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Wera chiseldriver = junk

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tyndall

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I never thought I'd call Wera junk.

My Kraftform 300's have been flawless in pro use but while I was in my local tool store I couldn't resist buying a heavy duty 900. After all, who doesn't smack a screwdriver with a hammer sometime or another, and the one thing lacking on my 300's was a hex bolster.

At work today I had to install three distributor rotors. Two #10 screws about 7/8" long each. By the sixth screw, something didn't feel right. Felt like it was camming out, something the cheaper 300's or my SK's don't do. Looked at the tip and it was twisted! Six #10 screws installed by hand and its now useless. Have to see what my dealer says later this week, but I sure don't want another one. For the record, my 300's and the 900 were made in the Czech Republic.

I have to agree with those that say Wera tips are soft. At least the 900's are.
 

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BHH

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I can see what he is talking about. It looks like the left side is higher than the right side. It still looks totally useable though.
 
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archirelic

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I'd definitely like a much better close-up. Up until this point, my chiseldrivers have been flawless in use.
 
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gatewaysysop

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Doesn't look good. You can see the twist if you look toward the hex in the background, but I agree that the picture is hard to get anything from.

I've wondered if quality differed between the Czech and German versions as I have the former (not the chisel drivers though). Very interested to hear if this is a one-off or not.
 
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tyndall

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Its really hard to focus on the tip, even in macro mode. I'll see if I can get something better.

If you follow the hex shape, it's straight until the last 1/8th of the tip, then it twists. Because its just the tip, the angle where the blade fits into the screw has changed. It seems minor, but it makes it much easier to slip out of the screw. Certainly can't use it at work as most of the screws I deal with are a lot tighter than these were. Considering this is Wera's heavy duty line, this shouldn't have happened.
 
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JASTECH

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I would like a set made in Germany. The only quality screw drivers I have are orange handled Snappys and a few black handles too.
 
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tyndall

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Ok, I think this shows it a little more clearly.
 

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Fedwrench

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I've abused the hell out of my chiseldrivers without any issues. I'm surprised to the blade tip bent. I don't think the czech republic origin had anything to do with it. Possibly a bad lot. Send your pictures to Wera and tell them the eyes of Garage Journal are upon them.:shocking:
 
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geologist

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That's pretty disappointing when my $2 Menards specials have held up better than your pricey Wera. I would email them and see if they would replace it.
 
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W650Mike

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Drawn back too far after quenching. Slender shapes are tough to temper perfectly - every time. Especially in a batch process. It is just as probable to end up too hard and thus brittle. Even high sampling rates can let a few slip through.
 
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Monte

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i own a couple of the chiseldrivers since several years. Some tips have small dents from using it as a chisel and some corners of the tips are rounded from using them as a scraper but they still work.




 
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plumber84

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my 900 drivers have been completely abused ive had them about 4-5 years now and think their great ive not had any quality issues. im waiting for snapon to bring out some striking screwdriver sets with instinct handles.
 
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wellpoison

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i have heard that the laser tip drivers are made of softer metal then the non laser tip. i have one lasertip that i used a hand full of times that has the ends rounded a little. thought about sending them an email with a couple pics. heard they are extremely good with customer service. but since then ive been trying to round it more to make a better case when i do email them but it hasnt seemed to happen :headscrat
 
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decaf

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what has really happend here? by handforce?

Best way to find out, is to send it back to Wera and let them tell what is wrong.
there is 2 sides of the coin here, one is right.....
 
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archirelic

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Ah...much, much better picture! That does ****, and I'd be equally as peeved as you. As I mentioned previously, the chiseldrivers I've had have been absolutely flawless during their use. I definitely am thinking you got a bad batch.

Thanks for providing a much better close-up pic!
 
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tyndall

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TheGrooveking said:
You brute....you'd better check your 3/8" drive extensions they probably look like barber poles.
Click to expand...
My SK's are fine. I did twist an old Proto using a standard ratchet a while back. :thumbup:

johnnybentwrench said:
I have beat these exact drivers down. I have hit them with hammers, used them as pry bars, opening paint cans.
Click to expand...
But did you try turning screws with them? :lol_hitti

wellpoison said:
i have heard that the laser tip drivers are made of softer metal then the non laser tip.
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My cheaper laser tips are working great, doing tougher jobs than the chiseldriver, which is non-laser tip, was asked to do. :headscrat

decaf said:
what has really happend here? by handforce?

