GEARWRENCH 2 Position Ratcheting Screwdriver with Built-in LED Light & 6 Magnetic Bits (Model 82788) - Perfect for DIY Home Repairs, Automotive Work, and Electronics Maintenance

The Stahlwille (German), Bahco (Swedish), Gearwrench (Apex, USA) and others are all using the identical 3rd party manufacturer in Taiwan, making almost exactly the same screwdriver, and yet you see people swearing up and down about the obvious quality of this “German tool”... or whatever.Don’t believe me? See for yourself:Stahlwille (Germany) 4008 - No LED No Pivot - Stubby version.Gearwrench (USA) 82788 - LED and Pivot - No Stubby.Bahco (Sweden) 808050 - LED *or* Pivot not both. Stubby version.Blue point (USA) BSGDMR6 - No LED or PivotSealey (UK) AK64907 - No LED or pivotLet’s lay one thing out here on the table right now: everybody is loaded to the brim with Koolaid. There are so few manufacturers now making anything in the country they were founded in (Williams is a holdout in the US, but it’s rare). They now simply exist as “brands”- recognizable names that have the cachet to lure buyers and a storied history- but that history isn't really relevant now- that history has ended. Those workers were laid off in the 80s, sorry to say. These are the carcasses of once great companies, make no mistake.So, now that we know that we are dealing with the decaying remains of post World War II American Hegemony, in which we prop up gutted and lifeless American companies like Weekend at Bernies hoping no one notices the smell... well, now we can move on.If you are American made or bust, stop reading now and grab the Williams. The T Handle and regular handle combined will keep you going in 90% of situations and last decades.So, back to our regular scheduled programming: multitude of companies and different prices, and one Taiwanese manufacturer making one screwdriver with a few minor differences.The Stahlwille at around $45 is the basic version only (no light or rotating handle) and is the most expensive of the three. I was able to discern zero difference in quality besides the obvious alterations in branding in the handle.The Bahco is good at around $40 but it has a problem- you can’t have the LED and the rotating pistol grip in the same design. I would’ve stuck with the pistol grip alone if I hadn’t stumbled across option #3 by accident- the Gearwrench.The Gearwrench actually takes the cake here by a decent margin. Clocks in at $10 cheaper than the closest alternative and comes with both the LED light and the rotating grip, and comes in at $30. Additionally, it has the rubberized plastic ratchet mechanism which I prefer to the metallic Bahco and this covering seems better sealed from the elements. Additionally, the push button to release the bit bolder was easier to press than both the Bahco and the Stahlwille (each were somewhat difficult and fiddly).The bits on all of these are identical, btw- nothing to write home about but do the job. I keep them in there for backup as I usually have a separate box of bits and nut drivers with me.Only downside with the Gearwrench is that my example with the LED had a bit more play in the handle. However, that was easily fixed by cramming a #5 O-ring (probably a slightly smaller metric equivalent would be better) between the shaft and tip of the LED section. (See Photos). Add some silicone lubricant and it shouldn’t effect the smoothness of the ratcheting much if at all. That was a really, really satisfying upgrade that brought this into the running to be my “daily driver”It makes this *close enough* to my Williams without driving me crazy with the rattling bit storage, that I’ll reach for it instead due to its nice handle and modern conveniences like rotating handle and light. Is the mechanism as smooth and satisfying as the Williams? No. But I wasn’t expecting miracles here folks, and try to operate without too many delusional expectations.PS- every ratcheting screwdriver is going to have a little play! It’s necessary. It’s the back and forth between the spacing in the teeth of the ratchet. If this drives you nuts- go with the Williams or Snapon- nothing else will come close in terms of tolerances. Those have been my personal favorites and no matter what I use... Wera, Wiha, Megapro, Milwaukee, Klein, you name it, I’ve used all the fancy stuff...... they all have shortcomings too. Nothing pulls me away from using the Williams made drivers except for this Gearwrench at $30. If that isn’t a recommendation, I don’t know what is.Oh- buy some extra batteries while you’re at it here- you’ll forget what kind by the time it comes time to replace.. at least I always do. The type is L736F.So, don’t listen to all the background noise. Lay off the YouTube comparisons. You don’t know if half of these peoples last screwdriver was made by Fisher Price. I’ve used everything under the sun. And I mean everything. Give it a shot, maybe you’ll agree with me that this is a hidden gem at a great price. Even better: buy this and the Wera and some others at the same time and compare them all side by side and see for yourself.I needed a screwdriver with a built in flash light and also use as a gear wrench for tight screws. I also like that you can adjust the handle to 90 degrees for economic comfort!!!There was a problem with the LED not lighting up, so 4 stars.2-position + LED feature was very appealing to me, so I bought it.However, when I opened the package, one of the two LED lamps flashed irregularly or had poor contact and would not light up.Since it took more than two weeks from the time I purchased the product to the time it arrived in Japan, and I didn't want to spend more time on returns and exchanges, I found and repaired the defective contact.By removing one small screw, I was able to easily separate the base with the LED, so I re-soldered it and repaired it. No problems so far, so we'll see how it goes for a while.By the way, this pistol-type ratcheting screwdriver is sold by another company with a changeable shank, so I disassembled it to see if it might be possible to change the shank with some minor modification. However, the internal gear is press-fit to the shank, and it seems that the shank cannot be changed. A little disappointing!I expected to be able to change the shank by removing the Push On shaft retaining washer that stops the shank from releasing, just like Snap-on's Classic grip ratcheting screwdriver, but I was wrong.This is a long digression...As for the important ratchet mechanism, it is smooth as others have reviewed, and the forward/reverse switch is light and easy to operate.A small amount of grease was applied from the beginning, but a thin layer of silicon grease was added during assembly, which made the ratchet spin even smoother.I expect it to be durable, but if it breaks, I will buy it again.Well made, comfortable to use, a bit expensive, and you must have really strong fingers to open the bit holder and to change the handle configuration as well. But no regrets buying that one.This is really great. We've put together quite a bit of furniture with this and not had any issues at all. I was worried that the bits would be very cheap but they've held up very well and haven't been a problem at all. I thought the handle felt a bit flimsy when we first got it, but I think it was the strange feel of the hollow end of the handle where the bits are. Having them right there in the handle is very convenient and I think it's a good design overall. Overall it doesn't feel flimsy when we're using it, and it does just what it's supposed to very well. The light has been terrific, and the magnetic bits are so convenient. I was really concerned that for the price we were just going to get a complete piece of garbage, and instead we were very pleasantly surprised that this has done a surprisingly good job. I was hesitant even after it arrived, but having used it quite extensively now, I see that my judgement was almost too hasty and I'm glad that we kept it and gave it a real try.Great item!!! A+++I was hoping the magnet would be strong, it is? Fine wratcheting, small increments are able to be made, and it feels solid. RecommendOverall a great tool. You can't believe how often the light comes in handy. Accessing the spare driver heads is a little difficult. The only draw back, there was no flat head screw driver bit head. How is that possible?Nice tool.Took off 1 star for the play between the shaft and the handleVery good screwdriver combining lighting, 2 position handle and pop out 6 bit holder.Really nice ratchet and nice and strongMy brother seems happy.