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- Thread starter matt_m
- Start date
Dave455
Well-known member
P.B. Swiss!
I've used most, and NOTHING is more durable, or more pleasant to use, or better made, or better finished!
I've used most, and NOTHING is more durable, or more pleasant to use, or better made, or better finished!
Nocturnal-G
Well-known member
Wiha, Bondhus, and Wera would be good choices.
Wiha is made in Germany, Bondhus is made in the USA, and Wera is made in the Czech Republic.
Wiha is made in Germany, Bondhus is made in the USA, and Wera is made in the Czech Republic.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Bondhus!!!
General Geoff
Well-known member
Another vote for Bondhus. Affordable, USA made, and very strong.
rsanter
Well-known member
The snap on ones I have are the most durable I have ever used.
I have a spare set of metrics that I could part with if that's what you are looking for
Bob
I have a spare set of metrics that I could part with if that's what you are looking for
Bob
I very recently bought a set of SAE t-handle Bondhus wrenches. I'm impressed with their quality, the price was reasonable, and they're made in the USA. I looked at Craftsman sets first but they were all made in china. That's the dead last option for me when it comes to buying tools. (I actually started a new thread about them last week, including a couple pictures, entitled "Allen wrenches and Bondhus".)
Jim C.
Jim C.
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woody 73
Well-known member
I just bet they are top notch, but the price tag would make miss snap-on blush, plus I have no clue as to who carries them in the states.
Bondhus and Eklind come to mind as very good hex keys along with allen all good names. I pick them up at garage sales, every now and then.
NOTE: Craftsman old school was made in the states, the new stock is all coming from china; now mind you some things are ok from China, but the last set I bought from Sears the hex keys looked awful in appearance, they still work ok but they do look nasty.
Hope that helps you out.
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
I have a good set of metric and std in Bondhaus as well.
matt_m, LMK if you need some fill in keys for the lost and rounded one.
A few months ago I bought from a retired machinist a big box of hex keys. I was looking just to make a spare set but he had around 400 in a big box. He said 50 cents a piece or take the whole wooden box full for $12. Done.
About 10% are stamped and most are SAE/std fractional sizes and he said bought via his machine shop and mainly USA dating back decades.
I've made a few sets for myself and have a few sets to make for GJ'ers but still have about 300 hex keys to find homes for.
Those two sets paid for the box so I just try to find the rest a good home.
If interested, PM me fractional sizes you need and I'll try to fish them out.
matt_m, LMK if you need some fill in keys for the lost and rounded one.
A few months ago I bought from a retired machinist a big box of hex keys. I was looking just to make a spare set but he had around 400 in a big box. He said 50 cents a piece or take the whole wooden box full for $12. Done.
About 10% are stamped and most are SAE/std fractional sizes and he said bought via his machine shop and mainly USA dating back decades.
I've made a few sets for myself and have a few sets to make for GJ'ers but still have about 300 hex keys to find homes for.
Those two sets paid for the box so I just try to find the rest a good home.
If interested, PM me fractional sizes you need and I'll try to fish them out.
devoncoolman
Well-known member
Bondus is great priced competativly. Hold up well. Made in usa.
genevabuck
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2012
- Messages
- 227
Bondhus
Actually your right about the current Craftsman Allen wrench sets. I went to Sears first for purposes of buying an SAE t-handle set and they were all made in china. On top of that, they looked really cheap. The plastic handles had burs on them too. As much as I like Craftsman tools, I really try not to buy any made in china. I passed on them and bought a new Bondhus set.
Jim C.
woody 73
Well-known member
Jim that boat from mainland China is coming whether we like it or not; someday the guys will scream (like they used too from the Japanese tools); man the Chinese tools sure beat the tools coming from India.
Chuck122
Well-known member
My snap on set is great and i think it was like 25$ for a long pattern set. Not that bad and they are great
not-required
Well-known member
I like my snap ons and use them everyday.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4
Jim that boat from mainland China is coming whether we like it or not; someday the guys will scream (like they used too from the Japanese tools); man the Chinese tools sure beat the tools coming from India.
So true Woody, so true. I guess I really should amend my prior statement to say that I'm not buying tools from china OR india.
Jim C.
neophyte
Well-known member
So true Woody, so true. I guess I really should amend my prior statement to say that I'm not buying tools from china OR india.
Jim C.
