Tool Tech 53390 8-in-1 Screwdriver Multi-Tool with Torch

Product Information

Ullman reached out to Deane Biermeier, a licensed contractor and carpenter, as well as member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board, for further insights. Sets that comprise a universal handle with many interchangeable tips are popular because they’re light and easy to carry, but once you lose one of the tips it tends to stay lost – they’re not very big and are often dull in colour. Lose too many and you’ll have to buy a new set of tips, or potentially replace the whole set. Can’t I just buy any old cheap screwdrivers?

Magnetic Screwdriver: It is a standard screwdriver with a practical feature: The screws are held in place by a magnetized tip, making it simpler to install or remove the screws. Insulated screwdrivers provide safety when working around live wiring. While not a requirement for most common tasks around the home, these are a must if you take on projects that might involve any type of wiring or electrical work. The Wera Kraftform Comfort Insulated Screwdriver Set includes six screwdrivers: two Phillips head and four slot-head in the most common sizes. Each screwdriver is guaranteed for safe working standards up to 1,000 volts. The set also includes a voltage detector. However, there is no carrying case.

Stanley always makes good-quality tools, and this set is no different. The blades are moulded directly into the handles to make them “virtually unbreakable”, and the handles themselves are large, with soft rubber for an excellent grip. Ratchet Screwdriver: Ratcheting screwdrivers feature an internal ball-bearing mechanism that makes turning the screw simple and repetitive. You can do this without taking out the screw’s driver head.

At the end of testing, each screwdriver or screwdriver bit was dropped to the ground from the tester’s eye level, and the tool was then examined for any signs of damage. The most common types of screwdrivers on the market are flat-head and Phillips-head screwdrivers. If you have these two types of screwdrivers in your arsenal, you will be able to work with a majority of screw heads. Since screws come in a wide range of sizes, you need screwdrivers to match. While a small set consisting of two screwdrivers in a smaller and larger size are adequate if you only break out a screwdriver once or twice a year for simple tasks like tightening a loose screw on a kitchen chair, you’ll be happier and far more productive with a larger set that includes screwdrivers in a wide range of sizes if you frequently put together furniture, do a lot of handiwork around the house or property, or just like being prepared for whatever life throws your way. Our top choice, the Amartisan 10-Piece Screwdriver Set, has five flat-head and five Phillips head screwdrivers in the most commonly used sizes. This is a specialised set of electrical screwdrivers, all fully insulated. You get two handles, and 17 inserts, all 154mm long, to go in them, plus a matching pair of pliers and insulation strippers. All the blades are extra-slim for working with sunken screws or those that are kept down by springs, and you get a selection of straight, Phillips, Pozidriv and Torx ends, none of them particularly big. The handle has a magnetic holder that helps keep the bit in place. We found this screwdriver set to be easy to use, and the ergonomic handle comfortable to grip. It easily handled all of our tests, but our product tester did comment that it was a bit difficult to get some of the bits out of the storage case. Still, if you handle a lot of projects that require hex keys, this is a great set.

The best screwdriver sets you can buy in 2023

It’s worth noting that metric bits have almost completely replaced Imperial-sized ones, but screws put in 50 years ago haven’t heard about this. Still, it’s possible to use a driver that’s slightly too small to loosen a screw, so it’s not worth worrying about having every possible size in your collection. A choice of the most common sizes, in both flathead and Phillips (cross-shaped) will do for most day-to-day jobs. Here we’ll explain all the key technical features you need to consider and suggest some of our favourite screwdriver sets. Read on and you’ll find everything from screwdriver sets for the reluctant DIYer to the most proactive home improvement enthusiast.

A ratcheting screwdriver makes it easy to apply more torque (turning force) without having to reset your hand position on the screwdriver with every twist of the tool. Combine that with a T-shaped handle, rather than the traditional screwdriver shape, plus a full set of interchangeable bits with 24 hex heads in both standard and metric sizes, as well as two slotted and three Phillips head bits in common sizes, and you have this sturdy kit from DEWALT. The hex bits are in three different lengths; we appreciated having the longer lengths, which make it easy to reach into awkward or deep spaces, such as within a car's engine. You can even use the bits in this set with your power drill, which greatly increases its versatility. The length of the metal that runs from the handle to the tip is the shank. It is usually made chrome, steel, or another metal and needs to withstand the force applied by your hand. The shank and the handle need to be connected strongly so that it doesn’t fall off even while applying high pressure on the handle. Some models even have shanks that reach the full length of the handle. This is useful when a hammer is used to strike the end of the handle. While testing, we noted that the storage case is well organized, with each slot clearly labeled as to the size and type of bit, but that the case might be a bit flimsy. Still, we think this set is a very useful addition to the tool box of anyone who might ever need to work on electronics, tighten the screws on a pair of glasses, or fix a piece of jewelry. The set performed very well in all of our tests, and it's reasonably priced, to boot.The four screwdrivers have sturdy acetate handles that are comfortable to hold and heat-treated steel alloy shafts for long life and reliable performance. You shouldn't have to worry about them rolling off of the table if you place them down while working—our tester noted that there was "very minimal roll on these tools. possibly because the grip is in an octagon shape." While it’s true that there are screwdriver sets that are larger and more versatile, this set is more than adequate for basic tasks around your home and is durable enough to last for years. According to needs, there are light-duty screwdrivers and heavy-duty screwdrivers. They have a flat tip. Although it can be powered or manually operated, the ‘cam-out effect’ of the slotted head makes power operation less common.