Best Wrench (ALLEN KEY)? Wera Hex Plus, Bondhus, Wiha, PB Swiss, Craftsman, Kobalt, Husky, Eklind
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 พ.ย. 2021
- Wrenches (Allen/Hex Keys) tested: Wera Hex Plus, Wiha, Bondhus, Craftsman, Kobalt, Husky, Eklind, EPAuto, Pittsburgh, Facom, PB Swiss, Gedore, Tekton. Wrenches tested for gripping strength on three different sizes of fasteners. Also, all of the wrenches tested for corrosion resistance. I purchased all of the tools and testing supplies to ensure the most unbiased reviews possible. So, thank you for supporting the channel.
➡ Thank you very much for supporting the channel: / projectfarm
➡ An easy way to find past videos along with products tested: bit.ly/2FCrBpk A big thanks to Jim for putting this together.
➡ Merch: www.Project-Farm.com
➡ Click here if you'd like to subscribe: / @projectfarm
➡ As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
➡ Products Tested In This Video (in no particular order):
Wera Hex+: amzn.to/3nXenHM
Wiha: amzn.to/32vHDgd
Craftsman: amzn.to/3l94Ifq
Bondhus: amzn.to/3nXAfCw
Kobalt: amzn.to/3xppqMI
Husky: amzn.to/3l93Lnm
Eklind: amzn.to/3HPzgwe
EPAuto: amzn.to/3lejBNn
Facom: amzn.to/2ZrNJxb
PB Swiss: amzn.to/3nXBth6
Gedore: amzn.to/3xpnGTG
Tekton: amzn.to/3DY3jj6
Videography Equipment:
Sony DSC-RX10 III Cyber-shot Digital Still Camera: amzn.to/2YdXvPw
Canon 70D Camera: amzn.to/31b5Gy0
Azden Microphone: amzn.to/34d3DLE
Go Pro Bundle: amzn.to/3Ca0ZVN
This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Project Farm LLC - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
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Here are the links to the Allen Keys tested:
Wera Hex+: amzn.to/3nXenHM
Wiha: amzn.to/32vHDgd
Craftsman: amzn.to/3l94Ifq
Bondhus: amzn.to/3nXAfCw
Kobalt: amzn.to/3xppqMI
Husky: amzn.to/3l93Lnm
Eklind: amzn.to/3HPzgwe
EPAuto: amzn.to/3lejBNn
Facom: amzn.to/2ZrNJxb
PB Swiss: amzn.to/3nXBth6
Gedore: amzn.to/3xpnGTG
Tekton: amzn.to/3DY3jj6
“Easy to read markings for those with bionic vision” that was pretty funny right there haha. Love the understated humor. You gotta try sneaking more of that into your future videos.
Merry Christmas 🎄
I love your videos they're all very informative and it's great watching them to help decide what to buy for a better tool if you ever do this again with Allen keys I'd like to see how the Titan brand holds up they sell them at Tacoma screw
@RR PLAN C He has to make that, or else today's people will trash him
I would have liked to see Pedro's, Park Tool, Unior and Abbey Tools tested. These brands and kind of bolts are used a lot in the bicycle industry and (almost) no one uses the tested brands seen here... There is no need to test Birzman. Their tools are made of the softest metal available...
@RR PLAN C "why have you taken a photo of one of the sets that you are testing and used that for the thumbnail?"
They're colour coded for easy identification. They make a better image than a bunch of plain keys.
What's your problem with LGBT anyway?
"Bionic vision" for the Kobalt brand is rich. Thanks for brightening our snowy day here in PA. Nicely done.
Yeah hahaha, I feel like that joke went unnoticed
What? You don't have your ocular upgrade?
Hahaha I was gonna say that! At 2:08 if anyone didn't catch it
That was a good laugh! 😁
yeah this weather is beat eastern pa
"Easy-to-see size markings for those with Bionic Vision!"
I completely lost it. Well played.
Thanks!
Had me laughing off my chair and I wear glasses
It was the fact that it was delivered in the exact same tone as the rest of the video for me. He said it, a slight pause, then I burst out laughing.
Hilarious 😂
I use the Wera myself, the way they are made from a larger bar of round and then machined or formed down only at the ends makes them stiffer in use and much nicer for it imo. I first used these at Mercedes F1, so they must be good!
Thanks for the feedback.
The competition also uses Wera, as Wera even makes (or has madep Red Bull Racing special editions of some of their toolsets. So yeah, they are good if more F1 teams desire to use them. Especially for the smaller wrenches, the strength is important, as I have seen allen wrench sets of other brands that had bend small size wrenches out of the box.
I first had a set of Wiha wrenches for a long time, but I ended up with round ends after much usage. The Wera set is still like new.
These are sort of goofy tests and not very good for real life use. I have the Weras and they have two massive drawbacks for why I don't really like them- the color sleeve is really thick and prohibits use of the wrench in deep bores...this is just an insane design flaw. The other drawback is that you can't put a wrench on the shaft of the Weras since it's round. I much prefer Bondus for work.
Testing at such forces where the wrench breaks is just sort of not applicable for what you are doing with hex wrenches 99.9% of the time.
I have mic'ed the dia of both Bondhus and Weras and the Bondus set I have is a tighter fit by a couple thou, and they have many more years on them than the Weras which have very little use.
@@johnnycab8986excessive force testing is more for the layman, who may not approach a fastener the same as someone who's wrenched 10 thousand bolts and can tell a bolt size by eye. Misuse happens and it's good to know what will take it.
@@wesley8599 None of them will, really..
Even the highest value is something that a human adult can achieve with some leverage (aka. something anyone would do by adding a pipe if the screw got stuck). All of them can critically fail within an adult humans range.
