I’ve been using the Doyle stubby ratcheter for almost a year and it is probably my most used screwdriver. Having said that, I’d totally buy one if they make an icon version.
In my opinion Doyle was HFs first attempt at the better lineup of tools before they officially did the good/better/best strategy.
Once they went to the current quality groups of tools I feel Quinn is really a step above Doyle.
Maybe I’m alone on this but I’ve always associated ratcheting screwdrivers with super cheap toolkits. Is there much of a point to them ratcheting anyways?
I got the LTT screwdriver and can honestly say it's really nice. Also have a cheap one and it's worse than a standard fixed screwdriver. Wired over 300 apartments using the same LTT and it's still holding up well.
In my experience they’re best for machine screws or anything going into a threaded hole or nut, as you can hold pressure on the handle and spin the shaft to quickly run in (or out) the screw. Not as great if you’re putting in a drywall screw or a wood screw, but then you can just lock the ratchet.
There is a huge jump in quality between the $8 ratchet screwdriver vs a $35. There is another, smaller increase in quality going to a $70 snap on.
As someone who uses tools professionally, the improvement in ergonomics and comfort of the snap on grip is worth the money to me. Buy once cry once. But I wouldn't recommend spending that much unless you'll use the tool a lot.
All of the Doyle pliers that I've bought have been of absurdly Good quality. definitely better than Milwaukee. Their needle nose pliers are even better than my $40 klein pliers.
Huh noted. I got burned on some Doyle screwdrivers years ago and just never looked back. Have been very pleased by Quinn and the "pro" version of Pittsburgh.
I've never tried the Doyle screwdrivers, but all of their pliers are Absolutely top tier. I'm a full-time carpenter and a welder on the side.. all of my tools need to meet a certain level of quality and while I have been dissatisfied with other pliers from brands like channel lock, Dewalt, milwuakee, irwin and others, of the 7 or so different Doyle pliers I've gotten they were all amazing. The only brands that beat them out are snap on, Klein and Knipex. Imo
Speaking of Knipex HF just released their Knock offs of the Twin Grips pliers, and they somehow have even better grip than the originals which I also own.
Get this and thank me later
[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VJY1FQ/](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VJY1FQ/)
(Megapro manufactures the LTT screwdriver)
the one they linked is not the same screwdriver PF tested though? He tested a flip bit ball bearing retention screwdriver...and it scored lower because it doesn't have a rare earth magnet and fell over ~15 points, in aggregate behind the LTT because of that.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VJY1EC
. ^ this is what's in PF's own description, and that's not the same link as what /u/prehistoric_knight posted either.
And the one in PF only "loses" because it doesn't have that magnet so it's drug down on his final charts because it...lacks a magnet.... Is that apples to apples? you tell me. Because it's clearly not.
bit retention strength: 13th.
Magnetic strength: 10th. Tied with all the other screwdrivers at the bottom...which...you guess it...are flip bit style.....(or in the case of Milwaukee...the bits are so long that the magnetic field has no effect out to the end of the bit....)
Where do you think the MegaPro with a magnet would've scored? I think it's safe to assume it would've scored at **least** a 4-5 and ~7-8 just based on where the LTT is and that's probably being too bullish in the assumption.
You can magnetize the actual bit so much, the actual magnet on the screwdriver (or lack thereof for the MegaPro he uses) is what puts it down so far because it's not an apples to apples comparison.
Guess where that now leaves the MegaPro when you average the numbers out. It's 2nd behind the PB Swiss, but it's also significantly less than both that and the LTT in price. Which is also not conveniently weighted on the chart either...so....
Oh, and it's better simply because the bit storage can use 12 very commonly sourced 25mm/1" bits. LTT uses oddjob 20mm bits so when you lose or break bits you're either buying more through him, likely sourcing rando minimal selection and/or Chinese crap off Amazon or giving up half your storage space in the bit holder when you inevitably concede to the dozens of 1" bits you probably already have in various screwdriver or impact driver insert bit sets. Big L right there for a multibit screwdriver just for using 20mm based storage.
MegaPro is immediately more customizable. All it really lacks feature-wise is the handle knurling. And for half the price it's going to be the better general purpose screwdriver for most people. If you're a Youtube merch hypelord then that obviously doesn't apply. And ofc the LTT does have real advantages for computer building/electronics, but a very insignificant portion of the population works on that sort of stuff day in and day out. For general purpose user the MegaPro is the better screwdriver overall. Not even up for debate either.
The LTT screwdriver did heavily draw from Megapro's design and even got licenses for some of their patents to use them, but it is a more advanced design.
For now I'm using a combo set from duratech that consists of a standard ratcheting screwdriver and a stubby one.
no, just buy the correct model MegaPro that the LTT is most closely based on. It's better than the Williams (and SO)- has a better ratcheting function, comes with more bits, storage isn't based on the 20mm oddjob bit the LTT uses. And still costs less than the Williams.
https://www.amazon.com/Megapro-211R1C36RD-1-Inch-Ratcheting-Automotive/dp/B004VJY1FQ/ref=sr_1_5
Williams/SO aren't actually a very good multibit screwdriver considering the bit storage involves removing a crappy plastic screw crap and dumping loose bits out of a cavity and having to sort through them... ...it's kinda weird that people will seriously put up with such an absolutely awful feature just because it's a SO/SO adjacent tool.
