SAE hex screwdriver recommendations

[bleomycin]

I'm having a really difficult time finding SAE hex screwdrivers without ball tips. I currently have a full set of bondhus ball hex sae drivers and I really don't like them, the handles don't suit me but more importantly their fitment is very loose and poor in most fasteners. I have wera (non-ball) and pb swiss (ball) hex drivers in metric and I just generally like them much more.

If ball tips are the best I can hope for when it comes to SAE I see wera has a few but not the selection I would like, and snap-on has some with the great instinct handles but I don't know who the oem is for them? I'm worried they're just going to be bondhus with snapon handles...does anyone know?

Thanks for any help!

 

[jumbojak]

I think Carlyle has their hex drivers on sale right now. Barring that, have you considered t-handles?

 

[anetode]

If you absolutely positively need new SAE hex screwdrivers without ball tips and are willing to pay dearly for that convenience, KTC makes a set for the Japanese market (https://ktc.jp/catalog/index-category/category-list/td1h10b) which you can buy through Amazon.co.jp at https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B001EQFDLK/ Note that their set skips 7/64 and only goes up to 5/16.

 

[bleomycin]

I think Carlyle has their hex drivers on sale right now. Barring that, have you considered t-handles?

Thanks i'll check them out! Already have T-handles, just looking for drivers as well. I use hex drivers quite often and really appreciate them.

 

[bleomycin]

If you absolutely positively need new SAE hex screwdrivers without ball tips and are willing to pay dearly for that convenience, KTC makes a set for the Japanese market (https://ktc.jp/catalog/index-category/category-list/td1h10b) which you can buy through Amazon.co.jp at https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B001EQFDLK/ Note that their set skips 7/64 and only goes up to 5/16.

Excellent, I am willing to pay a premium if necessary. I was hoping there would be some Japanese or German option I wasn't aware of. Thanks for the info!

 

[gatlibs]

Bondhus does make the ones without ball that I linked in the other thread. Obviously, the handles would still be the same. Bondhus is affordable enough to try a set of the non-ball unlike Snap-on.
http://www.bondhus.com/pages/handyhex

Do these work for you? Use an extension handle that you like with either a magnetic drill extender or a screw secured extender.
http://www.bondhus.com/pages/hex-end-power-bits

 

[bradw100]

I've used a few of these in the smaller sizes and they've worked quite well.

http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/i...b-9287-87480a6d1ca4_Proto®-Hex-Screwdrivers/#

 

[HenryAZ]

I use a Wiha screwdrive handle that takes any hex bit (have regular and stubby handles). You can then use any hex bit, including allen, as a screwdriver.

 

[bwringer]

If you find ballend that you like but want plain end, you're only 30 seconds and a dremel tool with cutoff wheel away. Just cut off the ball. I cut back mine all the time as the end gets rounded out. Same with the hex key sockets.

Yep.

I've found on the smaller sizes that there's a lot of random variation in brands. If I've dealing with something really small and really stuck, I try several different hex keys, bits, and drivers until I find the best fit.

 

[Wamsutta]

If ball tips are the best I can hope for when it comes to SAE I see wera has a few but not the selection I would like, and snap-on has some with the great instinct handles but I don't know who the oem is for them? I'm worried they're just going to be bondhus with snapon handles...does anyone know?

Thanks for any help!

Snap-on screwdrivers are made at:

7939 N Faulkner Rd,
Milwaukee, WI 53224
877-762-7664

They used to make a plain hex set called the SDA113. They no longer make that set but I'm listing the part number in case one pops up on eBay.

Here's a video showing how Snap-on screwdrivers are made:

 

[Dave.R]

Our new Hex drivers have a flat bottom.

https://www.tekton.com/hex-screwdrivers



Dave

[email protected]

 

[reptilezs]

Our new Hex drivers have a flat bottom.

https://www.tekton.com/hex-screwdrivers



Dave

[email protected]

how is the handle size on the 2 2.5mm and 3mm? i bought some bondhus ones and they were too small. i picked up the wera ones after i returned the bondhus and i'm using them now. handle is ok but slightly small. looking for a little bigger

 

[notlob]

Another potential option:

https://www.amazon.com/Xcelite-LN11-11-Piece-Allen-Screwdriver/dp/B001FOQH3Y/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1543524961&sr=8-9&keywords=xcelite+allen+set

 

[anetode]

Our new Hex drivers have a flat bottom.

https://www.tekton.com/hex-screwdrivers


Dave

[email protected]

Out of curiosity, is that a one-component handle on the inch sizes (as opposed to the metrics with a TPE overmold)?

 

[Dave.R]

Out of curiosity, is that a one-component handle on the inch sizes (as opposed to the metrics with a TPE overmold)?

They are just like the two material metric handles, both materials are just black on the SAE.

The handle size is great in my opinion, not too tiny, but not clunky and in the way either.

Dave

[email protected]

 

[anetode]

They are just like the two material metric handles, both materials are just black on the SAE.

The handle size is great in my opinion, not too tiny, but not clunky and in the way either.

Dave

[email protected]

Gonna have to pick up a set, thanks!

 

[ive]

Any new ideas into whats available for sae hex screwdrivers?