Wera Red Handle Screwdrivers (Made in Germany)
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Nobody-named-Olli
Well-known member
No idea on the age of these. But Wera is very talkative, if you e-mail them with those pictures, they will most certainly tell you more about them. (That is, if no one on GJ can chime in on these.)
All I can add is an eBay link: https://www.ebay.de/itm/194919358075
They have a lot of ”vintage” Wera, Wiha, (…) screwdrivers in their shop: https://www.ebay.de/str/cmcuttingtools
Kind regards,
Olli
All I can add is an eBay link: https://www.ebay.de/itm/194919358075
They have a lot of ”vintage” Wera, Wiha, (…) screwdrivers in their shop: https://www.ebay.de/str/cmcuttingtools
Kind regards,
Olli
SwissMetric
Well-known member
I'm not a Wera expert but I'd guess they're quite old (stupid answer, I know 
). The bicolor black and green Kraftform were introduced quite some time ago, IIRC over 20 years, 2 molded digits at the bottom of the handle encode the manufacturing year, probaly also valid for any color combination as the tooling is the same.
Never seen the pictured grips, during many decades you nearly only saw PB here and maybe some screwdrivers with wooden handle (don't have any single one of them).
As I don't have old Wera print catalogs I can't check it. My uneducated guess would be mid to late 90's but I can be wrong.
Personally I'm not a fan of "ergonomical" screwdriver grips, too bulky. If I need more torque I use ratchets as well as T-grips with scfrewdriver sockets forged as single piece rather than bits, or screwdrivers with a hexagonal of square belos the handle, or a adjustable wrench at the bottom for slotted screws.
I tried lots of various exotic grips in stores and liked none of them. I don't even like the newer PB grips forms nor the Stahlwille DRALL, DRALLl+ nor the 3K DRALL which easily gets dirty.
). The bicolor black and green Kraftform were introduced quite some time ago, IIRC over 20 years, 2 molded digits at the bottom of the handle encode the manufacturing year, probaly also valid for any color combination as the tooling is the same.Never seen the pictured grips, during many decades you nearly only saw PB here and maybe some screwdrivers with wooden handle (don't have any single one of them).
As I don't have old Wera print catalogs I can't check it. My uneducated guess would be mid to late 90's but I can be wrong.
Personally I'm not a fan of "ergonomical" screwdriver grips, too bulky. If I need more torque I use ratchets as well as T-grips with scfrewdriver sockets forged as single piece rather than bits, or screwdrivers with a hexagonal of square belos the handle, or a adjustable wrench at the bottom for slotted screws.
I tried lots of various exotic grips in stores and liked none of them. I don't even like the newer PB grips forms nor the Stahlwille DRALL, DRALLl+ nor the 3K DRALL which easily gets dirty.
Dave455
Well-known member
It’s quite a while since those were made.
I can recall a shop opening in I think the mid to late 90’s that was stocked with the green ones.
On that basis I’d probably say early 90’s, or earlier!
I can recall a shop opening in I think the mid to late 90’s that was stocked with the green ones.
On that basis I’d probably say early 90’s, or earlier!
seber
Well-known member
These are still available.
germantoolblog.com
Wera Screwdrivers, A Comparison and Review
Wera Tools has long been at the forefront of screwdriver design and quality. They also make a ton of different screwdrivers in a vast array of colors and sizes. It can be mind-boggling! Let’s take …
germantoolblog.com
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Those were made in Germany.
They shifted production to Czech Republic in 1995.
The Kraftform handle design was developed in 1968.
Some of the old Wera tools had W. Germany markings.
Lacking that, I would guess these after the fall of the wall in late 1989. That would place them 1990-95.
I have a few of these same hard handles and I prefer them over the bi-material grips.
They shifted production to Czech Republic in 1995.
The Kraftform handle design was developed in 1968.
Some of the old Wera tools had W. Germany markings.
Lacking that, I would guess these after the fall of the wall in late 1989. That would place them 1990-95.
I have a few of these same hard handles and I prefer them over the bi-material grips.
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SwissMetric
Well-known member
The red ones shown correspond to the modern form with a flat at the botton, as said, one has the manufacturing year coded as two digits, engraved in the injection mold (for example 05 for 2005).
The stainless steel versions are only useful for stainless steel to avoid the transfer of rust particles but are otherwise less robust than the regular cheaper usual versions. No idea if the laser-processed (rougher surface) tips make a huge difference, never used any.
SwissMetric
Well-known member
I never saw any of those old red handles. Either in the catalog or online there are or were some explanations about the development of the various Wera grips.
