And then you have to pick up the few bits you inevitably drop on the floor. While stored, the bits stay secure no matter how much you shake the handle around or drop the tool (and we’ve dropped the tool a lot). As good as this screwdriver sounds, there are two reasons our preference is with the 13-in-1. This is similar to our main pick but nowhere near as refined or as comfortable to hold. Chief among these is the Picquic X-7 SixPac Plus, the Wiha Pop Up, and the original MegaPro 151NAS 15-in-1. Deutsch told us that the ones to look for have “better materials and smoother, better fitting gearing.” He continued, “You can usually tell immediately how well a ratcheting screwdriver is made by holding the handle in one hand and turning the drive end with the other.” Better ratchets tend to have finer gears, which gives more control over the tool, especially in an area where space is limited and you may not be able to fully twist your hand. The bit selection of the MegaPro 13-in-1 is comprehensive and should be able to handle just about every standard screwdriving task in a home. The Klein Ratcheting Screwdriver doesn’t have a particularly comfortable handle and is designed for an electrician who will use the various nut driving features. Deutsch also recommended “staying away from the ratcheting screwdrivers that are prominently displayed in stores around Christmas and Father’s Day, unless you can test one first. Other than the color, they’re the same tool; MegaPro confirmed to us that it manufactures the Channellock on a private-label basis. If you are searching for the best screwdriver set, then you are in luck. Ultra compact and light Wiha Ultra Driver. We liked the dual-compound driver handle, although it has just 20 teeth and was a bit clunky. Even the top-tier ratchet doesn’t offset this level of tediousness. Of MegaPro’s tools, only the 13-in-1 combines a useful selection of bits with the ergonomic handle and a ratcheting function. In addition to this loose-form testing, we checked the bit tips for stability by trying to strip them out. We liked the 120mm driver handle with grippy panels, and the two extensions gave plenty of choice, depending on the work in hand. I’m no stranger to screwdrivers. In five years of researching and testing screwdrivers, we've found that the MegaPro 13-in-1 Multi-Bit Ratcheting Screwdriver is the one tool that gets everything right. But if you’re already certain you need this tool, the first one to consider is the Milwaukee 8-in-1 Compact Ratchet Multi Bit Driver. Most also have a third position that locks the stem into place, making the tool behave like a traditional screwdriver. It can hold a diverse range of bits. This manual screwdriver combines smooth ratcheting action with excellent bit storage and a uniquely comfortable handle to be the most well-rounded, capable tool of its kind. Sucks using the hard round plastic handle when your hands are sweaty or oily. Copyright © Dennis Publishing Limited 2021. The choice of bits is good and even includes three square bits, but there are no markings. A shorter screwdriver provides more control, but there are times when a longer shaft is required to work in hard-to-reach places. We’ve added a runner-up, the MegaPro Ratcheting Automotive Screwdriver, and a new budget pick, the Husky Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver. Bottom line: Klein Tools Magnetic Screwdriver 70035 is a good option if you enjoy the convenience of having a built-in bits storage and compact design. Great selection of bits. Everything we recommend for mounting heavy stuff on a wall or ceiling. To get a second opinion on screwdriver preferences and features, I turned to Stuart Deutsch of ToolGuyd.com. The product is highly durable because all the pieces are heat treated plus it also houses a cushioned grip so that the item feels natural on hand as well. Nearly identical to our main pick, this automotive version takes universal 1-inch bits. If you’re on a tighter budget, we also like the Husky Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver. The Wera 27 RA Ratcheting Screwdriver was definitely the coolest looking of the tools and the one with the most unique storage system. A decent set, very similar to the Sealey, but in an impressive box with three compartments, all locked by one catch. It’s very similar to the 13-in-1, but the quality is just not as good. The bits are contained in two flexible holders and the whole thing is laid out well, but includes no sockets, and no markings to identify each bit. The warranty also doesn’t