, and they’re really straightforward. They have a solid gate and a manual twist lock. I don’t trust things that don’t lock, and I don’t trust wire gates (especially because a lot of them don’t lock) for anything involving lifting people. The Petzl Angle L looks really cool, and even though I don’t own Petzl stuff (mostly because I don’t need it and it’s expensive) it’s something that I would consider using for gear. Most of the carabiners here that are about reducing weight I would use for attaching gear that I need, or maybe for setting up lead points because there’s a network of them, but other than that I wouldn’t trust them to be my connection to the rope (although it would be nice to have a lightweight carabiner for gear that I could count on in an emergency situation). A lot of these seem like cool carabiners that are better than some of the carabiners that are currently on the market, but only a handful of them are really innovative., and even though I probably have no use for them, I appreciate what they’re trying to do.
Crap, wrong article. Sorry Boevers.
I really am on the fence about lots of speciality hand tools. At some point I feel like all the money one could save by buying fancy hand tools one could pool into buying a couple nice power tools that might actually make a structural difference in the kind of work you can do in your shop. In this example, after one buys a $20 set of Fat Max Screwdrivers for Phillips & Flathead, how many more hand screwdrivers do you really need, speciality bits aside. Ratcheting drivers are great and all, but it is really worth spending more money on a tool with redundant functionality.
Granted, the T handle functionality is pretty cool and definitely an innovative form factor for a ratcheting screwdriver that I have not seen before. Perhaps if I had extra money to throw around I might buy one, but really.. what is the point of having two things that perform the exact same job...
I have a ratcheting screwdriver that I love, and it’s probably the tool that I use more than any other tool. I also have a cute little General electronics screwdriver that doesn’t ratchet, but I wish it were constructed as well as the one in this article. There are a lot of plastic parts, one of which is unfortunately starting to crack, so I’m hoping to replace it at some point soon. I like the ratcheting, and I think that it will be really useful when it comes to having to do work in tight locations where having to remove the screw driver, rotate it, and then reinsert is too awkward to manage. My only complaint is that the grip, which is a really useful shape for a lot of purposes, is awkward for working inside electronics. It would be really cool if it had interchangeable handles that could be used for different purposes. Also, this set doesn’t have a security torx head, which isn’t super common, but as someone looking for sound tools that is definitely a deal breaker.
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