Now, the value matters sometimes when there are sizable differences (for example, as it is between Wiha and the middle brands for the first and last test, or the middle brands and the worse brands), as higher value gives you a chance of the screw getting unstuck before the allen key goes dead. But ultimately, not even a rookie will have that problem in normal use. Screws don't just randomly get stuck (though they tend to require more force than was used to fasten them originally under certain conditions) and if they won't, none of these forces will get even close to being utilized.
What I wish was show was a 'normal' use of screwing and unscrewing a number of times with a fixed strength that corresponds to what an adult human can do without leverage if they 'put some strength' into it. Poorer quality allen keys bend and twist or get rounded even at this use very quickly. Some other would round down the screw instead. A lot of them have really bad fit so that latter problem would be common, I assume. But while fit was tested, the rest was not unfortunately.
Man, you are a HERO. I grew up in the woods/mountains so I know the value of good tools and now I’m a Mechanical Engineer with enough budget to get something to last me decades. I always end up in a rabbit hole spending hours researching things like gas cans and hex wrenches… half the time, your videos come up and save me hours of research and speculation. Have you considered setting up a Patreon, donations? Or is there a charity you support? If I can avoid getting hit by a bus, struck by lightning, or smote, the advice you’ve given me will pay dividends over the years and I’d be happy to repay :). Sincere thanks, regardless. I’ll be picking up some Wera tools.
Thanks! At the beginning of each video there is a link to become a Patreon.
“Chamfered edge helps guide tool into fastener”. Retired machinist here, and that chamfer prevents full depth engagement and makes them want to climb out of shallow hexholes. It may seem minuscule, but it makes a difference. Every new Allen key in my past 43 years of cussing at them has had the ends ground carefully flat, perpendicular and without heating them up. Thousands of them. If you are working on fasteners that go in and out regularly and are not common to buy, and maybe even shallow button heads, this will slow the frequency of special orders. A helpful hint: to reduce loud swearing when inserting hex into hexhole, hold the wrench at the bend (elbow?) with just thumb and index finger. It’ll drop right in.
If it wants to roll sideways when loosening a stubborn one, hold the wrench at the bend with vise-grips to keep it vertical in the bolt.
Thanks for the feedback.
thats some high quality advice !
knew the grounding flat thing before, but the 2-finger insert style 😏 is a really good approach.
..Amen..I dislike chamfers on sockets for the same reasons..especially small sizes like 1/4" and 5/16"...chamfered fastener heads on HVAC screws plus chamfered sockets equal lots of slippage/strippage and lots of frustration and swearing...grinding the chamfer out of the socket will help, but can't do anything about the chamfered screw heads.. :(
Totally agree, this has been my experience as well.
I have several socket sets that Ive run on a surface grinder and squared off the ends removing the round edge and getting down into the flats. Ive had too many thin headed specialty bolt heads needing removal.
“Easy to see size markings for those with bionic vision” hahaha. His dry humour gets me every time. Great video as always!
Thanks!
I use my wera hex + metric set every day. The tools never wear and even the ball head is secure enough that you know you’re not going to be stripping bolts. One of the huge selling features of the set is the color coding. It makes similar sizes a breeze to differentiate and working with them that much more efficient.
Thanks for sharing.
Impressed by Craftsman again. They're turning out to be quite a good price/performance brand. Wiha and Wera show again that Germans know how to make tools that last a lifetime!
Thanks for the feedback.
One thing I can say is the larger ones are ok. At my job we use a lot of 1.5, 2 and 3mm. They break easily at those sizes especially 1.5 and 2. The bondhous and wera have been the best.
@@Zamorakboomz - I have wiha but at small size it’s just ok , I want to try stahlwille or gedore or wera - that what I want to know how good at small size ! Thanks
@@lovejesus-JT I like by bondhaus but small sizes will twist under a good strain. U can only make a little piece of metal so strong.
@@lovejesus-JT I have some Stahlwille 3/8 drive allen key sockets. They're superb.
I've been so happy with my Wera hex plus set, now I feel even more validated in spending the little extra money
Great choice! They are made to last a LONG time!
Same here .. I have the HF version with screw / bolt retaining function and they are the best hex keys I own by far - plus they match the Tool Check Plus kit, set of Joker ratchet wrenches and Kraftform Kompakt Pistol RA driver in my collection too. Wera tools are good stuff 👍👍
@@MotoGoato can confim im from Germany and buy almost exclusively Wera tools and none of them show and wear even after sometimes hours of use. I can only recommend them.
Same. I had a stainless set in a service kit my company gave me. Bought the hex+ for myself. Not going to lie the colors also were a factor.
Long time ago my dad taught me to push a small piece of paper into fastener so it does not fall off the tool. Some brands now include a retainer function. The Wera's I bought fit so well that they basically cut the paper when I try this trick.
Todd dropping sass is like winning a scratch-off ticket. Doesn't happen very often, but when it does it just makes your whole day. 🙂
Lol, Thank you!
Bionic vision comment 10/10
I'm always so happy when I see a tool I use in the final shot. I've not had a single failure on my Wera Allen keys, a fair few of their screwdriver bits have died on me though but that's usually abuse related.
Thanks for sharing.
Good to see you testing more European stuff, as that's what I tend to encounter more in the UK. Stahlwille and Elora are another pair of German brands I'd love to see tested if possible.
Thanks!
I’ve been “testing” Wera Hex Plus for something like 8 years now in my work as a machinist. Good stuff. My company has bought Wiha and Bondhus for work stations but I’ve kept the Wera in my tool box.
Thanks for the feedback.
@@ProjectFarm I know this is unrelated, but I have a question that I'm sure other average consumers have as well:
WHAT IS THE BEST REASONABLY PRICED OIL?
To be more specific: which is better, Pennzoil, Castrol, Royal Purple, or Amazon?
The Oil Championship was actually inconclusive for the average consumer. A lot of us want to know what is the best reasonably priced oil.