The screwdrivers at the bottom of the pic are typically used by electricians for screw terminals. I'd very highly recommend to get some as the insulation of terminals easily ends damaged if using DIN/ISO screwdrivers, also for set screws.
The ones above are the most common ones (i.e. DIN/ISO). There more convenient Swiss VSM are rarely posted.
The screwdrivers at the bottom of the pic are typically used by electricians for screw terminals. I'd very highly recommend to get some as the insulation of terminals easily ends damaged if using DIN/ISO screwdrivers, also for set screws.
The ones above are the most common ones (i.e. DIN/ISO). There more convenient Swiss VSM are rarely posted.
That makes sense. I just wasn't sure when manufacturing moved away from Germany. And if some tools were still made there.
I've had these red handles for atleast 10 years. The black handles came from the same closeout supplier. Probably mid to late 90's. Also had the solid yellow striking screwdrivers.
I have a set of the newer Wera in the green/black, yellow/black color schemes.
Here is my stash of new screwdrivers.
SwissMetric
Well-known member
BTW The stickers of some Wera boxes are misleading as they show a handle form which does not correspend to the content.
Dave455
Well-known member
I find the stainless steel tools have many other uses apart from working on stainless.
If I’m working outside and get them wet, there’s no panic to dry them off and oil them. A friend with a boat has these exclusively on his boat tool kit.
I also find them good if I’m working on poor quality screws, particularly Pozidriv. If you use a driver with a plated tip, the plating can be damaged by the screw, especially if someone else has deformed the recess.
I find I can wade in with the stainless without fear of damaging the driver.
I actually like most of the Wera screwdriver blades, but I really don’t like the soft inserts on the handles. Much prefer the older ones posted by the O.P.
woody 73
Well-known member
I love screwdrivers and those Wera are very nice looking, but the handle hurts my hands after a short while of using them. Long before Adam Savage talked about the Stanley work master screwdrivers, I had used them in the 1980's full time, and I hunt for them 24/7.
OP nice collection.
OP nice collection.
SwissMetric
Well-known member
I expected the stainless steel blades to be too soft. Seems I was wrong but admittingly I've never used any even if I really like stainless steel.
Some specialized shops processing stainless steel use dedicated but expensive tools and also use some machines only for stainless steel or even have completely separate halls only to process that material.
There are also specific requirements for tools used to process titanium.
I never use screwdrivers with a plated tip, the friction is also reduced which increases cam-out. One exception are the no longer made very large 1/2" sockets for slotted screws but the plating was the usual matte one. There were polished chromium-plated 1/4" "K" sockets for slotted screws but it's nearly a Stahlwille collector item as extremely rare, also inconvenient due to the very low friction.
The corrosion resistance of black tips is not that bad, just keep it *very* slightly oily and dry it if it got wet.
Some specialized shops processing stainless steel use dedicated but expensive tools and also use some machines only for stainless steel or even have completely separate halls only to process that material.
There are also specific requirements for tools used to process titanium.
I never use screwdrivers with a plated tip, the friction is also reduced which increases cam-out. One exception are the no longer made very large 1/2" sockets for slotted screws but the plating was the usual matte one. There were polished chromium-plated 1/4" "K" sockets for slotted screws but it's nearly a Stahlwille collector item as extremely rare, also inconvenient due to the very low friction.
The corrosion resistance of black tips is not that bad, just keep it *very* slightly oily and dry it if it got wet.
Dave455
Well-known member
Yes, common sense suggests the stainless steel should be softer, but it depends on the steel. After all, we get stainless steel knives that are considerably harder to sharpen than their carbon steel counterparts.
I don’t know which stainless steel Wera use, and my gut feeling is that their conventional drivers are harder, but not by much.
Here’s one of the drivers in question. You can see there’s some wear to the blade, but not a huge amount. The weak point, as always with Wera’s, is the soft handle, which gets very grubby.
Wiha also offer Stainless drivers, but only in smaller sizes.
My boat owning friend has these Elora’s, and they seem to be very nice.
SwissMetric
Well-known member
I feel again so stupid, I didn't even know that Elora still exists:
www.elora.de
Interesting:
www.elora.de
www.elora.de
www.elora.de
And the shop:
www.elora-werkzeugshop.de
I'm surprised that there are reasonably priced tools marked Made in Germany. Much more competitive than Stahlwille if the quality is still high, formerly it was one of the various good German hand tools manufacturers. No idea about the quality today, can't remember having seen any recently made Elora tool.
