Wera's latest, most complete 1/4" metric set

[GSMotorrad]

8100 SA All-in Zyklop Speed Socket Set 1/4"

I haven't been able to bring myself to buy any of the Wera socket sets for years, drooling over them on the internet. From reading about mediocre reviews here and their super expensive prices, I just couldn't do it until now. I finally convinced myself to buy this set, because of how complete it is without skipping sizes, and how they're all sockets, instead of any loose, tiny bits.

These have their ball-detent "holding" feature, and color "take it easy" bands of colors. I dig how compact the set is, to keep in the car and how expansive it is at the same time. The twist-lock socket retention of the cordura case/roll is secure as all get out. I made an unboxing and initial impressions video if'n your interested:

 

[sk farmer]

is that your video?

oh my, i hope not........

 

[Yarpo]

350 dollars for that? Yikes

 

[Skin]

Do a bit of partying in the 60s and 70s did ya?

 

[GSMotorrad]

350 dollars for that? Yikes

I know, right?!?

 

[GSMotorrad]

Do a bit of partying in the 60s and 70s did ya?

I'm not that old yet, but I dabbled a little in the 90's.

 

[Yarpo]

I know, right?!?

If you're happy with it, thats all that matters!

I just personally hate how they look, they almost always look gimmicky to me and not many people I know use or like them in the few places I've worked.

 

[GSMotorrad]

If you're happy with it, thats all that matters!

I just personally hate how they look, they almost always look gimmicky to me and not many people I know use or like them in the few places I've worked.

I won't be buying their other drive sizes or anything. I'm good with just this 1/4" set for the car. I really like it a lot, and also know I really splurged this time... I have an addiction, and a decent tool-budget right now - it comes in waves.

I forgot to mention in the video how the sockets are THICK, just like if they were impact sockets - not your normal "thin chromes". I'm assuming to house the spring-loaded ball-bearings in the walls... which must weaken its structure as well. Just an important note.

 

[Wyoming09]

Sounds like somebody was dabbling a little just before the video was shot. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[notlob]

 

[M6erfan]

That was a bit painful to watch. Chronic anyone?

As far as the set, meh...

 

[JBradley500]

You smoke the devils lettuce just one time and they never let you live it down

 

[woody 73]

Op after some time using them please report back your results. I would like to read what you thought of them in a future post update.

I for one can understand the tool fixation of got to have now...

 

[ChrisLS8]

Sorry but couldn't make it all the way through the video tbh lol

 

[FigureItOut]

I got through just enough to learn that you wanted to use the included velcro to attach the set to your fanny pack. We'll need pics of that getup.

Frankly I'd love to get my hands on that set, though I'd never in a million years spend the money Wera asks for their sockets and ratchets, considering that most reviews aren't great. Even still, it's cool looking stuff and I can see why you were dazzled by it.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[GSMotorrad]

I got through just enough to learn that you wanted to use the included velcro to attach the set to your fanny pack. We'll need pics of that getup.

Tough crowd here. The entire getup actually fits inside my fanny-pack, so I didn't need to use that included velcro.

I did a little more digging and it seems like I might've been on to something there towards the end of that video. These specific sockets, with the fancy "holding function" are made in Czech Republic, instead of Taiwan where all their other sockets are made, even the ones that looks similar with the color banding. These are Wera's flagship sockets, and they're proud of them.

Over at KC TOOLS website, on the individual sockets, he lists the COO. That's where I got this information. So there's the slight chance that these Czech made sockets might be on another level from their Taiwan stuff - I choose to believe they are.

 

[GSMotorrad]

Op after some time using them please report back your results. I would like to read what you thought of them in a future post update.

I for one can understand the tool fixation of got to have now...

10-4, I've been playing with them all day. For the record, I didn't pay for overnight shipping. I paid for the cheapest shipping, then they waited a few days, but when they did ship it, they sent it FedEx and it got here the next day, two weeks sooner than the estimated deliver date.

The sockets are thick, like impacts, to make room for the spring-loaded balls. Did I say that already? I think I might have. You can see the balls from both sides of the socket-walls. On the inside, you see the bare balls. Then you see the outlines of the balls pressing against the black band where the sizes are marked. It's almost like the black band is providing the tension on the ball, but that would be crazy. I haven't actually had a chance to use these tools today, but I'll report back.

 

[Wamsutta]

D U D E . . . Whatever it is you're drinking or smoking, I want it!

 

[BigBoreFan]

That set is $162.00 on Amazon DE.

I suspect we were Andy Kaufmanned.

 

[CR888]

I haven't watched the video as in ant stand poor unedited vids. But I have a few Wera tools & unlike many Taiwan tools that are all copies of each other, Wera really thinks about what they are doing when designing a tool. Sadly they aren't German these days but the Czech made tools are of a high quality standard. There are a few things I don't like about there tools like ratchets can't be easily opened up for service but the good points tend to outweigh the bad. I have there Joker ratchet wrenches which are quite different to the average wrench on the market. I believe for the most part Wera tools are a step up above Taiwan tools.

 

[ken w.]

A link to the tool would be nice.

 

[Tallpilot]

Thanks for the video! That's probably as close as I'll ever get to that set. It has some cool and innovative features and is very complete for the compact size.

I've never owned a Wera drive tool because I just don't like that strange shape. It may be the most ergonomic thing in the World. I won't know because I'm bothered by the look.

 

[BigBoreFan]

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07B82MKJM/

 

[ken w.]