I've done my homework and out of the left side of the chart Royal Purple, Castrol, and Amazon are the only reasonably priced, readily available oils on the left side. Pennzoil wasn't pitted against any of them in this championship.
Since you set this up in a sports format: Who is the TRUE CHAMPION when you factor in "handicap"?
(See what I did there?)
@@ProjectFarm best shoe water repellent 👍
@@Stacy_Smith A while ago he was focused on testing oil. Back then amazon and Walmart both performed fairly well. There were both produced by a better known oil brand but i cant recall. Somewhere in his videos are a series of these test. It was about a year or so back. Hope that helps.
@@ChannelZeroOne That's my "Plan B". I figured PF has probably got all the data on a sheet and asking him would be easier than watching all those videos, transcribing the data, then choosing the winner.
After all that, the only person benefited would be ME. I feel like others could benefit from that information as well.
I've watched ALL the oil videos. The thing to consider is that anyone watching an Oil Championship has a vested interest in taking care of their engines; chances are they aren't just watching for entertainment.
Due to what I've learned from the the oil championship, I'm using Pennzoil Ultra Platinum because they performed so well against the right side of the chart; even beating out Mobil 1.
A TH-cam short comparing Pennzoil against the ones mentioned above would suffice.
I used Bondhus when I used to work as a maintenance technician in an aluminum plant. The HF or other cheap Chinese allen keys would always break or round off the socket cap screws or set screws(which were often times rusted up due to the plant roof being full of holes and leaky + some of the production process involving a water quench). Yes, with enough time you could spray some PB blaster or something on it to let it loosen up, but we often didn't HAVE time for that("Make it run and cut downtime at all costs" mentality) - the Bondhus allen keys NEVER failed me during the time I used them, often having to endure what many would consider tool abuse. I had the silver/gold colored sets that were easier to see if you dropped them on a floor covered in hydraulic oil, dirt, etc. Whatever set you get, the ball-ends really help in certain situations - wouldn't buy a set without them.
I repair all types of machine tools in machine shops and Bondhus is found in all of my tool bags and boxes. For light duty work.. the HF work well enough and I keep a few sets of them in my service truck. Cheap as hell when they go on sale, I give them away to employees who need an allen wrench set.. with the warning at they are not bad.. but not great. Id run Elland.. and tney rounded or snapped early in their life span. As the tests show.. Craftsman are not half bad at all and I have a pair set in my work bench at home.
Thanks for sharing.
I too have a set of Bondhus allen keys that I've given plenty of abuse to and never managed to hurt in their 20 year life. The amount of deflection they can handle before just springing back to straight is quite impressive!
@@GunnerAsch1 Bondhus are my go-to Allen wrenches when the job is tough. I have a Popular Mechanics set that offers the best fit. I have no idea who made them, but they remain my favorite, though the Bondhus appear to be tougher.
i too use bondhus at my job and they are great, they are what i buy. I always seem to end up with a few oddballs that i lose keys or break one, but if one is missing from my bondhus i order a replacement immediately.
I can't help but wonder how much variability in size there was in the bolts the wrenches were fit into. High variability would impact the test severely.
All the wrenches were so loose I almost question if he might have used a metric bold with imperial wrenches.
Where I am at, everything is metric and even the cheaper wrenches have absolutely no wobble whatsoever when I insert them into the bolt.
Though I got to admit I only use small wrenches I never have to use 8 and up.
@@splitframe I agree, some of these wrenches should've been rock solid in the bolt head
I'd argue that the testing method is valid. Usually when you're pushing an Allen key to it's limits, the fastener is usually in poor condition anyway.
@@RK-kn1ud It seem possible that if the fastener is in bad condition, having a perfect fit is MORE important.
Sample size of one makes it difficult. I've a set of Eklind SAE wrenches and I don't recall them being as delicate as this set.
All of your videos are awesome! Scientific, reproducible results, all done in a practical way. I’ve learned something from every one of them. Hats off to you man!
Thank you!
My favourite is wera hex plus, which I use a lot at my job every day for the last 7 years. Before wera, wiha was my choice. They both do very well but wera lasts the longest before any wear is visible. I have used facom as well for about one, two years and is better than average but bellow wiha and wera in my opinion. Next below facom, I’d say it’s bondhus and gearwrench. For the same brand you can buy more choices of materials which can make a big difference.
Yeah, seems like America struggles to know how to make good quality hand tools. We got electric one downs though lol
What really makes the Weras great is the thickness of the smaller sizes. I've snapped countless 3mm (and smaller) right at the bend because the material is too thin. With the Weras you get a 4mm handle even for the 1,5mm key.
I wonder if the American made Craftsman is better then the new Asian made ones you get now?
@@poeticsilence047 I dont think we make horrible ones. I think Wiha is at the top of their game though. I have have many Wiha tools but i have had a set of Bondhus hex tools forever. I also have an Xcelite set. They are driver driven so not apples to apples. Id bet the would have done well in this test.
@@ashes2ashes863 Xcelite definitely does make great tools. I have that set, as well.
"Easy to see size markings for those with bionic vision." 🤣 I actually had to watch that twice to make sure I wasn't imagining things. Very nicely done, sir! Love your work.
Thanks and you are welcome!
I've used a lot of the brands tested in this video. The Wiha is my choice. They perform very well and the holder (which wasn't talked about in this video) makes selecting the proper wrench a breeze.
Thanks for sharing.
Button Head Cap Screws (BHCS) are the weaker, shallower hex, and lower grade of socket head cap screws and not made for structural fastening (for display plaques and such) unlike SHCS, and 304 stainless is the softer of the grades compared to standard alloy class 12.9. So I fear what we're seeing here is really a 10X test of weak stripping and failing button head screws except for the largest size that was able to keep up. Still, some showed damage and others didn't, which is still very relevant.
What's the bite difference? 53%
Wish he would have used a socket head. It should go in deeper, and come in 12.9.
