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I just find that screwdriver to be the most pretentiously bad product. Still a product that’s half as good as something from Klein or wiha, or Milwaukee, or Greenlee, for three times the price. He put all that money into a designing a cheap but overpriced Chinese piece of junk, when there are already great screwdrivers used by professionals for years and years. Linus was so arrogant he didn’t even think that somebody’s already made a superior product with established tooling. But no, he has to reinvent the wheel and design a screwdriver nobody’s asked for
I’ve used one, and it actually is pretty good. For comparison, I have a Megapro Automotive (211R1C36RD) screwdriver. I like the ratchet and shaft knurling of the LTT more, but the smaller bits are a bit annoying (though the smaller handle size because of them is nice). Overall, it’s not a bad screwdriver, and even though it is too expensive for me, it’s another good product option in case other brands’ tools don’t fit someone’s needs.
To be clear, LTT is plenty problematic, but I don’t think “making a screwdriver” is one of their problems.
I’ve done a lot of low-voltage as well as high-voltage work through the years. So I have tool sets and screwdriver sets for low-voltage stuff, another set for high voltage stuff which is a lot of Klein and Green Lee and another set for mechanical work which is a lot of Wright Tools because I do all my own vehicle maintenance in my shop. And even another set with JIS tips specifically for Japanese motorcycles which are Vessels. Basically, I have a lot of different screwdriver sets that specialize for many different purposes. I also have sets for taking apart smaller electronics. I say all this only to give insight to my experience with tools so that I can say the next bit…
The LTT bit driver is overpriced garbage. I would re-iterate what the other person has already stated… there is nothing the LTT screwdriver does that something like a Wiha or Felo driver wouldn’t do for 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of it. Also, bit drivers save space which are great for toolbags and working on the go, but if I were to be doing consistent work on a bench there is no chance in hell that I would pick up a bit driver over a real screwdriver set.
It’s price is the most glaring problem. The tool by itself is not garbage, but when you factor the price, it’s most definitely garbage for $70, you can buy much better. It’s on par with $20-$30 drivers from companies that have been building tools for decades, stand by their products, and in many cases, are industry standards in tool sets. So why would anyone pay 2-3x the price for something like the LTT screwdriver? And trust me, I get why the cost of it could be so much higher, R+D costs money, but that again goes back to the point the other person already stated, “Linus was so arrogant he didn’t even think that somebody’s already made a superior product with established tooling. But no, he has to reinvent the wheel and design a screwdriver nobody’s asked for” These other companies like Klein and Green Lee and Wiha and Felo know how to do tools. They have their processes nailed down, so they have better quality for far less money.
I don’t know why so many people got boners over it and didn’t want to point this out but I think that shows just how much power and protection Linus wielded with his rabid, cult-like followers. And that to me goes to show it took a lot of courage for GN to release his video, and all the more courage for Madison to finally tell her story. I’m very glad they both did though.
Good point, but I see it as simply another option. I would rather have an expensive option that is overall similar but has certain advantages, such as a low ratchet force, than not have that option, even if I won’t buy something that expensive. At worst, some people for whom money is no object might find it useful, or other companies might be encouraged to improve their designs to better compete. It’s good for customers to have more options, even if the option doesn’t suit everyone.
That’s called back drag, it’s really not important in a screwdriver. I think ratcheting screwdrivers are just really gimmicky, are more of a hindrance in most cases. Maybe you can enlighten me, but really there are two main reasons here for that opinion.
It’s faster to spin the shaft with your fingers on a fixed screwdriver than it is to ratchet on the handle to turn in bolts. This is especially true for smaller bolts.
Many times to get threads to line up it’s easiest to turn the bolt counter-clockwise until the threads align and fall into place before you start turning them clockwise into the threads. You couldn’t do this with a really low back drag, or it would be cumbersome to change the ratcheting function on it. A fixed screwdriver just seems all around more efficient and faster.
So what benefit does a ratcheting screwdriver offer? It’s slower and it’s cumbersome to have to change it back and forth just to change directions. And because it has a ratcheting mechanism, it will fail faster under less forces.
I was just thinking about how theres almost no gradient between what makes you a “quirky and fun small business” which they want to act like and “oh shit better put on our IBM corporate hats and make another video”
People buying this haven’t worked for a mid to large sized company. This is internal corporate coolaid bullshit. Nothing ever comes from this lip service. It’s just cringe
Personally felt it was the right thing, and earned some respect back from me. They need to address Madison’s accusations separately (which are damning), but they certainly had positive movement with the points raised by the community / GN.
