Which screwdrivers!

[graemeW]

I'm sick of my cheap screwdrivers and thought I'd treat myself. I've been looking for some time at all the options and have narrowed it down to a few sets. I want a 0.5mm so my options seem to be...

Bergeon stainless on rotating stand

Bergeon chrome on rotating stand

Bergeon stainless in box

Bergeon chrome in box

Horotec aluminium on rotating stand.

 

I'd rather a box to be honest, my bench isn't permanently set up. I guess I could put them in any box for storage though.

I really don't understand why 9 bergeon stainless on rotating stand, and 9 bergeon chrome on rotating stand are basically the same price. But, 10 stainless in a box are £60 cheaper that 10 chrome in a box! If 10 chrome in a box were £110 +vat like the stainless are, id have already bought them.

 

I like the horotec screwdrivers too but the only set with 0.5mm is the aluminium on a rotating base.

 

I could buy any set and add a singular 0.5mm, but having one extra that doesn't fit the base of case would annoy me. It also starts getting expensive, id like to stay under £150. 

 

I guess what I comes down to is the bearing vs polymer head. I there much of a difference in use, feel, durability between the 2 styles?

I know any of the mentioned sets will be a world above what I'm currently using. 

I know I could get cheap handles and bergeon blades, but by the time I've messed around buying 2 blades of each size and handles, I don't think the saving is worthwhile. I have also seen the Chinese sets on all express that get really good reviews, but there may be problems replacing blade later on as they don't take standard types.

 

So, swiss made, cased or rotating stand, must contain 0.5mm, under £150. What do i pick?

 

Current considerations from cousins...

Ignore basket total, I'm not buying them all!!

[AndyGSi]

15 minutes ago, graemeW said:

I'm sick of my cheap screwdrivers and thought I'd treat myself.

Going back to your first comment.

What screwdrivers are you using and what's the problem?

You may want to look at this post.

 

[Knebo]

I have the Bergeon screwdrivers with in stainless with the polymer head. I find the head very comfortable and ergonomic on my finger. I've never used any other ones, though, so can't compare. 

But they seem to tick all your boxes (pun intended). The head works well. 

[graemeW]

17 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

Going back to your first comment.

What screwdrivers are you using and what's the problem?

You may want to look at this post.

 

I don't know what they are. Cheap Chinese with screw on ends to hold the blades like a 2 jaw pin vice. They don't clamp the blades well, the blades seem both too hard, and too soft at the same time. They chip easily, seem to crumble at the ends. I dress them regularly and inspect under the microscope, but a right screw will often just break up the corners of the blades. They just aren't good.

12 minutes ago, Knebo said:

I have the Bergeon screwdrivers with in stainless with the polymer head. I find the head very comfortable and ergonomic on my finger. I've never used any other ones, though, so can't compare. 

But they seem to tick all your boxes (pun intended). The head works well. 

They do seem like a good set to go for. My only other concern with these, or the horotec, is the size of the head making it sometimes more difficult to get a good view under the microscope without having to start tilting things. Alot of that is probably my lack of skill/experience though and i guess the heads are smaller than my finger tips so probably won't be the limiting factor

I just realised the price difference bewteen the cased bergeon is because the stainless ones come in a card box and the chrome ones come in a wooden box.

 

[RichardHarris123]

Since you want to be able to put them away easily, I  would splash the extra £22 and buy the chrome ones. 

[graemeW]

32 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

Since you want to be able to put them away easily, I  would splash the extra £22 and buy the chrome ones. 

£22?

The boxed chrome ones are £60 more expensive, purely for the box. Makes them £210 including vat and postage. More than I wanted to pay, but they are a nice set.

[RichardHarris123]

8 minutes ago, graemeW said:

£22?

The boxed chrome ones are £60 more expensive, purely for the box. Makes them £210 including vat and postage. More than I wanted to pay, but they are a nice set.

Oops.  Definitely haven't had enough coffee this morning.  Wake up Richard. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

9 hours ago, graemeW said:

I'm sick of my cheap screwdrivers and thought I'd treat myself. I've been looking for some time at all the options and have narrowed it down to a few sets. I want a 0.5mm so my options seem to be...

Bergeon stainless on rotating stand

Bergeon chrome on rotating stand

Bergeon stainless in box

Bergeon chrome in box

Horotec aluminium on rotating stand.

 

I'd rather a box to be honest, my bench isn't permanently set up. I guess I could put them in any box for storage though.

I really don't understand why 9 bergeon stainless on rotating stand, and 9 bergeon chrome on rotating stand are basically the same price. But, 10 stainless in a box are £60 cheaper that 10 chrome in a box! If 10 chrome in a box were £110 +vat like the stainless are, id have already bought them.

 

I like the horotec screwdrivers too but the only set with 0.5mm is the aluminium on a rotating base.

 

I could buy any set and add a singular 0.5mm, but having one extra that doesn't fit the base of case would annoy me. It also starts getting expensive, id like to stay under £150. 

 

I guess what I comes down to is the bearing vs polymer head. I there much of a difference in use, feel, durability between the 2 styles?

I know any of the mentioned sets will be a world above what I'm currently using. 

I know I could get cheap handles and bergeon blades, but by the time I've messed around buying 2 blades of each size and handles, I don't think the saving is worthwhile. I have also seen the Chinese sets on all express that get really good reviews, but there may be problems replacing blade later on as they don't take standard types.

 

So, swiss made, cased or rotating stand, must contain 0.5mm, under £150. What do i pick?

 

Current considerations from cousins...

Ignore basket total, I'm not buying them all!!

But then just think ! you can then have five benches to go with them .

[RichardHarris123]

I meant £22 more than your £150 budget.  I wondered where I got the £22 from.

[Neverenoughwatches]

2 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

But then just think ! you can then have five benches to go with them .