Also would be nice if he cut the hex keys to straight pieces the same length and used socket adapter with a set screw - instead of whatever you call what he did use.
It's still a great test series no matter how you cut it, just could have been easily a bit better suited for tool abuse using traditional SHCS. Props to PF for bringing these to us at all every week
THIS! I call those Button Head Cap Screws "Cheese Heads", Y'all know what I mean.
I have bondhus Allen wrenches, and they are outstanding. They grip perfectly and never slip. I'm shocked to see they just scored middle of the pack here. They're the best allen wrenches I've ever used.
But as you can see middle of the road.
Thank you!
@@freedomliberty7611 per this assessment alone...
I have bondhus also but i have the ones that are colored like the pbswiss ones and they are really good
Bondhus makes 2 types, normal (which is tested here) and Hex+ which is what you normally get from McMaster in most industrial plants. The Hex+ Bondhus are much superior wrenches to the normal ones. I've used them for years in a plant and they hold up well. Also use Wiha and everything they make is very, very good.
The big benefit of the Wera I’ve found is they grip better then other brands. There’s these cap screws on my lathe that all my hex keys slowly destroy when removing them due to the amount of force needed. I ended up rounding one and decided to give the Wera keys a try. They worked perfectly getting it out.
Thank you for sharing!
Glad to see my Craftsman hex key sets I've had for decades are still representing. I purchased mine in the mid-90's and show little wear after daily use, but not stress tested like the ones you have here.
Thanks for sharing.
Finally a set of hex wrenches for me! I'm getting the Kobalts. I never feel like I get to use my bionic vision to it's full potential. You made my day!
I enjoyed that rare humorous jab too. Took a sec to realize he wasn't serious as he is almost always 'just the facts'. The fact that he rarely cracks a joke is what makes it so funny too.
Thanks! Great to hear!
I train of a group of engineers around the world and almost all of us use the wera hex plus exclusively. We don’t use the tool to failure so the main feature is that it holds up over time. We can get 1-2 years of heavy professional use out of the hex tools before replacing. Amazing quality.
Thanks for sharing!
That's because you guys are overpaid and can afford overpriced crap. For the average Job we can just replace a set of Craftsman tools every 3-4 years and be fine.
@@JohnSmith-ty2he Engineers overpaid? You know what they do right?
@@JohnSmith-ty2he You seem like a pleasant person. Its more to do with the fact that I use my tools all day every day and when a tool starts to wear down it has a higher chance to round out a fastener. Spending 1-2 or more hours extracting a screw because of a tool is FAR more expensive than just buying good tools. I have jobs that cause me to fly from the United State to places like the Middle East and Africa almost weekly so the total job cost is $15,000-$20,000... saving $24 on a tool is just bad math. The average home gamer or simple professional that has access to replacement parts or tools can save some money if you want to but its not like we are talking about hundreds of dollars here.
Bondhus has been good at work 20 years. But those Germans price is just 2 high.
Thanks for all your hard work! You come up with inventive, objective and real world (and a few torture type) tests to give us out here a very entertaining and objective analysis. I REALLY appreciate it!
Thanks and you are welcome!
Absolute legend and on top of your game, keep up the good work- truly a pleasure to watch
Thanks so much, will do!
I think in addition to testing the fit you should measure them with a caliper to see how close they are to the correct size. There could be variation in the hex bolt heads giving some a tighter or looser fit. Some of the more poorly made brands could in fact fit tighter due to being oversized slightly in production or due to the hex bolts not being consistently sized.
An interesting point, though I'd be pretty shocked if there's more variance in the bolts than the tools.
@@Nevir202 well measure one tells you the other
@@danhard8440 Not really, you have to measure every key and every hole to know if there's variance between one, the other, or both.
Thanks for the constructive feedback.
@@ProjectFarm thank you for replying!
I as well as the wood working community would love to see you do a comparison of the 5" round orbital sanders. I personally thank you for the time and effort you put into these videos. They are tremendous and really help us out. Thank you again! Gregg
Bosch always comes out either on top or near the top for those 5” random orbit sander shootouts. Read many many reviews before I bought mine. FYI
Learn how to use a card scraper.
@@1pcfred There's a surprisingly long learning curve to that, especially getting the edge of the scraper just right. Much harder to learn than just reading a few instructions.
@@jamiesmith1207 I probably have a few hundred hours on my Bosch RO, and for the $50 it cost me 3 or 4 years ago it has been a good tool for the money.
I'd definitely suggest hooking a dust extractor up to it, however (or, lacking that, a shop vac), and either using it outside or in a shop with a good air filter, along with a good P95 dust mask (I like the GVS Elipse), but that goes for all powered sanders.
@@jamiesmith1207 I'm surprised to hear that. Many claim that Mirka and Festool are the top two.
Having just purchased some wiha's, I'm happy to watch this. I've owned several of their bit sets and they have all been stellar quality!
Thanks for sharing.
Great video! Would also love to see a video comparing carbide bits with durability, material removed, etc.
Thanks for testing these products for us, no channel delivers a better product showdown!
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
You should test ratcheting wrenches. You could test the durability by spinning them in the opposite direction for 10 minutes or so and see which one has the most play. You could also see which one could get the most force before it breaks.
Great idea!
I think he's done this already... maybe 2ish years ago? I'll have to look back through the videos.
Same with torque wrenches, wera prices are nuts but is it worth it?
I was mistaken - I might be thinking of one of AvE's videos, as I know he did test different ratcheting wrenches. It wasn't a very comprehensive test though.
One thing to note, he did find that most could far exceed the maximum torque of the fastener size they were made for.
@@jameshaulenbeek5931 so did the fastener break before the wrench?
I've got both the Wera and the Facom. I must add the plastic sleeve on the Wera is much nicer to hold in the cold than bare metal hex wrenches. However the plastic sleeve can cause access issues inside long thin bores.