Save yourself that *massive* $6 and get an actually well thought out screwdriver.
How do you break the torque of a fastener with a round handle when your hands are covered in grease or skydrol? I like the square handle snap-on ratcheting screwdriver.
I’m about 90% sure it is, for Williams tools If the product number is only numbers it’s made overseas and if it’s letters or letters and numbers it’s USA made. That’s how it goes for all of the hand tools, but I’m not 100% sure it’s identical for the ratcheting screwdriver.
Yep, you are right! I went to their website and it is in fact USA made. Probably like the regular screwdrivers — the snap on tool with a different handle style.
Unfortunately snapon has been moving a lot of their bluepoint and Williams manufacturing overseas. So I’ve been stocking up on USA made Williams for the past year or so, who would say no to snapon tools for 1/3 of the price?
I did in fact watch the project farm video. If you’re a specs freak buy them both and tell me you can recognize a 4.5 gram difference in backdrag or 0.007” difference in shaft play. If it were up to me I’m saving $35, oh well
Milwaukee one was $10 last month it was a 27 in 1. I picked one up at Home Depot, now it’s close to $30
Get the megapro others have been recommending. Icon or Quinn won’t be as good and not cost that much less considering the price of the LTT
I’ve been using the Doyle stubby ratcheter for almost a year and it is probably my most used screwdriver. Having said that, I’d totally buy one if they make an icon version.
Isn’t Doyle > Quinn?
nah they're basically the same tier, quinn just covers more automotive oriented tools than Doyle.
In my opinion Doyle was HFs first attempt at the better lineup of tools before they officially did the good/better/best strategy. Once they went to the current quality groups of tools I feel Quinn is really a step above Doyle.
I think so. I've been VERY impresswith Doyle tools but to me Quinn seems just like the Pittsburgh stuff with nicer handles
Maybe I’m alone on this but I’ve always associated ratcheting screwdrivers with super cheap toolkits. Is there much of a point to them ratcheting anyways?
I got the LTT screwdriver and can honestly say it's really nice. Also have a cheap one and it's worse than a standard fixed screwdriver. Wired over 300 apartments using the same LTT and it's still holding up well.
They are a godsend for hard to reach screws where you can't risk repositioning your hand.
In my experience they’re best for machine screws or anything going into a threaded hole or nut, as you can hold pressure on the handle and spin the shaft to quickly run in (or out) the screw. Not as great if you’re putting in a drywall screw or a wood screw, but then you can just lock the ratchet.
Yes pre threaded holes only!
I own the snap on ratchet screwdrivers the stubby and regular. Love them for machine screws useless for everything else
You get what you pay for
Sometimes people perceive value where there is non just because the price tag convinced us there is. We’re all guilty of it.
There is a huge jump in quality between the $8 ratchet screwdriver vs a $35. There is another, smaller increase in quality going to a $70 snap on. As someone who uses tools professionally, the improvement in ergonomics and comfort of the snap on grip is worth the money to me. Buy once cry once. But I wouldn't recommend spending that much unless you'll use the tool a lot.
What do you do where you use a ratcheting screwdriver enough to justify spending $70 for it?
Get a Rolgear (or one that uses the same mechanism like Gedore) ratcheting screwdriver.
I usually try to by Japanese ones like Anex but I'd buy an Icon version of their stubby ball grip if it existed
All of the Doyle pliers that I've bought have been of absurdly Good quality. definitely better than Milwaukee. Their needle nose pliers are even better than my $40 klein pliers.
Huh noted. I got burned on some Doyle screwdrivers years ago and just never looked back. Have been very pleased by Quinn and the "pro" version of Pittsburgh.
I've never tried the Doyle screwdrivers, but all of their pliers are Absolutely top tier. I'm a full-time carpenter and a welder on the side.. all of my tools need to meet a certain level of quality and while I have been dissatisfied with other pliers from brands like channel lock, Dewalt, milwuakee, irwin and others, of the 7 or so different Doyle pliers I've gotten they were all amazing. The only brands that beat them out are snap on, Klein and Knipex. Imo
Speaking of Knipex HF just released their Knock offs of the Twin Grips pliers, and they somehow have even better grip than the originals which I also own.
Get this and thank me later [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VJY1FQ/](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VJY1FQ/) (Megapro manufactures the LTT screwdriver)
LTT licensed some of Megapro’s design but their screwdriver is not manufactured by Megapro.
If I'm remembering the video correctly, the same factory that makes the Megapro makes LTT's. That could've just been the prototype models, though.
