The Southwire 8-piece screwdriver setย includes eight different drivers. There are three slotted โcabinetโ screwdrivers, two keystone slotted screwdrivers, two #2 Philips drivers, and a square (โRobertsโ style) driver. While screwdrivers may not seem like an exciting toolย to review (and indeed, for the mostย partย they arenโt) there are some things to know about a tool youโre going to spend an awful lot of time using if youโre an electrician or do other MRO work.
Southwire 8-piece Screwdriver Set Features
Of those things you want to pay attention to is the comfort of the handle. Theย Southwire 8-piece screwdriver set is made up of drivers with aย cushioned grip that lets you hold the driver firmly, apply all the torqueย you need, and not fatigue your hand in the process. A hexagonal bolster on the shaft allows you to use a wrench or pliers to apply additional torque as needed to break away tough fasteners.
The shaft of these drivers (all eight) are made withย chrome-plated stainless steelย that resists twisting. The ends of theย handles areย marked for easy identification of both the tip type and size. The tips of the screwdrivers are machined with aย black phosphate tip to increase friction and reduce slip.
Southwire Drivers included
- Slotted 3/16โณ xย 4โณ (SD3/16C4)
- Slotted 3/16โณ xย 6โณ (SD3/16C6)
- Slotted 1/4โณ xย 4โณ (SD1/4K4HD)
- Keystone 1/4โณ xย 4โณ (SD1/4C4)
- Keystone 5/16โณ xย 6โณ (SD5/16K6HD)
- Phillips #1 xย 3โณ (SD1P3)
- Phillips #2 xย 4โณ (SD2P4HD)
- Square Tip #2 xย 4โณ (SDQ2P4)
Keystone vs. Slotted Flat Screwdrivers
While you may think allย slotted screwdrivers are the same, there are actually a couple variations. The chief variation involves theย shape of the blade profile. The keystone slotted screwdriver is the most common variety and features a tip thatย flares slightly into aย tapered end. It gives you additional torque when driving. The other type is a straight slotted screwdriverย which lacks any sort of taper from the shaft to the end of the blade.
Iย used the new Southwireย 8-piece screwdriver set in a variety of applications, from simple outlet replacement to installing some new breakers into a 200-amp service panel. I found it easy to torque down hard on the drivers, but I was equally impressed with the non-slip tips and how they stayed put when doing more delicate tasks like removing switch plate covers and tightening the screws for latch sets and deadbolts.
Conclusion
These screwdrivers have a lot of the features I look for in a good quality hand tool. Youโve got everything from easy tip identification to a comfortable grip and the ability to apply torque as needed.ย This is a great all-around set of drivers that can cover a variety of applications.
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