Wheeler Screwdriver set...junk or counterfeit ?

FatCatsDad

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Treated myself to a Wheeler set off Amazon.
The set has to be a fake .....this bit twisted taking out filler screws on a 336 so I could mount a set of Talley's.
Amazon says too bad as I got it off a 3rd party seller.



$40 down the drain

 
Some bits are designed to break before damaging the screw and creating major problems with a broken/stripped screw head. Even if it's a fake, I would think the screw is cross threaded or in there pretty tight to twist the bit like that.
 
Some bits are designed to break before damaging the screw and creating major problems with a broken/stripped screw head. Even if it's a fake, I would think the screw is cross threaded or in there pretty tight to twist the bit like that.

This is a good point.

OP did the screw come out? Because filler screws shouldn't take much effort, you could practically use a bit made out of playdoh to get the ones out of my Henry...
 
soft enough not to marr the screw = win :)

I have a Wheeler set from 15? years ago and that tiniest flat blade is weak also, limited uses
Made in China, but thought Wheeler would have more concern for quality
 
This is a good point.

OP did the screw come out? Because filler screws shouldn't take much effort, you could practically use a bit made out of playdoh to get the ones out of my Henry...

Yup came out no issue, with a small driver from my Craftsmen set
 
pretty sure you can contact amazon for refund or replacement if it was recently purchased.

That was my thought, did the online customer service chat.
They don't get involved if it isn't a "sold" by Amazon item.
Told me to contact the seller who , surprise surprise hasn't returned my email
 
Im sorry but it has to be said: if you buy good tools, they’ll last you the rest of your life. Buy Chinese crap, and you’ll get Chinese crap.

A good soak with Kroil ahead of time works wonders for tight fasteners. The bit isn’t soft to protect the screw, it’s soft because at $25 there’s no profit in properly heat treating the steel.
 
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I have a few sets, the best, a no name set I got years ago to carry in my gunshow tool equipment, it is red, and as good as any, think it was 7.oo , 2 rows of bits.
But my handle is not flashy
 
Im sorry but it has to be said: if you buy good tools, they’ll last you the rest of your life. Buy Chinese crap, and you’ll get Chinese crap.

A good soak with Kroil ahead of time works wonders for tight fasteners. The bit isn’t soft to protect the screw, it’s soft because at $25 there’s no profit in properly heat treating the steel.

I figured Wheeler wouldn't put their name on junk.
The packaging has all the right information on it, heat treated, type of steel etc.
 
I figured Wheeler wouldn't put their name on junk.
The packaging has all the right information on it, heat treated, type of steel etc.
For a multi tip screwdriver look at Megapro. For well made individual screwdrivers I’d recommend Wiha.

Wheeler puts their name on junk all the time. Some of their stuff is excellent, some of it isn’t.

Anyway, you can always get replacement tips and use the handle you have too.

Cheers
 
Buy once cry once! I’m too poor to buy cheep tools, or cheep anything for that matter! You end up paying more in the end or always waiting for warranty to return!!
 
I gave up on those bits a long time ago other than for a few jobs.

I now own close to 60 different screwdrivers, flat, hex head, torque, philips and robertson.

All of the flat screwdriver tips are purpose ground for a tight fit that goes at least 90% from one side to the other of the entire slot. Anything else amost always leads to ''galled'' screw heads.

The same thing can and does happen with other types of screwdriver tips as well.

Galled screws = micky mouse gunsmithing.

When I purchase a used firearm and the screw slots are galled, immediate $50 off my offering price.

The last rifle I purchased new was a Ruger 77 and it had galled action screws when it arrived. I sent it back.

I will edit to add that I've perused the bins in yard sales and pawn shops for ''good quality'' screwdrivers, usually at bargain basement prices, to put together my collection of screwdrivers. I've also ruined more than a few learning how to grind them properly.

The one thing most people are drawn to by those sets, is that the bit tips are ground with FLAT sides. IMHO this is a very important thing.

Most off the shelf screw drivers are cut off "V" shapes, which only apply pressure on a very tiny portion of the bit and screw slot.

Of course, there is a good reason for this. Usually people only have a couple of different size flat screwdrivers and they have to fit several diffent width slots, which is OK for most purposes but not for visible firearms screws, which not only look fugly when damaged but can and do cause minor cuts if the galled edges are sharp and protruding.
 
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I have the bigger Wheeler set and ya I broke that small bit too and it broke too easily IMO, I didn't really torque on it either
 
Only 60??
I'm with bearhunter and have no use for the inserted-tip screwdrivers - other than an old Chapman set for emergency use in my shooting box.
I hollow grind my screwdrivers as needed and have a good-sized box full of flat, torx and phillips donor stock. I find the torx make the best small reground tips. The torx seems to be tougher than phillips and flats. Never had much luck with robertson.
 
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