Best Wrench (ALLEN KEY)? Wera Hex Plus, Bondhus, Wiha, PB Swiss, Craftsman, Kobalt, Husky, Eklind

[@ProjectFarm]

Here are the links to the Allen Keys tested: Wera Hex+: amzn.to/3nXenHM Wiha: amzn.to/32vHDgd Craftsman: amzn.to/3l94Ifq Bondhus: amzn.to/3nXAfCw Kobalt: amzn.to/3xppqMI Husky: amzn.to/3l93Lnm Eklind: amzn.to/3HPzgwe EPAuto: amzn.to/3lejBNn Facom: amzn.to/2ZrNJxb PB Swiss: amzn.to/3nXBth6 Gedore: amzn.to/3xpnGTG Tekton: amzn.to/3DY3jj6

[@SupremeShuckle]

“Easy to read markings for those with bionic vision” that was pretty funny right there haha. Love the understated humor. You gotta try sneaking more of that into your future videos. Merry Christmas 🎄

[@kevinstickler7878]

I love your videos they're all very informative and it's great watching them to help decide what to buy for a better tool if you ever do this again with Allen keys I'd like to see how the Titan brand holds up they sell them at Tacoma screw

[@gabrielv.4358]

@RR PLAN C He has to make that, or else today's people will trash him

[@euhm]

I would have liked to see Pedro's, Park Tool, Unior and Abbey Tools tested. These brands and kind of bolts are used a lot in the bicycle industry and (almost) no one uses the tested brands seen here... There is no need to test Birzman. Their tools are made of the softest metal available...

[@cjgreenwood]

@RR PLAN C "why have you taken a photo of one of the sets that you are testing and used that for the thumbnail?" They're colour coded for easy identification. They make a better image than a bunch of plain keys. What's your problem with LGBT anyway?

[@Colorado_Native]

"Bionic vision" for the Kobalt brand is rich. Thanks for brightening our snowy day here in PA. Nicely done.

[@TheAlbaniaGaming]

Yeah hahaha, I feel like that joke went unnoticed

[@snarkylive]

What? You don't have your ocular upgrade?

[@MX-127]

Hahaha I was gonna say that! At 2:08 if anyone didn't catch it

[@volvo09]

That was a good laugh! 😁

[@Crettybocker427]

yeah this weather is beat eastern pa

[@TheBlueRoseKnight]

"Easy-to-see size markings for those with Bionic Vision!" I completely lost it. Well played.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks!

[@CR4ZYxRY4N]

Had me laughing off my chair and I wear glasses

[@linksmith1057]

It was the fact that it was delivered in the exact same tone as the rest of the video for me. He said it, a slight pause, then I burst out laughing.

[@ryannrjohnson]

Hilarious 😂

[@ridermak4111]

“Chamfered edge helps guide tool into fastener”. Retired machinist here, and that chamfer prevents full depth engagement and makes them want to climb out of shallow hexholes. It may seem minuscule, but it makes a difference. Every new Allen key in my past 43 years of cussing at them has had the ends ground carefully flat, perpendicular and without heating them up. Thousands of them. If you are working on fasteners that go in and out regularly and are not common to buy, and maybe even shallow button heads, this will slow the frequency of special orders. A helpful hint: to reduce loud swearing when inserting hex into hexhole, hold the wrench at the bend (elbow?) with just thumb and index finger. It’ll drop right in. If it wants to roll sideways when loosening a stubborn one, hold the wrench at the bend with vise-grips to keep it vertical in the bolt.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@casemodder89]

thats some high quality advice ! knew the grounding flat thing before, but the 2-finger insert style 😏 is a really good approach.

[@dyer2cycle]

..Amen..I dislike chamfers on sockets for the same reasons..especially small sizes like 1/4" and 5/16"...chamfered fastener heads on HVAC screws plus chamfered sockets equal lots of slippage/strippage and lots of frustration and swearing...grinding the chamfer out of the socket will help, but can't do anything about the chamfered screw heads.. :(

[@davidnicholson6680]

Totally agree, this has been my experience as well.

