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Wiha Hex bit socket review

nissan_crawler

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I thought I would start a new thread, so it wasn't all jumbled together.

They showed up today. I'm happy with them, but have a few gripes:

1. They don't say Wiha anywhere on the 6" ones, and only on the bit hidden in the socket on the short ones.

2. No size visible on the short ones at all (it's inside the socket), long ones are damn hard to read, and I have good vision.

3. Both Wiha and chadstoolbox list the long set as a 6 piece set, when there's 8 bits available, so I ordered the other two. It turns out, the damn set is an 8 piece set, as you would think it should be, so I spent $13.50 on 2 socket bits I didn't need, which pisses me off. The catalog they sent with the order lists it as an 8 piece set.

4. One bit had fallen out of the socket while shipping, no biggie, just tightened the set screw. However, it would be much better if they would just dimple one flat on the bit to line up with the set screw. That would cure those problems.

The good.

1. They look well made.

2. They send them on Ernst socket holders, which is awesome.

3. They had a free gift thing if you spent over x amount, but you had to select it, which I forgot. They caught it and put one in anyway.

4. The bits are a true 6" not 4" like some, and they neck down only at the end of the bit, unlike most others which are small right at the socket, so they won't take hardly any torque. This is the main reason I chose the Wiha's, and why I would get them again. It's the only logical way to build them, IMHO.

I think instead of all sockets saying 1/4" (duh, who cares what the size is at that end?), they need to mark the sockets "Wiha - 5/32"" or something.

The short bit sockets:
IMG_2273.jpg


The long bit sockets:
IMG_2284.jpg


Size stamping on the long ones:
IMG_2286.jpg


The ends of the long hex bit sockets, best part of the set:
IMG_2287.jpg


The extra bit sockets I don't need:
IMG_2288.jpg


The free gimmick gift:
IMG_2289.jpg


I'm going to contact Wiha about buying those two since the set only showed the six, and see what they'll do.
 
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autoace

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Hey nissan, I'm not knocking your purchase, but I would expect more from Wiha than bits in "generic" unlabeled sockets, and set screws:headscrat

Anyway, the most important thing is they will do the job, I just thought Wiha had better standards.

I'm a pain when it comes to tool quality, but I would send them back for Hazet tools or something. Just my opinion.
 

-B-

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This is an impression not a review a review would sort and long term use of the tools.

Please use them then review them, anything can look good out of a box.
 

autoace

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This is an impression not a review a review would sort and long term use of the tools.

Please use them then review them, anything can look good out of a box.

He will add to the thread later. It's general practice to post a review when new, that way other members get to make an impression of their own. I would not buy them,based on his helpful info., so the review was already helpful to me.
 
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nissan_crawler

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Hey nissan, I'm not knocking your purchase, but I would expect more from Wiha than bits in "generic" unlabeled sockets, and set screws:headscrat

Anyway, the most important thing is they will do the job, I just thought Wiha had better standards.

I'm a pain when it comes to tool quality, but I would send them back for Hazet tools or something. Just my opinion.

Yeah, I was a little surprised. The set screws I have no issue with, but I thought they would be marked by size.

Hazet doesn't have anything comparable, unless I missed them, otherwise I would have went for them.

This is an impression not a review a review would sort and long term use of the tools.

Please use them then review them, anything can look good out of a box.

would sort and long term use?

Perhaps spell check before you correct me.

Oh, and btw...review merriam-webster, also.

1re·view Listen to the pronunciation of 1review
Pronunciation:
\ri-ˈvyü\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English reveue, from Middle French, from feminine past participle of revoir to see again, reexamine, from Old French reveoir, from re- + veoir, veeir to see — more at view
Date:
15th century

1 a: a formal military inspection b: a military ceremony honoring a person or an event
2: revision 1a
3: a general survey (as of the events of a period)
4: an act or the process of reviewing
5: judicial reexamination (as of the proceedings of a lower tribunal by a higher)
6 a: a critical evaluation (as of a book or play) b: a magazine devoted chiefly to reviews and essays
7 a: a retrospective view or survey (as of one's life) b (1): renewed study of material previously studied (2): an exercise facilitating such study
8: revue



Main Entry:
2re·view Listen to the pronunciation of 2review
Pronunciation:
\ri-ˈvyü\
Function:
verb
Etymology:
in sense 1 of v.t., from re- + view; in other senses, from 1review
Date:
1576

transitive verb
1 \also ˈrē-ˌvyü\ : to view or see again
2: to examine or study again ; especially : to reexamine judicially
3: to look back on : take a retrospective view of <review the past>
4 a: to go over or examine critically or deliberately <reviewed the results of the study> b: to give a critical evaluation of <review a novel>
5: to hold a review of <review troops>intransitive verb1: to study material again : make a review <review for a test>2: to write reviews
 

737JetMech

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Nice purchase Nissan, let us know how they work out. They look well made, I could look past the marking part, since I tend to only use about three of the sockets in my set anyways, so I tend to just grab by where they are as opposed to what size they are. I could see the long ones coming in handy, especially when trimming a CFM56-3. Thanks for the review.
 
