Howdy from DRPD!

[legenddc]

I'm curious if there's a reason why PB Swiss doesn't sell the Swissgrips or Evo in a set for hex and ball-end hex.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I'm curious if there's a reason why PB Swiss doesn't sell the Swissgrips or Evo in a set for hex and ball-end hex.

PB 8205, PB 8206 S seem to fit.

 

[legenddc]

PB 8205, PB 8206 S seem to fit.

I know they have individual ones, was curious why they don’t make sets like the flat, Phillips, torx and Pozi drive ones.

 

[billspreston]

I know they have individual ones, was curious why they don’t make sets like the flat, Phillips, torx and Pozi drive ones.

I think it's simply a matter of perceived demand. PB Swiss seems to take a more conservative approach to the number of set SKUs they carry in the range when compared to someone like Wera, for instance. There are several SwissGrip/EVO profiles where PB Swiss doesn't offer a set – Torx Plus, Nut Drivers, Hex, Ball-end Hex...

I do agree there should definitely be a set of Hex PB 38205 in something like 1.5–5 mm based on the amount of individuals we sell.

 

[134k]

We pretty much sell all imported tools and there are 2 related challenges being faced with imports at the moment:

1. The reciprocal tariffs introduced this year, which you all likely understand by now – U.S. importers pay these tariffs directly to U.S. Customs before the goods are released for delivery. Tariffs, to date, have increased import costs between 10-15% for the brands we work with.
2. Uncertainly in-part due to the above tariffs has caused the USD to lose approximately 10% of its value.

So import costs are up 20-25% since April and with that, prices for many of our brands have risen over the past 2 months and others will be going up soon.

For brands that we procure from a U.S. distributor (KNIPEX, Wera, Ko-ken) – our cost (and pricing) has already gone up between 7-10%. I wouldn't expect much more of an increase beyond that for now, maybe another 5%, unless tariffs for EU or Japan change again.

For brands that we import directly (PB Swiss, Ebisu, KEIBA) – we have not raised pricing yet, but I would anticipate an increase of roughly 10% very soon. If 39% sticks around for Switzerland, it will be above 10%. If reciprocal tariffs are reduced on these at any time, we will reduce pricing accordingly as new shipments arrive.

We are doing everything possible to keep prices low. Price adjustments are being done with serious caution and companies (including DRPD) are definitely absorbing some of the costs along the way.

I know that the tariff issue is ever changing, and it's dynamic in terms of things changing by the week even day. Will this affect the Koken items that you already stock? Do you foresee any items that will not be carried because of the tariffs? I will still support your store no matter what, that is not the issue. But I just wanted to see what your insight was with this whole debacle. August 29, is approaching fast

 

[GerMec]

old vs new, size comparison. These are my home shop drivers, not used for work, so they stay fairly clean. The old set is about 10-12 years old now (?) and the tips have held up remarkably well.
the old set has lived on the end of my workbench for a while now. not used for automotive work or industrial stuff, just all the other normal house chores and projects.
end caps on the new drivers are a bit different....

How does the new Evo PH2 handle compare to the old one? Do you feel a noticable difference?

 

[billspreston]

I know that the tariff issue is ever changing, and it's dynamic in terms of things changing by the week even day. Will this affect the Koken items that you already stock? Do you foresee any items that will not be carried because of the tariffs? I will still support your store no matter what, that is not the issue. But I just wanted to see what your insight was with this whole debacle. August 29, is approaching fast

The August 29th deadline removes the de minimis exemption that existed for packages with a value under $800. Previously, any package with a value of $800 or under was not subject to processing and/or duties from US Customs. This deadline will generally impact individuals – as business importers, we have always been paying tariffs/duties on these tools, but those tariffs have increased substantially in 2025.

So, for an example, this new rule would impact people ordering Ko-ken tools from Amazon.jp as orders under $800 will now be subject to customs duties, tariffs, brokerage fees, etc. No, I do not think that is fair and I believe it will put incredible strain on US Customs staff to process this increased volume.

You may have seen in the news that many foreign post services (USPS equivalent) have suspended shipments to the US because there is a lot of general confusion on the new policy. These suspensions so far have not impacted the commercial freight methods used by businesses to import Ko-ken tools for resale in the US.

The Japan trade deal has recently been "finalized" with a tariff rate of 15% and Ko-ken pricing seems to have stabilized although I could potentially see another price increase in the US of ~5%.

