Wiha L key quality question

[phat ham]

I just got a set of Wiha L keys but am kind of disappointed in the fit and finish. Here's some pictures to show you what I'm talking about:

6mm is off center and the tips of the 3 smallest keys are rough

More rough finish on the small keys (the tip of the smallest key is fine)

One corner of the 4mm key is fubared. The 6mm key has some rough finishing too.

Rough finish on the 5/16 key

wihatools did offer to replace the entire set, but they also said when it comes to the tips of the smaller keys that's just the way they are. Is the set I got typical of Wiha L key quality? I'm worried that if I get a replacement set it will have the same issues. Regular price on this set is $94, and at that price I expect better fit and finish. But maybe I'm just being a little extra OCD. What does GJ think?

 

[jimmyin3D]

Yeah that’s pretty bad, especially for the smaller ones. Looks like they didn’t finish off the tips. The cheaper brands usually do this where you can see the cut marks too.

If Wiha is saying they will replace it though I would take them up on that. I think you just got a bad batch and most people are very happy with Wiha L keys.

But if you’re turned off by Wiha now you can either go PB Swiss ~$50 or bondhus ~$20 both are very nicely made.

 

[Dave455]

I always thought of Wiha as ‘middle of the Road’ rather than ‘top end’. Having said that, I’ve been very happy with what I own. I have sets of the ‘flag’ style hex and Torx keys on my bench, they see a lot of use, and have lasted well. I’ve also got a set of the long Torx drivers and they’re superbly made.

I’ve sensed things have been changing for a while though. First the pliers. What I’ve seen has been o.k., but Vietnamese made at German money. Then I heard they are outsourcing their 1/4 inch hex bits to the Far East. By all accounts they are not what they were.

Now this. In all honesty, an offer to replace the tools is workable, but not perfect. They shouldn’t be in this state in the first place, and what about the things you can’t see like metal composition and heat treatment?

Another vote for Bondhus or PB Swiss I’m afraid!

 

[kythri]

Wera is the cream of the crop, for this tool.

 

[rlitman]

I've had Bondhus ball end sets for decades, and they pass all of my visual tests under a magnifying glass. That Wiha set looks like a major forging oops.

Mine are black oxide. The current Bondhus silver/gold set is supposed to be some of the best out there (unless you're looking at Wera's retention design, which is the absolute best), but I have enough allen keys that I'm not upgrading just yet:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00132CGTW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[81turbota]

That’s ugly. I don’t like “that’s just the way they are”. I’ve never had a problem with Bondhus.

 

[californiaHank]

A bit depressing. I've lots of Wiha torx insert bits, and have been quite happy with them, even the Asian made ones.

My hex keys are Bondhus, and I took a close look at several sets I own. The overall finish of the Bondus is much better than your Wiha ones, and the ball end ones are all perfect. A couple of my smaller plain-hex Bondhus L-keys have short ends that are a bit rough, but nothing near as bad as your Wiha examples. It's surprising - Wiha keys are usually more expensive than the equivalent Bondhus. I don't expect hex keys to be finished like jewelry, but there's no excuse for the Wiha ones to be that rough.

 

[Y00PER]

I must be getting old.. I never heard them called "L-keys", they were always "Allen wrenches"

 

[Szilagyi]

For hex wrenches I go with wera, the hex plus is great and the finish is good on all of mine.

 

[tomalophicon]

I've had Bondhus ball end sets for decades, and they pass all of my visual tests under a magnifying glass. That Wiha set looks like a major forging oops.

Mine are black oxide. The current Bondhus silver/gold set is supposed to be some of the best out there (unless you're looking at Wera's retention design, which is the absolute best), but I have enough allen keys that I'm not upgrading just yet:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00132CGTW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Bondhus have always been excellent in my experience and their prices are surprisingly low.

 

[RKA]

So the unfinished look on the smaller wrenches is the same on mine. If it bothers you, pass on the replacements. Mine are about 8 years old give or take and stamped germany on each wrench. Your 5/16” looks bad, which would lead me to question the quality. Where was your set made?

If you’re looking for another brand, PB Swiss is top notch but expensive (you can get 30% off this weekend for BF/CM). Wera is equally good in my eyes and a little less. You can also score a good deal on Amazon a few times a year when they put them on sale (set up a camel alert). I have all three brands and have no complaints about any of them, but if you’re looking for another brand, the other two won’t let you down. No experience with Eklind, Bondhus or others, sorry.

