texchappy
Well-known member
I've been a big fan of Wiha screwdrivers. In reading the tools from the old world thread, I've read a lot of good things about PB Swiss. So how does PB Swiss compare to Wiha?
How does PB Swiss compare to Wiha
- Thread starter texchappy
- Start date
fflintstone
Well-known member
Its all personal preference. IMO WIHA rocks and peanut butter swiss blows.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The Wihas don't smell like vomit. 
Wihas went downhill after they stopped making microfinish with hex blades without that ridiculous striking cap.
Wihas went downhill after they stopped making microfinish with hex blades without that ridiculous striking cap.
Dave455
Well-known member
In my opinion PB Swiss are way ahead!
I bought a set of PB ball hex drivers about 20 years ago (first ever PB), I've used them most weeks since (sometimes all week), they still show no wear and they were secondhand when I got them! Wiha are fine, but I don't believe there is anything in their line as durable or as well made as the PB with te classic handle!
If in doubt, handle a PB driver alongside a Wiha. Unless you really make an effort and order from Germany, most Wiha's come with soft finish handles, which they imply are some sort of advantage, but in reality are simply cheap to make. Yes the PB smell of vomit if you leave them sealed up, but I don't!
Next look at the blades, the PB are made to a far higher standard. Much more accurate, and hollow ground as well. The plating on the PB is in a different league to the Wiha, who mostly offer an o.k but not exceptional matt plate.
Finally, use 'em for a couple decades! As stated, my PB ball hex drivers are still in good shape after 20 years plus, whereas the smaller sizes of my oldest Wiha's have all broken!
If you're still in doubt, vist a show where PB are displaying and have chat to Max Baumann who runs PB. The guy is a complete enthusiast who seems to have dedicated his life to building a better allen key and screwdriver! I might not want him as an exciting dinner guest, but I don't believe anybody builds better tools!
Having said all that, if you are in the USA, and your choice is Snap On and suchlike, or Chinese ****, then Wiha is a great mid price alternative, but PB are a notch above! I Just wish they made Inch sizes!
I bought a set of PB ball hex drivers about 20 years ago (first ever PB), I've used them most weeks since (sometimes all week), they still show no wear and they were secondhand when I got them! Wiha are fine, but I don't believe there is anything in their line as durable or as well made as the PB with te classic handle!
If in doubt, handle a PB driver alongside a Wiha. Unless you really make an effort and order from Germany, most Wiha's come with soft finish handles, which they imply are some sort of advantage, but in reality are simply cheap to make. Yes the PB smell of vomit if you leave them sealed up, but I don't!
Next look at the blades, the PB are made to a far higher standard. Much more accurate, and hollow ground as well. The plating on the PB is in a different league to the Wiha, who mostly offer an o.k but not exceptional matt plate.
Finally, use 'em for a couple decades! As stated, my PB ball hex drivers are still in good shape after 20 years plus, whereas the smaller sizes of my oldest Wiha's have all broken!
If you're still in doubt, vist a show where PB are displaying and have chat to Max Baumann who runs PB. The guy is a complete enthusiast who seems to have dedicated his life to building a better allen key and screwdriver! I might not want him as an exciting dinner guest, but I don't believe anybody builds better tools!
Having said all that, if you are in the USA, and your choice is Snap On and suchlike, or Chinese ****, then Wiha is a great mid price alternative, but PB are a notch above! I Just wish they made Inch sizes!
'71 VW 1302
Well-known member
I'm holding the print version of the 2012 PB Swiss catalog in my hands. Page 141 to 147 are hex keys in inch sizes. They make them, just not as many.
No argument on quality. I've got several sets of the coloured versions. We lose track of far fewer hex keys now.
Paul
bart1
Well-known member
I have several Wiha and just a few pieces from PB Swiss. Both are very nice, PBs perhaps a bit better made in regards to attention to detail. PBs seem to be much more expensive and my hard handled driver does smell awful. For what little I do use flatheads, the Swiss standard tips are nice.
The swissgrip and multicraft have the same handle shape. The difference is the swissgrip is a soft grip handle and the multicraft is a hard plastic handle. To me, the PB swiss handles are smaller than the Wiha handles. Both are very good screwdrivers, it just depends on what your preference is on the handle shape.
PB Swiss look better in my opinion, but about 4 or 5 months ago I broke the tip of a flat blade screwdriver. Never broken any of my Wiha tools, and I've seriously abused some of them. I don't know why the super long t-handle allen wrenches are so prone to abuse in my hands, but they are. I have a 5 mm and 6 mm that look like complete ****, but they still perform, which is more than I can say for a certain screwdriver. But even good tools break, so I'll stop complaining and say both brands make quality tools.
Dave455
Well-known member
They do indeed make hex keys in inch sizes, and a few other bits as well, but I was referring to screwdrivers, which are metric only! Now I know you can use a 6mm driver in a 1/4 inch slot, but when the fit is as good as the PB it's a shame to do that!
I'm fortunate to have a set of Snap On for inch sizes and set of PB for metric! Problem sorted!,
I have a small set of PB Swiss drivers... I ended up getting them for a good price but generally, the brand is so expensive that I find myself hesitant to use them... which I admit is sort of insane, I mean why buy something which you are under the impression is top quality only to have it sit in a box??
I don't own any Wiha drivers but I would feel more comfortable putting them through some serious work as they are more widely available and generally speaking, a fair amount less pricy than PB.
Wera and Felo however are arguably just as good and are often more economical than Wiha. Thus, those are my preferred brands along with Klein, which I have a decent amount of and is locally available to me.
I don't own any Wiha drivers but I would feel more comfortable putting them through some serious work as they are more widely available and generally speaking, a fair amount less pricy than PB.
Wera and Felo however are arguably just as good and are often more economical than Wiha. Thus, those are my preferred brands along with Klein, which I have a decent amount of and is locally available to me.