Mixed Screwdriver Sets

Mixed Screwdriver Sets

A good mixed screwdriver set sits in the toolbox for years — picked up daily, thrown around weekly, and judged by whether the tips still bite the screw head when you reach for them. AIMS Industrial stocks screwdriver sets from the brands that get this right: Wiha, Stahlwille, Bahco, and other quality marques known for tip accuracy, handle comfort, and shaft hardness that doesn't chew under load.

What's typically in a set

• Slotted (flat) — usually three to five widths, from cabinet to heavy mechanical
• Phillips — PH0, PH1, PH2, PH3 covering small electronics through to large fasteners
• Pozidriv — common in European equipment, distinct from Phillips
• Torx — increasingly common in automotive, IT, and modern fastener applications
• Precision (electronic) — small-tip drivers for instruments, electronics, and watch work
• VDE-insulated — for electrical work, certified to 1000V

What separates a good set from a cheap one

Three things: tip geometry (accurate, hardened, and properly heat-treated), handle ergonomics (grippy when your hands are oily), and shaft material (chrome-vanadium or chrome-molybdenum, hardened the right amount). Cheap sets fail at all three — the tips round off in weeks, the handles spin in your palm, and the shafts twist or snap under heavy torque.

Brands stocked at AIMS

Wiha and Stahlwille are the premium choices — German engineering, lifetime quality, and tip accuracy that holds up after years. Bahco is the trade workhorse — solid quality at a sensible price. Stocked sets range from compact 6-piece kits to comprehensive 30-piece master sets covering every common profile.

Set, individuals, or both?

Sets are economical and keep the kit organised, but individuals let you replace the one driver that's seen the most work without buying a new case. Most workshops end up with one set as the foundation and a few oversized or precision singles to fill the gaps.

VDE for electrical work

If you're working anywhere near live conductors, the set needs to be VDE-certified — two-layer insulation, drop-tested, stamped 1000V. Don't substitute non-VDE drivers; the insurance and code implications are not worth it.

Care and the small things that matter

Quality screwdrivers don't need much, but the small care items extend life noticeably. Don't use them as chisels or pry bars (the tip rounds and the shaft bends). Wipe coolant and oil off the shafts before storing — chrome corrodes faster than people expect under coolant. If a tip rounds slightly, a careful regrind on a fine wheel (matching the original tip angle) restores function on slotted drivers; cross-head and Torx drivers are not practical to regrind and should be replaced.

VDE certification — what to look for

A genuine VDE-certified screwdriver carries the VDE-GS mark, lists the certifying body, and has two visible insulation layers (usually different colours). Counterfeits exist; if a "VDE" driver costs a third of the price of a known brand, it's likely uncertified. The cost of getting this wrong on live work is not worth the saving.

Need help choosing a set?

contact our team — we'll match the brand and configuration to your trade and budget.