Tool Reviews: Thorsen 22-333 Puck Wrench

Key Features:
 +   14 different socket sizes
 +   Good grip
 -    Hard to use in tight spaces


Some people might look at a puck wrench as a gimmick tool -- something more for novelty than for functional use.  But the Thorsen 22-333 puck wrench can actually be a useful tool.  It will never take the place of a ratchet and socket set, but as an extra tool it can have its uses.

The Thorsen puck wrench is a roundish, rubber-wrapped metal tool with seven sockets.  The sockets are ribbed on the inside, so they can be used with bolts or nuts of varying designs.  The sockets work well with both SAE and metric sizes, and the sizes are clearly marked on the wrench.

There is also a 1/4" hex bit holder, so you can use the puck wrench as a small screwdriver.  The bit holder has a small magnet that will hold the bit in place but will not attract or hold fasteners.  (The puck wrench does not come with any bits.)

The wrench is small, so you can easily stow it in a tool bag, pocket, or just about anywhere else you keep tools.  The shape of the wrench and the rubber coating combine to provide a fairly good grip.  The main drawback to the wrench is that it can't be used in tight places where there isn't at least a couple of inches of clearance around the bolt or nut, because of the wrench's shape.

For $1.90 at Pep Boys, this puck wrench is a good deal.  Or for $2.90, Pep Boys sells a Thorsen ratcheting puck wrench, which looks the same (blue instead of red) but features a 3/8" drive ratchet in the center of the puck.

Thorsen 22-333 Puck Wrench price comparison:
- PepBoys:  $1.90
- Menards:  $4.00

Tool Review: Pittsburgh 69470 4-in-1 Screwdriver

Key Features:
 +   Excellent grip
 +   Easy to change bits
 -    Metal insert comes out sometimes when removing shaft


4-in-1 screwdrivers are a dime a dozen.  Harbor Freight sells the Pittsburgh 69470 4-in-1 screwdriver for $1.99, which is a fair price.  It's actually a 6-in-1 screwdriver; you can remove the driver bits and use the shaft as two different-sized nut drivers.

The 69470 screwdriver comes with two double-sided chrome vanadium steel bits.  There are two Phillips sizes (PH1 and PH2) and two slotted sizes (3/16" and 1/4").  The handle is reversible, so that the three bits that aren't being used are stored inside the driver.

The bits are decent quality and work well.  The screwdriver is not magnetic.  The handle is mostly textured rubber, and provides excellent grip.  The bits and steel shaft are easy to remove, and all you have to do to change bits is reverse either the bits or the shaft (or both).

The main problem with this driver is that the metal retaining insert that holds the shaft in can easily slide out along with the shaft itself.  When you are removing the shaft, if you twist it even slightly, the metal insert can be removed along with the shaft, which will prevent you from flipping the shaft around and using the other side.  You'll have to put it back in the same way you took it out, then remove it again, making sure to draw it straight out.  As long as you slide the shaft out perfectly straight, you won't have an issue, but if you turn it even slightly while removing it, the insert can remain fixed to the shaft and come loose from the handle.

This driver is very similar to other 4-in-1 or 6-in-1 drivers.  It's a good driver to throw in a drawer or glove box in case of emergency.  If you are looking for a good-quality screwdriver to use every day, the Pittsburgh 69470 is not what you are looking for, but for $1.99 it's a good extra screwdriver to have around.  If you do need to carry it in your pocket, it's not too heavy.  It's listed for $6.49 on Amazon.com.  For that price, you can buy a much better screwdriver.

Tool Review: Thorsen 24-505 Multi-Pliers

Key Features:
 +   Tools are easy to extract
 +   Strong pliers with good tension
 -    Rubber grip pieces fall off easily
 -    Wire cutters do not touch

The Thorsen Multi-Pliers (model #24-505) is a decent multi tool.  It does what it does well, but it's too heavy to carry as a pocket tool.  For $5.90 on clearance at Pep Boys, it's a fairly good deal.  If you're looking for an everyday-carry multi tool in the same price range, you'd be better off with the Shop Basics 15-in-1 Multi Tool from Big Lots for $5.00.

