My new Bondhus hex / Allen wrenches are pathetic

Invisible Hand · Jan 14, 2017

I needed a new set of hex wrenches and read great things about Bondhus. Their site even goes to great lengths about how their ends are cut and chamfered in a superior way. I just received them in the mail, and they're pretty sad. The ends not only are not chamfered, they're uneven, and have chunks missing. I really hope this is a bad batch and sent them an email. In the mean time, I wanted to see if anyone else has had a similar experience, or if there's another brand I should be looking at. My made in China Stanley set looks like the lock work of a nice watch compared to these. I love my USA made Craftsman set, but it appears the new ones are now China.

General Geoff · Jan 14, 2017

Just out of curiosity, what vendor did you get them from?

zcbauer89 · Jan 14, 2017

I've always had good luck with Eklind products.

gdocktor3 · Jan 14, 2017

I this on every single wrench? I have multiple Bondhus sets and they're all perfect.

manwithtools · Jan 14, 2017

I don't think those are genuine Bondhus. If they are, their future is pretty dim. I've never seen that poor of quality from them in the past.
Not to be too inquisitive, but how much did you pay for a set of those?

matt_i · Jan 14, 2017

The "gold plated" "Gorilla proof" allens by Bondhus are very nice.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00132CGTW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have yet to have someone wreck one or round one over, this in a shared-use toolbox where people can find ways to damage any damn thing short of an anvil. (And it is also because we don't have an actual anvil

)

Adding: These Wera hex keys actually have the hex machined on a piece of solid round, then hardened. Nicest ones I've seen and cost like it too lol. This probably isn't the lowest price but its an example. I thnk they are also sold at MSC. The green tubes can eventually fall off if used heavily. There's also a set of SAE sizes too.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XIUMKC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Invisible Hand · Jan 14, 2017

Thanks for the replies. I got them from Amazon. They are all stamped USA, the size, and a hex icon. The steel feels quality, and they appear to be genuine. The ends on ~70% of them look like a crayon that was snapped in half. I really hope this is just a bad batch.

I've had a lot of issue with "made in USA" products from once great American companies recently (brand new S&W 686 revolver, Remington 870, Hein-Werner floor jack to name a few). If this trend continues it is a slap in the face to the efforts to keep manufacturing in the USA. I bet Taiwan could make some real nice handguns. Sorry for the rant. LOL

Dr.JohnnyFever · Jan 14, 2017

I have bought several set of Bondhus hex keys in the last few years and found them to be nothing but excellent.

I wonder if yours are some that skipped a manufacturing step.

indyokie · Jan 14, 2017

I recently purchased a Metric and standard set, put them to work and have great quality. I think if you call them and send them photos they will take care of you pronto !

Local · Jan 14, 2017

You might have just got a bad batch.

Invisible Hand · Jan 14, 2017

Sounds good. I'm definitely not going to write them off just yet. I sent them an email and will keep this post updated. Sorry if I jumped the gun a bit. I'm glad to hear that this is not the norm

chevy302dz · Jan 14, 2017

I've never seen such a lousy set from Bondhus. I would also suggest contacting the vendor and maybe Bondhus as well.

derosa · Jan 14, 2017

I've gotten 6 different sets of bondhus in the last year and all are working perfectly and in fine condition even with teenagers misusing them.

Git · Jan 14, 2017

I have this set from Amazon and they are perfect

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00132CGTW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

You said you got yours from Amazon - but could it have been a 3rd party because yours look like ****

72highboy · Jan 14, 2017

Git said:
I have this set from Amazon and they are perfect

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00132CGTW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

You said you got yours from Amazon - but could it have been a 3rd party because yours look like ****

Agree, this set is awesome, use them all the time excellent quality

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

vettex2 · Jan 14, 2017

Mine look and work just fine

Invisible Hand · Jan 14, 2017

jeremy v said:
That's how the ends usually look on at least a couple of the keys if you get the double pack (like the 22199 set) with metric and SAE. That double pack is only about $13 shipped on Amazon so I think they had to cut corners a bit to meet a price point. If you pay a little more for the more complete metric only set that doesn't skip sizes, get the black coated torx wrenches, ball drivers, or any of the gold or silver coated hex key sets you get well formed tips. I did anyways. I think they are trying their best to make a value type set to compete somewhat with all the cheaper tool brands out there, kind of like how Channellock has cut down quite a bit on their finish quality to be able to stay price competitive with China tools at Home Depot and Lowes.

I have and use good and poorly finished Bondhus L wrenches. I just make sure to keep any bad ones I find cool and I grind off the first 1/8" or so of the tips and I am left with perfectly formed ends that are made of good quality steel with a good heat treatment on them. It is a quick fix and in my mind at least the little extra effort required on my part is worth it for the price paid when all is said and done. I have been using Bondhus stuff almost exclusively for quite a while now because they are very good and I don't know of a better bang for the buck brand. In my experience they fit fasteners just as well as the expensive brands too.

That makes sense. Judging by the good reviews this could be a recent development. I'm returning them regardless, but will see what Bondhus says. Price isn't a factor; I just wanted a good non-ball end set.

davethorik · Jan 14, 2017

Looks like the wrench was sheared off bar stock, and they didn't perform facing operations.

