Who sells the good English-style cablinet maker's screwdrivers?

[Charles Shenk]

Other than TFWW and The Best Things, who else sells a quality cabinet maker's screwdriver? thanks.

[Phillip Pattee]

Try looking at Highland Hardware, Lee Valley, Traditional Woodworker, and Lie Nielsen. They all have some high quality screw drivers.

[John Keeton]

There was a thread recently on screwdrivers, for whatever it may offer -

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=110313

[Tony Zaffuto]

What is it that you don't like about the ones TFWW sells? I have a couple and they're a solid (but a bit spendy) tool. Nice traditional look, too!

T.Z.

[Pam Niedermayer]

Do you mean like this? (http://www.toolbazaar.co.uk/toolsdetails.asp?Toolid=37) Or turnscrews like this? (http://www.toolbazaar.co.uk/toolsdetails.asp?Toolid=35) or this? (http://www.toolbazaar.co.uk/toolsdetails.asp?offset=40&Toolid=45) Or the two on this page? (http://www.antiquetools.co.uk/toolbox.php?category=Miscellaneous#201)

Pam

[Joel Goodman]

Are we discussing classy looking screwdrivers or ones that really hold a screw? The best at holding screws are gunsmiths screwdrivers as the sides are ground in a curve so the tips don't taper and stay in the slot. They also come in a variety of widths and thicknesses so they really fit the slots correctly. Brownell's or Chapman's can supply these.

[george wilson]

That last Marples was a nice looking screw driver. I bought a set of Marples in abt. 1965.Back then,they had boxwood handles. Still have them. When I look at some of these handles,it makes me want to get around to making an oval turning attachment for the lathe. Trouble is,the dead center would also have to move to turn longish objects.

Years ago I made an automatic lathe which can make fully contoured tuning pegs. The cutting head swivels back and forth,following hardened steel master models of the tuning pegs. The old lathe is filthy with oily sawdust,but I could post pictures of it if anyone would care to see it. I took off the motor to make it smaller when I brought it home. I need to get it into a parts cleaning tank. I made thousands of lute pegs on it for a company that made lute kits back in the 70's. I would load the blank in,the peg was done in 2 minutes,self vacuumed itself,and switched off by itself.

I haven't used it in many years.I don't think it has enough swing to do screwdriver handles.

[Pam Niedermayer]

George, I'd love to see photos when you get a chance. Would also love to have a lathe like that.

Pam

[george wilson]

Trouble is,Pam,I made that lathe 100% out of raw blocks of steel and brass.I had many months in it before it was done. I even made an automatic self reversing mechanism to feed the rotating cutter in by degrees,and a complex reversing gearbox. In the end,I found out that the lathe would do the pegs in 1 pass.

I hate to show it as dirty as it is. It was sitting on the floor in the toolmaker's shop for many years,with dust sticking to the oiled surfaces. I'll try to look at it tomorrow. I'm paranoid about cleaning it in my yard with chemicals because I have a well.

[Casey Gooding]

Woodcraft has a set on sale. Not sure if this is what you want:
http://www.woodcraft.com/product.aspx?ProductID=148105&FamilyID=20354

[Charles Shenk]

Nothing wrong with the TFWW screwdrivers I was just checking to see if i was missing anything before I ordered a few. I have two of the LN screwdrivers for my planes and love them. I seem to be allergic to Chinese steel and so the English ones interest me.

[Shekhar Malvadkar]

Try the Lee Valley Heavy Duty screwdrivers. Made in Japan. They offer a good grip and their magnetic tips holds the screws well. They are expensive though but they seem to be well built. Lighter than I expected but I am sure they would last a long time.