Bondhus pro hold vs Wiha magic ring

[bareass172]

I was curious about this... I have a set of both SAE & Metric Bondhus T-handles I've had for a lot of years and they've never let me down. Awhile back I saw that Bondhus has a new line called "pro hold" that has some sort of silicone ball on the tip that holds fasteners. This would be great for me. Then I saw that Wiha has a similar feature called the "magic ring". Both do the same thing, just in different ways.

http://www.bondhus.com/bondhus_products/tool_categories/t-handles/prohold_ball.html

http://www.wihatools.com/300seri/367inMRser.htm

Anyone have experience with both that can comment on which is better? The Bondhus are much cheaper, but the reviews on Amazon are not glowing... I'm curious what actual users think, you never know what level of users Amazon reviewers are.

Thanks!

 

[General Geoff]

While I have nothing but praise for the strength of Bondhus' hex drivers and bits, their pro hold thing leaves much to be desired. It's just a plastic nub that sticks out the side of the hex bit. I have them on some hex bits that I got sans sockets, as they were advertised to fit in any corresponding hex socket. They do, but they are a major PITA to get inserted or removed from a socket.

 

[JBradley500]

I'm not sure what material your hardware is normally made of but wouldn't magnetic keys be a good option too?

 

[unashamedlaborer]

The Wiha magic ring works way better than the bondhus. I have both. I still love the bondhus, they are extremely strong well made wrenches but the "hold" tip is totally hit or miss and after a while doesn't work at all. The Wiha is more reliable and they warranty them at grainger if the c-clip fails.

 

[Gvos]

Bondhus tools are still made in the USA in Minnesota. I actually worked for them in the early 1980's. I have several sets from them which are 25 years old. They still work great. If the quality is as good now as when I worked there I would go with them.

 

[bareass172]

Most of my hardware is steel, with the occasional stainless fastener. I didn't think about magnetic for my allens. This is probably a stupid question, but can I just magnetize them like a screwdriver? I don't see why that wouldn't work.

Thanks for the feedback on this, this is what I was afraid I was going to hear. I love my Bondhus wrenches, but had heard mostly bad about this setup. It's a shame too, because the Bondhus set is way cheaper than the Wiha!

 

[jeremy v]

Most of my hardware is steel, with the occasional stainless fastener. I didn't think about magnetic for my allens. This is probably a stupid question, but can I just magnetize them like a screwdriver? I don't see why that wouldn't work.

I have a Wiha magnetizer/demagnetizer that I use to magnetize my Bondhus hex L-wrenches occasionally. It works just fine for hex wrench sizes up to about 7mm or 1/4". Larger sizes don't create strong enough magnetism to reliably hold the weight of the fastener on the end. I don't know if stronger magnetic capability is being limited by the metal of the L-wrench itself or by the strength of the Wiha magnetizer.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I have the Bondhus Pro Hold screwdriver handle Hexes in SAE and MM....I think they are the bee's meow. That silicone ball thing works awesome. And the grips are very nice and you can torque on them as well.

I have not tried the Wiha.

 

[jeremy v]

I think they are the bee's meow.

I don't have those screwdrivers, but I heard from a friend that they are the cat's knees.

 

[bwringer]

When you first get the Bondhus, the little plastic nubbin (it seems to be nylon, not silicone) makes it a little difficult to snap the fastener on and off.

Then it wears down a bit, and you get a certain number of uses where it works great.

After a while, the nubbin doesn't do much of anything so you're left with what is still a pretty darn nice ball end driver. As noted above, the handles are great and the drivers are strong. A few of the smaller drivers in my set were slightly bent, but I don't know if that's a Bondhus issue or someone sat on the pouch or something. It doesn't seem to affect use.

In other words, the Bondhus Pro Hold plastic nubbin wears out, and in my opinion, it wears out far too quickly. I use the 4mm a LOT on motorcycles, so I have a different driver I use normally. I bought a new 4mm Pro Hold and only pull it out for those special occasions when I really need the holding feature.

Haven't tried the Wiha Magic Ring, but it definitely seems that this would be far less likely to wear out quickly.

 

[Mr.Ric]

maybe what you're after is a set of these

 

[Beenman]

Anyone have experience with both that can comment on which is better? The Bondhus are much cheaper, but the reviews on Amazon are not glowing... I'm curious what actual users think, you never know what level of users Amazon reviewers are.

Thanks!

