3 Insulated Screwdrivers -- For Just $7.00

If you're in need of some insulated screwdrivers -- or looking for them as a gift -- Home Depot has a set of three insulated Husky drivers (one slotted tip, one Phillips tip, one square tip) for $7.00.  You probably won't find three insulated drivers for less than that -- and if you do, they may not be reliable.

These drivers are rated for up to 1000 VAC, and they have grooves cut into them for wire stripping or bending.  Amazon lists the same set of drivers for over three times as much money ($21.95).

Tool Review: Husky 74460 2-Piece Micro Screwdriver Set

Key Features:
 +   Sturdy drivers
 +   Thin slotted blade for multiple applications
 -    Short shafts, not much reach

If you work with small electronics, computers, or printers, precision screwdrivers often come in handy. Even if you just own a pair of eyeglasses, it's helpful to have a precision screwdriver around when a screw pops out. There are many different precision screwdriver sets that come with interchangeable bits, but sometimes it's nice just to be able to reach for a Phillips or slotted driver without having to change out a bit. If you're looking for a good pair of precision screwdrivers, check out Husky's 2-piece micro screwdriver set (model #74460).

This set consists of a small Phillips screwdriver, size 0, and a small slotted screwdriver, size 3/32". The screwdrivers themselves are only about three inches long, so they can easily fit inside a toolbag, or even in a pocket. They are color-coded so you can quickly grab the one you need -- the Phillips driver has a blue handle and the flathead driver has a red handle.

The handles are a strong plastic that provides a decent grip, and the blades are alloy-steel, very strong for such small drivers. The flathead driver has a finely-tapered blade that can be used to pry off covers, metal e-clips, or plastic clips with ease, or provide leverage without bending or breaking.

This set of small drivers doesn't come with a case or holster, but you can tuck them into the pocket of a toolbag, or even carry them around in your shirt pocket. Unlike many precision screwdrivers, these Husky drivers have handles that are much wider than the blades, giving you a good grip so your hand won't slip.

The blades themselves are not extremely long, so they aren't the best drivers to use in hard-to-reach places, but for up-close work they are handy to have around. These are simple screwdrivers -- no ratcheting action, no changeable bits, and no magnetic tips. But they are sturdy and well-made, and for the price tag of two or three bucks, they're a worthy investment if you use precision screwdrivers a lot.

Like other Husky tools, you can probably find this micro screwdriver set at Home Depot or HomeDepot.com.  Amazon.com also offers this set, but their price is currently set at $6.98. For that price you can probably find a precision screwdriver set that includes a lot more than two drivers.

(Originally published on Helium.com, Feb 2013)

Tool Review: Husky 1066 2-Piece Pistol Grip Pliers Set

Key Features:
 +   Allows access to tighter spaces
 +   Spring-loaded
 -    Not much grip on handles


I'd been wanting the Husky 2-piece pistol grip pliers set (model #1066) for a while, eyeing it at Home Depot every time I went.  My wife, without knowing this, went out and got me the pliers for Christmas.  I wasn't sure they would turn out to be as cool as they looked in the package, but they did.

If you've never used pistol grip pliers, they are pretty neat.  The pliers jaws work the same way, but the handle is turned about 90 degrees.  The angled handle allows you to use the pliers in hard-to-reach spaces that straight pliers wouldn't be able to fit into.

This set of Husky pistol-grip pliers works great.  The pliers are strong, and are spring-loaded.  There are two pairs of pliers included, a 6" pair and an 8" pair.  The spring on the 8" pair that I have is very weak, especially compared to the spring on the 6" pair, but this is probably an issue with my individual pliers, rather than a design flaw.

The pliers have both straight and curved regions of the jaws, allowing for many different applications, as well as toothed and non-toothed sections.  There are wire cutters at the base of the jaws on both pairs of pliers.  The jaws are strong and grab well.  These pliers work really well for clamping on e-clips, especially when you hold them upside-down.

These pliers are not lightweight.  Due to their design it would be hard to carry them in your pocket anyway, but their weight definitely makes them a toolbag tool (especially the larger pair).  The tips taper, but not for precision work like needle nose plier tips.

The biggest thing I can say is wrong with these pliers is that the handles don't provide a lot of grip.  They are a sort of soft plastic, and it's easy for fingers to slip off of them.  However, with the pistol grip design, the handles are curved, so the lack of grip isn't as much of an issue as it could be.

Home Depot currently sells this pliers set for $7.00 online.  For that price, these pistol grip pliers are a great deal.  Two pairs of large, functional pliers for $7.00 is an incredible value, especially for pliers that stand out from the pack like these do.

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 Review: Husky 179 681 19-Piece 1/4" Mini Socket Set

Husky makes many different tools and tool sets.  One of them is the 19-piece 1/4" mini socket set (model# 179 681), which I saw sitting on a shelf in Home Depot and bought because it was only five bucks or so and the only socket set I had at the time was a free one I got when I opened my checking account.

This Husky set comes with everything you need for a basic starter socket set.  It has a stubby ratchet (with a comfortable rubber grip), eight different-sized metric sockets, nine different driver bits, and a bit holder that fits onto the ratchet.  And it all comes conveniently stored in a small plastic case with a spot for everything, which makes the set easy to transport.  The only problem with the case is that it does not latch; a sliding plastic tab opens and locks the case.  The tab is sufficient if the case remains stationary, but if you put it in your trunk or somewhere else where it will move around, the case could work its way open.  Everything inside the case is reasonably secured, however, so even if the case opens inadvertently nothing should spill out (unless you hit a big bump or the case drops on a hard floor).  There is a little bit of room in between the wrench, bits, and sockets so that you can fit an extension bar or two.