 

[1982fxr]

I've always been happy with bondhus and Eklind.

 

[dutchgray]

The 4mm one would bother me, that is not good enough, the rest is not pretty but otherwise functional. The ends need dressing on the grinder occasionally anyway. They are not as good as the couple Wiha sets I have had for a few years though and I didn't pay anywhere near as much for them, even my PB sets were cheaper that that.
The Wera ones with the patented ends are worth getting.

 

[californiaHank]

I must be getting old.. I never heard them called "L-keys", they were always "Allen wrenches"

I know exactly what you mean.

My grampa and his friends used to call any adjustable wrench a 'Crescent wrench' and any pair of pump pliers 'Channellocks'. If I used the same names today with some of my neighbors, I'm not sure they'd understand what I meant.

I looked at Wiha's web site - They claim to have lots of 'hex keys' and 'L-keys', and even 'hex L-keys', but they don't seem to sell any 'Allen wrenches' even though a lot of them look like Allen wrenches to me.

 

[davethorik]

For hex wrenches I go with wera, the hex plus is great and the finish is good on all of mine.

They issue Wera hex plus keys at work, I'm impressed with them. They hold up well, and are long, longer than Bondhus or Eklind. Which is good if you know what you're doing.

The problem we ran into is that the apprentices at work were stripping out shcs, ripping threads out of parts, fixtures, etc. Gave them the "long" Bondhus keys and ****, problem rates go down.

They come individually bagged, coo Czech Republic

 

[B_Bimmer]

I've always been happy with bondhus and Eklind.

Cheap, domestic, and do the job.

 

[davethorik]

Cheap, domestic, and do the job.

Agree. My dad bought me Eklind sets in '06 that I still use daily. Yeah, the sheared ends aren't as pretty as Bondhus milled and chamfered. No hex plus or super fancy. All the larger sizes have seen cheater pipes countless times. No issues.

 

[Y00PER]

I know exactly what you mean.

My grampa and his friends used to call any adjustable wrench a 'Crescent wrench' and any pair of pump pliers 'Channellocks'. If I used the same names today with some of my neighbors, I'm not sure they'd understand what I meant.

I looked at Wiha's web site - They claim to have lots of 'hex keys' and 'L-keys', and even 'hex L-keys', but they don't seem to sell any 'Allen wrenches' even though a lot of them look like Allen wrenches to me.

Every reciprocating saw is a "Sawzall", every circular saw is a "Skilsaw"...

 

[M6erfan]

That's a bummer about those Wiha's. I wouldn't be to pleased...

Bondhus punch way above their price point. I have the gold/silver hex L key set (since 2013) and they are excellent.

https://www.amazon.com/Bondhus-20399-L-Wrench-BriteGuard-GoldGuard/dp/B00132CGTW?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00132CGTW

 

[measuredtwice]

That's too bad. I've had good experiences with Wera, Bondhus, Ekland. ... btw Menards has a nice hex SAE/metric bit set for $10 with a magnetic holder (made in USA). Bits are good. Nicely machined. I use them with my Snap-On ratcheting screwdriver and haven't used the cheap magnetic holder included with the bits.

 

[darkzero]

I wouldn't be happy with those, I'd return them in a heartbeat. Heck I have a cheap Husky beater set that looks better than that.

I do have a few Wiha flag torx keys with no issues. I also have 2 Wiha stubby T-handle hex wrenches & one of them has pitting on the nickel plating, wasn't happy about that but it wasn't worth returning.

Like the other guys, my L key sets & most used individual L keys I keep by certain machines are Bondhus & they are all pretty nice.

 

[phat ham]

So the unfinished look on the smaller wrenches is the same on mine. If it bothers you, pass on the replacements. Mine are about 8 years old give or take and stamped germany on each wrench. Your 5/16” looks bad, which would lead me to question the quality. Where was your set made?

The ones I got are also made in Germany.

Thanks everyone for the sanity check. I'll probably return these and go with something from Wera or Bondhus. For what it's worth, I've been happy with my Wiha screwdrivers, and the handful of (made in Vietnam) bits I got at the same time as the hex keys look pretty good , so I'm hoping these hex keys were just a fluke.