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nissan_crawler

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I'll post up. One of the reasons I wanted these was for setting #%*#% pratt fuel controls.:mad: I hate Pratts.

There's a few pressurization check valves mounted to the fuselage feed throughs that are all but impossible with 6" hex sockets, hence not wanting the 4.5" ones others offer.

Some of the outflow valves are held in with them, too.
 

bchee

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Nice picts. Unless they have a no refunds policy I can't imagine they would hassle you about returning the 2 extra ones.
 

autoace

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Hazet is coming up short so to speak(checked catalog), so the Wiha ones may be the only choice, in that case, they look like they will work fine, that is the biggest thing.
 
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nissan_crawler

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Yeah, Hazet's definitely look nice, just aren't long enough for what I need. I suppose I could use an extension, but that's just that much more stuff to drop into a deep dark hole. They frown on leaving spare tools in the plane.:dunno:
 

FNFS2000

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WIHA USA is a wierd animal, they are not really connected to WIHA Germany and they sell all kinds of things that are not WIHA products. WIHA especially in the USA is not the high end brand they started as. They have really made a change from quality to quantity in my observations, trying to chase the dollar...
 

eschoendorff

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Hey nissan, I'm not knocking your purchase, but I would expect more from Wiha than bits in "generic" unlabeled sockets, and set screws:headscrat

Anyway, the most important thing is they will do the job, I just thought Wiha had better standards.

I'm a pain when it comes to tool quality, but I would send them back for Hazet tools or something. Just my opinion.

Same here. Those sockets look a lot like a set I bought at HF years ago. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing.... that HF set has lasted me this long.
 
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nissan_crawler

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Same here. Those sockets look a lot like a set I bought at HF years ago. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing.... that HF set has lasted me this long.

out of curiosity, did they neck down like that, or are they the same size all the way to the socket? I have a 3/8" hf set, not the 1/4", but they don't neck down, it's the same size all the way, and they're prone to twisting.

If they're necked down, I might have to look at some for home.
 

eschoendorff

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I think that mine are the same size all the way through... but I'd have to go look to be sure.

Come to think of it, I have another set that necks down like the Wihas, but I didn't buy it at HF... I don't think. Just another typical Asian set.
 

MAD

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I'm happy with them, but have a few gripes:


2. No size visible on the short ones at all (it's inside the socket), long ones are damn hard to read, and I have good vision.

This is my gripe with them as well, as I stated in your old thread.

I have a set of Wiha hex bit sockets. The one small thing I do not like about them is that they use generic sockets to hold the hex bits. There is no size marked on the socket. Only the hex bit itself is marked which is not always easily visible. I do not know if all Wiha bit sockets are this way.

I have my Wiha set at work where I have mostly used them on socket head machine screws to rack mount Audio gear and theatrical lighting control equipment. (Not the most punishing environment)

I am looking forward to your impression of the durability of bits after some hard use.

Thanks for the review and pictures.
 

jerk_chicken

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WIHA USA is a wierd animal, they are not really connected to WIHA Germany and they sell all kinds of things that are not WIHA products. WIHA especially in the USA is not the high end brand they started as. They have really made a change from quality to quantity in my observations, trying to chase the dollar...

Yeah, I've been trying to get to the bottom of this. Wiha Germany doesn't sell such types of tools. Obviously, the tools from Germany are available in the US (and I bought some), but it's odd these possibly artificially high prices for mechanic's tools on Wiha's US site. That would **** if it was not German made, but they priced them based on people thinking they would come from Germany. I was going to get some wiha combo wrenches a couple years ago, but held off, thinking I could buy in Germany, but they don't exist here.
 

Jononon

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1. They don't say Wiha anywhere on the 6" ones, and only on the bit hidden in the socket on the short ones.

The 6" ones aren't made or marketed by Wiha Werkzeuge GmbH. I'm don't to piss on your cornflakes, and I've no reason to think they're not good quality, but FNFS2000 is right, you've been caught by Wiha USA's weird marketing strategy.

2. No size visible on the short ones at all (it's inside the socket)

They're were never designed to be sold (or used) in a fixed socket.

4. One bit had fallen out of the socket while shipping, no biggie, just tightened the set screw. However, it would be much better if they would just dimple one flat on the bit to line up with the set screw. That would cure those problems.

Same problem again. In their home market, they'd be used in a bit holder, keeping the bit in place either with magnetism or in a spring chuck.
 

jerk_chicken

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So all the sockets are just one size, to keep costs down and that would explain no markings? The only difference being the hex bit size.

So Wiha US basically licenses the name, then charges imported German prices?
 
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nissan_crawler

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That would **** if it was not German made, but they priced them based on people thinking they would come from Germany.

Import sockets, US hex bits (at least on the long ones), put together in germany. I knew that before I bought them, though.