Some OSG drill bits are made in India. OSG isn't known for making poor quality tooling. This is one on Graingers site that lists the COO.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/OSG-Screw-Machine-Drill-2PPG4
'71 VW 1302
Well-known member
I just bet they are top notch, but the price tag would make miss snap-on blush, plus I have no clue as to who carries them in the states.
http://toollady.com/products/hex
I bought 1 of each colored set in the long arm metric keys for work last year.
Best. Hex. Keys. Ever.
Buy once, cry once.
Paul
Enco constantly has Bondhus set on sale. Good price and decent go-to online source.
The website ***** but if you know what your looking for its a bit easier.
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INLMPI?PMPANO=0678318&PMKBNO=3158&PMPAGE=64&PMCTLG=01
The website ***** but if you know what your looking for its a bit easier.
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INLMPI?PMPANO=0678318&PMKBNO=3158&PMPAGE=64&PMCTLG=01
They're Bondhus. At least I'm 100% sure they are.
So buy the Bondhus already!!
I'm a machinist (at the moment). Everything we use is littered with SHCS, tightened down by various "manly men" and gorillas using cheater bars. The Bondhus have held up very well, going on about 7 years now with no issues.
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comedyman809
Well-known member
pb swiss??? you need to refinance your home for a set of allens that are easily lost and get worn fast.
allens are some of the most used tools for a lot of technicians, in many industries. allen brand, bondhus, or eklind, i personally own wiha along with bindhus and eklind and also allen, i have many sets. pb swiss are beautiful, and the titaniums are sweet too, but who can afford that for just allen keys?
For Bondhus, I have found Seven Corners Hardware to be very reasonable. Its the Epstein's of the north!
mikebramel
Well-known member
Bondhus, Eklind they both hold up as well. Bondhus does have a shineee finish
Think I'll stick with Norseman drill bits made right here in Minnesota, and store them in Huot indexes, also made in Minnesota. I'm not buying from india either... Not if I don't have to.
Jim C.
Applesauce
Well-known member
Another vote for Bondhus. Just about every hex wrench that touches a bike is made by Bondhus, and I'd be surprised if any other industry worked 2-8 mm hex wrenches harder than the bicycle world.
I also think PB Swiss are grossly overpriced. Cute wrenches, but they can't be better than the Snap-On gold-finish set...which I believe are made by Bondhus. Maybe they're made to Snap-On specs? I've been using a set of 1/4" Snap-On gold-finish hex bits for a year or so now, for most of every day, and they show no appreciable wear.
Last suggestion: if you live near a bike shop and aren't concerned with country of origin, get a $20 set of Pedro's L-wrenches (1.5-10 mm, Taiwan, marked only SnCrV). I've never seen a better set for the money, COO aside, but I have seen some Pedro's wrenches wear faster than others (suggesting there's a QC problem at Taiwanese-supplier-of-the-month). (Also, if you live near a bike shop, Park hex wrenches are made by Bondhus. Any half-decent shop should stock either Pedro's or Park.)
I also think PB Swiss are grossly overpriced. Cute wrenches, but they can't be better than the Snap-On gold-finish set...which I believe are made by Bondhus. Maybe they're made to Snap-On specs? I've been using a set of 1/4" Snap-On gold-finish hex bits for a year or so now, for most of every day, and they show no appreciable wear.
Last suggestion: if you live near a bike shop and aren't concerned with country of origin, get a $20 set of Pedro's L-wrenches (1.5-10 mm, Taiwan, marked only SnCrV). I've never seen a better set for the money, COO aside, but I have seen some Pedro's wrenches wear faster than others (suggesting there's a QC problem at Taiwanese-supplier-of-the-month). (Also, if you live near a bike shop, Park hex wrenches are made by Bondhus. Any half-decent shop should stock either Pedro's or Park.)
MattPersman
Well-known member
I would guess the "l shaped key" snap ons are bondhus with the snap on logo made on the holder I have them both and seem look and feel the same
aoleg
Active member
Another vote for Wiha. They have great quality and superb ergonomics.
scaron
Well-known member
another one for eklind. they're reasonably priced, US-made and completely industrial grade. also i don't have to pay for some huge desktop holder i don't even want; they're easy to toss into the corner of almost any toolbox with their little molded plastic holder to keep em together.
sonvolt
Well-known member
I've used Bondhus forever so they get my vote.