Werkzeuge in Premiumqualität | ELORA - Werkzeugfabrik GmbH
Handwerkzeuge in exzellenter Qualität - seit 1924. Drehmomentschlüssel, Steckschlüssel, Schraubenschlüssel und Werkzeugaufbewahrung.
www.elora.de
Interesting:
Manufacturing process: Socket | ELORA - Werkzeugfabrik GmbH
Manufacturing processes for socket wrench inserts: highest quality standards, as these are always hot-forged.
www.elora.de
Ratchet | ELORA - Werkzeugfabrik GmbH
Manufacturing process of a ratchet and its drive. From the starting material to the final assembly of our quality tool.
www.elora.de
Manufacturing process: Spanner | ELORA - Werkzeugfabrik GmbH
How we manufacture our spanners? From the blank to tempering and chrome-plating: step by step to perfection.
www.elora.de
And the shop:
Elora Werkzeugshop - für Heimwerker und Profis
Werkzeuge & Zubehör günstig online kaufen - Versandkostenfrei ab 100 € - Rechnungskauf - Für Heimwerker & Handwerker - Jetzt bestellen!
I'm surprised that there are reasonably priced tools marked Made in Germany. Much more competitive than Stahlwille if the quality is still high, formerly it was one of the various good German hand tools manufacturers. No idea about the quality today, can't remember having seen any recently made Elora tool.
Dave455
Well-known member
Have no concerns, the quality of modern Elora is very high, and their range is substantial. Their distribution methods seem to be a bit different to others though.I feel again so stupid, I didn't even know that Elora still exists:
Werkzeuge in Premiumqualität | ELORA - Werkzeugfabrik GmbH
Handwerkzeuge in exzellenter Qualität - seit 1924. Drehmomentschlüssel, Steckschlüssel, Schraubenschlüssel und Werkzeugaufbewahrung.
Interesting:
Manufacturing process: Socket | ELORA - Werkzeugfabrik GmbH
Manufacturing processes for socket wrench inserts: highest quality standards, as these are always hot-forged.Ratchet | ELORA - Werkzeugfabrik GmbH
Manufacturing process of a ratchet and its drive. From the starting material to the final assembly of our quality tool.Manufacturing process: Spanner | ELORA - Werkzeugfabrik GmbH
How we manufacture our spanners? From the blank to tempering and chrome-plating: step by step to perfection.
And the shop:
Elora Werkzeugshop - für Heimwerker und Profis
Werkzeuge & Zubehör günstig online kaufen - Versandkostenfrei ab 100 € - Rechnungskauf - Für Heimwerker & Handwerker - Jetzt bestellen!
I'm surprised that there are reasonably priced tools marked Made in Germany. Much more competitive than Stahlwille if the quality is still high, formerly it was one of the various good German hand tools manufacturers. No idea about the quality today, can't remember having seen any recently made Elora tool.
In the rural part if southern England where I live, the local agricultural suppliers keep some Elora, so a lot of their wrenches are found in farm workshops. Helped no doubt, by Elora manufacturing Whitworth.
The farmers will break anything if they can, but the Elora seems to withstand the environment! It is much higher quality than say Gedore, which is often sold for agricultural purposes.
I don’t have a lot, but I have things like these small BA wrenches. Making small wrenches is sometimes a tougher test than making big ones, and these are very good. Certainly as good as older British ones.
I also quite like these forged box wrenches, which are no longer made by Stahlwille or Hazet. Or maybe Elora always made them for all three companies?
I have long suspected that Elora make ignition wrenches for Hazet and Stahlwille. Probably a good deal of other tools too.
A friend has recently acquired a large 3/8 drive Elora set. The supplied ratchet is lovely - very fine tooth and quick release too. I think it’s this one.
He also had the 1/2” drive long flex ratchet. Elora supply a very good range of 1/2” drive ratchets.
Elora don’t seem to advertise much, you just have to know about them, but if you do I would say that the tools are high quality for a fair price.
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Dave455
Well-known member
Yes, I was aware of that, but didn’t want to confuse our U.S. readership with unknown names!Dave, Draper Tools are the official importer/marketer of Elora tools in the UK. They are often sold on ebay as a Draper Elora nnnnn.
Anyway I have collected Elora ratchets for the last 30 odd years.
Nice Elora ratchet collection! A man with 35 ratchet’s from the same manufacturer is going to fit in really well here!
I suspect you might agree with me that Elora tools, particularly ratchet’s, are somewhat under rated.
They are one of the few European manufacturers to offer long / flex handle ratchets. In many respects I prefer them to Stahlwille.