The 6" ones aren't made or marketed by Wiha Werkzeuge GmbH. I'm don't to piss on your cornflakes, and I've no reason to think they're not good quality, but FNFS2000 is right, you've been caught by Wiha USA's weird marketing strategy.

They're were never designed to be sold (or used) in a fixed socket.

Same problem again. In their home market, they'd be used in a bit holder, keeping the bit in place either with magnetism or in a spring chuck.

I knew about the 6" ones before I bought them. However, they could still be stamped wiha, made by them or not. Hell, look at MAC.

I realize those bits weren't for sockets. My point was, the SOCKETS should be stamped for the hex size, rather than every socket being stamped 1/4" for the bit size, who cares about that? Instead of saying 1/4", it needs to 7/32 or 5/64.
 

Jononon

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Import sockets, US hex bits (at least on the long ones), put together in germany.

Some part of the Wiha empire sources US made hex bits, Taiwanese sockets, tightens the set screws in Germany, doesn't sell them in Europe, and then ships them back to the USA ? :headscrat

I realize those bits weren't for sockets. My point was, the SOCKETS should be stamped for the hex size, rather than every socket being stamped 1/4" for the bit size, who cares about that? Instead of saying 1/4", it needs to 7/32 or 5/64.

I couldn't agree more. If Wiha USA wants to sell its own line it needs to have them properly engineered for the home market, rather than selling 'bitsa' tools. Might be worth emailing Wiha USA a link to this site, it isn't the first time those sockets have been commented upon.
 

FNFS2000

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So Wiha US basically licenses the name, then charges imported German prices?

That is completely the case, I can't believe they can get away with it. Its like a ford dealer finding some oddball cars most people here have never seen and passing them off as ford products. Thats all WIHA USA is, is a dealer with exclusive import rights.

My understanding was that Bondhus was the original importer(just like right now Bondhus is the sole importer of FELO) and they had some bickering at upperlevel management and someone built a WIHA warehouse across the highway from Bondhus in Monticello MN.
 

walrus

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So I've bought some ball end hex off EBAY. First were SAE Snap on, nice stuff, used them already. Like them.

I was looking for some metric ones and Snap on ones were going for 60 bucks or so. I saw some Cornwell ones and got them for 35. Got them today, not as long as Snap ons. I was really looking for one size and thats 5mm. Instead of being 3/8 drive its 1/4 drive. Really like that, the 4,5 ,6 are all 1/4 drive, 7 thru 10 are 3/8 drive. Came in a nice case also
 

walrus

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Here's some pics, first the Cornwell metric set, brand new
IMG_0320.jpg


Here's the Snap on SAE set, used, side by side

IMG_0321.jpg


Like the snow background:bounce:
 

walrus

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I almost bought some of the cornwell ones at th pawnshop but I got a storm of negative replies,

I'll let you know, I suspect for what I'm doing they'll be fine. There is one piece of eguipment that I work on occasionally that I need the 5mm for. The fasteners are SS so I doubt I'll be twisting them up. Couldn't see spending on Snap On for an occasional use tool. The SAE ones are different,I'll use those alot so I went with snap on
 

jerk_chicken

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That's pretty effed up.

Perhaps this type of thing belongs in a thread of its own, so we can document where the manufacturers **** around with us by slipping a pile of **** in there once in a while.
 
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nissan_crawler

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Well, I'm getting pissed. I emailed them, it took two days for a reply, and they gave me a return authorization number, but no shipping. I emailed back and asked why and said I shouldn't be paying return shipping when the manufacturer's website is incorrect, not my fault. I asked them to please provide return shipping. It's been two more days, haven't heard a thing.

Wiha just lost a customer.:mad::soapbox:

I'm pissed at myself because aktools can get this stuff, and I didn't even think about it. At least I would have been able to return the extra with no bs, then. :headshake
 

autoace

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I almost bought some of the cornwell ones at the pawnshop but I got a storm of negative replies, when I asked about their quality! I didn't end up buying them; give us a review of what you think!
Here is my thread and the negative feedback, that followed! These are Torx but they looked very similar to your hex sockets....
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28791

Those are Cornwell re-labels, not even close to Cornwell quality. I didn't lie to you Billymade, those re-labels are aok for Harbor Freight or Northern tools.........they are not Cornwell tools, don't bother spending the extra money for a name stamp. I have really complained to Cornwell about this stuff!:mad:
 

jerk_chicken

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I believe they might even be made by the same company that supplies JC Witney. Years ago, I bought some bargain basement socket bits. I got that much use out of them. The casing and markings look all alike.
 

Hawk321

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Wasted money...

I mean...if you compare our german high end bits from wiha...then you will notice that your bit sockets are cheap scrap...just my opinion.

WIHA has bits with a price of approximately 2-4 Euro each one! Their design are really futuristic
Standart Bit
7013_z.jpg


High End
7015_DR.jpg


(pictures are from Wiha germany)
 
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nissan_crawler

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except neither of those would do me any good... If they made the same thing that was actually german with better quality, and there was a way to buy them, I would.

Unfortunately, this was the only hex set I found made by anybody that did what I needed.
 
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