Use gloves 🙂
I love the wera's and I did find it odd that his did not fit tight, I have never used SAE wera wrenches but all the metric stuff fits really tight.
Thanks for the feedback.
@@paradox963 A part of the fitment is actually what class the fastener itself was made to meet. Some fastener classes result in a better fit. And there are tolerances for fasteners so not checking the fit in a single undamaged fastener for an equal comparison may not tell quite the whole story here.
Ye, I pulled off the plastic on some of mine. I must say though my Wera's definately fit better than this test. They always fit tight - no play at all mostly.
You have THE best comparison videos. I honestly look for your videos before I make a purchase for my tools
Thanks so much! Thanks for sharing.
I think it would be pretty cool to see a comparison of the different digital torque adapters out there
Your videos are always incredible and invaluable, it's not often you find people willing to go to such lengths to get trustworthy results, let alone show the whole process too.
Thanks! Thanks for the video idea.
Easily top 3 channels on TH-cam
Project Farm deserves awards
Thank you very much!
"Easy to see side markings for those with bionic vision." 🤣🤣🤣 Good one! It's amazing that a $15 Craftsman and Kobalt performs so much better than the $140 PB Swiss, except for subjective damage. What do these expensive tool makers think they have? Thanks for the video and Thank you for everything you do for us!
You are welcome!
I laughted at that too.
If you use tools every day you want the ones that last without twisting, breaking, deforming and come easy to read or identify a size at a glance. The length of the tool is also a factor, I own several sets just for different lengths, ball tips and would never expect a shallow button head made of soft metal to have a chamfered Allen used in let alone the chamfered edges where it contacts the fastener under load, its the wrong tool for maximum torque and that fastener is a low torque spec type that would have lock tite applied if in a critical location. I would choose the pb or whia and never need another set or require replacement, the majority off these sets are too short for use in the bare hand to apply much force and lack the ball tip or easily seen size markings the higher end versions have.
Hello, in switzerland the pb-tools set costs around $ 60 and the tools come with a lifetime warranty. in switzerland we use this brand a lot
@@ThoRSuisse yep... also you cant really compare these because screws have huge differences... not all of them are equal so it really is unfair...
always love to see your videos. i have the wera and wiha tools, but older versions from my dad. keep up the great work you do, much love from germany.
Thanks, will do!
Would love to see a video on hand pruning shears! Different brands and styles/blade types. Ratcheting, electric, and manual. So many options!
Allen key test is a good idea, always having mine strip out on me.
Thank you and hope you enjoy the video!
You can clean up the rounded end on a belt sander....just don't overheat the steel.
Because it's a century old design, the straight sides on the bolts are not made for torque and grip. Not even the best allen key in the world can prevent that.
I think the hex/allen type fastener is my least favorite of all the different types out there. What a crap design, it doesn't take much to strip one out even if you have a tight fitting tool like the Wiha.
@@AKJeeper I'm a fan of the Torx and Square/Robertson designs, myself. There's a good reason that those are what you most commonly see on high end deck screws sold in the US, as the fittings used for deck screws have to withstand a lot of torque.
I think the tolerances of the bolts is skewing the results, getting high tolerance bolts, would be better. Also measure face to face accuracy with a micrometer and hardness with a hardness guage.
Could just perform the test three times and take an average with the current bolts.
maybe the bolt has bad tolerances and not the tools? because it is a common problem
Thanks for the constructive feedback.
@@santiagoeltoma5122 There's a reason that a plane's nuts and bolts are expensive.
@TheCheesePlease Okay, Fromage
Bought my dad a tire kit for Christmas based on your videos. Keep it up. Great stuff.
That is awesome! Thanks, will do!
You are my Saviour, for many years I have had only cheapish tools, and thrown a lot of worn out stuff away, now in my later years I find I have more money available, but don't wish to waste it. so your reviews have served a dual purpose of pre-testing tools for me, and helping me to buy good stuff. Harbour freight products have their place, usually in our vehicles in case of breakdown, and if stolen then I won't lose sleep over losing my good tools. Thank You so much.
You are welcome!
Confirms my experiences with Bondhus and Wiha. I have several sets of the Bondhus Allen wrenches and they performe better than average and good.for the price. But when it came to torx wrenches I opted for Wiha and I've been quite happy.
Also great job, love your channel
Thanks for sharing.
These tests are much appreciated. But I think this one could have been done better.
1. Testing using Stainless button head screws was probably a poor choice as button heads are generally not very strong (shallow hex) and stainless is also generally pretty weak when compared to grade 8 or 12.9 grade carbon steel. The hex in the bolt was failing, not the wrench. Grade 8 socket cap screws would have been a better test.
2. Using the fit in the screw just illustrated how inconsistent the screw heads were. Measuring with a pair of good calipers would have been a better test for size accuracy.
I used to work in stamping plant as a tool and die maker. Allen wrenches were probably my most used tool along with the pipe I used with them. Bondhus were my go to brand as they were fairly cheap and never rounded off. I only needed to replace them when they snapped. Junk Allen wrenches will deform. Good ones are hard enough to hold up till they snap right off.
That was my thought on (1)--my experience with stainless tells me that it's much easier to deform than high-carbon steel.
Yes, Bondhus is the better choice over Craftsman. And made in the USA instead.
agree, the button head was a poor choice..
His test rings home to me. Mechanic in a cannery where everything is stainless, hard to get to, and more often than not a bit corroded.
But would that matter if all tools tested against the same? The rankings shouldn't theoretically change if the test rig is the same, no?
Listen Dude, thanks very much for posting, I really like your videos, they're very thorough. I'm Bondus and Wera myself.
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
Great video as usual, as working as a machinist I personally use paramount, going on 5 years with the sae and metric set I have and literally no damage. And reasonably priced, around $22 for metric and sae.
