Tool Review: General Tools 744 Pocket 4-in-1 Mini Screwdriver

Key Features:
 +   Sturdy bits for precision work
 -    Very little grip
 -    Plastic will warp over time, causing bits and caps to fall off


It never hurts to have a screwdriver close at hand.  Slotted screwdrivers especially are useful for popping off e-clips, prying off plastic covers, or doubling as a blade to cut open boxes or packages.  There are many models of pocket screwdrivers you can buy and carry with you.  One of these is the General Tools Pocket 4-in-1 Mini Screwdriver (model #744).

This pocket screwdriver is about five inches long -- about the size of a pen -- complete with a clip for hooking it onto your pants pocket or shirt pocket.  It comes with four interchangeable bits -- two slotted bits (1/8" and 1/16") and two Phillips bits (#1 and #00).  Each pair of bits are mounted onto a reversible plastic assembly which fits into either end of the screwdriver and has its own cover.  You can store the bits so that the two you use most often are protruding, and are easily accessed just by popping off one of the covers.

For a pocket screwdriver, the bits themselves are surprisingly sturdy.  When used as a lever against a metal rod with plenty of weight behind it, the screwdriver held up and did the job (even though the bit did bent slightly).  The two different sizes for each type of bit make the screwdriver useful in many situations.  When you need to change the bits, they slide out easily.  The screwdriver is lightweight and convenient, and can be handy to have in a pinch.

The caps on each end of the screwdriver are made with a lightweight plastic, and over time they tend to loosen.  Eventually they will become loose enough to fall off of the driver, both during use and storage.  The plastic shaft will also warp and loosen with use, causing the bits to fall out easily.  These two flaws are the main drawbacks to this pocket screwdriver.

Home Depot used to sell this screwdriver for about two bucks, and some stores may still do that.  (The HDX pocket screwdriver at Home Depot is the same thing, just branded differently.)  If you're looking for it online, Amazon.com lists it for $4.74, which is a lot of money for this pocket screwdriver.  You can also purchase it directly from General Tools for $2.74, which is a much more reasonable price but is still too high compared to other comparable drivers.

(Originally published on Helium.com, April 2011)

General Tools tool reviews

Screwdrivers:
- General Tools 744 Pocket 4-in-1 Mini Screwdriver

Tool Review: Husky 74500 7-Piece Nut Driver Set

Key Features:
 +   Color coded
 +   Recessed shafts
 -    Smallest driver does not fit well in case


If you do a lot of work with nuts, bolts or hex screws, a good nut driver set is a must-have. For a wide variety of different sizes, a socket set and driver work great, but a standard nut driver set can be cheaper, especially if you only need a handful of sizes.  For SAE bolts, nuts, and hex screws, the Husky 7-piece nut driver set (model #74500) is a good choice.

This set includes seven nut drivers of different sizes: 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 11/32", 3/8", 7/16", and 1/2". This range is a good mix of sizes, and these drivers are useful for everything from license plate bolts to lawn mower air filter covers to backyard swing sets. Part of the handle on each driver is a different color, so if there is a size you use more often than others you can quickly tell which one it is at a glance.  The drivers are sturdy, and the handles provide a good grip.

These drivers are neither magnetic nor ratcheting, and they probably won't appeal to anyone who only wants top-of-the-line, fancy, or hi-tech tools. But this is a good nut driver set that won't break the bank (depending on where you buy it) and will last for a long time.

The driver set comes with a plastic case that also doubles as a rack that you can use to hang your drivers from a peg board or hook. The case is decent, and can lock to prevent the drivers from falling out when they are hanging or being transported, but the smallest driver doesn't fit perfectly in its slot and might sometimes work its way loose (though not out of the case completely).

This set is a good nut driver set to keep in the garage or basement, but if you are looking for nut drivers to take on the road, you'll probably want to go with a more compact socket set.  Seven individual drivers take up a lot more space than one driver and many bits.  When space isn't an issue, however, this set is convenient because you don't have to switch bits before using the drivers for different applications.

Each handle is clearly marked with its size, in addition to the color coding.  The driver shafts are recessed -- a nice feature that allows you to turn nuts farther down on the bolt than many other nut drivers.  This nut driver set is a good basic set to have.  It gets a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars for its usefulness and functionality. Husky also makes a similar 7-piece metric nut driver set (model 74510 instead of 74500).  Both sets are currently sold for $15.97 on the Home Depot website.

(Originally published on Helium.com, January 2013)

Tool Reviews: Gerber Shard

Key Features:
 +   Many useful functions
 +   Compact

 -    Can poke you from your pocket


The number of rigid, single-piece multi tools on the market (like the Leatherman Brewzer and the Screwpop Pocket Wrench) seems to be growing, with many variations.  One such multi tool is the Gerber Shard (model #22-01769) which offers about as much functionality as the others, for a much lower price.

The Gerber Shard is a very small multi tool, smaller than I thought it would be.  It measures 2.75" long and 1" wide at its widest point -- about the size of a standard key.  It barely weighs anything, and it has a large hole so you can carry it on your key ring for easy access.

This multi tool packs a lot of functionality into a tiny frame.  Some of its many uses include pry bar, bottle opener, box cutter, cross-tip screwdriver, and slotted screwdriver (two different sizes).  Gerber claims it can also be used as a wire stripper, but I haven't tried that yet.