Ultimately, no, I do not foresee a disruption in supply or available SKUs due to the tariffs on our commercial side at this time. DRPD should be able to continue to provide Ko-ken tools as normal.

 

[matt stott]

How does the new Evo PH2 handle compare to the old one? Do you feel a noticable difference?

Yes, I feel a difference. I needed to run down to my shop to check, since I had not used them side-by-side yet. The EVO drivers feel bigger in hand than they look. They look about the same size, but the new drivers "fit" my hand better? Maybe they are making more contact in the hand, with the new shape. But they definitely feel larger, when I pick up and old driver vs a new one.. Not sure I would have noticed had I just started using the new drivers and never touched the old ones again.

The difference is not like the snap-on instinct shape: those just feel much bigger than most other drivers to me.

 

[lu787a]

Yes, I feel a difference. I needed to run down to my shop to check, since I had not used them side-by-side yet. The EVO drivers feel bigger in hand than they look. They look about the same size, but the new drivers "fit" my hand better? Maybe they are making more contact in the hand, with the new shape. But they definitely feel larger, when I pick up and old driver vs a new one.. Not sure I would have noticed had I just started using the new drivers and never touched the old ones again.

The difference is not like the snap-on instinct shape: those just feel much bigger than most other drivers to me.

Does it have the same texture? Looks smoother in photos versus the sort of "open pore" feel of the older one.

 

[matt stott]

Does it have the same texture? Looks smoother in photos versus the sort of "open pore" feel of the older one.

They feel the same to me. The texture and "give" are about the same. My old set is a bit "stickier"- but I suspect that has a lot more to do with a decade of acetone and bra-kleen soakings, not to mention any leftover grime on the handle.

If I look really, really close, the new set is probably a bit smoother, less texture. But I cannot feel that difference in use.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

My go-to (current) solution for a 1/4" drive "spinner" would be this: PB 38510.R-30 (8510.R-30) + PB 454. I personally used this combo to great effect when installing the million bolts for our warehouse shelving system.

Isn't the insertion depth shallower than that? On all PB bit holders.

 

[matt stott]

Isn't the insertion depth shallower than that? On all PB bit holders.

A bit shallower, but the magnets are great.

 

[billspreston]

Isn't the insertion depth shallower than that? On all PB bit holders.

Yes, my bad – poorly photoshopped! Thanks for the photo example @matt stott

 

[Ohio Andy]

And follow you who missed it, they have a nice sale going on. Which means I put my big order in a day early...

Can't complain though, they filled my order really fast looking forward to receiving it... I ordered a set of the Evo screwdrivers so I can try the handles... And a bunch of stuff to try to organize my bits.

 

[CallumRD1]

A bit shallower, but the magnets are great.

The Wera 870/1 is a fantastic alternative that's much more compact:

 

[Reed Prince]

New hex handles are substantially larger. Came in handy today.

 

[legenddc]

And follow you who missed it, they have a nice sale going on. Which means I put my big order in a day early...

Can't complain though, they filled my order really fast looking forward to receiving it... I ordered a set of the Evo screwdrivers so I can try the handles... And a bunch of stuff to try to organize my bits.

What’s the sale?

 

[Ohio Andy]

What’s the sale?

10 percent off Labor Day sale with discount code LABOR25 And a free gift with orders over $200.

And ironically the free gift is something I think I ordered like four or five of I don't remember. A set of five PB Swiss bit holders.

I also ordered some Evo screwdrivers to try out the handles.

 

[Ohio Andy]

10 percent off Labor Day sale with discount code LABOR25 And a free gift with orders over $200.

And ironically the free gift is something I think I ordered like four or five of I don't remember. A set of five PB Swiss bit holders.

I also ordered some Evo screwdrivers to try out the handles.

Or anyone who cares? These are the Evo screwdrivers I ordered set of six

PB Swiss SwissGrip Evo Screwdriver Set, Slotted & Phillips, 6 pcs w/ Storage Rack (PB 38244.H CBB)

Shop the world's finest tools from elite brands like PB Swiss, Wera, KNIPEX, Ko-ken, Ebisu, KEIBA and more..

drpd.cc

Still in stock...

 

[Rinspeed]

Yes, my bad – poorly photoshopped! Thanks for the photo example @matt stott

Let us know when you get the next shipment in. I was going to order a couple Evo drivers but all were out of stock.

 

[NitroExpress]

Curious if there is an update on PB Swiss inventory coming back to stock?