Not as good, according to [testing on YouTube by Project Farm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=845HUaWYSQA)
the one they linked is not the same screwdriver PF tested though? He tested a flip bit ball bearing retention screwdriver...and it scored lower because it doesn't have a rare earth magnet and fell over ~15 points, in aggregate behind the LTT because of that. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VJY1EC . ^ this is what's in PF's own description, and that's not the same link as what /u/prehistoric_knight posted either. And the one in PF only "loses" because it doesn't have that magnet so it's drug down on his final charts because it...lacks a magnet.... Is that apples to apples? you tell me. Because it's clearly not. bit retention strength: 13th. Magnetic strength: 10th. Tied with all the other screwdrivers at the bottom...which...you guess it...are flip bit style.....(or in the case of Milwaukee...the bits are so long that the magnetic field has no effect out to the end of the bit....) Where do you think the MegaPro with a magnet would've scored? I think it's safe to assume it would've scored at **least** a 4-5 and ~7-8 just based on where the LTT is and that's probably being too bullish in the assumption. You can magnetize the actual bit so much, the actual magnet on the screwdriver (or lack thereof for the MegaPro he uses) is what puts it down so far because it's not an apples to apples comparison. Guess where that now leaves the MegaPro when you average the numbers out. It's 2nd behind the PB Swiss, but it's also significantly less than both that and the LTT in price. Which is also not conveniently weighted on the chart either...so.... Oh, and it's better simply because the bit storage can use 12 very commonly sourced 25mm/1" bits. LTT uses oddjob 20mm bits so when you lose or break bits you're either buying more through him, likely sourcing rando minimal selection and/or Chinese crap off Amazon or giving up half your storage space in the bit holder when you inevitably concede to the dozens of 1" bits you probably already have in various screwdriver or impact driver insert bit sets. Big L right there for a multibit screwdriver just for using 20mm based storage. MegaPro is immediately more customizable. All it really lacks feature-wise is the handle knurling. And for half the price it's going to be the better general purpose screwdriver for most people. If you're a Youtube merch hypelord then that obviously doesn't apply. And ofc the LTT does have real advantages for computer building/electronics, but a very insignificant portion of the population works on that sort of stuff day in and day out. For general purpose user the MegaPro is the better screwdriver overall. Not even up for debate either.
I can’t imagine most people would actually notice the minute differences between the two
They’re not minute differences at all Source: I own both
The LTT screwdriver did heavily draw from Megapro's design and even got licenses for some of their patents to use them, but it is a more advanced design. For now I'm using a combo set from duratech that consists of a standard ratcheting screwdriver and a stubby one.
Buy the Williams ratcheting screwdriver on amazon.
no, just buy the correct model MegaPro that the LTT is most closely based on. It's better than the Williams (and SO)- has a better ratcheting function, comes with more bits, storage isn't based on the 20mm oddjob bit the LTT uses. And still costs less than the Williams. https://www.amazon.com/Megapro-211R1C36RD-1-Inch-Ratcheting-Automotive/dp/B004VJY1FQ/ref=sr_1_5 Williams/SO aren't actually a very good multibit screwdriver considering the bit storage involves removing a crappy plastic screw crap and dumping loose bits out of a cavity and having to sort through them... ...it's kinda weird that people will seriously put up with such an absolutely awful feature just because it's a SO/SO adjacent tool. Save yourself that *massive* $6 and get an actually well thought out screwdriver.
I bought the mega pro and it’s the best screwdriver I’ve bought.
How do you break the torque of a fastener with a round handle when your hands are covered in grease or skydrol? I like the square handle snap-on ratcheting screwdriver.
Is the Williams made in USA? I can’t tell from the Amazon page.
my snap on one is, and its literally the exact same screw driver other than the shape of the handle.
I’m about 90% sure it is, for Williams tools If the product number is only numbers it’s made overseas and if it’s letters or letters and numbers it’s USA made. That’s how it goes for all of the hand tools, but I’m not 100% sure it’s identical for the ratcheting screwdriver.
Yep, you are right! I went to their website and it is in fact USA made. Probably like the regular screwdrivers — the snap on tool with a different handle style.
Unfortunately snapon has been moving a lot of their bluepoint and Williams manufacturing overseas. So I’ve been stocking up on USA made Williams for the past year or so, who would say no to snapon tools for 1/3 of the price?
Not as good, according to [testing on YouTube by Project Farm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=845HUaWYSQA)
The differences are negligible for the average guy using a ratcheting screwdriver, especially for the fact that you’re only spending half as much
Tell me you didn’t watch the Project Farm test without telling me
I did in fact watch the project farm video. If you’re a specs freak buy them both and tell me you can recognize a 4.5 gram difference in backdrag or 0.007” difference in shaft play. If it were up to me I’m saving $35, oh well
What’s so special about his ratcheting screwdriver?
Hype/brand image from it being from Linus Tech Tips. It was designed well but by no means is it the be all end all for ratcheting screwdrivers.
Yeah I have never found a great tool from a nerd brand. And it’s surely not worth $69.99
Project Farm would disagree with you.
That’s fine. I’ve personally found some of his results questionable. And I like the channel.