cover the bits. The carousel sits loosely in the tool, so it wobbles all over the place while bits are being taken in and out. Pros: Onboard bits storage; Compact design; Strong magnetic shank. It comes with two different 8-bit cartridges that can be inserted into the butt of the handle (only one at a time). We looked at two popular “stubby” screwdriver models in our 2018 tests. Pulling the carousel out of the handle takes two hands, and there is barely any place for fingers to make a purchase. Other tools have additional features or a finer ratchet, but for a solid ratcheting action, fantastic bit storage, a useful selection of bits, and an oddly comfortable handle, the MegaPro is the one to beat. In almost all ways, it’s identical to our pick; the same handle, the same nice ratchet, and the same style of storage system. It’s a very responsive system. The handle of the MegaPro 13-in-1 is another high point. It includes 14 different bits for the screws plus a ¼-inch nut driver. This cheap Silverline set is an enigma, having the lowest number of bits but the best ratchet, with a full 72 teeth. And here are our Rankings of The Best Affordable Multi Screwdriver to buy at this time. However, neither the bits nor the sockets are marked. 10 Best Ratcheting Screwdrivers December 2020 Results are Based on. The Best Multi-Bit Screwdriver | Reviews by Wirecutter thewirecutter.com New 2018 tests against 15 new screwdrivers confirm the MegaPro 13-in-1 (or the nearly identical Channellock tool) is our pick for the best multi-bit screwdriver. The assumption here is that one of the bits is going to live in the tip of the screwdriver. The first thing you should look at is the battery. The two extensions of 75mm and 130mm make it versatile and, to top things off, it has a smooth 38-tooth ratchet. Price: around £9Rating: 4/5Total bits/sockets: 47/7. As with most of the other sub-$20 tools, the bits were easily damaged during the durability testing. According to our analysis, the Ratcheting Multi Bit Screwdriver from Klein Tools is the best ratcheting screwdriver that comes at an affordable price and equips you with great functionality. The tip of the screwdriver is also magnetic, so they won’t fall out during use, and the stem is just a little bit longer, but in all other ways it’s identical to our main pick. The colors of the two tools are different, with Channellock’s as more of a blue and red superhero combination, which may be more your style than MegaPro’s red and black. The driver handle is a tough plastic, with rubberised panels for extra grip but, as with the Halfords ratchet, it only has 20 teeth and felt clunky. Our experience is that we’ll take a non-ratcheting screwdriver over a bad ratcheting one, but a good ratcheting screwdriver trumps all. It includes the widest range of metric sockets, spanning 5-13mm, but the driver itself clinched the win: it’s 120mm long with a thick, knurled rubber coating and an extendable top for storing bits. The 12 bits are a mix of slotted, crosshead and Pozi, although there are no Torx or hex. We didn’t look at kits like the GearWrench 40-Piece Ratcheting Screwdriver Set and the Stanley Pistol-Grip Ratcheting Screwdriver Set that come in a case and have different handle attachments and a large number of driver bits, but those are overkill for someone who can make do with a regular screwdriver. Shock new Renault 5 arriving in next few years with electric power, and an electric Renault 4 is rumoured too, Fine tuning of Sony Vision S’s handling and autonomous technology in a new European development programme, The head-turning and hi-tech Hyundai Tucson SUV is set to challenge its premium rivals. These tools have a ring on the handle that can be held stationary in order to gear the ratcheting mechanism to a higher setting, which delivers four times the turning speed to the handle (but only for low-torque applications). The gripping area of the handle is mostly rubberized and has a series of nubs in it for better purchase. While there is no question that the bits in the 13-in-1 are more difficult to replace, we’ve found that they’re extremely durable and, due to the excellent storage system, very difficult to lose. Unlike my own carpentry and construction background, Deutsch has a physics and engineering one, so it’s not surprising that as a tool writer he’s particularly sensitive to how exactly things work. The Ryobi 90-Piece Drill and Drive Kit is the best drill bit set we’ve found in years of testing. L.H. It’s only about an inch shorter than the full-size model, so there’s