Thanks

 

[yrly]

The socket sidewalls seem awfully thick for a 1/4 inch unless it’s the camera angle. Ratchet reminds me of the craftsman Mach series but better made. Seems awfully expensive to me.

 

[ftb]

Looks alright (except for the stoned guy in the video) but hardly groundbreaking. First set or a home set, errrmm maybe. Another set? No way.

 

[GSMotorrad]

The socket sidewalls seem awfully thick for a 1/4 inch unless it’s the camera angle. Ratchet reminds me of the craftsman Mach series but better made. Seems awfully expensive to me.

Upon closer inspection, it's just the "lips" that are thick. Big old fat chicken-lips on these sockets, but it's only thick around their rims. Weird design, I know. I had to really get close to realize it was just thick around the rim - which totally means it won't fit anywhere where a thin-chrome is needed for clearance.

Below the thicker lipped part, the sockets get thinner walled. They're definitely weird. I need to do another video showing up close pictures of all these little details, but after the reception I got, and everyone saying I'm stoned, kind of killed the fire and motivation.

Even the TORX® sockets are "Holding Feature" in that they are very slightly larger and I have to PRESS them into a torx screw's head HARD. These Torx don't have a spring-loaded ball, but they're machined differently for that tight fit.

The hex sockets are strange too. The larger sizes do have the ball, while the two smallest sizes don't, but all the sizes are almost a "FLANK DRIVE" (Snap On's term) in how they're shaped. Slightly concave on the flats, and it's like a subtle torx shape... These are not your normal, run-of-the-mill sockets. Every socket is a very tight fit on every fastener. I've never known tolerances like this on tools before.

 

[GSMotorrad]

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07B82MKJM/

How much for shipping to the USA? (I can't navigate the amazon.de site)

I ordered mine from German Sanitary & Tool Shop on Amazon, and was charged $33.20 for shipping, but now it says free shipping: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B82MKJM/

 

[IndyGarage]

I've had the old set for about 6 years and it's one of my most used tools.

Actually I think I like the old set better than this new one. The old set had a set of long hex bits and a 1/4 socket to hex adapter, which allowed the ratchet to be a ratcheting screwdriver - coolest thing ever.

If you haven't used a 1/4 in Zyklop ratchet, you are missing out. Yeah the handle gets real dirty and you have to clean it, but my old ones clean up just fine.

I also have the zyklop in 3/8 and 1/2. I use all three, but the 1/4 is definitely the most handy.

 

[JVB]

How much for shipping to the USA? (I can't navigate the amazon.de site)

I ordered mine from German Sanitary & Tool Shop on Amazon, and was charged $33.20 for shipping, but now it says free shipping: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B82MKJM/

My total including shipping is 163.51 USD .

I took a German language class in high school, but I cannot comprehend much on there myself. There are translator sites available as well. If you can navigate amazon in U.S. it is fairly easy to get through IMO.

 

[GSMotorrad]

My total including shipping is 163.51 USD .

I took a German language class in high school, but I cannot comprehend much on there myself. There are translator sites available as well. If you can navigate amazon in U.S. it is fairly easy to get through IMO.

Wow, I didn't know ordering from the German Amazon site to the USA was even an option. Guess I just learned an expensive lesson! Yeah, I paid about double that! I guess there's one born every minute . . .

 

[mr.lemons]

My total including shipping is 163.51 USD .

I took a German language class in high school, but I cannot comprehend much on there myself. There are translator sites available as well. If you can navigate amazon in U.S. it is fairly easy to get through IMO.

Amazon.de has a language button.

 

[GSMotorrad]

My total including shipping is 163.51 USD .

I took a German language class in high school, but I cannot comprehend much on there myself. There are translator sites available as well. If you can navigate amazon in U.S. it is fairly easy to get through IMO.

Geez, that's a substantial difference in price. How do people like KC TOOLS get away with charging double if anyone in the US can order from the other Amazon site? https://www.kctoolco.com/wera-003755-8100-sa-all-in-zyklop-speed-ratchet-set-1-4-drive-with-holding-function-metric/

Yes, I feel very stupid now. I did the normal "google shopping" searches and thought I found the best price... That .de stuff doesn't show up in my searches.

 

[JVB]

Amazon.de has a language button.

I wasn’t not able to see that on mobile. But a google search for it switched over for me. I had fun translating while it lasted!!

I appreciate the help.


Seems pretty common on pricing. I was looking at a hex bit set around 80$ here ordered it on amazon.de for under half including postage. Postage was surprisingly cheap in my eyes.

 

[GSMotorrad]

Knowing I paid $167 more for it just ruined my day. That's highway robbery. I literally feel sick to my stomach.

 

[JVB]

Are you able to return it and rebuy from Amazon?

 

[GSMotorrad]

Are you able to return it and rebuy from Amazon?

Worth a shot, considering even if I'm out the shipping back and forth to and from Germany and lose around $60, it'll STILL end up being around $100 cheaper. I just can't believe how MUCH they marked it up!

 

[Johngm45]

There are several BUYS on Amazon $150 vs $280
de


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[GSMotorrad]

Are you able to return it and rebuy from Amazon?

It seems so! I explained the price difference on the Amazon.de site, and they were totally cool with it. I didn't even ask, but they already refunded the initial shipping and said they're even going to refund whatever I pay to return it to their "US warehouse". We'll see how this plays out...

For $163.51 USD shipped, I'm going to say this tool set is WORTH IT!

 

[GSMotorrad]

And hey, thanks to all the GJ members who steered on the right track regarding getting ripped off. Cheers.