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Comment by causality0 | Hacker News Reader

As someone who spends a good portion of his workday using screwdrivers on industrial equipment and computers, I still don't understand why you'd want a ratcheting one.

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I've had a Snap-On SSDMR4B0 [1] for at least 25 years now. The usefulness of the ratchet is hard to describe, but easy to recognize after using one for the purpose of driving/removing screws. One big benefit, which only really reveals with longer screws, is the ability to drive or remove much more quickly than a non-ratchet type screwdriver. Also, the benefit is much more recognizable driving screws with significant resistance (i.e. wood screws into hard wood, or concrete screws into concrete or cinder-block). You can keep pressure on the screw, and just rotate the handle back and forth to drive in/remove the screw, reducing the chance of stripping out the screw head by releasing pressure to turn your hand or turn the screwdriver.

If you have ever used a ratchet wrench for nuts or bolts vs. an open-end or box wrench, the difference between the ratchet screwdriver and a regular one is much the same as the difference between using a ratchet wrench vs. an open-end/box wrench to tighten/loosen a nut or bolt.

The ratchet in their screwdriver, from the video, has a ratchet sound very similar to the Snap-On model I have.

[1] Current version: https://shop.snapon.com/product/Standard-Handle/8-3-4%22-Rat...

I have the same one (different color) that I got as part of a larger purchase of secondhand SnapOn tools. I probably wouldn't have initially laid out $75 [or even $40] for it, but after getting it as part of a package deal, I find it a lot more useful than I thought.

It seems similar to the "why do precision screwdrivers have that spinny part on the back?"

I highly prefer a ratcheting screwdriver if I have to remove a stubborn philips or pozidriv screw, especially if the screw is not directly accessible or there's limited space for my hand.

This allows me to keep a good grip and the pressure on the screw all the time, ensuring the screwdriver head doesn't slip out of position.

I also find it faster to just twist the shaft of the screwdriver once the screw is loose, something which I find easier with a ratcheting screwdriver (many have a knurled section on the shaft for this).

And a good ratcheting screwdriver allows you to lock the mechanism, so you have the best of both worlds.

The locking mechanism is really where many cheap screwdrivers fail. If it's to easy to hit, or doesn't lock cleanly in place, it can be pretty annoying.

Fair point, if the alternative is between a plain and a cheap ratcheting screwdriver, I'd probably go with the plain one. But I've bought a few "mid-range" ratcheting screwdrivers and I've found them very useful.

This is one thing I'm keen on testing. I bought a PB Swiss driver to compare, and the ratchet on it is a huge improvement over every other ratcheting driver I've used.

I never really liked ratcheting drivers but I might make an exception for the PB Swiss (jury's out on the LTT driver). It feels like a real screwdriver when you lock the ratchet.

My ratchet driver is Stanley. It's about 15 years old, and it has no faults, other than being too fat for some jobs; the shaft has a sort of rolodex for bits built-in, and it can get in the way. I don't think Stanley make this driver any more (Stanley are not the toolmaker they used to be).

Black & Decker bought Stanley in 2010 to become Stanley Black & Decker. They then started becoming an umbrella company, buying many other existing brands such as Craftsman and DeWalt.

It is hard to trust a “brand” any more. From 2017 there is a great summary of brand ownership here: https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gear/a28359/mega...

The consolation of design and manufacturing has lead to some quality problems for existing hand and power tool brands.

It really is a matter of convenience. Linus's work is obviously mostly with computers and servers, where you often work in tighter spaces; not having to reposition your whole hand (and/or pull the screwdriver out of the screw and reposition it because of a lack of space) is a nice convenience. Plus, most computer screws are not really tightened very much, so you'll be done with a few flicks of your wrist. He also explicitly mentions he uses the ratchet by turning only the axle and keeping the handle steady in his hand for a lot of the screws.

I'm not sure I understand the reposition-your-hand thing. If you're turning the screwdriver you either continuously manipulate it with your fingers or keep rotating your wrist back and forth regardless of whether you have a normal or ratcheted one. Only difference being in the ratcheted one you don't have to release the grip on the screwdriver (and in non-ratcheted you just have to not grip tightly). And if the screws aren't tightened too much - like in a PC - then you'd need a really light ratchet action for it to be of any use.

I guess it's just a personal preference thing rather than a real need of some sort, which IMO is fair enough

Seems like it would be the same reason as any, keeping the driver in place.

Sometimes you can't see the screw in computer racks. If you have to pull the screwdriver off even so slightly it might be difficult to get back on the screw head. Ratcheting negates this slight issue.

I've not encountered this, though maybe I've been lucky enough to only need to handle screws that I can easily keep a bit of pressure on while (idk the right term) "resetting" my fingers/wrist to keep [un]screwing.

I use a screwdriver when I have to (so I am a level 0 expert) but at some point you have to release your grip on the screwdriver and therefore need a way to keep it engaged in the screw (except if you reposition it at every 1/4 of turn).

This can be annoying (it is always for me) and a mechanism where you can arm the next 1/4 turn without disengaging the screw is great

PS. when I say 1/4 of a turn, this is to to indicate the torsion of the wrist. Could be more, could be less

> or keep rotating your wrist back and forth regardless of whether you have a normal or ratcheted one

What goes away with the ratchet is the continuous clench/unclench action. While I don't normally have any other RSI-like issues, that movement just kills my wrist after 1 or 2 screws. I've got a ratchet screwdriver with an option to twist/bend it in the middle to get better leverage and the difference is amazing.

> He also explicitly mentions he uses the ratchet by turning only the axle and keeping the handle steady in his hand for a lot of the screws.

This is shown in action at this point in the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K5Gqp1cEcM&t=606s

In many ways, this mimics the function of a jewelers screwdriver:

https://www.victornet.com/milpixpics/1315_GEN-SPC-100.jpg

I want, and have, both a ratcheting screwdriver and a "normal" one. For screws that a hard to reach, I don't want to lift the screwdriver between turns. There are certainly cases with tricky screws where a normal screwdriver is much more convenient. It really depends on what I'm doing.

What's wrong with ratcheting screwdrivers? I don't use screwdrivers every day, but my cheap[1] ratcheting screwdriver seems to work fine.

[1] Literally free, I was given it at some conference.

I agree, but for small fasteners the palm-saver cap in the megapro screwdriver I have is great: https://megaprotools.com/pages/the-megapro-advantage

It doesn't ratchet. It's basically just a bearing so you can push down on the top and the rest of the screwdriver can move freely—hard to explain I suppose.

Much of my use of ratcheting screwdrivers has been replaced by power tool screwdrivers.

If you know how to juice it, you can do amazing things with a bit driver, especially since you can put a lot of force to keep the bit set and still get it to turn.

Hard agree. Every ratcheting screwdriver I have has broken and now spins freely therefore is useless. It's just more complexity to break.

People tend to draw analogues to ratcheting wrenches but the entire point of ratcheting wrenches is to avoid having to remove them from the bolt to spin it making it easier to use in tighter locations. No such benefit exists for screwdrivers due to their geometry.

I am with you. Been messing with tools my entire life...have tried ratcheting screwdrivers of several kinds...Hard no. If I do lots of screws, I use a drill or impact driver. Or, failing that a nice 1/4 or 3/8 ratchet wrench with the appropriate adaptor + bit.

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