As a slotted/flathead driver, it works pretty well.  The large and small drivers are right next to each other, however, so it isn't much use for a recessed screw.  For a screw that's flush, the Shard loosens and tightens fairly well.

The cross driver, on the other hand, is not very functional.  It barely turns some screws, and won't do much except strip out the heads on other ones.  If turning Phillips screws is a deal breaker for you, then look for another multi tool instead of this one -- such as the CRKT Get-A-Way Driver.

The cross tip may not be very good for turning screws, but it works great for cutting tape on boxes and packages.  The tip is sharp, so if you keep the Shard in your pocket, be careful when reaching for it.

As a bottle opener, the Shard works, but if you're buying it mainly to use as a bottle opener, I would look for something else.  (The CRKT Get-A-Way Driver has a much better bottle opener.)  The Shard's small size makes it hard to grip and get leverage, and you have to be very careful how you hold it, otherwise you'll end up poking a hole in your hand with the sharp cross tip.

The pry bar is a handy feature, and is surprisingly strong for such a small tool.  If using it for large nails on a long flat surface, it probably won't be much help, but for smaller nails (or other objects) when you have room to get leverage, it works great.

The Gerber Shard is a handy pocket multi tool.  It would make a great gift for a DIYer, professional repairman, or technician.  It takes up hardly any pocket space, doesn't weigh anything, and puts several useful tools at your fingertips.  Amazon.com currently sells the Shard for $5.99, which is a good price for what you get -- far cheaper than other comparable tools.

Tool Deals on Amazon

With Black Friday just passed and Cyber Monday coming up, there are a lot of great deals to be found online.  Here are some tools that can currently be had for lower-than-normal prices on Amazon.com:

- Irwin Pocket Level, $2.63

This pen-sized pocket level was listed for $3.09 last week -- not a huge discount, but cheaper is still better.  If you use a level a lot, this one doesn't weight much and can clip onto a pocket, belt, or strap.

- Stanley All-In-One Screwdriver, $3.58

This simple screwdriver with 4 bits and two hex nut driver sizes is normally sold for about $5 on Amazon.  It's a good screwdriver to throw in a drawer or glove box, because it has several standard-sized bits included.

- Stanley Stubby Ratcheting Multibit Screwdriver, $4.24

This driver is a good stubby screwdriver.  It ratchets, has magnetic tips, and comes with several different bits, as well as storage for those bits in the handle.  The Stanley stubby ratcheting driver usually costs $5 or $6 on Amazon.  You can read a full review of this driver here.

- Leatherman Wingman, $19.96

The Wingman is one of the cheaper Leatherman multi tools that you'll find, but it's not a cheap multi tool.  It has many tools built into one -- pliers, knife, screwdrivers, bottle opener, etc.  The Wingman is typically sold on Amazon and in Home Depot stores for around $30.

- Wiha 1000-Volt Magnetic Driver, $22.85

If you do any work around live electricity, an insulated screwdriver is a good thing to have.  This one from Wiha comes with both slotted and Phillips bits, with internal storage in the handle for 8 bits.  It normally sells for close to $30.

Tool Review: Ultra Steel TR30206D Magnetic Pocket Level with Clip

You might have a heavy-duty foot-long level at home, one that you could brain a burglar with if you had to, but that level isn't the most practical tool to be carrying around with you everywhere you go. There are many different types of smaller, more portable levels.  One such portable level is the Ultra Steel magnetic pocket level with clip (model #TR30206D).

This plastic level (distributed in the USA; made in China) is compact and bright yellow, and it can fit in the palm of your hand. It is actually two levels in one, each set at 90 degrees from the other, and you can use them both for improved accuracy. The level is flat on two sides, so it will sit flush on any flat surface or in a 90-degree corner.

The level is small enough to fit in your pocket — about the size of a miniature stapler, a little larger than a stubby screwdriver. If you don't want to risk sitting on it and breaking it, however, it comes with a belt clip so you can attach it to your belt, toolbag strap, or the outside of your pocket. It also comes with a short ball chain so you could attach it to your key ring if you wanted to (though it's too big to carry it that way with much practicality).

Part of the underside of this level is magnetic, so you can stick it on your fridge or other metallic surface when it's not in use. It uses two straight magnets for added support, but the magnets are of varying strength. One of the magnets easily stuck to the tip of a screwdriver and clung there without dropping, while the other wouldn't even attach briefly before falling.

The Ultra Steel magnetic pocket level is probably not as reliable as a larger level from a more well-known company — it gave similar, but not identical, readings to a Stanley Pro I-Beam level — but it's a good value for a cheap, portable level.  This level gets 3 out of 5 stars.  It can be especially handy for someone who doesn't have a lot of room to carry around a larger level, but who may need to level something out from time to time.

This level sells for $1.00 in-store at Walmart. Online, it can be purchased from Amazon for $5.99.  It's very similar in appearance and features to the Stanley magnetic pocket level, which is listed at $16.38.

(Originally published on Helium.com, February 2013)

Ultra Steel tool reviews

Levels:
- Ultra Steel TR30206D Magnetic Pocket Level with Clip

Screwdrivers:
- Ultra Steel TS90354J 4-in-1 Mini Screwdriver