Thanks!
"Easier to see for those with bionic vision!" Hilarious!
lol. Thank you!!
I've been using a Wiha "glasses size" screwdriver set for about 10 years now on my micro RC cars/planes. Ball-end hex bits are holding up well for the most part. Excellent performance on the other tools, including prying 18650 spot welds apart with the small flat-tip screwdrivers (don't do that!).
Wiha makes the best micro screwdrivers for hex and Torx that I have ever used, and it's not even close. Maybe someone makes something better for NASA or jewelers, but I haven't found it.
@@dougrobinson8602 Can you buy those micro screwdrivers from amazon?
@@SDsailor7 yes sir, mine came from there.
Wiha ftw
About 30 years ago I worked in a camera store. We had a regular customer who owned a company which sold supplies to horologists (clock repairmen). He came in one day with a broken camera which I fixed using a cheap hobby screwdriver set from Radio Shack. He came back a couple days later and gave me a Wiha precision screwdriver set. I still use that set except for the smallest tips which twisted due to abuse on my part. I've never used their hex wrenches but would expect them to be very good.
Thank you for your work with all those tools!
What I've learned with hand tools that going with tools from or around Germany seems to generally be a good choice!
I'm starting a workshop in Germany so your videos are vital for me to get the best for my limited budget. So if I get a good deal on some german stuff I always pull the trigger! Knipex, Wera and Wiha just proof to be a very high quality! And here in Germany that stuff thankfully is quite a bit cheaper.
Keep up the great work!
Thanks, will do! Thanks for the feedback.
Great video Todd! As always, very thorough and informative. Thank you.
Thanks and you are welcome!
I stumbled in the Wiha Allen keys many years ago, and most of my coworkers have switched to the Wiha hex sets since using mine. You just confirmed my suspicion: they fit the hardware better and hold up better under daily use. Also, that wrench holder that swings them out is awesome. If you use hex keys every day, the Wiha are worth it just for the tool holder.
I was surprised he didn't mention the swing out holder. It is a game changer for sure. I have a craftsman set and the wihas in my tool box. I never go for the craftsman unless it is one of those bizarre sizes like a 5.5 or a 7mm, just because the craftsman has those sizes.
Thanks for the feedback.
Having to paint my cars engine block. I was wondering whats the best heat resistant paint. Not having good results with Rustoleum high heat ultra. Might be a good product test in the future.
Great video idea! Thank you
Been there. Had my paint flake off.
I love your content. Normally I watch it on my Roku TV but I came here on my phone to say you're doing an awesome job.
Thanks so much!
I have been using Wera tools almost exclusively for years and am absolutely satisfied. They aren't cheap, but they are very durable and I have never been disappointed.
Thanks for the feedback.
"for those with bionic vision" was a big laughter, thanks for this one and a happy first Sunday in Advent from Germany 😂
You are welcome!
As someone who had to work with machines that used hex bolts for everything the pittsburgh brand will let you down almost every time if the bolts are on there even remotely tight. I went out of my way to buy a bondhus set and never had an issue since. Although My set was slightly different as they were silver and gold for the 2 different measurements. The fitment was excellent especially for those pesky 1.5mm bolts that had Loctite on them. Allen keys are definitely a tool I recommend spending a bit more money on and those craftsman seem like a good recommendation for the price. My bondhus set was about 28$ if I remember correctly.
Love my Bondhus set! They haven't stripped a fastener or broken yet.
Thanks for the feedback.
Nice comparison! Love the unbiased point of view! Would have loved to see the new park tool hex wrenches tested
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for the video idea.
a fellow cyclist! welcome!
Parktool tools have garbage tolerance tbh , uf they were tested against Unior , abbey ect they would get killed. The only parktool i like is their big ass steel chainbreaker
even if its not a video im particularly interested in, i give it a thumbs up just cause this guy makes the best videos....straight to the point no BS
Thanks so much!
Great job on this video. I have been purchasing Wiha sets and this puts my mind at ease knowing I'm using the tightest fitting sets.
I was watching Adam Savage's shop videos and noticed he used Wiha for a quite a few tools as well.
@Craig Dendy neither I would rather undo it 😉
@Craig Dendy Definitely the hex key, especially if it's a common size. Getting the drill is work lol
Thanks! Glad to hear!
@Craig Dendy That depends on how hard it is to replace the bolt...
I keep a Wera set on hand for when I need to tweak an angle on my prosthetic leg; it had been well worth the investment for me. I ruined too many Kobalt and Stanley hex keys in between adjustment visits, haven't broken a single Wera.
Thanks for sharing.
I bought a Wiha Set over ten years ago. Still works without issue. Good stuff!
Thanks for sharing.
Love your reviews! Very well done and not surprised your hand was quite sore after this one!
Thanks!
Fantastic as always! I can't believe the PB Swiss set cost that much. The performance and high price are mismatched. LOL Thanks for the video!
Thank you!
the place where i work exclusively buys the pb swiss sets
The metric sets are about $50. I guess they charge that much for sae because who cares. I have the metric set and they are near indestructible, but if it was my money i would buy the wiha.
I'm swiss and we use exclusively PB Swiss at work. Our metric sets cost between 50-60 USD. I can't find the standard one he used in this video on our supplier website.
The color code adds a tremendous value to it.
I've been thinking about this, and I think the best product is the PB Swiss. It seems to have deformed the least and also corroded the least. I can't see any way that in my use cases I'd ever actually come close to applying the torque he applied to get to failure. But with so little deformation and such great corrosion resistance I know that it should last forever. So it's probably the best to me. Now best *value*? In that case, perhaps a different answer....