Personally, whichever you choose ,I would go for the revolving stand.  Much neater on your bench while working and easy to use. I'm sure it will come in a cardboard box that you can put it in or find a small box for it. You can buy a cheap wooden ( i prefer plastic for most storage, wood is hygroscopic ) case from lots of places to put the drivers in but a revolving stand would be an extra cousins order if you decide you want one. 

[rehajm]

Yah, the stand- You’ll be back and forth all the time on sizes and a stand makes it so quick and easy to spot and pull. Keeps your work space tidy…

[graemeW]

1 hour ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Personally, whichever you choose ,I would go for the revolving stand.  Much neater on your bench while working and easy to use. I'm sure it will come in a cardboard box that you can put it in or find a small box for it. You can buy a cheap wooden ( i prefer plastic for most storage, wood is hygroscopic ) case from lots of places to put the drivers in but a revolving stand would be an extra cousins order if you decide you want one. 

 

1 hour ago, rehajm said:

Yah, the stand- You’ll be back and forth all the time on sizes and a stand makes it so quick and easy to spot and pull. Keeps your work space tidy…

I'm beginning to come round to this idea.

I seem to be leaning towards the bergeon stainless. They don't have bearings, but at least that means they won't get dirt in the bearings.

I also like the horotec stainless but they don't do a set with a 0.5mm. The horotec aluminium still look decent value. 10 sizes, including the 0.5mm I need, rotating base, £110. Cheaper than the bergeon and you get a 3mm that the bergeon set doesn't give you, unless I buy the cased one's.

The bergeon set does look nice in its box though, with the blade tubes, and the colours against the black. I know that shouldn't be a consideration but there is a certain amount of pride of ownership with a purchase like this.

Edited March 1 by graemeW

[graemeW]

After all the deliberations, I ordered the cousins swiss set. I know someone who has the same and like a them, they seem the same as beco technic which I've heard good things about, and also heard they are the same as the AF sets which seem to be recommended, but are now discontinued.

If they are ok, I'll spend the savings on other tools.

[AndyGSi]

Is it this set?

 

[praezis]

59 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

Is it this set?

No, India.

[AndyGSi]

2 minutes ago, praezis said:

No, India.

I was asking @graemeW which set he'd bought but realise now it's probably these.

Not sure where the set I showed are made but they have the same blades starting S57453

[graemeW]

3 hours ago, AndyGSi said:

I was asking @graemeW which set he'd bought but realise now it's probably these.

Not sure where the set I showed are made but they have the same blades starting S57453

Yes, that set. Worth a try. When I said swiss, I was purely referring to cousins description  of swiss style. Which is a bit misleading in my opinion. I know they are made in France. Or, more likely, the blades are fitted and the set put in a box in France. I assume the actual manufacturing is done in China. But whatever, Ive head they arent too bad.

Still want that boxed bergeon set though

Edited March 3 by graemeW

[mbwatch]

I have that set, bought through Ofrei in the USA as "French" if I recall. They are good, I don't like how the blade fits in the 0.6mm driver - on mine, the blade has to be kept protruding pretty long which makes it a little too easy to bend. But I do find them easy to dress. I chip my 1mm black driver all the time but it only takes a moment to put an edge back on it.

They have served me well enough that over 3 years I have not been tempted to spend more on a big name Swiss set. I am sure if I tried, I could buy and install Swiss made blades in these drivers. The shafts and bearings are just fine, no complaints.

[graemeW]

33 minutes ago, mbwatch said:

I have that set, bought through Ofrei in the USA as "French" if I recall. They are good, I don't like how the blade fits in the 0.6mm driver - on mine, the blade has to be kept protruding pretty long which makes it a little too easy to bend. But I do find them easy to dress. I chip my 1mm black driver all the time but it only takes a moment to put an edge back on it.

They have served me well enough that over 3 years I have not been tempted to spend more on a big name Swiss set. I am sure if I tried, I could buy and install Swiss made blades in these drivers. The shafts and bearings are just fine, no complaints.

Good to know, thanks.

Why do you think the blade chips? The blades on my cheap screwdrivers seem to crumble at the slightest provocation 

[mbwatch]

35 minutes ago, graemeW said:

Why do you think the blade chips?

User error probably? I think I tend to dress it too thin, and use it more as a general purpose driver than is really appropriate. The blades that came with that set are on the softer side, which makes them easy to dress but of course also easy to damage.

Honestly, if I had paid more for a big name Swiss set I expect I would probably be more careful with them then I am with this set and chip them less often.

[praezis]

2 hours ago, graemeW said:

I know they are made in France. Or, more likely, the blades are fitted and the set put in a box in France. I assume the actual manufacturing is done in China

You are supposing wrong, I suppose .

I stood already in the factory premises in France and was shown the machines.

Frank

[graemeW]

On 3/3/2025 at 7:51 PM, praezis said:

You are supposing wrong, I suppose .

I stood already in the factory premises in France and was shown the machines.

Frank

Well that's nice to know!

[AndyGSi]

On 3/3/2025 at 7:51 PM, praezis said:

You are supposing wrong, I suppose .

I stood already in the factory premises in France and was shown the machines.

Frank

And you know that it's these sets of screwdrivers sold by Cousins they were making?

[praezis]

The one above with revolving base? I am sure.

In the past I made business with them and also with the Mumbai distributor of the Indian set. I met both personally.

Frank

[AndyGSi]

16 minutes ago, praezis said:

The one above with revolving base? I am sure.

In the past I made business with them and also with the Mumbai distributor of the Indian set. I met both personally.

Frank

So the ones in the rotating base look like these but they're selling for a lot more than the Cousins ones.

https://www.esprit-nato.com/en/228-watchmaker-screwdrivers