This multi tool is mainly a large pair of pliers, with a few other tools that fold out from the handle.  The pliers include both a straight-jaw and curved-jaw area.  The jaws do not line up completely, but it's close enough that you wouldn't notice it during use unless you were looking for it.  The wire cutters at the base of the jaws overlap but don't touch.  I haven't used the wire cutters yet, but based on their construction I wouldn't have much faith in them.

The other tools include a knife blade, saw blade, bottle opener, and can opener.  A Phillips screwdriver swings out from the opposite side as the other tools, and the end of the saw blade functions as a slotted driver.  The two screwdrivers are what you'd probably expect from a multi tool -- usable but not great.  The knife is sharp with a sharp tip, and the saw blade is sharp as well.  On the back side of the saw blade is a file.

One of the best things about this multi tool is that all of the tools swing out easily.  Many multi tools have tension problems with at least some (if not all) of the tools they have, but on these Thorsen pliers, everything pivots out smoothly.  The tension on the pliers is strong.

The Thorsen multi pliers are very similar to Sheffield's hammer multi tool, with a couple of distinct advantages.  The tools on the Thorsen pliers are much easier to extract than those on the Sheffield multi tool.  Because the Thorsen tool features pliers instead of a hammer as the main tool, the pliers jaws open much wider, allowing for much more usability, as opposed to the pliers function on the Sheffield hammer tool, which don't open very wide.

Thorsen tool reviews

Multi Tools:
- Thorsen 24-505 Multi-Pliers

Wrenches:
- Thorsen 22-333 Puck Wrench

Tool Review: Milwaukee 48-32-4502 Magnetic Bit Holder

Key Features:
 +   Holds bit securely
 +   Strong magnet to attract and hold screws
 -    Wobbles slightly when used with a screwdriver


A magnetic bit holder can turn a non-magnetic screwdriver into a magnetic screwdriver, which is a big plus for anyone working with small screws.  If you have a decent ratcheting screwdriver, such as the Stanley Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver, a good magnetic bit holder can turn it into the perfect everyday-carry screwdriver.

As far as magnetic bit holders go, the Milwaukee Magnetic Bit Holder (model #48-32-4502) is one of the better ones I've seen.  Some magnetic bit holders are very inexpensive, but they are often inferior quality.  For one example, Titan makes a great 61-piece bit set that comes with a magnetic bit holder, and while the bits themselves are of good quality, the bit holder has a very weak magnet.

The Milwaukee 48-32-4502 bit holder is designed for use with impact drivers.  It can also be used with regular screwdrivers; the shaft is the same 1/4" size as a standard hex bit.  When used with a screwdriver or bit holder, it tends to wobble slightly, since the base of the shaft is designed for an impact driver.  The wobbling does not significantly affect its use.

Many magnetic bit holders are 2-1/2" long.  The Milwaukee bit holder is slightly shorter, at 2-3/8" (61mm).  The magnet in the bit holder is very strong.  It is as strong as any magnetic screwdriver I've used -- and stronger than many of them.  In addition to attracting screws well, the bit holder also holds onto bits easily.  The bit is gripped in place by strong tension, so you don't have to worry about it sliding out of the driver and remaining behind with the screw (a not-uncommon problem with some magnetic screwdrivers).

Home Depot sells the Milwaukee 2-3/8" magnetic bit holder for $3.97 online.  If you are looking for a magnetic bit holder, this one is a good one to try, and the price is reasonable compared to other bit holders and other sellers.

Milwaukee tool reviews

Bit Holders:
- Milwaukee 48-32-4502 Magnetic Bit Holder

Tool Review: Kobalt 0501856 Lighted Pocket Screwdriver with Level

Key Features:
 +   LED to illuminate screws
 +   pocket-sized
 -    Bits fall out too easily


The Kobalt Lighted Pocket Screwdriver with Level (model #0501856) is a neat little novelty tool, but probably not something you would carry with you every day and rely on.  It's a decent pocket screwdriver with a couple of extras thrown in.

