Wheeler screwdrivers

[Carrier]

I searched these on this and other places. I'm a heavy equipment tech of 35 years and use only Snap On and Mac tools as the cheap stuff just doesn't hold up.
I know my wife bought one of the 89 piece sets for Christmas. Is it going to work or are they just cheap Chinese ****? They are not going to get the daily use like my work tools get but I don't want something that is not going to be able to take working on my firearms or damage them.

 

[chief38]

I am unfamiliar with the quality of Wheeler's set but they do look correct from the photo I googled. I swear by Brownells Bits (made by Apex) and for all I know Wheelers could be made by Apex also - who knows. I would say (at least judging from the photo and description) they would be fine for Gunsmithing. If you find that they are chipping or breaking or simply wearing than I'd get the Brownells, but again the Wheeler's might be just fine - give 'em a whirl.

As good as you think your Snap-on or Mac screwdrivers are - - they are the incorrect type of bits to be used on Firearms. Firearms should be worked on with ONLY Hollow Ground Bits made exactly for the screw you are removing or installing. They should fit the full width of the slot and fit snugly with no wiggle room. Regular screwdrivers such as Snap-on, Mac, Matco, Craftsman, Stanley, etc. are NOT Hollow Ground and have minimal contact with the screw slot. That is how most screws on guns get stripped and bunged up.

 

[garbler]

Like Chief said these automotive screwdrivers have the wrong geometry for gun screws. I've got two drawers full of screw drivers many of which are what I call blanks. Just good metal and a good handle that I re-grind for various gun screws. I used to do it myself and got pretty good at it but found an old time retired machinist-pattern maker who told me he would love to do it. So I put together a bag of gun screws and old screw drivers then told him what I wanted for length and some of my wife's Polish cookies and a bottle of Jack Daniels I got some sweet snug fitting screwdrivers. That was long ago and since then I swear by Brownells Magna Tips. They are ground correctly and easy to swap out and work with. Money well spent.

Regards

 

[BlackTalonJHP]

They are mid-grade in my opinion. I prefer Wiha, Wera, or Chapman for screwdrivers, probably in that order. I do use Wheeler for specialty size fasteners and they have held up ok.

 

[dmar]

Last I checked, the Wheeler screwdrivers are China. Not sure if they will hold up, or be like most made in China stuff. I generally stay away from that stuff.

I've got the big Brownell set, and they are very good quality, made in USA. IMO, they're the only way to go. They are a little spendy, but I think they're worth it.

I agree with Chief's comments about the Snap On, and other quality mechanics drivers. I use them on my vehicle, but don't put them anywhere near my guns...

 

[H Richard]

I've got a 96 piece set I've had for 6-7 years, and I like it. Remember it is a "gunsmithing" set, not for use on cars, etc. I only broke one blade, (exactly as it was supposed to rather than hurt the screw slot) in all that time. I also have some Brownell screwdrivers, and I prefer the Wheeler.

 

[garbler]

I might add for whatever it's worth of all the screwdrivers I have I rely on three maybe four 90% of the time. As for punches I rely on four or five and that's it and I've got two punch and pin blocks full. Yes occasionally I need a a couple of tapered alignment pins for autos or a hammer nose riveter but not often. But as we all know if you only buy three or four you'll immediately need five, six and seven

Regards

 

[gregintenn]

The Wheeler set is cheap, but seems to work well enough for the shade tree gun tinkerer.

They sure beat trying to get by with standard screwdrivers.

 

[gnystrom]

I received my S&W specific magna tip screwdriver from Brownells this week. I promptly put it to use on a new J-frame. Perfect fit, (far better than the Chapman set I have).
I am happy I bought it.

 

[Carrier]

I should have been more specific. No I do not use my work stuff on my guns. I have a small set of hollow ground screw drivers that I use on my guns and nothing else. My wife thought I might be able to use them but like most things made these days they may be **** that is made in china and distributed from the USA or Canada.
Also being in Canada it is not so easy getting gun stuff out of the USA not because of Canadian customs but because of your Homeland security and ITAR won't let a lot of it out of the USA. Not that Brownells tools and some things can't be brought in but it is a major hassle on them and many other things.

 

[Big Cholla]

I'm so old that my Wheeler Engineering set of screwdriver bits and handles was made in the USA. I don't know why I didn't suspect that they along with most other major brand name tool makers wouldn't be shipping their production overseas. It is a matter of economic necessity.

My Wheelers are better than Chapman, Miller and Brownell's. I have never broken one and I always find the exactly right fit for every gun that I have worked on in the last 10 years. Now, I have not worked on any high $ foreign made shotguns in that time. If I did, I would just regrind a Wheeler tip to fit. Problem solved. .............

 

[Carrier]

Oh well will see what they look like at Christmas. None of my guns have any seized or rusty screws not even the several Enfield SMLE Mark lll I have. As long as the bits fit then should be good. If not then will return them and get the ones from Brownells.

 

[3rdgenman]

I have the 89 pc Wheeler screwdriver set. I think its pretty good, I don't have anything to compare it to though. It has a wide range of bits that will fit about anything. I have broken a couple slotted bits, the bit broke before the screw was damaged which is good. I am an aircraft mechanic and appreciate quality tools. I would buy the Wheeler set again.

 

[garbler]

I have broken a couple slotted bits, the bit broke before the screw was damaged which is good.

Having the bit break before damaging the screw head is real important to me for all exterior screws like side plates, grip panels etc. The MagnaTip bits are designed to do just that but I can say some of the Magna bits seem a bit too brittle and I've heard this from other gunsmiths too. Not sure if it's by the batch or heat treating or whatever but some break too quickly.

After reading all the posts about the Wheeler sets I am very interested and may just make the jump however 89 pieces is a lot so I may look into a smaller set. Couple of questions for you long time users. As I noted above I rely on four or five bits most of the time and with Brownells I can buy a stash of just the bits I use and break the most. Can you do this with Wheeler ? Finally is the handle magnetized ?

Thanks

 

[Carrier]

Well that sounds a bit better. I was talking to one of the gunstores where I'm at and they said they use the Wheeler sets in the back. Not sure if that's good or bad

 

[stem]

Wadsworth mini ratchet set is a high quality set with different size drivers as well as hex bits both metric and standard. I've been using them for years at work. Made in USA too.

 

[125JHP]

My understanding is that Wheeler was a good company at one time, then Midway (actually the son via Battenfield Technologies) bought them out. I've gotten some of there stuff and some of it is good (like the FAT wrence) and some is cheap/bad (like the savage action wrench). I think they are making it (some or all??) in China...

 

[Carrier]

Well I opened them up to have a look and will be taking them back for sure.

 

[ameridaddy]

Wheeler tips

My gosh, those look cast, not ground. Corners not sharp, wavy ends on the blade tips. I must have bought my set just before they emigrated to China.

 

[garbler]

My gosh, those look cast, not ground. Corners not sharp, wavy ends on the blade tips. I must have bought my set just before they emigrated to China.

You got that right those are some pretty crude looking bits. Not ground certainly not even cleaned up. If they can't even clean the sprue tits off I doubt there is any real heat treating. Can you imagine the damage you could do to a nice gun with this junk.