not even a huge advantage with the smaller size. To get at the bits, you unscrew the cap in order to reveal six holes each with a double-sided bit in it. The selection of bits is good, with only two duplicates, although the heavy bias to Torx and hex leaves just three standard slotted heads. Keeping a supply of individual screwdrivers for all of these uses gobbles up valuable space and leads to you owning tools that rarely get used. Price: around £17Rating: 3.5/5Total bits/sockets: 34/9. The 7-inch handle is comfortable, but the toggle is difficult to use and the bit storage is up at the nose of the tool. Other screwdrivers had similar systems, but none matched the 13-in-1’s stability or the ease with which it slides in and out of the handle or pops back into place. It’s also usually about $10 more expensive. While you don’t get a case, the top unscrews for storing the bits, and this set is so small and light that you could keep it in the glovebox. Compared with our pick, it just takes too much time. To do this we sunk a 3-inch drywall screw into wood and then, using the screwdriver tips in a cordless drill, we tried to remove the screw while holding the drill at an angle. The ratcheting action is loud on this tool, and the whole thing feels heavy and clumsy. I’ve been using the same MegaPro 13-in-1 for the past eight and a half years, four of which were spent in a construction site setting. It has a telescoping stem, which sounds neat, but not something we’ve ever felt we needed. The MegaPro 13-in-1 uses double-sided bits with a spring-loaded ball bearing at the middle of the shaft to lock them into the stem, which are proprietary and distinct to the tool. The only package on test without a ratchet driver, although the handle supplied is a good length, at 180mm, and the rubberised coating makes it grippy. The driver was coarse, too, with just 10 teeth, but the keen price makes this a great budget buy. It has a very similar design and bit storage (minus the spinning cap). Price: ... having the lowest number of bits but the best ratchet, with a full 72 teeth. Nanch. The same can be said about the Electriduct Ratcheting Screwdriver. Buying a screwdriver set to suit all the different fasteners and sizes you’re likely to meet when working on your car would cost a fortune – and take up far too much storage space. Price: around £8Rating: 2/5Total bits/sockets: 12/0. It's a fiddly system and nowhere near as simple as the MegaPro’s storage. It also offers a lifetime warranty and easy availability at Home Depot. This can also be advantageous if you tend to use a power drill, since individual bits can also be compatible with these. It’s best to have screwdrivers of various lengths on hand, but if you’re only going to purchase one at the moment, consider which projects you’ll need it for. Such screwdrivers are ideal for professionals as well as for personal DIY stuff. New 2018 tests against 15 new screwdrivers confirm the MegaPro 13-in-1 (or the nearly identical Channellock tool) is our pick for the best multi-bit screwdriver. It also includes 11 50mm bits but oddly – and annoyingly – none are hex. The cap is small and is hard to grip, making the whole process far more difficult than what it takes to open the MegaPro. This is the same screwdriver as our main pick, but it’s compatible with 1-inch driver bits and not the double-sided ones like the 13-in-1. $19.99. An added bonus of a multi-bit screwdriver is that the screwdriver tip without a bit in it can be used as a ¼-inch nut driver, a size found in electrical work and larger appliances, among many other places. Best Choice 101-Piece All Purpose Security Bit Set with Bonus Ratcheting Screwdriver, Chrome Vanadium Steel, Tamper Proof Design, ANSI Standard 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,432 $12.99 It makes a whole lot more sense to purchase a single driver with a range of interchangeable bits, especially because most of them also work with a cordless drill – although you may need an adaptor. Another excellent, unique aspect of the rear cap is that it can spin independently from the rest of the body. These are the best precision screwdrivers for most people. I’m still using the original bits, which show zero deterioration. We looked for a wide range of bits, with the most important for car work being slotted, crosshead (Philips), hex (Allen) and star (Torx). Even though it extends out of the rear of the handle, the carousel itself has hardly any wobble to it. Klein Tools 32558 × The top 10 list of the best screwdrivers lists various brands