Ratcheting screwdrivers are a mainstay for installing fins, setting up a new snowboard, or maintaining sports equipment in general. So we had planned to offer one at some point. But we were not interested in private labeling a cheap plastic screwdriver. Watch our journey in bringing Driver N° 1 to life.
The thinking was to create a screwdriver that bridges the gap between our compact multi-tools and industrial grade options. This is not for a commercial auto shop or facilities team. This is for the home DIYer to dial in outdoor gear or do light duty home repair. We wanted to create a tool that is functional and aesthetic atop your workbench.
Not sure the outcome of this project, we didn’t want to over invest in materials. Lucky for us, we inherited some hardwoods from a friend. We ended up with teak, walnut, and Fijian mahogany.
Our target handle size was thicker than some of the boards we had. So we had to glue up a couple boards to get the desired thickness. After we squared up some wooden blocks, we then set up our table saw to cut a 6 sided hexagon handle.
Our handle tapers toward the shaft so we would need a lathe for the next step. Uncle Victor has a lathe that we can use to make a prototype. There was a small challenge in holding the wood correctly but we sorted it out.
Next was sourcing a suitable ratcheting shaft that holds 1/4″ driver bits magnetically. We bored a hole in the handle and pressed the shaft in on the lathe. We then laser etched the logo and finished the handle with some linseed oil. The final handle is very comfortable and solid feeling.
The 1/4″ driver bits are milled S2 steel, made in the USA. The metal case holds 9 bits and everything nests securely in EVA foam trays. We are offering 2 bit sets – “All Duty” with an assortment of Phillips, slotted, and Torx bits. The “Board Sport” set includes bits for surfboard fin boxes, snowboard / splitboard bindings, and skateboard deck hardware.
Here is the final product. We are calling it “Driver N° 1” and initial release will have it available in 2 wood finishes – walnut and Fijian mahogany. The teak didn’t make the cut, at least not this time around. Be sure to subscribe to our email newsletter for upcoming releases.
Get one here – Driver N° 1
