Ok after 40+ years all that remains of my Forester set is the larger 2 or 3. I've used and abused my second or third 27 piece Chapman set and have replace all the small tips at least once. Yes I need to remind myself "use on firearms only!!!!"

So suggestions on something to replace them?

I use the Wheeler Deluxe 89-piece set the most for average needs. I seem to break enough of them in a year that I replace them every year or so so but they aren't very expensive. For fine work where I have to grind to fit right I use a "Hardstahl" set I bought from Galazan's a dozen years ago.

Thanks John. I was wondering about the Wheeler.

I bought two of those about 10 years ago when midway still gave me a discount and they still are is perfect shape. Even the one I keep in the house that gets used as an everyday screwdriver when I am to lazy to go to the shop and get a tool.
Don

quote:

I am to lazy to go to the shop and get a tool.

Sure glad I never do that. My Chapman would disappear and I would find it in a kitchen drawer. I would love to say only the wife did that but I can't Did finally get a cheap Kobalt driver with a couple bits for the kitchen. At least the Chapman stays on the work bench now.

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S I G H !

I have several hundred screw drivers. But I'm to old for all those new complicated, go-faster-me-quicker screw drivers. I still use the ones with the poky thingy and the hammer me, with the vise grip on the other end kind.

Actually, those Grays in the block that I use for Weaver width screws have been really great. I've been grinding on them for 6 or 7 years. Like me, they do seem to be getting shorter with age.




DSC_0376 by Rod Henrickson, on Flickr

The Wheeler set I have has torques and hex bits too, pretty handy. I grind any special needs on my knife making belt sander. For whatever reason phillips head "breed" in my tool drawers...

quote:

Originally posted by cooksey:
The Wheeler set I have has torques and hex bits too, pretty handy. I grind any special needs on my knife making belt sander. For whatever reason phillips head "breed" in my tool drawers...

Now that you mention it cooksey. In days gone by we used to look at people without nice belt sanders and point and go: "BBWWWAAHA HA HA Ha ha ha ha."

I'm told now days that we can't do that anymore? They say that it's no longer politically correct. Are we now supposed to address these folks as handicapped? Financially challenged and sanderless? And on the subject of Philips head drivers. You can attack them with the handy-dandy belt sander and make them socially acceptable in no time flat! That's what happened to most of mine!

Although I have a few sets of the interchangeable bit type, I actually hate them; I want to grab a fully functional screwdriver and use it, immediately, without changing bits. So, I buy good quality tools and grind the business end to form hollow ground, gunsmith quality drivers. And I do not like magnetic bits either; they seem to pick up things when you don't want them to, and drop them, under the bench. I also have sets of torx and hex head, fully assembled, drivers.

I seem to measure my screwdrivers by the pound.

Especially when I can't find the non-standard one that I need so I get another then sure enough I find 2 identical ones one the workbench a day or 2 later.

Like most kids, I used to have a screw driver rack on my bench and every tool had a theoretical hole. A guy I worked with about 25 years ago had a different system and one of the best habits I got into was borrowing this other clowns idea of putting screw drivers in blocks, or those plastic coffee buckets with the nose up for easy identification. I find that if the bucket or block is on the bench and within easy reach, the tools tend to go back into them too. It's mighty dangerous for the first five years or so while you learn that sharp thingys will poke holes in your arms. But after you stop bleeding it gets to be a good system and unlike the bench rack, they go to whatever tray or machine you happen to be working on so they do tend to get back home a lot more often.



I can also prove that they're mine if they ever get stolen from all the DNA left behind from the learning years. he he he

quote:

Originally posted by speerchucker30x378:

quote:

Originally posted by cooksey:
The Wheeler set I have has torques and hex bits too, pretty handy. I grind any special needs on my knife making belt sander. For whatever reason phillips head "breed" in my tool drawers...

Now that you mention it cooksey. In days gone by we used to look at people without nice belt sanders and point and go: "BBWWWAAHA HA HA Ha ha ha ha."

I'm told now days that we can't do that anymore? They say that it's no longer politically correct. Are we now supposed to address these folks as handicapped? Financially challenged and sanderless? And on the subject of Philips head drivers. You can attack them with the handy-dandy belt sander and make them socially acceptable in no time flat! That's what happened to most of mine!

Abrasively deprived...

Brownell's magna tip master set ..
hands down my favorite ...