Tool Review: Great Neck NRGN2 2-Piece Stubby Screwdriver Set

Key Features:
 +   Magnetic tips
 +   Very good grip
 -    Tips tend to chip with use


For most people, a stubby screwdriver isn't something you reach for very often.  But when you do reach for it, it's because you need it, so it's a good idea to always have one in your tool box.  For a pair of stubby drivers, there isn't a better value than the Great Neck 2 piece stubby screwdriver set (model #NRGN2).

This set of two drivers -- one slotted, one Phillips -- is sold in Big Lots stores for just $1.80.  That's a very low price for two stubby screwdrivers, and these drivers are better than average stubbies.

The biggest attraction these drivers have is their magnetic tips.  They might not always be able to hold on to very large screws, but the magnets are definitely strong enough for most screws.  The slotted driver holds screws better because of the tip's wider surface area.

The Phillips driver has a #2 tip, and the slotted driver has a 1/4" tip.  Both blades are about an inch and a half long, with a handle that's about two inches long.  The size for each driver is printed on the handle, so if you store them on a rack with other drivers, you can quickly tell which one you need.  Each handle is color-coded as well; the Phillips driver has a red and black handle and the slotted driver has a yellow and black handle.

The handles themselves are rubber and provide good grip.  They are contoured to provide purchase for your fingers, and they are big for easy gripping.  One problem with stubbies is often finding good purchase, because there's not a lot of room to get a grip, but these drivers handle that problem well.

The tips are solid, and are supposed to be rust resistant because they are chrome plated.  Resisting rust is nice, but the chrome finish tends to chip off as you use the drivers.  The tips are not soft metal like those on some screwdrivers; they're not the hardest tips in the world but they should last you a long time.  And if they do start to get chewed up, you can make use of Great Neck's limited lifetime warranty to get a new set.

You can't beat the price for this pair of stubby screwdrivers.  Even just as two extra drivers to throw in a drawer or a tool bag, this Great Neck set is an excellent value.

(Originally posted on Helium.com, March 2013)