I managed to snag one Evo Phillips driver before most of the Evo sold out. I’m ready for more!!

 

[Outahere]

Curious if there is an update on PB Swiss inventory coming back to stock?

A recent email from DRPD stated an arrival time of early to mid October, with a price increase of 10-15%

 

[billspreston]

Hey guys, yes, we will resuming PB Swiss imports here again in October with a large EVO shipment expected!

Sadly the 39% Swiss tariff rate and weak USD seems here to stay so a price adjustment on PB Swiss Tools will be necessary to keep the lights on.

Good news is that we had already accounted for the previous 10% tariff and currency devaluation in our EVO pricing so the price increase on those items will not be at the same level as the rest of the items.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Hey guys, yes, we will resuming PB Swiss imports here again in October with a large EVO shipment expected!

Sadly the 39% Swiss tariff rate and weak USD seems here to stay so a price adjustment on PB Swiss Tools will be necessary to keep the lights on.

Good news is that we had already accounted for the previous 10% tariff and currency devaluation in our EVO pricing so the price increase on those items will not be at the same level as the rest of the items.

Really like the new Evo handles.

 

[billspreston]

Really like the new Evo handles.

They are awesome!! We'll get the full range in your guys' hands soon after this brief little hiccup.

 

[Not So Legendary]

@billspreston Are you guys going to have the Wera advent this year? its looking pretty good this time around.

 

[billspreston]

@billspreston Are you guys going to have the Wera advent this year? its looking pretty good this time around.

We missed it this year, we had just started carrying Wera when these orders were requested and overlooked it. Next year!

Absolutely looks like a great set!

 

[billspreston]

Hey guys! Just a quick update here, we have a large shipment of PB Swiss Tools en-route, but looks like it may be closer to middle/end of October as customs clearance ETA is slower than usual at the moment. We will make an announcement via an EVO related email as soon as that lands.

In the meantime, something kind of related, but a bit a different...

We have been selling LISTA cabinets and workstations locally to businesses here in Central California since 2023, but have never really found an effective way to offer these products online. The LISTA catalog is massive with an incredible amount of options and customization making it pretty much impossible for LISTA to photograph every single one of those options. At the same time, LISTA customers are detail oriented and want to see and choose from all the cool options available. So, we set out to render every single pre-configured LISTA cabinet available in nearly every color option and make that available via our web store. It's not perfect, but this allows us to offer nearly every LISTA cabinet combination and help our customers visualize what all of those layouts look like in each different cabinet size and color. I don't know about you, but if I'm buying a $3,000+ cabinet I would like to have a pretty good idea of what it is going to look like. We are just getting started here and similar to the cabinets, we will have all of the workbench options available on our website soon.

We also provide custom LISTA design services helping businesses to outfit and optimize large workspace areas to their specific requirements.

Please check out the site and let us know what you think, we sincerely value the feedback you're able to provide.

For those of you unfamiliar with LISTA – a brief history: LISTA originally is a Swiss company founded in 1945 and has been making premium steel workspace storage system since the '50s. LISTA purchased a US sales subsidiary (Deluxe) in the late 60's officially incorporating in the U.S. as the LISTA International Corporation in 1972. Rapid expansion occurred through the 70s and 80s as LISTA quickly gained a reputation for themselves in the U.S. industrial market. LISTA products became respected around the world for their smart engineering and bombproof design and today represents the industry standard for workspace storage solutions. In 2012, Stanley Black & Decker acquired LISTA International Corporation and at this point the 2 companies diverged. Both LISTA AG (Switzerland) and LISTA® (USA) exist today operating independently as separate businesses, but the general cabinet designs for all intents and purposes are still nearly identical with the metric dimensions & all. Today you have a brand in LISTA possessing Swiss engineering roots proven for over 75 years, backed by Made in USA manufacturing and the powerful investments of Stanley Black & Decker.

So let's make it happen people. LISTA blue is great, but the world needs more variety – let's see some more white, black and red LISTA out in those shops!

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Hey guys! Just a quick update here, we have a large shipment of PB Swiss Tools en-route, but looks like it may be closer to middle/end of October as customs clearance ETA is slower than usual at the moment. We will make an announcement via an EVO related email as soon as that lands.

In the meantime, something kind of related, but a bit a different...

