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Our screwdriver took three years [video]

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Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#261

Last year I got a very similar looking Channellock that WireCutter recommended and I've really despised a few things about it: The bits are not retained by magnet, but by a bit-mounted sprung ball bearing. If I don't push the bit in hard enough, it'll just fall right out when I turn it over. It's like that comedy bit: "What time is it?" when someone is holding a drink in their watch hand. This probably is what led to…

I don't think they use ball bearing bits.

You are correct, I mistook the sample they showed at 1:40, which was the other vendor (Megapro?), and they have ball bearing bits. I had stopped watching at 3-5 minutes in, and didn't get to the section on bits.

They do have custom bits, but say they will provide replacement bits, and also have a mechanism for using regular magnetic hold bits. That's pretty huge!

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#262

Three years to make a screwdriver. That says it all

No it doesnt. Have you ever developed any product?

Yea, I have. But look designing something often comes from the heart. You see a need and dream of filling it as a foothold for the next person in their experience. It’s a conquest, for others. But someone that designs a new screwdriver, with a trillion already made, is in a different place. You can extrapolate the world view from what people create, or aspire to.

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#263
post #99

For the same price you could get a Wera screwdriver, small screwdrivers and a bottle opener. https://products.wera.de/en/kraftform_kompakt_kraftform_komp... https://products.wera.de/en/screwdrivers_series_kraftform_mi... https://products.wera.de/en/tools_for_bicycles_and_e-bikes_f...

Or Wiha, which is also a very reputable German-manufactured steel hand tool company. Similarly named to Wera but a competitor. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=wiha+scre... they make some excellent torx, security torx, hex, precision screwdriver sets. in addition to the larger stuff they make for 600/1000V insulated electrical use.

I second Wiha screwdrivers. I have been using them for years. In fact I am still using the set I purchased (Wiha #30299) that has every type of screw driver I you could come across in normal US products Slotted/Phillips/Torx/Pozidrive and Square). I keep them in my tool chest - been there for 21 years and still going. Bought $120! - https://bit.ly/3B7FtCn

I addition I am using the Wiha 26-IN-1 Tradesman multi bit screw driver - love it. Has every bit you would commonly need - I keep one in the office and one in the kitchen drawer. Fantastic tool - $36 - https://bit.ly/3q1sYCa

Can't see the point of spending this kind of money on this.

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Seems like the juicero for screwdrivers... over-engineered tool that without the "LTT" branding could probably sink in the stores. Megapro (LTT's partner on this) has been selling this type of ratcheting driver w/ bit storage in the handle for 25 years and is pretty well reviewed. How did you manage to make the leap to Juicero & only "saved by LTT logo" nonsense from such a well established, long-running product?

So what advantages does the $69.99 LTT driver have over the $48.99, $54.99, or $59.99 ratcheting drivers sold by Magapro themeslves? I think that's more to what OP is getting at. Going to a store knowing the LTT driver is a rebranded Magapro, why would any consumer want to pay the markup besides the brand name? For me, the LTT driver's only notable differences are not valuable additions to justify the cost. I think t…

If you're comparing this against a magapro at $10 more, but with the specific bits I need, all you're doing is selling me a screwdriver.

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#265
post #140

There's a reason that ratchets all have the control turn the opposite way: so that if it rubs against something as you operate it, it won't reverse accidentally. Linus broke the convention just because he wanted to… it's just as bad as that awful "natural scrolling" that plagues laptops these days.

Natural scrolling makes a lot of sense if you think of the trackpad as a proxy for a touchscreen, it certainly feels more natural to me. Not so much on a mouse wheel.

My problem with natural scrolling is ergonomics: fingers are better suited to pulling than pushing.

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#266
post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True. But they did hurt some of that goodwill with the "Trust Me Bro Warranty" in regards to the $250 backpack they sell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdxVtAiYeL0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsX3tUA-wJk

Never really got the whole controversy around that, and looks like Linus didn't really either. I would potentially chalk it up to cultural differences. At least where I live (and maybe in Canada?) we have quite strong consumer protection laws to the point that pretty much all warranties are less strong than the law is, so I don't really pay attention to them at all.

I came in at the tail-end of the controversy and didn't get it either, but then I watched the initial comment Linus made on the stream that started it and it was really weird. Basically his argument for not having a warranty was "if I die and my wife has to take over the business but doesn't want to, I don't want there to be any liabilities that she needs to be on the hook for".

You're a big business employing dozens of people and selling millions of dollars worth of goods now, you can't have the attitude "if I don't want to do this anymore I want an out where I can just say sayonara thanks for the fish"

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#267
I'm a bit surprised and amused by the comments here. It seems like suddenly everyone is an expert in industrial design, mechanical engineering, and product development while simultaneously missing the entire point of the product and being unable to see past the LTT brand.

I for one applaud them for pushing through to release this, and while I probably won't buy one, they certainly look well made and thought through. Obviously a ratcheting multi-bit driver won't be as robust as your Klein Phillips driver that you use while working on transformers in your day job, but that's not what it's intended for - it's for the average person who needs a handy screwdriver to keep in their car or kitchen junk drawer to pull out quickly when you need to twist some screws.

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#268

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or Wiha, which is also a very reputable German-manufactured steel hand tool company. Similarly named to Wera but a competitor. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=wiha+scre... they make some excellent torx, security torx, hex, precision screwdriver sets. in addition to the larger stuff they make for 600/1000V insulated electrical use.

Personal story, I ordered https://www.wihatools.com/products/precision-phillips-screwd... . On the plus side, the Phillips screwdrivers are hardened and almost impervious to camming out/slipping (but can still strip on bad screws if you don't apply any pressure), unlike my cheap Amazon screwdriver kit which chewed up Phillips screws for a living. On the downside, the PH0 screwdriver's endcap wasn't spinning freely (u…

Just beware - this iFixit’s set, I assume by the looks of end cap on the photo, it comes with a plastic handle. Bigger sets come with screwdriver made fully out of aluminium. Much better quality, feeling, lower friction.

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personal story, I ordered https://www.wihatools.com/products/precision-phillips-screwd... . On the plus side, the Phillips screwdrivers are hardened and almost impervious to camming out/slipping (but can still strip on bad screws if you don't apply any pressure), unlike my cheap Amazon screwdriver kit which chewed up Phillips screws for a living. On the downside, the PH0 screwdriver's endcap wasn't spinning freely (u…

are you quite sure you weren't trying to use a pozidriv bit in philips screws/bolts, or vice versa?

The cheap Amazon kit I was cursed with looks identical to https://www.amazon.com/Syntus-Precision-Screwdriver-Electron.... The product is advertised as S2 tool steel, but I think this is a lie since reviews complain of soft steel, eg. "my T6 stripped right away with no resistance" and "I don’t have much use for either set".

I think the Phillips tips are both too soft, and misshapen and too tapered so they cam out easily (often stripping the steel in the process) rather than locking solidly onto the screw socket. I do not see any Pozidriv bits with diagonal ridges in this kit, though some older screwdriver kits I have contain them.

Re: Our screwdriver took three years [video]

#270
post #56
post #7

It's pretty impressive how they've sold 60,000 $70 screwdrivers in under 48 hours

Especially since you can buy a comparable product from Amazon Basics for 14€ https://www.amazon.de/AmazonBasics-12-in-1-Magnetic-Ratchet-...

Just like a 300$ dollar chromebook is a comparable product to a 2500$ Macbook Pro. Not that we really even know anything yet since the screwdriver hasn't hit consumers yet(with some small exceptions).
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