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.
- Amazon: $13.20
The Stanley T16 FatMax Multi Tool (item #FMHT72414) is the same tool as the DeWalt MT16 Multi Tool. The only real differences are exterior body style and coloring. I've already written a full review of the DeWalt multi tool (which you can read here) so I'll focus on the differences between the two tools for this review.
Like the MT16, the Stanley T16 is a solid multi tool for its price. It has strong, well-made pliers, a good locking knife, and functional screwdrivers. The tools are all easily accessible, and the spring action on the pliers is very good.
The Stanley T16 FatMax Multi Tool is a good multi tool for around $15 or so. I bought mine at Lowe's for $17.98 (on sale from $19.98). I've only seen it so far in-store at Lowe's and on the Lowe's website, so it may be a Lowe's exclusive, or it may just not be marketed widely yet. I give the T16 4 out of 5 stars, a much better multi tool than the Sheffields and generic brands that you'll find for around the same price.