General Tools Ratchet Offset Screwdriver 8071

The General Tools 8071 is a ratcheting offset screwdriver, a hand tool designed for driving fasteners in confined spaces where a conventional screwdriver will not fit.

Access is a recurring difficulty in HVAC service. Fasteners are routinely positioned close to a panel, behind a component, or in a corner of a cabinet where there is no room for a screwdriver shaft, and where a power driver certainly will not fit.

An offset driver places the drive at right angles to the handle, so the tool needs clearance only for the short offset head rather than for a full length shaft. The ratchet mechanism then allows the fastener to be turned without removing and repositioning the tool between strokes, which is what makes an offset driver usable in a space where the handle can only swing through a small arc.

The trade off is torque and speed. An offset driver applies less torque than a conventional screwdriver used in line, and it is slower than a power driver where one can be used. It is a tool for the fasteners that cannot be reached any other way, not a general purpose driver.

Bit fit remains important. A driver seated poorly in a screw recess will damage the head, and a damaged head in an inaccessible position is a considerably worse problem than the one being solved.

Confirm the drive size and bit types suit the fasteners encountered.

Brand

General Tools

SKU

8071

Category

Self-Drilling Screws

Weight

0.35 lbs

Dimensions

6.80" x 3.80" x 2.80"

Price

$16.00

Availability

In stock

Rating

0 / 5.0