We have been selling LISTA cabinets and workstations

I saw you had Lista now when I placed a small order this week (would have been much larger, but pretty much everything PBSwiss was Out of Stock in the sizes I needed to set up some additional workstations ).

As much as I’d like to order all new lista cabinets for my new shop build, their new prices are astronomical when looking at purchasing 10+ cabinets with countertops, etc.

I guess, I’d be more willing to spend the extra on new Lista if they’d do custom paint colors as well.

So what would be super helpful would be specific sub pages to make it way easier to find Lista accessories for all of the cabinets I keep picking up at auctions. ie, drawer dividers, etc. as well as replacement parts.


On another note, super happy that you guys stock replacement PBSwiss handles as they were awesome for making my custom brass o-ring tools.

 

[Chris F]

@billpreston
Will the Lista troughs be available through you?

 

[billspreston]

Thanks for the input @Grant Gunderson – what an awesome setup you have going there! I especially like the size markings on the top of the drawer handles. There will be a PB Swiss shipment landing here soon that should hopefully fill in the sizes you were looking for.

With regard to custom LISTA colors – the colors shown above are actually standard color options, we just don't see them very often because many customers don't even know those options exist.

We can also do "custom" colors choosing from any RAL Classic color (196 colors) to be factory powder coated by LISTA. The pricing for this service is as follows:

• Minimum charge: $500
• < $9,999 Order Value – 10% upcharge
• $10,000 - $49,999 - 5% upcharge
• $50k+ - Free

We will launch a LISTA design page explaining these customization options.

@Chris F we have added the troughs and some other drawer accessories here: https://drpd.cc/brands/lista/?_bc_fsnf=1&category=230

 

[billspreston]

Hey All! Exciting news that we've finally had a large shipment of PB Swiss Tools land here at our warehouse in California that should hopefully fill in most of the inventory gaps that have been accumulating over the past few months.

We genuinely love these tools, this brand, and the people behind it and are committed to keeping PB Swiss readily available in the U.S. in the face of some substantial trade policy hurdles.

I do not seek your sympathy, but if you've had a good experience with DRPD and are in a position to purchase some great tools, we would be grateful for your repeat business. If you've had a good experience with DRPD and you are not in the market for any news tools, but know someone who is, we would be grateful for any referrals. If you've never shopped with DRPD, we currently have a 5.0 star Google rating with 72 reviews and we would love you to check us out and become #73

 

[Steel_Rain]

I will be making an order shortly for some Koken products.

That said...any news of an upcoming Black Friday sale?

 

[M.Jay]

New hex handles are substantially larger. Came in handy today.

Whoa, they look huge! As someone who doesn't have hands like Jeff Dabe, I'm now going to fill up the gaps in my drawer with the old ones before they are gone.

I do not seek your sympathy, but if you've had a good experience with DRPD and are in a position to purchase some great tools, we would be grateful for your repeat business.

Since I am located in Europe, I'm probably never going to order anything from you, but still want to express my appreciation for your commitment to this forum and the insights you share with us!

 

[dynode]

I saw you had Lista now when I placed a small order this week (would have been much larger, but pretty much everything PBSwiss was Out of Stock in the sizes I needed to set up some additional workstations ).

As much as I’d like to order all new lista cabinets for my new shop build, their new prices are astronomical when looking at purchasing 10+ cabinets with countertops, etc.

I guess, I’d be more willing to spend the extra on new Lista if they’d do custom paint colors as well.

So what would be super helpful would be specific sub pages to make it way easier to find Lista accessories for all of the cabinets I keep picking up at auctions. ie, drawer dividers, etc. as well as replacement parts.


On another note, super happy that you guys stock replacement PBSwiss handles as they were awesome for making my custom brass o-ring tools.

Do you have a link or part number for those handles?

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Do you have a link or part number for those handles?

PB 8215.A ESD

 

[Reed Prince]

Whoa, they look huge! As someone who doesn't have hands like Jeff Dabe, I'm now going to fill up the gaps in my drawer with the old ones before they are gone.

Just got in some new Torx. Seems like the smaller the tool, the bigger the difference. The only thing they shrunk were the words, which I would have prefered they enlarged or just left alone.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Thanks for that last image.

 

[M.Jay]

Thanks for the photo! It strengthens my decision to buy more of the old smaller ones.
I also dislike that they simplified the markings on the end caps.

 

[cbracer]

I would like to upgrade to the new handles. Who wants to buy my perfect almost never used Torx, or my used standard slotted and phillips?