Best way to find out, is to send it back to Wera and let them tell what is wrong.
there is 2 sides of the coin here, one is right.....
Click to expand...
Yes, by handforce. I have an impact for the tough stuff. The part I was working on was being held in a soft jaw vice and I had to use my other hand to stop it from spinning. The pics in the first post show that there are no scuffs anywhere to suggest "extra" help. If they bend like this by hand, what the hell use is the bolster? :p


So the dealer was rather surprised but exchanged it no problem. I'm doing the same job tomorrow so we'll see if the new one holds up. :dunno: Stay tuned for another twisting episode of "As the Screwdriver Turns". :Sleep:
 
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tyndall

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Its confirmed. Wera Chiseldrivers are junk.

I tried the replacement this morning and by the second screw the tip was already twisting. Maybe a batch of drivers weren't heat treated properly or maybe they are just making the new ones cheaper. Not worth trying a third. Only good news was the money was cheerfully refunded and they gave me a cheap Signet for my troubles. Can't be any worse than the Wera. Gonna order another set of SK's and be done with it.

Anyway, pics to show what I was assembling. Note the vise holding the gear by the 3/8" shaft. The whole assembly was slipping in the vise and the Wera still managed to bend. I then tightened the screws further using my delicate looking 300 lasertip.
 

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jblachly

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If you got the replacement from the same dealer, isn't it possible that the new ones are just from the same bad batch?
 
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tyndall

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jblachly said:
If you got the replacement from the same dealer, isn't it possible that the new ones are just from the same bad batch?
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Very possible. However, considering this is Wera's premium driver, the recent switch from German to Czech made, and other reports of soft tips, it could be more than just one small batch. Its not worth the risk, too many other good drivers out there.
 
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gatewaysysop

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Really too bad that you got another bad screwdriver and does give me pause about buying these in the future. What a shame. I've had apprehension since I got a Czech made set of laser tips (was hoping for German) and this doesn't help. :(
 
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Thedroid

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Must be bad luck. Wera's drivers have come from Czech Rep for a few years now, and are widely known as high quality great value. Twice in a row is pretty bad though. How's the fit?
 
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tyndall

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Thedroid said:
Must be bad luck. Wera's drivers have come from Czech Rep for a few years now, and are widely known as high quality great value. Twice in a row is pretty bad though. How's the fit?
Click to expand...
I heard the chiseldrivers were the last to switch countries. I was very surprised with how bad these were as my 300's are great. The screw fit was absolutely perfect. Ironically, the chinese sweatshop made freebie they gave me hasn't bent yet.
 
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Olafur

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This is surprising. I think I got the same driver in a set last spring. Still sitting unused in my travel kit. Perhaps it is time for a little stress test... :headscrat

Thanks for sharing Tyndall. :thumbup:
 
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littletoes

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Aw man....and I was just at Chad's Toobox....I was thinking of adding to my Snap-On set...I need an 8" or 10" #2 Philips....

Wera is what I was considering, but Not Now!!!

What about any other German Brands at Chad's??? I was looking at the Felo's too, and I noticed the Wiha's were no longer stocked...I think I can get THOSE locally...SHEESH!!!

Didn't care for the looks of the NWS drivers...and not sure of their quality. 'Ya know...some companies can make some tools good, but others just are not appealing...
 
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Woot

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Wow, this *****. I just want epic friggen tools. No prob dropping the $$$...Wtf? To much to ask?
 
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Spacey_G

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Dec 31, 2015
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This thread is seven years old. Any similar reports since then, or was this likely a bad batch? The 900 series Weras still seem to be highly recommended.
 
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Fly YX

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I have a few wrenches by them. "Joker" well the joke's on me junk sent customer service two emails never heard anything back and I have never bought anything from them again.
 
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