The best feature of this screwdriver is the LED.  The LED illuminates the driver bit (and the screw) making it easier to see what you are doing in dark places.  There is a button to turn the LED on or off, located in a convenient spot for your thumb to reach when using the screwdriver.  The LED is bright enough to illuminate a couple of inches in front of the screwdriver, but not bright enough to use as a flashlight.

Two double-sided bits are included with this driver, a slotted bit (1/8 and 3/16) and a Phillips bit (#0 and #2).  Both bits are standard-sized hex bits.  The bits are strong enough and seem durable.

Both bits fit into storage slots inside the screwdriver's cap.  The plastic on the cap is very weak and easily reshaped, and it doesn't take long for it to flex enough for the bits to fall out.  So when you pull the cap off the driver, you have to be careful because the one or both of the bits might fall out.

The cap has a clip on it so you can attach it to a pocket.  The tool is about pen-sized, but a little thicker.  The tool has to be flat on its back side to use the level, but the level is raised so you can see it from the side.  Kobalt sells this tool with a lifetime guarantee.

If you use a pocket level such as the Irwin pocket level, this Kobalt driver/level might be a good substitute because it adds the screwdriver capability.  However, if you're looking to buy a pocket level to use often, you would probably be better off with something like the Johnson Keychain Level.  It's much smaller and costs less money.  If you like the Kobalt model, it is a pretty good value at around $3.  Similar pocket driver models typically sell for $5 to $10 on Amazon.

Kobalt tool reviews

Screwdrivers:
- Kobalt 0501856 Lighted Pocket Screwdriver with Level
- Kobalt 62731 32-Piece Double Drive Screwdriver Set

Tool Review: Kobalt 62731 32-Piece Double Drive Screwdriver Set

Key Features:
 +   Double Drive feature allows for turning screws almost twice as fast
 +   Good bit selection included
 -    Awkward to use at first


Kobalt's Double Drive screwdriver is a ratcheting screwdriver, similar to many other ratcheting screwdrivers.  But the main difference lies in the fact that when you use the ratcheting function, the driver bit turns whether you are turning the handle forward or backward.  On a normal ratcheting screwdriver, the bit turns when you turn the driver one way, but when you ratchet it back the bit stands still.  On a Double Drive screwdriver, the bit turns when you turn the driver one way, but when you ratchet it back, the bit also turns, in the same direction.  So you can effectively turn a screw twice as fast with the Double Drive screwdriver as you could with a normal ratcheting screwdriver.

The Double Drive function only works when you use the screwdriver in a certain way -- gripping the metal part of the handle -- so you are still able to use it as a normal ratcheting screwdriver, if you prefer; or, you can even use it as a non-ratcheting screwdriver if you hold the handle in the right spot.  The driver has an easy-to-reach vertical thumb switch, which makes switching directions much easier than on other ratcheting drivers that have horizontal switches.

The two screwdrivers included in this set are almost identical except for their size.  Both have the Double Drive capability and the same thumb switch, but the larger driver has a removable cap that allows for bit storage in the driver itself.  There is a lot of room, so many bits can be stored in there.  The set comes with bits for both the large and small drivers.  The bits for the larger driver are standard 1/4" hex bits, and the bits for the smaller driver are precision bits.

Once you get the hang of how to use the Double Drive function, the drivers are not difficult to use.  However, there is a learning curve with them.  They are much heavier than standard screwdrivers, but not significantly heavier than other ratcheting screwdrivers.  The handles provide adequate grip.  The drivers are not magnetic.

There are a few different Double Drive sets that Kobalt sells.  This 32-piece set includes a large driver, a smaller precision driver, and a plastic case with many different sizes and types of bits in it, including some Torx bits.  Other Double Drive sets include pouches or holsters and extension bars, but might not include the precision driver.  Lowes.com sells this Double Drive set for just $9.98 -- a great deal for two ratcheting screwdrivers with bits.

(Originally published on Helium.com, January 2013)