Each of the department heads outlined their shortcomings and how they were being addressed. It felt genuine and sincere, and certainly not the generic bullshit you usually get from a corporate PR team on damage control. I hope they follow through enacting those plans, and it has a positive impact to both their quality and working environments.
The only bit I hated was Linus’ section (and this is meant to be a criticism, not a personal attack).
He opened up with a joke that Luke will have a lot to do curbing his (Linus) own behaviour, had a brief moment of sincerity, but went back to immediately defending himself and their actions. He didn’t fully acknowledge what his “emotional” response actually did, nor a personal response/apology to both GN/Billet Labs for it. There was no real acknowledgment he will address his own shortcomings. It honestly felt like someone who acknowledges he’s wrong (purely based on number of internal members telling him he’s in the wrong), but doesn’t agree nor accept it.
I mean the monetizing of the video was in pretty poor taste.
They plugged they’re merchandise multiple times.
They joked about the video being sponsored twice.
All of which screams, we don’t care about what we did just don’t take away our money.
The video was still then being defensive.
They never apologized to GN or Hardware Unboxed.
Sex jokes too enlight of sexual harassment and employee mistreatment claims.
They rushed the video out too, it’s a culmination of most of the things wrong with lmg. If they had taken their time with this and taken it seriously I would have probably given them points and been very surprised, but this was absolutely bs pr. Totally unapologetic and insincere. Even if they do change anything I don’t believe it’s because they want it, itll be because they’ll be out $$$.
They also need to reconsider they’re hr, pretty significant conflict of interest there… then again hr isn’t there for employees protection anyway…
Yeah, I couldn’t watch past Yvonne’s section, it just felt like a corporate ad tbh.
Then you missed where they dropped an opportunity to show a new screwdriver variant coming to LLTStore.com 🤦
Don’t forget to subscribe to Floatplane for the exclusives!
…and the finale Debrand name dropping …
This is why adblock and sponsorblock are essential. I haven’t seen any of that crap in years.
I just find that screwdriver to be the most pretentiously bad product. Still a product that’s half as good as something from Klein or wiha, or Milwaukee, or Greenlee, for three times the price. He put all that money into a designing a cheap but overpriced Chinese piece of junk, when there are already great screwdrivers used by professionals for years and years. Linus was so arrogant he didn’t even think that somebody’s already made a superior product with established tooling. But no, he has to reinvent the wheel and design a screwdriver nobody’s asked for
I’ve used one, and it actually is pretty good. For comparison, I have a Megapro Automotive (211R1C36RD) screwdriver. I like the ratchet and shaft knurling of the LTT more, but the smaller bits are a bit annoying (though the smaller handle size because of them is nice). Overall, it’s not a bad screwdriver, and even though it is too expensive for me, it’s another good product option in case other brands’ tools don’t fit someone’s needs.
To be clear, LTT is plenty problematic, but I don’t think “making a screwdriver” is one of their problems.
I’ve done a lot of low-voltage as well as high-voltage work through the years. So I have tool sets and screwdriver sets for low-voltage stuff, another set for high voltage stuff which is a lot of Klein and Green Lee and another set for mechanical work which is a lot of Wright Tools because I do all my own vehicle maintenance in my shop. And even another set with JIS tips specifically for Japanese motorcycles which are Vessels. Basically, I have a lot of different screwdriver sets that specialize for many different purposes. I also have sets for taking apart smaller electronics. I say all this only to give insight to my experience with tools so that I can say the next bit…
The LTT bit driver is overpriced garbage. I would re-iterate what the other person has already stated… there is nothing the LTT screwdriver does that something like a Wiha or Felo driver wouldn’t do for 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of it. Also, bit drivers save space which are great for toolbags and working on the go, but if I were to be doing consistent work on a bench there is no chance in hell that I would pick up a bit driver over a real screwdriver set.
I see. Thanks for the correction. What would you say the issues with it are?
It’s price is the most glaring problem. The tool by itself is not garbage, but when you factor the price, it’s most definitely garbage for $70, you can buy much better. It’s on par with $20-$30 drivers from companies that have been building tools for decades, stand by their products, and in many cases, are industry standards in tool sets. So why would anyone pay 2-3x the price for something like the LTT screwdriver? And trust me, I get why the cost of it could be so much higher, R+D costs money, but that again goes back to the point the other person already stated, “Linus was so arrogant he didn’t even think that somebody’s already made a superior product with established tooling. But no, he has to reinvent the wheel and design a screwdriver nobody’s asked for” These other companies like Klein and Green Lee and Wiha and Felo know how to do tools. They have their processes nailed down, so they have better quality for far less money.
I don’t know why so many people got boners over it and didn’t want to point this out but I think that shows just how much power and protection Linus wielded with his rabid, cult-like followers. And that to me goes to show it took a lot of courage for GN to release his video, and all the more courage for Madison to finally tell her story. I’m very glad they both did though.
Good point, but I see it as simply another option. I would rather have an expensive option that is overall similar but has certain advantages, such as a low ratchet force, than not have that option, even if I won’t buy something that expensive. At worst, some people for whom money is no object might find it useful, or other companies might be encouraged to improve their designs to better compete. It’s good for customers to have more options, even if the option doesn’t suit everyone.
That’s called back drag, it’s really not important in a screwdriver. I think ratcheting screwdrivers are just really gimmicky, are more of a hindrance in most cases. Maybe you can enlighten me, but really there are two main reasons here for that opinion.
It’s faster to spin the shaft with your fingers on a fixed screwdriver than it is to ratchet on the handle to turn in bolts. This is especially true for smaller bolts.
Many times to get threads to line up it’s easiest to turn the bolt counter-clockwise until the threads align and fall into place before you start turning them clockwise into the threads. You couldn’t do this with a really low back drag, or it would be cumbersome to change the ratcheting function on it. A fixed screwdriver just seems all around more efficient and faster.
So what benefit does a ratcheting screwdriver offer? It’s slower and it’s cumbersome to have to change it back and forth just to change directions. And because it has a ratcheting mechanism, it will fail faster under less forces.
I was just thinking about how theres almost no gradient between what makes you a “quirky and fun small business” which they want to act like and “oh shit better put on our IBM corporate hats and make another video”
People buying this haven’t worked for a mid to large sized company. This is internal corporate coolaid bullshit. Nothing ever comes from this lip service. It’s just cringe
Yep. Some executive sent out an order that they have to make some sort of response. This was done to appease them, not the public.
Sometimes things do change for the better, but usually not with the same people in the same positions.
Personally felt it was the right thing, and earned some respect back from me. They need to address Madison’s accusations separately (which are damning), but they certainly had positive movement with the points raised by the community / GN.
Each of the department heads outlined their shortcomings and how they were being addressed. It felt genuine and sincere, and certainly not the generic bullshit you usually get from a corporate PR team on damage control. I hope they follow through enacting those plans, and it has a positive impact to both their quality and working environments.
The only bit I hated was Linus’ section (and this is meant to be a criticism, not a personal attack).
He opened up with a joke that Luke will have a lot to do curbing his (Linus) own behaviour, had a brief moment of sincerity, but went back to immediately defending himself and their actions. He didn’t fully acknowledge what his “emotional” response actually did, nor a personal response/apology to both GN/Billet Labs for it. There was no real acknowledgment he will address his own shortcomings. It honestly felt like someone who acknowledges he’s wrong (purely based on number of internal members telling him he’s in the wrong), but doesn’t agree nor accept it.
Linus should not have appeared in this video at all. It would have shown that adults are now in charge and that someone can actually tell him “no”.
I mean the monetizing of the video was in pretty poor taste. They plugged they’re merchandise multiple times. They joked about the video being sponsored twice. All of which screams, we don’t care about what we did just don’t take away our money.
The video was still then being defensive.
They never apologized to GN or Hardware Unboxed.
Sex jokes too enlight of sexual harassment and employee mistreatment claims.
They rushed the video out too, it’s a culmination of most of the things wrong with lmg. If they had taken their time with this and taken it seriously I would have probably given them points and been very surprised, but this was absolutely bs pr. Totally unapologetic and insincere. Even if they do change anything I don’t believe it’s because they want it, itll be because they’ll be out $$$.
They also need to reconsider they’re hr, pretty significant conflict of interest there… then again hr isn’t there for employees protection anyway…