The sockets range from 4mm to 12mm, and each one has its size imprinted on the side.  The screwdriver bits include three Phillips bits, three slotted (flathead) bits, and three hex bits.  Unlike with other socket sets, none of these sockets lock onto the ratchet's 1/4" head, but they all fit snugly enough that you don't have to worry about them falling off by accident.  As is typical with Husky products, this set comes with a lifetime warranty.

Being a mini socket set, it may not provide enough torque or force for large jobs, but it works great for most tasks around the house.  The ratchet turns smoothly, and its rubber grip makes it easy to hold on to.  The only limitation I've come across so far with this set is that the sockets are too small to fit the bolts on my lawnmower wheels, but for everything that it fits it works great.

Unfortunately, you can't find this particular set on the Home Depot website anymore, but you may still be able to find it on a store shelf for a few bucks.  Amazon.com had it for sale, but it's listed as unavailable right now.  I give this socket set 3 out of 5 stars.  If you can find it for $5 or so, it's a good deal.

(Originally published on Helium.com, Sept 2010)

Tool Review: Husky WS-24-10 Self-Adjusting Groove Joint Pliers

Adjustable pliers are a good thing to have in any tool box.  If you can find a good pair of self-adjusting pliers, even better.  For plumbing work or for turning large bolts or nuts, the Husky WS-24-10 10” Self-Adjusting Groove Joint Pliers are a nice tool to have.

Home Depot bills these pliers as “water pump pliers” or a “specialty plumbing wrench,” but they can be useful for other applications too, including working on your car.  The teeth are strong enough to use these pliers as a counterpoint to another pair of pliers for tightening or loosening stubborn nuts and bolts.  They come with a lifetime warranty, which unless you use them every day, you’ll probably never need.

The self-adjusting action is pretty nice if you’ve never used self-adjusting pliers before.  It uses a spring-loaded stopper, so you can easily use the pliers one-handed as they self-adjust.  The self-adjustment only works for tightening the jaws, however -- for loosening the jaws, you’ve gotta do that yourself.

The pliers themselves are well-made.  The jaws are curved and slightly offset, great for grabbing big bolts but not so great for grabbing little bolts or screws.  Even bolts on a lawn mower are a stretch for these pliers, as the jaws are far enough apart that the pliers can easily slip off the bolt.  On larger bolts, like hex bolts used in sink faucets, the pliers grab on and never slip.

Husky describes the handles as providing a “soft comfortable grip” -- very true.  The handles feel good in your hand, and they provide a solid grip during use.

I give these self-adjusting pliers 4 out of 5 stars.  Home Depot sells the WS-24-10 pliers in-store for about $10 (which may vary by region) and on HomeDepot.com for $10.97.  For that price, they are a great value, and I would definitely recommend picking up a pair.  Amazon.com doesn’t sell the pliers individually, but you can get a set of them -- one pair of 7” pliers and one pair of 10” pliers -- for $19.99 (eligible for free shipping).

Husky tool reviews

Drivers:
- Husky 74460 2-Piece Micro Screwdriver Set
- Husky 74500 7-Piece Nut Driver Set
- Husky HD-74502 8-in-1 Torx Screwdriver Set

Pliers:
- Husky 1066 2-Piece Pistol Grip Pliers Set
- Husky WS-24-10 10" Self-Adjusting Groove Joint Pliers

Socket Sets:
- Husky 179 681 19-Piece 1/4" Mini Socket Set

Tool Reviews: Husky HD-74502 8-in-1 Torx Screwdriver Set

Husky makes a lot of useful tools.  Many of them are low-priced but worth it, and the Husky 8-in-1 Torx Screwdriver Set (part #HD-74502) is one of them.

Torx (star) screws are often used in small electronics, and can be found other places as well -- sometimes even in pocket knives.  If you do a lot of repair work, or you just like taking stuff apart, having a good Torx screwdriver will come in handy at some point.

This screwdriver set from Husky typically costs about $6 or $7, and it comes with a small driver and four double-sided bits.  The sizes include T-4, T-5, T-6, T-7, T-8, T-9, T-10, and T-15.  The bits are sturdy and easy to change, and the size for each bit is clearly marked on its side.

With small bits, keeping track of them can be a problem.  Having the double-sided bits helps, but there is also a storage compartment in the bottom of the screwdriver, with dividers that make storing the three bits not currently being used very convenient.  The swivel cap is easy to remove, and it also makes using the driver with two hands a little easier.  The handle is smooth, and it doesn't have much in the way of grip, but its contour allows for decent manipulation of the driver.

The bits included with this set are good for common electronics as well as tools.  The T-6 bit, for example, is the perfect size for removing the Torx screws in the back of a BlackBerry Bold 9650 smart phone, and the T-8 bit fits the tension screws on a DeWalt MT16 multi tool.  From the T-4 to T-15 sizes, this set is definitely good to have when taking things apart.  The Husky 8-in-1 Torx Screwdriver Set gets 3.5 out of 5 stars.

If you are looking for a precision Torx screwdriver, this Husky set is a solid buy for the $5.97 price it's currently listed for on the Home Depot website.  It is extremely overpriced on Amazon.com right now at $34.99, but hopefully in the future it will be listed for a reasonable price.

(Originally published in slightly different form on Epinions.com, December 2012)