Need new screwdrivers, Wera or Wiha?

[vaultdweller]

I’d go Wera. The handles just fit my hand better

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Both the Wera and Wiha are good brands as well as many others. I have both Wera and Wiha drivers as well as many others. Wera's are Philips and slotted and the Whia's are std ball hex. I prefer the Wera of the two and my tips seen to be fine in terms of wear.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

witte screwdrivers or williams

 

[sberry]

The HF look like the Texton. Early in my career was a screwdriver snob but when I look at the survivors they are not all the "best" and the Klein's are all worn out too some of the cheap have been well used and lasted. New makes them good, a worn out 10$ driver is not as good as a new 2$ one and the HF handles are as good as any.

 

[PhysicsDude]

If you do want a set of the Wiha drivers, KCToolco has a sale on the 12 piece set right now - about the cheapest price you'll ever find them new:

https://www.kctoolco.com/wiha-30297-12-piece-softfinish-slotted-and-phillips-screwdriver-set/

 

[Dumber than lumber]

PB Swiss?

As others have said, handle shape and material comes down to personal preference. Of the ones in my drawer, my handle preference goes Felo woodie -> Felo Ergonic/Heyco -> Wiha Softfinish-> Stahlwille 3K -> Witte -> PB Swiss -> Facom -> Bost -> Gedore -> Wiha/Heyco hard handle. In truth all of them are fine.

For slotted I use stepped-tip PB Swiss more than any other, including Felo woodie. Otherwise I think PBS drivers (and bits) are overrated here. High prices will do that! Unless you love the handle, I don't think their non-slotted drivers are worth the premium over Felo, Wiha, etc. I do recommend their ratcheting screwdriver with a full sized handle that stores 10 bits and a stubby snout. It is overpriced but a unique and very convenient size/form factor.

seems like PB Swiss has the best guarantee out there. In fact, it is the same level of guarantee that Craftsman used to carry.

 

[paulsomlo]

I have a set of Craftsman hard handles - I only use the slotted ones. Mostly for automotive and general fixit stuff. Every once in a while, I take hinges off a door and wish I had a hollow ground with a better fit, so as not to mar a visible fastener. The Craftsman Philips is junk, tips are too soft. For that, I have a #2 Vessel and a #2 PB Swiss. If you have small hands, you'll absolutely love the PB Swiss - the SwissGrip, that is. For everything else, I just buy bits from Wiha and load them into this: http://picquic.ca/dash-7/ I really like the way the bits are stored, but the Philips that come with it are too soft; I've replaced them all. The blue handled Vessels, by the way, have a really nice knurled section on the shaft.

The point is, unless you're working on expensive stuff, guns, etc., just about anything will do for slotted, but for Philips, spend a little more - good tips fit really well and are a joy to use. And yes, the way it feels in your hand is a big deal.

 

[Citation]

Re: PB Swiss?

seems like PB Swiss has the best guarantee out there. In fact, it is the same level of guarantee that Craftsman used to carry.

What's involved with using the warranty? The Cman warranty was great because you could just stop by the store to get a replacement. It was free to use the warranty if you were near a store. With many of the mail in warranties I suspect the idea is you won't use them due to the cost and trouble of mailing things in. This seems especially true when dealing with things like sockets or single screwdrivers. This isn't too say the company is cheating or being deceptive just that there is a difference between mail in and stopping by the local store.

 

[JBH]

Re: PB Swiss?

seems like PB Swiss has the best guarantee out there. In fact, it is the same level of guarantee that Craftsman used to carry.

Is a warranty really that important on a $8-20 wear item?

 

[M6erfan]

Re: PB Swiss?

Is a warranty really that important on a $8-20 wear item?

Yeah. I wish the U.S. market would just forget the whole "Lifetime Warranty" thing. Buy good tools and use them. If they break due to a defect, any DECENT company should work with you on replacing it. Wear out a #2 screwdriver after 10 years? Yeah, ummmm, might want to pony up and just buy another one...

Lifetime warranty on cheap tools is just a marketing gimmick and lends a false sense of security. Also usually leads to tool abuse.

 

[pcmeiners]

" Yeah. I wish the U.S. market would just forget the whole "Lifetime Warranty" thing."

Exactly, now a days you spend more time and money getting a replacement then it is generally worth. Then there is the aggravation many companies put you through to get a replacement (multiple phone calls, being on hold, employees knowing anything about the warranty, employees with attitudes, etc.). Companies go out of business.... warranties are not worth much.

 

[woody 73]

Darn I found another velepec yesterday but they wanted an arm & leg for every broken and rusty screwdriver...Dang!

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=408203

 

[greyeyezz]

I have the Wiha microfinish set. I don't think I can ever break them.