My Eklind sets that i received as a gift in 2006 were only sheared, they do not perform a facing op like Bondhus. But, their shearing looks better than that.

I have Bondhus in larger sizes in sae 7/16 and up, they are all ball end long length, and beautiful as far as hex keys go.

dnschmidt · Jan 14, 2017

I can fix that with a belt sander in about 5 seconds each.

leg17 · Jan 14, 2017

dnschmidt said:
I can fix that with a belt sander in about 5 seconds each.

What he said.

6PTsocket · Jan 14, 2017

Invisible Hand said:
Thanks for the replies. I got them from Amazon. They are all stamped USA, the size, and a hex icon. The steel feels quality, and they appear to be genuine. The ends on ~70% of them look like a crayon that was snapped in half. I really hope this is just a bad batch.

I've had a lot of issue with "made in USA" products from once great American companies recently (brand new S&W 686 revolver, Remington 870, Hein-Werner floor jack to name a few). If this trend continues it is a slap in the face to the efforts to keep manufacturing in the USA. I bet Taiwan could make some real nice handguns. Sorry for the rant. LOL

Hein Werner is made in USA by a big Chinese jack manufacturer that bought the company. The jacks are now made with "domestic and imported parts". I have read mixed reviews. I guess you vote "no". I am lucky enough to have one of the older ones that has been very good.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

larry_g · Jan 14, 2017

Invisible Hand said:
Thanks for the replies. I got them from Amazon. They are all stamped USA, the size, and a hex icon. The steel feels quality, and they appear to be genuine. The ends on ~70% of them look like a crayon that was snapped in half. I really hope this is just a bad batch.

I've had a lot of issue with "made in USA" products from once great American companies recently (brand new S&W 686 revolver, Remington 870, Hein-Werner floor jack to name a few). If this trend continues it is a slap in the face to the efforts to keep manufacturing in the USA. I bet Taiwan could make some real nice handguns. Sorry for the rant. LOL

Do they have Bondhus stamped in them also? Is it spelled correctly? All of mine do. I looked as tome of mine and some have 'made in usa' all in line and some have it in two lines;
made
inusa

So that tells me that things have changed along the line or they have two different places making the wrenches.

lg
no neat sig line

6PTsocket · Jan 14, 2017

dnschmidt said:
I can fix that with a belt sander in about 5 seconds each.

Yes, the standard repair for chewed up hex wrenches. I guess better ones don't have to be ground as often.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

catalytic · Jan 14, 2017

Wow... Awful. I have a bunch of Bondhus hex sets -- the biggest vari-length T-handle combo sets in SAE & metric, some allen wrenches, and their 3/8" SAE hex sockets. All of them have perfect hex ends. All purchased in the last 36 months. I'll be interested to hear what they reply to your email.

Yes, you could fix them on a belt sander, but I wouldn't... Bondhus should arrive perfect. If you do, then dip them in water often and keep the heat down.

T45 · Jan 14, 2017

Not a huge fan of bondhus, but the ones I have do look perfect on the outside. I'd probably recommend the silver-chrome ones if you stick with the brand, they are a premium sku and should be decent quality control (touch cheaper than gold finish--which is not that great in terms of feel anyway).

If you want the best hex keys, hold on to your wallet and get PB swiss.

woody 73 · Jan 14, 2017

Dang I did a story on the GJ some time back...Lets see if you are not happy give them a call and they will make it right...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=300579

M6erfan · Jan 14, 2017

I've had my Bondhus Briteguard/Goldguard set for about 3 years. They were perfect QC wise and have held up great. I got them off AMZN as well

reader2580 · Jan 15, 2017

Invisible Hand said:
I've had a lot of issue with "made in USA" products from once great American companies recently (brand new S&W 686 revolver, Remington 870, Hein-Werner floor jack to name a few). If this trend continues it is a slap in the face to the efforts to keep manufacturing in the USA. I bet Taiwan could make some real nice handguns. Sorry for the rant. LOL

Many USA manufacturers keep cutting costs to try to keep their prices closer to their Chinese competition. However, they are shooting themselves in the foot if the cost cutting hurts quality.

PureLeaf · Jan 15, 2017

Because Ryan won't let user's control their own posts for editing, deleting, etc

SMKS · Jan 15, 2017

Hey OP,

Maybe I missed it, but what exact set did you buy (part number or link, please) and what did you pay?

Bondhus has various quality levels and prices. If this was a $13 set like this, then you probably got what you paid for, wrenches that might work well but aren't that pretty.

Now, if this was one of their high-end sets, then you have a valid complaint.

wyckerman · Jan 15, 2017

larry_g said:
Do they have Bondhus stamped in them also? Is it spelled correctly? All of mine do. I looked as tome of mine and some have 'made in usa' all in line and some have it in two lines;
made
inusa

Mine too, all of the ones bigger than 2.5mm in my metric set have Bondhus and 'Made in USA' on them. I have a few odd keys that are like OP describes, with a hex symbol and USA stamped on them. I assumed that they were made by Allen (based on their logo anyway http://www.allenhex.com/l-keys/).