and prices. Even the Phillips #2, the most-used tip, has maintained its shape with no rounding over of the edges. We previously dismissed a number of other models in our 2013 testing. It combines all of the right features like no other screwdriver, helping you work faster and more comfortably than with any other tool. The Lutz 15-in-1 has a chunky 10-tooth gear so you have to really rotate the handle for it to catch. The top six packages were very closely matched, but the new Sealey set just edged out our previous winner, the Halfords 58-piece collection, and the budget-priced Silverline. The ratchet is also clunky, and the stem wobbles in the handle. And speaking of massive handles, the Stanley 68-010 tops them all. To access, you have to turn the rear cap a quarter turn and pull the piece out. Not only does this mean that you won’t lose them, but it also gives you easy access when you need to switch for different jobs. First, this automotive version is designed for the mechanic, so the initial bit selection isn’t as well-rounded as our pick. 9. We put together a prefab bookshelf, repaired a busted worklight, and installed three screen doors. One limitation of the Husky is that it only has room in the storage area for six bits. For instance, the WorkPro Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver has a nice ratchet but terrible bit storage. These bits are widely available at hardware stores and home centers, and if one gets damaged, it can be replaced with minimal difficulty. They also need additional storage space and thus are less likely to be stored somewhere convenient, like in the kitchen drawer or in the trunk of a car. It has a teardrop shape that tapers at the neck, providing a nice groove for the thumb and forefinger. After years of constant use, the tool still works great, and aside from a couple of paint splatters and a scratch here and there, the MegaPro is exactly as it was when it came out of the packaging. The 10 best screwdrivers to buy in the UK. The InstallMates 12-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver has very good bit storage but a grinding, low-quality ratchet. He also has very little patience for inferior products. (Assume any statements in this section about the MegaPro 13-in-1 also apply to the Channellock 13-in-1.) All rights reserved.Auto Express™ is a registered trade mark. The 45-tooth ratcheting mechanism is smooth and the teardrop handle is comfortable. What really sets it apart is the excellent bit storage, which makes it easy to find, store, swap—and never drop—its six unusually tough double-sided bits. It's required for everything from changing the battery on a kid's toy to installing a smoke alarm to adjusting the loose handrail at the stairs. The downside is that the storage system holds only six bits and is difficult to use. These smaller bits are not only easier to replace if lost, but also allow you to customize your bit selection. Pozidrivs are also handy but not often used in cars, and our list of total bits includes any duplicates. We assembled toys, adjusted cabinet doors, fixed a sagging gate, and hung some light fixtures. The overall effect is that you can tighten or loosen a screw while your hand and the screw remain in contact with the tool the entire time. They are all neatly housed in plastic holders, specific to the type of bit, and clearly marked. If you’re on a tighter budget, we like the Husky Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver. The MegaPro 13-in-1 (or the identical Channellock 131CB) is the best screwdriver. Best Multi-Bit: Klein 11-in-1 Screwdriver and Nut Driver Buy on Amazon Buy on Home Depot As opposed to larger bit sets, with dozens of little pieces apt to go missing or take up space, the Klein 11-in-1 is a single, compact screwdriver that is easy to store and even easier to use. It has been our pick since 2013, it’s still the best after a new round of testing in 2018 against 15 new screwdrivers. The best multi-bit-screwdriver you'll ever use. The difference is that it takes smaller, single-sided 1-inch bits, rather than the double-sided bits that our pick takes. This is in addition to the 13 we previously looked at. To access the bits, the butt end of the handle pops out and slides straight back revealing a stem surrounded by six bit holders, each of which houses a double-sided bit, sort of like a six-shooter. We tested the MegaPro 13-in-1 alongside the Channellock 13-in-1 Multi-Bit Ratcheting Screwdriver, and they perform identically. 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