Fat Max Extreme Screwdriver

Strange name for a tool, but it’s a great tool. This tool range is the premium end of the Stanley range and designed for hard work, wear and tear.

You can pick one of these up for around £20 – £30 from a good retail outlet. Some of the bigger DIY stores have them.

In the Box:

Firstly the case. This is a nice case made of a heavy-duty plastic with a single hinge at the back and a metal clasp at the front. The lid has a nice detail of raised lettering on the lid that suggests something good lurks inside! The metal clasp has some nice detail work and holds the lid firmly shut.

The Lid opens completely to lay right out-of-the-way. This also makes a nice make shift holding area for various screws, nuts, washers or bits that you have just removed or need to screw back on. The screw driver is held in place by an exact cut dense foam rubber. Below the shaft is the adaptor piece to hold other bits, and above the shaft is the fairly comprehensive 25 various bit selection. There are 3 x slotted (1 x 3, 1 x 4.5, 1 x 6mm), 4 x Phillips (1 x PH1, 2 x PH2, 1 x PH3,) 4 x Pozi (1 x PZ#1, 2 x PZ#2, 1 x PZ#3), 4 x Torx (1x T10, 1 x T15, 1 x T20, 1 x T25).

The Ratchet driver:

The handle is made of a heavy plastic with an inset of a firm rubber that feels good in the hands. the collar has a 3 position setting, clockwise, counter-clockwise and lock in the middle. The base of the driver has a natty little trick up its sleeve! if you pull the base down it will click open to expose a holding area for 6 bits as you need them. This could save you taking the whole case with you and just take what you need, or add the more obscure bits you need, that way you can get to carry even more of a comprehensive selection. This will give you a total of 21 storage positions. That’s without chucking a handful in the case just for the sake of it.

The shaft has a nice length to it and has a nice knurled crossed pattern on it to enable you to get a grip when starting of what you’re doing. The tip has a dual function, there is a mechanical grip for the bits in the end and also a magnetic tip. The magnet is strong enough to hold a smaller size screw once its undone to pull out from a tight enclosure. The mechanical lock seems strong and so far I have not managed to pull the bit out while trying to remove the last screw, (it’s always the last screw that the problem). To release the bits from the tip you have to pull down the collar under the tip, this then releases a spring to move the bit forward enough for you to remove the bit. The spring does not fire it out at you, in case you wondering, it just moves it by half an inch or so. The ratchet, is from a 40 tooth design, this enables a very fine turn of a few degrees to engage the next tooth. There is a fine almost silent click when you turn it. I have applied plenty of force to a particular screw that was giving me grief, and it worked a charm and did not slip on the mechanism. The fact that you can keep your hand in an optimal position and twist back again is excellent. The reason it’s so good is that you don’t end up dragging your knuckles across a sharp piece of metal in a tight area(s), for that alone it can’t be applauded enough. 🙂

The Bits & Adaptor:

The bits seem strong enough at the moment and only time will tell if they start to round off, break or stay in shape. The fact that you can buy the many different bits is a bonus, as the bit holder is the industry standard size, and you can replace them as you need too. The adaptor is handy, this enable me to put in bit that incorporated a socket for small bolts. I was able to use the screw driver as a hand-held spanner that had very small space to get to. My extension pieces weren’t quite long enough for the job. That issue has now been addressed with the appropriate purchase!

Pros: