Craftsman CMHT68132 Stubby Ratcheting Screwdriver Review: A Fun Sub-$13 Pocket Tool

Introduction

Stubby ratcheting screwdrivers occupy a funny niche: they are not the tool you reach for every day, but when you need one in a tight spot, nothing else works. Craftsman’s latest iteration of its stubby ratcheting screwdriver, the CMHT68132, leans on a design that will feel familiar to anyone who has seen premium versions of this category. The difference is the price: roughly $13, around $12 and change depending on the market, which puts it firmly in the impulse-buy range.

The question is not whether it matches a Snap-on, because at this price it never will. The question is whether it is worth $13. For the most part, yes, with a couple of quirks worth knowing before you buy.

The Flat Bottom: A Small Feature That Works

The most immediately useful feature is the flat bottom on the handle. Most stubby drivers of this type either roll off the bench or lie flat, but this one stands up on its own. That sounds trivial until you consider how often these small drivers wander across a workbench or disappear under a car seat. Being able to stand it upright on the edge of your workspace keeps the tool and its bits visible and within reach.

It is one of the first designs in this class where that feature genuinely stands out, and it is a practical benefit rather than a gimmick.

Bit Changes and Storage: The Weakest Part

Getting bits in and out is where this tool loses points. To swap a bit, you pop out the carrier and then push the bit out of the holder before shoving the next one in. It is not an elegant process, and there is a real annoyance baked in: as soon as you start pushing the bit out, the carrier can fire out of the handle entirely. Working in a dark, oily, or cramped space, that little piece can go flying before you even realize it.

Long-term storage is another question mark. The bits sit in the handle at a slight sideways angle, which is the technique used to keep them retained. Out of the box it feels secure, but a year of use may make the storage noticeably looser. Pulling a single bit out also is not straightforward, since you cannot easily push one out and grab it.

The Ratcheting Mechanism and Rotation Direction

The ratcheting mechanism itself seems fine. In a rough count of teeth, it lands somewhere between 44 and 48, so call it around 48. Back drag is acceptable, and it offers the expected ratchet settings.

One detail worth flagging for anyone comparing stubby drivers: rotation direction. The Craftsman turns one way to ratchet and the opposite way to tighten, which is the opposite convention of a Snap-on, where you turn in the same direction you tighten. Why does that matter? With some competing designs that have a bulged front end, your hand naturally migrates forward while turning, and grabbing that front section reverses your rotation mid-task. The Craftsman avoids that particular failure mode, though its centering when switching between ratchet directions rattles around a little more than most. Some rivals center more cleanly, so this is a minor but noticeable compromise.

Build, Bits, and Where It Is Made

The tool comes with seven bits total: six in the handle, one in the chamber up front, plus the driver itself. The handle offers decent purchase, and the fins on the body give you extra grip when you need to apply serious torque by hand. Model number CMHT68132 for those keeping track.

On construction, it is described as made in Taiwan with parts from China, while the bits and assembly come from China. Enough of the tool is reportedly Taiwanese-made that the labeling holds up. Overall fit in the hand is decent for the size.

Who Should Buy It

This is not an amazing tool, and it is not the equal of a much more expensive premium stubby driver, some of which are approaching $100. But if you do not own a stubby screwdriver, especially a ratcheting one, and you like the Craftsman name, the lifetime warranty and the ability to swap it out at Lowe’s or online make this an easy recommendation.

It is also worth avoiding the competing bulge-handle design mentioned earlier, precisely because of the front-end grip issue that reverses rotation. The Craftsman’s flat bottom and upright stance are genuine advantages you rarely get at this price.

Conclusion

At around $13, the Craftsman CMHT68132 stubby ratcheting screwdriver is a fun, useful little tool with a genuinely clever flat base, a workable ratchet, and a lifetime warranty behind it. The bit ejection and storage are its weak points, and the ratchet centering rattles more than the best designs, but none of those flaws are disqualifying at this price. If you want a cheap, standing-upright stubby driver to toss in a drawer or glovebox, this one earns its spot.