Broken Wiha Driver

This week we take a look at a Wiha 3K driver that I somehow managed to break and see if it is covered under their lifetime warranty.

[@frankblack1481]

You stumbled across a pet-peeve of mine... ball-ended hex keys in unsuitable applications. I spent a few yrs working in MIL/Aero and we were effectively prohibited from using ball-end keys for anything. They weren’t on the approved tool list and weren’t available from the tool crib. Officially. Unofficially, we used them to do the initial install (zero friction) before using the approved keys for final torquing. For disassembly, the reverse was true... using non ball-end for ‘breaking’ the screw loose before removing the screw using whatever we wanted. The preferred hex key is the T-handle type. FWIW, the same goes for non-hex fastener... sockets attached to small 3/8” ‘speed braces’ are great for rapidly removing bolts by whipping it around... but are frowned upon as the practice puts side-load on fasteners and can damage threads. This was a really interesting video and I’m wondering if you should try do similar for other brands? When you look at the broken bit, is there any chance the dark spot is the classic ‘beach’ marks indicating the type of failure? I was impressed w your experience of WIHA customer service and am glad of that.

[@FiveRustyNails]

You should have been using a regular hex wrench for that application. Ball drivers are for extreme access situations. Love your vids btw.

[@Kameradschaft]

I really kinda wanted to see what was inside the box!!

[@WihaToolsUSA]

Thank you for taking advantage of the Wiha No Hassle Guarantee! The warranty does not cover bits or our torque control tools. If you ever have questions about the warranty or our tools in general, please reach out to our customer service team by calling 800-494-6104 or emailing [e-mail]

[@volcomguy51]

Interesting! I've warrantied three tools from Wiha and their turnaround time was fast. I've made a video on this issue a few months ago; not in depth as yours but Wiha are great with their warranty. I've also warrantied Wera and Knipex as well.

[@Schmunzel57]

About the line printer: I saw a film where they spoke about the reactor failures in Japan after the tsunami. One problem they had that the line printer was not fast enough because so many safeties where triggered that the system skipped some in printing and printed them later. Because of the later printing they overlooked some important stuff and reacted only to that what appeared to have happened first and worked there way linear through the lines. Too late the saw important valves had been automatically switched.

[@RedQuasar13]

Good video - nice to see how this all played out.

[@jeepsaround]

I like that you included warranty service.

[@cavepilot]

A side note about warranties. Just watched Steve Lehto interview on Louis Rossmann's channel. That "Warranty void if broken or removed" sticker is illegal. In the United States anyway.

[@erikkarling2176]

Wiha's warranty is absolutely top notch. I bought a screwdriver set and one handle had a bubble in it. I emailed them and within a week or two, a new screwdriver showed up in the mail. No hassles, whatsoever. I'm a believer in their warranty and their product.

[@6900pilot]

Re the broken driver, You could just grind it flat and file the edges you would still have a useable driver. Also I don't think those ends are strong enough for tight opening screws, more so for speed like say when tightening up a long screw. Was good to see how fast they responded to you. Good video.

[@axtra92]

Why would it be faster then a normal??🤦‍♂️Its made for when you cant get straight on the faster and have to come from the side... they should hold up for that..

[@6900pilot]

@@axtra92 well I'm just using common sense here.. you could say the same about a ratchet and a power bar.

[@axtra92]

John O Neill but you said they are faster... How would they be faster?

[@6900pilot]

@@axtra92 there is a fast side like the long side? The shorter side is used for opening tight nuts. Use your imagination here.

[@moeszyslack4676]

Good on Wiha for coming through on the warranty. However, as a few others have said, using a ball end driver to loosen a fastener, especially one of unknown tightness, if you will, isn't a good idea. I always use ball end drivers to rapidly remove a screw I loosened with a straight end hex plus, or to rapidly tighten a fastener then snug it up with a hex plus.

[@j.w.4549]

Well tbh you should never use ball end drivers to loosen something you haven't tightened yourself. IIRC most manufacturers even warn you to use them to loosen stuff, because they are weaker. € for clarification

[@adamaj74]

So what are you supposed to use to break loose a bolt you can't get to with a normal head? Ball heads were made for a reason, to get to bolts you can't with regular heads. Of course you'll have to break bolts loose with them. For a manufacturer to say that is just plain stupid and they're just covering their ass. I've never broken the head off of one of my ball head keys by breaking a bolt loose.

[@j.w.4549]

@@adamaj74 Well if you can not reach it otherwise you of course use a ball head or you disassemble the part further to reach it better. You can not deny that they are weaker by design though. So if there is no reason to use one you shouldn't, especially with those tiny sizes. I never said you mustn't use them.

[@beengineering4653]

I can't find a full length (all hex) driver set. They all have ball ends, or just the tip is hex, with a round shank. ?

[@adamaj74]

​@@j.w.4549 Cheap ones are cheaper by design. Good ones compensate by using better material and manufacturing processes. And yes, you did in fact say you shouldn't use them in your original post: ""you should never use ball end drivers to loosen something you haven't tightened yourself"" That's virtually ALL the time. Do you know how ridiculous it sounds, coming from an industrial maintenance background, to hear someone talk about keeping track of the screws they've tightened. Do you know how many thousands of fasteners the average maintenance tech has messed with? Even if you could remember, you have no way of knowing if someone else came along after you and worked on it, etc. So, again, my point is that ball end drivers are made to get in fasteners that regular keys can't. Obviously you'll have to break them loose. For a manufacturer to say not to do so is a sure sign they are shit, and to find another brand. It doesn't make any sense, it's illogical. It'd be like telling you you couldn't use the keys to you car unless your car is already running.

