Bondus vs Eklind ball end t-handle hex driver

[BTL-A4]

Bondhus vs Eklind ball end t-handle hex driver

I stripped out my Craftsman 1/8" ball end t-handle hex driver. I was not doing anything extreme and it was not a metric screw. It was a recent purchase "bought" with free points that I thought I should use before Sears took a dump. They are the newer ones made in China, but the price was right and I needed them. Lesson learned. I'm done with Craftsman. So...

I'm looking at the Eklind and Bondhus t-handle ball end hex sets. They have slightly different handles. The Bondhus set is about $56 on Zoro and the Eklind sets are about $62 for the Power handles and $50 for the Cushion Grip handles.

Any advice, recommendations, preferences based on experience using them? Seems like any of them would be fine, but I thought I'd see what others thought.

I want US-made tools. I'm a home shop guy currently restoring an old Atlas Craftsman lathe, working on my cars and doing the usual around-the-house stuff. I don't need heavy-duty. I have the smaller L-handle hex wrenches, but really like the torque I can get on the t-handle ones. I prefer the ball-end as well because they allow me to get in tight spaces/around other items easier.

 

[6PTsocket]

Re: Bondhus vs Eklind ball end t-handle hex driver

Bear in mind that any ball head is going to be weaker than a straight hex. I have no T handles but my ball end Bondhus have been good. Whenever possible I use a straight end to start a tight screw, even if I can't get much rotation and then switch to the ball end.

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[Spacey_G]

The Bondhus t-handles are only ball end down to 5/32. Smaller than that are straight.

If you're okay with that, they're very nice wrenches.

 

[pstemari]

Re: Bondhus vs Eklind ball end t-handle hex driver

+1

I have the inch and metric sets and they are both very nice.

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[bob15]

Don't have either Bondhus or Eklind in a T-handle, but have them has regular ball-end keys and have no problems with either.

I did snap the 1/8" ball end off my Wiha Dual Grip T handle. I have yet to replace it.....

 

[derosa]

I predominantly use Bondhus which has always been an excellent brand to me. In the past I've used Park Tool as it is what most bike shops buy and they were at the time/ probably still are made by Eklind and I can't say that they were ever disappointing to use. In my head the Bondhus are slightly better from using the two brands in the same setting though I couldn't point to a reason why except maybe Bondhus has always been more affordable. Won't go wrong with either though. Hex wrenches are one of those tools that better makes a difference and cheaper have always screwed me eventually.

 

[Wamsutta]

I prefer the Bondhus brand for T-handle ball hex, but I only use those after the bolt is broke loose. I use a stubby L-key to break the bolt loose first.

 

[thesilverone]

+1000 Bondhus

 

[Jlarson]

I like the Bondhus better, I have a few sets in my shop, but I use the red hard handle Eklind drivers in the field since the new Bondhus grips are kind of hard to clean. I miss there old handles.

 

[rick carpenter]

Mr. Maguire: "I want to say one word to you, Benjamin. Just one word."
Benjamin Braddock: "Yes, sir."
Mr. Maguire: "Are you listening?"
Benjamin Braddock: "Yes, I am."
Mr. Maguire: "Bondhus."

 

[Wyoming09]

I have the Bondhus T handles and Eklind folding sets. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

 

[Mecha]

I used a Eklind set of L keys for 15 years and.loved them, now have a With set and they are amazing fit and finish. Bondus now a days are the same.

Bondus and With t handles for the win!

 

[Bretny]

L keys and both are good brands.

 

[bwringer]

Yep, slight preference for Bondhus here.

Get both straight and ball end, of course. The right GJ answer for most "which tool" questions is usually "both". Or "all of them", or "more".

In the smaller sizes, I've often found some slight random variations in fit between different brands and fasteners. For example, on a 1.5mm setscrew on a motorcycle shock I tried most of the keys and drivers I had lying around and some no-name gimmick tool seemed to fit the tightest and got the job done. On other projects, it's been Eklind, or Bondhus, or Wiha, or something else that fit the best.

 

[KBigg]

Don't have either Bondhus or Eklind in a T-handle, but have them has regular ball-end keys and have no problems with either.

I did snap the 1/8" ball end off my Wiha Dual Grip T handle. I have yet to replace it.....

Whia has a lifetime warranty. Email them, box it up, ship it to them, and they'll ship you a new one back.

I also have Whia, use them every single day, and I really like them. I did snap the ball off of the 3/16 once though. Fairly painless process to get a replacement under warrenty. Ive never owned the Eklinds or Bondhus but they look nice. If they're up to snuff with the L shape keys then im sure they will serve you well.

 

[BTL-A4]

Thanks for the input, much appreciated!

I had some time and looked on various sites for Eklind vs Bondhus and saw that Bondhus was recommended about 3X as much (according to my informal and unscientific survey). Eklind was well-regarded, but people liked that Bondhus was cheaper.
Wiha came up a bit as well.

I keep getting coupons for 20% off $150/$200/etc or more from Zoro, so maybe I need to make a list! Or wait until the total amount comes down a little.

 

[CoogarXR]

I don't have the T-handles, but I have the Bondhus ball-tip L's and ball-driver (ball-tip acetate screwdriver-style). I like them all. The L's have a LOT of miles on them from back when I did industrial maintenance. I bought the balldrivers afterwards, for my personal use, but I still like them.

As long as we're naming off stuff that isn't related, I also have the Xcelite non-ball-tip hex drivers too, just in case I want a hex-style screwdrver without the ball tip, lol.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I'm happy with my Bondhus drivers, and they're made here in Minnesota.

 

[Biomed]

I have both Bondhus and Eklind. I prefer the Bondhus T-handles and the Eklind red handles (not T-handles).

Pricewise I have found Bondhus to be lower price.

From a warranty perspective Bondhus is fantastic. The Bondhus warranty is: "All Bondhus products are guaranteed for life. If you are not happy with a Bondhus tool - for any reason - simply return it. A replacement will be shipped right out at no cost - no hassles, no questions asked!"

The Eklind warranty is: "All Eklind products are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship. Any tool that is abused or misused is excluded from this warranty. Upon return of the product, our quality assurance department will assess the claim and the product will be replaced if it is covered by this warranty."

I have had Bondhus send me several replacement items at no cost. One was a manufacturing defect and I cannot recall the other issue. Once they wanted me to Email a photo. The other time they shipped a replacement no questions asked.

For those interested, there are some interesting charts on the Bondhus website that show the strength difference between ball-end and normal end hex drivers.

Update - Bondhus has updated their website and I could not find the ball-end torque charts online. It is available on page 70 of their 2018 catalog. For convenience, I have uploaded a portion of the chart where normal hex and ball-end hex torque is compared.

 

[Grokew]

Whia has a lifetime warranty. Email them, box it up, ship it to them, and they'll ship you a new one back.

I also have Whia, use them every single day, and I really like them. I did snap the ball off of the 3/16 once though. Fairly painless process to get a replacement under warrenty. Ive never owned the Eklinds or Bondhus but they look nice. If they're up to snuff with the L shape keys then im sure they will serve you well.

I thought Wiha switched to a "No Hassles" 12 month warranty.

 

[64C10]

Can’t go wrong with either choice - both are excellent. The Bondhus seem to be more corrosion resistant than Eklind if that’s an issue to you.

 

[71firebird400]

I prefer the handles on the Eklind T-Handles. Both are good.