Can't comment on the Bondhus as we don't get those here, but I have a set of the Wiha Magic-rings and they work surprisingly well. Its a bit early to comment on the wear though since I've only had them for a few months, but thus far no issues.

The Magic-ring set does not feature the C-clip on the smaller hex sizes though (2.5mm or smaller) as it simply has no space.

 

[bareass172]

I appreciate the further comments, even if they only muddle my issue a little more.

I've had my Bondhus set a long, long time and have yet to ever have any issue with them. I really want to try these pro-holds but I've just read so many bad things about them it concerns me.

As was mentioned, both the Bondhus and the Wiha do not have the retention in the smallest sizes, I was aware of that. I may try the magnet on the small sizes.

Mohawk Dave, do you use yours a lot or is it possible that yours just haven't worn down yet as mentioned by bwringer?

Thanks for the info.

 

[bsaint]

Their only good in clean environments. Most of our techs are replaced them with non retaining ball hex.

 

[Beenman]

Its a bit early to comment on the wear though since I've only had them for a few months, but thus far no issues.

OK, spoke a little prematurely.

After using the 3.0mm magic-ring extensively this weekend on a particular job, a small part of the C-clip broke off. With what remains of the C-clip, it still holds the nut without a problem, but no doubt repeat use weakens the C-clip. Granted, it was on the 3.0mm which is the smallest hex fitted with a clip, perhaps on the bigger hex sizes the clips will last better.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Hey bareass172,

Yea...I haven't used mine "enough" to really say. I used the **** out of the 3mm for one project, and so far so good.

Even as much I love these things, I just don't see how the rubber (whatever it is), can hold up. Surely it has to wear down..right? Maybe it's super duper tuff stuff...IDK.

 

[atwageman]

I've got the Bondhus hex bits in metric and sae. I dedicated sockets to them on day one. Have no issues with the nubs since I'm not trying to constantly remove and reinsert them.

I use a lot of hex in my line of work and have double and triples of my Bondhus stuff. I wear one one out, mail it back to Bondhus for no questions asked replacement.

On a side note. They are also the US distributor for Felo. I've sent them worn out Felo stuff and they've sent replacements, no questions asked as well.

 

[superautobacs]

If I may add another contender....not American, nor German...this one's Japanese. From Asahi Tools:

I got a set of hex keys. They call their feature the "Catcherball". It starts from 3mm and up.

For the smaller 1.5 / 2 / 2.5mm keys, they do this:

The "Catcherball" series include bit sockets as well:

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Damn! Those are saaweeet! Link? How many doll hairs?

 

[superautobacs]

Just looked at Frankstools and Level Chrome.

Frankstools lists this being in stock: http://www.frankstools.com/aslohexwrsea.html

Note that this set doesn't have the catcher feature on the 3 smallest sizes.

I know Level Chrome also carries Asahi stuff, so I'd imagine they can order the exact ones you want.


Here's a link to Asahi's 2-page pdf of their Catcher series: http://www.asahi-tool.co.jp/tirasi/catcher.pdf

The cheaper version: http://www.asahi-tool.co.jp/tirasi/apts710.pdf


....and the bit socket type: http://www.asahi-tool.co.jp/tirasi/vxk.pdf

 

[Beenman]

Just looked at Frankstools and Level Chrome.

Frankstools lists this being in stock: http://www.frankstools.com/aslohexwrsea.html

Note that this set doesn't have the catcher feature on the 3 smallest sizes.

I know Level Chrome also carries Asahi stuff, so I'd imagine they can order the exact ones you want.


Here's a link to Asahi's 2-page pdf of their Catcher series: http://www.asahi-tool.co.jp/tirasi/catcher.pdf


The cheaper version: http://www.asahi-tool.co.jp/tirasi/apts710.pdf


....and the bit socket type: http://www.asahi-tool.co.jp/tirasi/vxk.pdf

Dang! These are nice. A pity that very few Japanese tools make it to SA.....

 

[bareass172]

Thanks for the follow-up replies, it's appreciated. And BIG thanks for those catcherballs - that looks like exactly what I need, DURABLE. In what I do as a bike mechanic I find constant spots where something like this would be handy, mostly because I have large hands and it's tough to get the tool, the bolt and my hands/fingers all into small spaces. When I saw the Bondhus I started looking for options, but never found those Asahi's anywhere.

THANKS for the link, now I have to go find someone to take my money...