I like quality tools but have only had cheap Stanley or equivalent hex wrenches in the past. I finally became fed up with the ends twisting and rounding off on stuck fasteners and did some research on them. PB Swiss seemed to consistently have good reviews and quite a following, so I purchased a few sets of these from Count on Tools, which appears to be PB Swiss’s online store. Got a chance to try them on some corroded marine fasteners, and they are impressive. They either removed the stuck fastener, or on the really stuck ones, rounded out the inside of the head, with no damage or twisting whatsoever of the hex wrench itself. $135 for all three sets, shipped, but I feel it was money well spent. I also heard good things about Wera as well, but their sets seemed to be missing quite a few in-between sizes that seemed important.
PB Swiss hex wrenches
- Thread starter schurtjl
- Start date
Mohawk Dave
Well-known member
Buy once, cry once. Awesome keys. I have them and Snappy....I HATE cheap hex/torx/etc...makes more work by ruining hardware.
The Wera SAE sets miss some of the important sizes. You can buy two different sets that would cover those, but then you’re right up there in price. I personally don’t like the ball end sets so I chose those without, but they do sell ball end sets as well. They are expensive, but they work without rounding, are individually stamped with size and serial #, and have a lifetime warranty, which makes them worth it to me.
To each his own 
It was $40 for the standard size SAE 12 piece set, $35 for the standard size metric set, and $58 for the long SAE 12 piece set. They shipped them free 2 day. Nothing wrong with Wera either. Just saying I’m happy with what I received, they worked great, and I don’t feel ripped off spending a few bucks more.
It was $40 for the standard size SAE 12 piece set, $35 for the standard size metric set, and $58 for the long SAE 12 piece set. They shipped them free 2 day. Nothing wrong with Wera either. Just saying I’m happy with what I received, they worked great, and I don’t feel ripped off spending a few bucks more.measuredtwice
Well-known member
Thanks for sharing your experience with the keys. I have a few different sets from PB Swiss but I haven't tried their L keys. I also avoid ball end unless absolutely necessary. Count On Tools is one of 2 distributors in the USA. Toollady also sells PB Swiss. FYI, both dealers have sales a couple times a year that are up to 30% off. The sale prices can be very competitive with other brands.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I've notice a lot of the top bicycle mechanics use PB Swiss hex wrenches.
I've personally never had a single failure from Bondhust, so I tend to stick with them as they are an exceptional value to begin with.
I've personally never had a single failure from Bondhust, so I tend to stick with them as they are an exceptional value to begin with.
measuredtwice
Well-known member
https://www.bikeradar.com/features/heres-why-you-shouldnt-buy-the-cheapest-tools/
Check out the Actual Example section and below. They compare many different Hex key brands (including PB Swiss and the results are interesting) . I agree with Bondhus
The actual example section shows the size, favoring the tightest fit. I haven't measured my hex keys. Have a few from different brands... off the top of my head... Bondhus, Wiha, Allen, Wera. My old Allen USA keys are the most tight fitting of any that I own. I often have to pull them off fasteners because they hold onto them and don't want to let go.
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I have 25+ year old Bondhus and Allen hex L key sets . Both great, still look new, less the blackening wearing off from use. Newer stuff I've bought is all Wiha as I like the pro star holder - which seems to have been replaced with a new design. For the $ I don't think anything beyond Bondhus can be justified. But...
californiaHank
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2015
- Messages
- 487
I think you have to regard that kind of 'test' with a grain of salt.
A hex key has six sides - three pairs of parallel surfaces.
The differences between the measurements of the three pairs of parallel surfaces on one key from one brand is likely bigger than some of the differences they report between brands. Every tool has manufacturing tolerances, but I suspect that any quality hex key is made to tighter tolerences for size, parallelism, and flatness than the openings in the fasteners that they are intended to fit.
I've used badly made hex keys - poor quality steel, heat treating, etc., but for most of my working life I've had good tools. I currently own a half a dozen sets of Bondhus keys in different lengths and styles, and they've removed many corroded and damaged fasteners without any issues I can blame on the keys. I think that the premium European brands are probably just as good, but I'm skeptical about anybody's claims that one brand is better than another if they don't have any clear clear objective facts to back them up.
measuredtwice
Well-known member
Qualitytools
Well-known member
I stumbled on this video and thought how appropriate for this discussion
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
Cool video. Definitely shows why the PB Swiss tools fetch a premium.
NoahG
Well-known member
Ive always been satisfied with Bondhus and Wiha, but some day I'm gonna make that plunge into PB Swiss, I just need the right project.
jimmyin3D
Banned
The PB Swiss are definitely worth it. Even if it’s a set of the metric standard ones (they go for about $40). They are made beautifully, the color coding is very helpful and I’ve yet to meet a bolt it couldn’t tackle.
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Check out my for sale listing in the classifieds:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=438994
bwringer
Well-known member
I just love how there are several very high quality choices for these. You really cannot go wrong with any of several brands.
Bang for the buck probably has to go to Bondhus, though.
Bang for the buck probably has to go to Bondhus, though.
Love the comeback!