Eklind and Bondhus tool warranties

[ElectroMechTech]

Anybody here know if Eklind is as generous with the warranty of their hex keys as Bondhus is? I've never had warranty issues with Bondhus. However I don't have any warranty experience with Eklind. I know the wording alone on the warranty policy of Bondhus vs the wording on Eklind's policy tells me Bondhus would be less hassle. Again looking for folks to chime in on real world experience on getting Eklind to replace something.

 

[Firebrick43]

After using both plus pb swiss and wera, i have to ask, why would you want to replace an eklind even if was a warranty replacement that didn't cost you anything?

 

[dnschmidt]

Hex keys are cheap. Postage isn't. Does this really make any sense.

 

[bob15]

Replace what size hex wrench?

 

[nicks78camaro]

All tool companies should transition to a "email pictures and don't send us the old one" warranty

 

[Ohmthis]

I’ve not had to warranty any Bondhus hex keys. Either they really are gorilla proof or I’m just not that strong. I work with mine daily and really put my 3,4,5,6, and 10 mm through hell. My 5mm is so twisted it looks like it was rifled from the factory, but has never slipped or is rounded. If I break any, I’ll go to my backup set and order a new set. That may be 10 years from now ( My set now is over 15 years old)!

 

[tarbellb]

Bondhus is better quality, better warranty, and only a fraction more in cost.

So why are you asking?

 

[ElectroMechTech]

Bondhus is better quality, better warranty, and only a fraction more in cost.

So why are you asking?

Curiosity more than anything is why I'm asking.

 

[ElectroMechTech]

I’ve not had to warranty any Bondhus hex keys. Either they really are gorilla proof or I’m just not that strong. I work with mine daily and really put my 3,4,5,6, and 10 mm through hell. My 5mm is so twisted it looks like it was rifled from the factory, but has never slipped or is rounded. If I break any, I’ll go to my backup set and order a new set. That may be 10 years from now ( My set now is over 15 years old)!

I work heavily with 5mm and below and 5/32 and below. I use the larger sizes too, but the smaller sizes, all the way down to the tiny sizes, gets the workout in my world.

 

[RoninB4]

Hex keys are considered perishable/disposable tools in many machine shops. Most toolmakers simply grind back the damaged portion or get a replacement. They're not expensive and don't last forever y'know.

 

[BarrelRoll]

I guess I never thought about attempting to warranty an allen key and just grab another from an old set or buy a new set. Is the bondhus warranty throw it in the mail and they send you a new one?

 

[ElectroMechTech]

I guess I never thought about attempting to warranty an allen key and just grab another from an old set or buy a new set. Is the bondhus warranty throw it in the mail and they send you a new one?

It used to be mail in the old one. Lately it's email a picture of the worn out or broken key, and they drop you a new one in the mail. No hassle.

 

[ForrestT]

Can speak for eklind warranty. I have 4 sets of them thanks for the sales at Menards-regular shorts and long ball joints. I also have bondhus-longs with ball joints courtesy of flea market finds. Bondhus warranty was excellent. Lost my 4 mm. Emailed them and they sent me a one time courtesy replacement. You can also replace them single via Amazon for cheap. Lady informed me of that.

 

[Kuma601]

In a past life the shop ordered a bunch of Eklind keys and my fun task was to mic them. The spec's varied and of 100 keys 18 of them went out to the assembly bench. After that they bought Bondhus which I also got the fun task to mic those. The keeper ratio and spec was significantly better.

My usuals are Bondhus. I don't have much issue grinding them down to keep them sharp and the cost ratio is good. I'd have a bit of hesitation grinding away PB Swiss. I bought a set of Asahi DX2000's when I was in Japan. Excellent keys if you like Japan made tools.

 

[RoninB4]

In a past life the shop ordered a bunch of Eklind keys and my fun task was to mic them. The spec's varied and of 100 keys 18 of them went out to the assembly bench.

-In a past life I was a tool & die maker for Eklind. Steel that we used in hex stock was only available from a few mills (mid 1990's) and a few times a competitor bought up all available hex stock trying to disrupt our production. We had to purchase from the spot market around the world, that's likely what caused the size and quality/material variations. Competition does things like that the public never hears about. Don't know about now, I left the company after establishing the ball driver project around 1997. Howard Eklind no longer runs the company.

 

[Kuma601]

-In a past life I was a tool & die maker for Eklind. Steel that we used in hex stock was only available from a few mills (mid 1990's) and a few times a competitor bought up all available hex stock trying to disrupt our production. We had to purchase from the spot market around the world, that's likely what caused the size and quality/material variations. Competition does things like that the public never hears about. Don't know about now, I left the company after establishing the ball driver project around 1997. Howard Eklind no longer runs the company.

Thanks for posting! I can understand the changing materials side that alters the product. Frustrating for sure. Great timeline, just as you mentioned this was mid 90's when I was given this task.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Don't know about warranty, but I just got an sae metric set for about $20 after combined shipping thanks to some jackass snaking the last set out of my truck.