T45 · Jan 15, 2017

SMKS said:
Bondhus has various quality levels and prices. If this was a $13 set like this, then you probably got what you paid for, wrenches that might work well but aren't that pretty.

From the Amazon listing:

- Precision cut ends provide full engagement
- Tools are Made in the USA with Bondhus proprietary Protanium steel and are up to 20% stronger than competitor tools
- ProGuard Finish is 5 times more effective than the next leading brand in preventing rust, protecting your investment over time
- Lifetime warranty - we will replace it free of charge

SMKS · Jan 15, 2017

Invisible Hand said:
Thanks for the replies. I got them from Amazon. They are all stamped USA, the size, and a hex icon.

This thread prompted me to look at my Bondhus drivers and they do not have "hex icon" on them. The tips on mine are all ground, but mine are ball drivers.

Can you post more pics of the wrenches and packaging so we can see what you received?

My Eklind driver set like this has sheared ends sort of like what you're picturing.

thesilverone · Jan 15, 2017

maybe you got 2nds?

ganymede · Jan 15, 2017

Another way to dress the tips (which I agree shouldn't be needed on new tools) is to chuck it in your vise, and file it.
Here's my set with one hastily dressed (no chamfer). Can you spot which one ?

View media item 67289

manwithtools · Jan 15, 2017

I'm surprised you were able to file a quality hex wrench. They are normally quite hard.

ganymede · Jan 15, 2017

manwithtools said:
I'm surprised you were able to file a quality hex wrench. They are normally quite hard.

Use a good file and when you clamp it leave not more than 3/16 of the end you're filing sticking out from the jaws.
I've filed Eklind, Snap On and Unbrako too.

T45 · Jan 15, 2017

ganymede said:
Use a good file and when you clamp it leave not more than 3/16 of the end you're filing sticking out from the jaws.
I've filed Eklind, Snap On and Unbrako too.

Some of them may be differentially harded, arguably a harder surface to reduce wear and risk of denting, and a touch more toughness below the surface so they don't shatter. So if you file a cross section the mass wouldnt be uniformly the same hardness accross its cross section.

HSS-type tool steel stocks don't usually allow for differential hardness, so it depends on what the underlying material is and how the stock is made.

Would be interesting if someone knows how this works.

I've definitely chamfered and dress hex-stock keeys, but I don't use the dressed tips as working ends (because they are usually from segmenting a large key into special pupose bits).

Invisible Hand · Jan 15, 2017

6PTsocket said:
Hein Werner is made in USA by a big Chinese jack manufacturer that bought the company. The jacks are now made with "domestic and imported parts". I have read mixed reviews. I guess you vote "no". I am lucky enough to have one of the older ones that has been very good.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

I have a pair of beautiful Norco 71202A's I ended up buying after way too much research. I've been meaning to write a review for them. They're not common outside of tire shops. I got the feeling I'm the only consumer sale they've had in Texas (non-business) when I ordered them. Lifetime warranty.

reader2580 said:
Many USA manufacturers keep cutting costs to try to keep their prices closer to their Chinese competition. However, they are shooting themselves in the foot if the cost cutting hurts quality.

Agreed, but I lost it when I did an inflation calculation and realized the new POS S&W revolvers cost the exact same as the museum pieces they put out pre 1970. Lol

SMKS said:
Hey OP,

Maybe I missed it, but what exact set did you buy (part number or link, please) and what did you pay?

Bondhus has various quality levels and prices. If this was a $13 set like this, then you probably got what you paid for, wrenches that might work well but aren't that pretty.

Now, if this was one of their high-end sets, then you have a valid complaint.

Those are the ones, their pro-guard line. They have the exact same description as the ones with a ridiculous gold finish (I don't understand how gold could hold up). The BriteGuard / chrome ones don't have a standard length metric set available in hex (not ball end) just extra long.

SMKS said:
This thread prompted me to look at my Bondhus drivers and they do not have "hex icon" on them. The tips on mine are all ground, but mine are ball drivers.

Can you post more pics of the wrenches and packaging so we can see what you received?

My Eklind driver set like this has sheared ends sort of like what you're picturing.

It's identical to the photos on their website. It's their newest production judging by the logo stamped on the plastic holders. I've seen server variations of the printed logo looking at images on here and online, mine look just like the ones on their site.

I'll post an update when I hear back. I'm really just looking for a non ball end standard length set. That's only available from them in the finish I have and gold (which as previously stated seems like a stupid idea for a coating).

ganymede · Jan 15, 2017

T45 said:
Some of them may be differentially harded, arguably a harder surface to reduce wear and risk of denting, and a touch more toughness below the surface so they don't shatter. So if you file a cross section the mass wouldnt be uniformly the same hardness accross its cross section.
....

Ah I'm so tempted to see if I can file one long way now but I don't have any xtras to mess up.

My new Bondhus hex / Allen wrenches are pathetic

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

ALLIANCE MEMBER

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Banned

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

ALLIANCE MEMBER

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member