Tool Review: Stanley 69-189 FatMax Ratcheting Screwdriver

Key Features:
 +   Bits lock into place
 +   Easy to adjust ratchet
 +   Plenty of storage for bits
 -    Bit storage cover doesn't feel very durable


I'd been looking for a good all-in-one, everyday-carry screwdriver recently.  The two screwdrivers I mainly relied on -- the Craftsman Auto-Loading Screwdriver and the Kobalt Double Drive Screwdriver -- were both good drivers, but I had recently received an Amazon gift card and what better way to spend it than on a new screwdriver?

The Craftsman is still one of my favorite drivers, but it doesn't ratchet.  The Kobalt is highly functional, but a little too bulky to carry.  Enter the Stanley FatMax Ratcheting Screwdriver (model #69-189).

The FatMax ratcheting screwdriver is very affordable -- only $8.15 on Amazon.  It comes with six bits:

- two square bits: #1 and #2
- two slotted bits: 1/8" (3mm) and 1/4" (6mm)
- two Phillips bits: #1 and #2

There is storage for all six bits in the handle, as well as room to store two additional bits so you can add other bits that you use often.  The bits are all standard hex bits, so they are easily interchangeable with other bit sets.  The bits are strong, and may chip slightly during use but hold up well.

The FatMax driver is not a light driver, and it feels heavy in your hand.  Almost all of the weight is in the handle, so it gives you added power when turning the driver.  It has a three-position ratchet, for loosening and tightening as well as a locked position.  The ratchet direction is easy to change during use.  The ratchet isn't a precision ratchet -- by feel, it seems to have 16 teeth -- but it works well enough for most applications.

The bits lock into the tip of the driver, which is a neat feature I'd never seen before.  Push the textured lock ring up to remove or insert a bit, and let it slide back down to lock the bit into place.  It's easy to install and remove bits, but the lock holds them securely in place.

The handle is designed in the black and yellow Stanley colors, with alternating rubber and plastic panels.  The rubber gives you good grip when turning the driver, and the ratcheting function is very easy to adjust.

The Stanley FatMax Ratcheting Screwdriver is heavier than I expected it to be, but it is a very good driver that could be an everyday screwdriver.  The only improvement I could reasonably expect on this driver would be to add a strong magnet to the tip, so the bits would be able to attract and hold screws, but you could easily add that capability by attaching a magnetic bit holder.