[@j.w.4549]

English is not my native language and thus I remember that should is different from must not. Apparently that caused a missunderstand. Should in my understanding in this case means you can do it but if possible you better don't do it. Am I wrong? And btw. I am also working in maintenance and I am dealing with tight/corroded screws on a regular basis. If I notice that a screw doesn't want to break loose easily I switch to another driver if I got one at hand or I use the short side of an L shaped driver. Especially with hex sizes below 3 mm.

[@randynovick7972]

Not sure why you were using a ball-end when you didn't need it, but I suppose the first tool you reach for is always going to win. Choice of tool notwithstanding, it should not have broken, and I'm glad you got good warranty service.

[@kylehazachode]

Can you do a video making an awl out of the broken one?

[@bewes72]

Inclusion is the term used in the casting process,. I worked in the X-Ray dept for 30 years for company a French Company producing alloy wheels and cylinder heads, wheels had a 100% X-ray check for shrinkage and inclusions which could result in wheel failure , cylinder heads could fail bench tests but no health and safety risk. Love your reviews .

[@marcmckenzie5110]

Recently I snapped the ball off of a 2.5mm Wera hex-key, within 3-4 months of buying the set through KC Tool. One of the fellas there I'm acquainted with wrote back when I checked and said that all the German tool manufacturers consider hex, torque, square and other keys as "consumables." After thinking about it, I could see that - the hard part is that the replacement was under $2, but one still faces the shipping. I wasn't unhappy with Wera or KC Tool, but it feels like there should be a better answer. So in your case, I wonder if it was the addition of a handle that put a virtually otherwise identical tool into warranty? All that aside, from the experience I learned to use my T-handled Wiha hex wrenches without a ball end on anything where I might end up over torquing the breaking strength of a ball end. It's kind of a weird little corner of tools; the ball end is so useful... but from an engineering perspective, had to have them be as strong as the full diameter!

[@Krack3nTehC0D3z]

The broken driver is still useful if you grind the tip down to a regular hex. Good thing they didn't require a return.

[@dazaspc]

That is a mighty big handle for a 5/32 ball driver. That said that size isn't easy to heat treat.

[@astrazenica7783]

Yeah maybe heat treated alongside larger sizes

[@jeepsaround]

I've read a lot of reviews on Amazon today for the Wera Hex Plus L-keys with quality issues. 3/16 being too large and tips of L-keys snapping off and Wera saying L-keys are "consumables" not covered by warranty.

[@davedakroub5323]

Looking for a set of good metric hex keys. What is the advantage of having the ball end? Does it just allow you to use the key at an angle?

[@erikjohansson1814]

What is it in the golden box? How can you not show it a liiiittle bit only 😔

[@EditioCastigata]

If it's not a bolt in an awkward place I just use bits and a bitholding screwdriver (Wiha 28103 or longer) of the ratchet kind (Wera RA…). That way worst-case you lose the bit. It's just not worth my time to go through a warranty process for a 3€ item.

[@klatoo14]

I had the same thing happen except it was a MagicRing SAE set. They asked me to return it on my own dime...however the did ship a new one the next day after they accepted it

[@amd4life89]

I don't think there was anything wrong with the tool, that's a small size to be breaking screws loose with.

[@beengineering4653]

I've been on the hunt for exactly this reason. Ball ends are not for breaking fasteners loose, and if the wrench has a round shank, with only the tip to fit the fastener, you can't cut the bad end off and have it still work. I need full length 3/8"+1/2" drive, 8"long hex but no luck.

[@tarassu]

It really looks like the small broken hexagon tip is SIGNIFICANTLY smaller than screw hole hexagon.

[@robertrada4783]

I broke the ball end off of just about all of my fractional wiha 3K drivers. 😂 Those were instances where it was my bad. The one that surprised me most was when I ripped off the tip of one of their softfinish torx drivers.

[@user-ho7zh5yh3e]

Так вот бывает (( Но фирма держит своё слово и всё правильно сделала- вернула отвёртку по гарантии. Молодцы немцы.

[@eltedo804]

наверняка товарищ

[@jeepsaround]

Sharp edges are always more prone to cracking and failure.

[@adamaj74]

That's why I'm always yelling at you when you buy Wiha, their quality is going downhill. Always use Wera! :P

[@squarrl]

I warranted a wiha bit 3 years ago. never got anything back.

[@moeszyslack4676]

It said right on the warranty page that bits are not covered under the warranty.

[@squarrl]

@@moeszyslack4676 They asked for it back and they would send me a new one, threw a local dealer. Its for system 4 so it's not just a bit.

[@topmoviefightscene160]

everything is unbrokenable

[@ramenhausten]

Any big tool sets you would recommend for a starting mechatronics engineering focusing on rally cars?

[@Bence507]

Loosening with the ball end... you deform the screw head(smaller contact area) and break the tool.

[@OjStudios]

Thinking the same here. Ball end is really just for fastening and loosening faster. Final torque is usually best done with straight driver.

[@bricofast]

Wera bits and screwdrivers,is the best quality 💪💪💪

[@scrambler350]

I need to get some of those WERA Hex Plus keys.

[@user-jp5cv2gs3o]

Теперь можно сделать из сломаной - ШИЛО от Wiha !

[@wootexclusive8499]

Dam, I honestly thought u got free crap from all these companies. Are u married? My wife would kill my ass if I bought all these tools.

[@joeframer9642]

For all , Allen wrenches.. PB Swiss is the best

[@WaschyNumber1]

Maybe this video helps, on your broken screw driver problem. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXuml3iDp6idnsU

[@astrazenica7783]

Wiha overrated imho. Plenty of similar examples out there. Too many for such premium product. Wow that printing paper a blast from the past. Back in the day I had a printer for commodore Amiga that used that

[@miguelquazar883]

Made in China and/or Germany.

[@jerryperkins235]

use common sense and use a standard set of " L " hexes