I have a set of the Wera and the Wiha wrenches and I'm more than happy with the performance of them both but I ended up getting the Wiha to replace the Wera for 2 reasons. The plastic sleeves on the Wera wrenches will eventually get damaged and if you work with solvents or oils, the marking will wear away. There are no marking in the metal itself. The real deal breaker for me is the fact that the set skips a few sizes and at least one of them is a size I use regularly at work so I had to get a more comprehensive set.
Thanks for the feedback.
@@nathanwaight The bigger issue for me is that the Wera set is only a 9 piece and doesn't include sizes I use on a regular basis.
@@ProjectFarm you should link each thing you test to Amazon so you get a commission from Amazon. Or maybe other websites as well if you looked into it.
@@ProjectFarm huge 👏👏👏👏👏 on 2 million subscribers. Woo
@@bobthompson4319 he does
Great video again. I have a set of Bondhus(inches) that I purchased as an apprentice Toolmaker back in the late 80’s. I used them daily back then for about a 5 year period, but not so much since. I still admire the quality when they get pulled out of the tool drawer. It’s interesting to see the Craftsman score virtually identical.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Craftsman makes some of the best tools you can buy. Just because they don’t cost a fortune doesn’t mean they’re not top of the line.
Love the videos man, it's awesome to see testing in tools the average person can actually buy.
Thanks!
An obvious question is "How well-dimensioned was the hex socket used for the test?" If it is over-size, then the keys that fit well might not even enter a more accurate screw/bolt...
Yeah, I was thinking about this. I've found with high precision fasteners the PBSWISS actually fit really well at all sizes. However, the Bondhus in the tiny sizes seem to be slightly too large so it doesn't want to go into the hole and instead wants to round out. It seems to be worse on the coated versions so the coating may be part of the issue.
I see where you're going with that....but at the end of the day, you're going to be using these on real-life fasteners so testing them on a couple of random brands of fastener seems quite a fair test. The closer you get to a perfect theoretical fit, the larger the chance it won't fit some fasteners at all....so really it's a test of how well they're chosen their compromise between theory and real-world.
More accurate bolts?
Bolts and tools have tolerances.
Never in my carreer came across inaccurate bolts.
@@robinlambregts Define "tolerance." Define "accurate." Accuracy and precision in science and metrology are tendencies toward the correct average and smaller tolerances, respectively.
What has metrology to do with bolts anyway? 😂
Using PB Swiss and Wiha hex keys in metric at work and Wera metric at home.
This just confirmed that I‘ve got quite good sets both at work and at home.
Something that just bothered me a bit: metric fasteners seem to have less wobble and side to side movement compared to the ones you used. Maybe you should repeat one of the tests with a high quality 10.9 or 12.9 metric fastener!
I‘m suggesting to test hammer wrenches next. I only use Stahlwille, Gedore and Walther at work. Could be interesting to see the American competition!
Keep up the good work!
Thanks, will do! Thanks for the suggestions.
Very useful and well done comparison! Thanks for the video!!
Thanks and you are welcome!
I have wera hex plus. Since owning it, I’ve never rounded a single bolt or drain plug. I use them on diffs. Absolutely amazing tool
Thanks for sharing.
I'm a motorcycle technician, working on very high end race bikes, some wellover $100k. Some fasteners are very hard to get to , and you get one shot to remove them right and don't want to strip one. I've been using a set of Bondhus for over 25 years and they've never let me down. I've used cheaper ones doing bench work and eventually threw them away when they rounded out a fastener. There is a big difference
Thanks for the feedback.
The Bondhus are a great bang for the buck and made in the USA.
100k and crappy fasteners...yep sounds as legit as your name
Post some videos of these bikes
Hey thanks I'm starting out motorcycle mechanic same situation I have cheap ones right now and I hate them
I have had a set of Bondhus wrenches for about 12 years and they have been great and they are made in the U.S.A. I would highly recommend them.
On a side note, I don't care too much about the corrosion test because I take care of my tools. 😁
Thanks for the feedback.
Really appreciate your channel and your method!
Thanks so much!
Hello Todd (just found out your name is Todd). I just bought the Wiha set based off of this video. I'm going to need really tough allen keys, especially with the hex ball. I really appreciate your channel. Helps me make really good, informed decisions when buying tools. Can't wait for your next videos.
Thanks!
I wanted to buy Wera (I've got a few toolsets they offer), but when I saw the Wiha need 0,5m long leverage to break it apart, and they fit perfectly, I will get these. The fit is something you can not replace, like a broken Allen key.
Thank you, Sir.
You are welcome!
Great content as always.
As many others have posted, would like to see this repeated with a better fastener and perhaps a measurement of the hex-keys. I have older Bondus and Craftsman sets that often destroy the fastener long before the tool. When I cam out, it's not the tool's fault.
yes
Same here--old Craftsman stuff seems to be much better than the average imported stuff. I also have a big container of random sizes and brands of loose hex wrenches. There were a bunch (I can't determine the brand) that used a very different grade of steel (somewhat "redder" looking alloy). They've held up very well; I wish I know who made them.
Thanks! Thanks for the constructive feedback.
this guy keeps on kicking ass! loved this !!
Thanks!
another great video from The Farm! Thank you.
You are welcome!
In case our American friends ever wondered: yes, the German brands are pretty much the same kind of expensive here. But especially for professionals they're a good choice. If you treat them well, they'll last for decades.
If you're just using the tools once in a while, maybe go for a more mid range option.
Where is “here”?
@@curtisweller4138 I would guess in Germany.
No, they are not. The Gedore set is 10€/8 USD here in Germany.
Thank you!
Surprised by the PB Swiss set you received. I’ve been using them for ages and they fit tighter than any Allen sets I have. My 1.5mm which I use daily hasn’t worn at all in over 3 years which previously I went through several a year from wiha.
Thanks for the feedback.
Ah. Such a specific video in a whole canal of TH-cam.. and here I am. Looking for this particular specific comparison. Thank you for making one.
Thank you for sharing!
Another video that is informative, well done and entertaining. Thank you Sir
Thanks and you are welcome!
It would be cool to see a comparison of fastener drive designs: straight blade, Allen, internal and external hex, Torx, Robertson, and others. That tests the tool, the fastener, and the drive design. The differences in drive designs are the most interesting to me.
I don't see any of those beating the Torx. I use them with large screws and an impact driver and beat the crap out of them, I've never seen any of those others perform as well under hard use. I notice they are using Torx a lot in the automotive industry now as well. Plus none of the other designs have nearly as much surface area for gripping. Regardless of which design you use the most important thing is that the fitment is as close to perfect as possible.
Thanks for the suggestion.
@@actionjksn Robertson is a solid choice as well
@@jaydunbar7538 Yup, Torx or Square/Robertson all the way. There's a reason that those are what expensive deck screws have, as those screws have to go through very hard wood.
@@jaydunbar7538 they work well most of the time, except if the bit slips even once, you can not push hard and get it to bite. It will no longer grip after one little slip in the hole. Like if you fail to have it pushed in all the way and apply torque to it. I've had it happen and learned my lesson to make sure it is seated really well.
"easy to see size markings for those with bionic vision" 😂 nailed it
lol Thanks!
Iv'e been using the wera hex plus for almost 2 years now, and im using them daily at work. They still looks like new when it comes to size and fitting. So I would deffinetly recomend them b4 any other brand.
Thanks for the feedback.
Besides sports, this is an exciting form of entertainment and knowledge. Thanks for breaking these tools down so I can spend my money wisely.
You are welcome!
I can absolutely reccomend the Wera Hex Keys! Theyre quite a bit more pricey but last forever! also the color coordination is such a game changer. It takes some time to get used to but then you instantly know which color to pick for which size of bolt!
Thanks for the feedback.
A great feature, although the coating makes it harder to get them out of the organizer
@@SeaCowsBeatLobsters I'm with you, Bro! Don't forget that it costs more too!
@@SeaCowsBeatLobsters oh true yeah. the organiser is great if you wanna carry a full set with you but for home usage, I just drilled some holes in my bench to have a super nice holder. Altho you could also just put them in a box and with the colors it will still be pretty easy to find each one
I have used Allen wrenches a lot over the years. In my field (semiconductor manufacturing equipment) rounding a hex screw is one of those things that will ruin your day. Bondhus is what you find the most in fabs but I prefer Wiha for the fit.
I work in medical device mfg, and I find the Wiha to be the perfect balance between strong and not going to ruin your bolt.
We use PB Swiss in our Fab and I‘ve to agree with this test: durability is good, but the fit could be better
@@enricoforster5309 I use PB Swiss in my shop. I've always been pleased with durability, but wish the fit was more like the Wiha.
i work in microwave signal analasys, all hex tools are bondus. the tools will twist and deform long before they break. the only size that i have fitment issues with is the 0.050" wrenches.
In the 1990's Eklind was everywhere. When the economy went bad in the early 2000's, Eklind made their tools different, now they are butter soft junk.
Every proffesional I know bought one set of Eklinds, threw them out in disgust two or three months later and bought Bondhus. The old ones had the picture of a Gorilla on them. I have had mine, used daily, for over a decade and they look like new.
As a Maintainer for over 20 years now I worked with a lot of different brands. The most durable for me were the SwissTool wrenches.
Thanks for sharing.
“Easy to see size markings for those with bionic vision” and that is yet another reason this is the best channel on TH-cam!
Thanks!
Another fine Todd Torture Test! The Craftsmen seemed to perform very well overall and at a great price point. Here in Canada, I bought the Princess Auto brand. They're relatively cheap, colour coded, ball end, small magnet insert and lifetime warranty.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Princess junk, all Chinese made. Have a torx set and the largest one broke. A long power bar from Princess the half inch stud shattered. Id rather have tools I don’t have to return and my knuckles don’t fly into a steel part when a tool fails. Also prices are being raised a lot lately, they jack prices to see if they will still sell. Many tools at Princess are way overpriced.
I’ve had my Bondhus sets for about 30 years and they are still going strong. I think a great fit is more important for fastener longevity than some of the stress testing - even the Pittsburgh pulled 100 ft-lbs, and seriously, when are you going to put that much force on an Allen key??
Great job, as always!!!!
Thanks!
Repent to Jesus Christ!!
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:5 NIV
@@jesusislord6545 You should repent!
They're a solid brand, lots of people at work use them. The main reason I don't myself is the lack of colour coding, for me I find otherwise they're a really good set and well priced too. I just find the colours make it really easy to switch between them. Could always tape them or colour them myself if I got keen I guess.
I've been using a set of those weras for the last two years. They're great.
Thanks for sharing.
Awesome video! I use these, (Bondhus 20399) they are very corrosion resistant. The one end is a little shorter than normal, which has been a problem. But they have been very good performing.
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
I love this man
Thanks! Thanks for watching!
Hmmm. He didn’t say ‘I love you’ back. Awkward…. 😆
@@ricecowboy He's married?
I appreciate you both helping me find the best tires and tools!
We've always bought Bondhus, and have had good results. They look like a pretty good value, not the best but middle of the pack in quality. As usual, your tests are fair, quick and no fluff! Thanks so much.
You are welcome!
They're made in the USA too! I use mine all the time especially in situations where I might lose or damage them.
I have used the same wiha set Metric and SAE for the last 8 years as a service engineer and while they do wear out they don't wear out as fast and the fit is by far the best in any other brand I have used. They are worth the extra cost as with most quality tools take care of them and they will hold up. Great comparison video.
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
Great video - thanks. Worked with Bondhus brand for about 8 yrs (mfr facility) and was always satisfied with their quality. Thanks for the info. on all of these brands.
PS: "Hand me that CHEATER PIPE AND THE BFH."
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for sharing.