[@GunnerAsch1]

I have several socket sets that Ive run on a surface grinder and squared off the ends removing the round edge and getting down into the flats. Ive had too many thin headed specialty bolt heads needing removal.

[@Jdawg5215]

I use my wera hex + metric set every day. The tools never wear and even the ball head is secure enough that you know you’re not going to be stripping bolts. One of the huge selling features of the set is the color coding. It makes similar sizes a breeze to differentiate and working with them that much more efficient.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for sharing.

[@Battle_Beard]

I’ve been “testing” Wera Hex Plus for something like 8 years now in my work as a machinist. Good stuff. My company has bought Wiha and Bondhus for work stations but I’ve kept the Wera in my tool box.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@Stacy_Smith]

@@ProjectFarm I know this is unrelated, but I have a question that I'm sure other average consumers have as well: WHAT IS THE BEST REASONABLY PRICED OIL? To be more specific: which is better, Pennzoil, Castrol, Royal Purple, or Amazon? The Oil Championship was actually inconclusive for the average consumer. A lot of us want to know what is the best reasonably priced oil. I've done my homework and out of the left side of the chart Royal Purple, Castrol, and Amazon are the only reasonably priced, readily available oils on the left side. Pennzoil wasn't pitted against any of them in this championship. Since you set this up in a sports format: Who is the TRUE CHAMPION when you factor in "handicap"? (See what I did there?)

[@joserobles4899]

@@ProjectFarm best shoe water repellent 👍

[@ChannelZeroOne]

@@Stacy_Smith A while ago he was focused on testing oil. Back then amazon and Walmart both performed fairly well. There were both produced by a better known oil brand but i cant recall. Somewhere in his videos are a series of these test. It was about a year or so back. Hope that helps.

[@Stacy_Smith]

@@ChannelZeroOne That's my "Plan B". I figured PF has probably got all the data on a sheet and asking him would be easier than watching all those videos, transcribing the data, then choosing the winner. After all that, the only person benefited would be ME. I feel like others could benefit from that information as well. I've watched ALL the oil videos. The thing to consider is that anyone watching an Oil Championship has a vested interest in taking care of their engines; chances are they aren't just watching for entertainment. Due to what I've learned from the the oil championship, I'm using Pennzoil Ultra Platinum because they performed so well against the right side of the chart; even beating out Mobil 1. A KZbin short comparing Pennzoil against the ones mentioned above would suffice.

[@TorqueTestChannel]

Button Head Cap Screws (BHCS) are the weaker, shallower hex, and lower grade of socket head cap screws and not made for structural fastening (for display plaques and such) unlike SHCS, and 304 stainless is the softer of the grades compared to standard alloy class 12.9. So I fear what we're seeing here is really a 10X test of weak stripping and failing button head screws except for the largest size that was able to keep up. Still, some showed damage and others didn't, which is still very relevant.

[@leiurus5533]

What's the bite difference? 53%

[@LVSS69]

Wish he would have used a socket head. It should go in deeper, and come in 12.9.

[@meshark03]

Also would be nice if he cut the hex keys to straight pieces the same length and used socket adapter with a set screw - instead of whatever you call what he did use.

[@TorqueTestChannel]

It's still a great test series no matter how you cut it, just could have been easily a bit better suited for tool abuse using traditional SHCS. Props to PF for bringing these to us at all every week

[@rondvivre3636]

THIS! I call those Button Head Cap Screws "Cheese Heads", Y'all know what I mean.

[@j_a_a]

I've been so happy with my Wera hex plus set, now I feel even more validated in spending the little extra money

[@ProjectFarm]

Great choice! They are made to last a LONG time!

[@MotoGoato]

Same here .. I have the HF version with screw / bolt retaining function and they are the best hex keys I own by far - plus they match the Tool Check Plus kit, set of Joker ratchet wrenches and Kraftform Kompakt Pistol RA driver in my collection too. Wera tools are good stuff 👍👍

[@T--fw6fq]

@@MotoGoato can confim im from Germany and buy almost exclusively Wera tools and none of them show and wear even after sometimes hours of use. I can only recommend them.

[@jbeutell]

Same. I had a stainless set in a service kit my company gave me. Bought the hex+ for myself. Not going to lie the colors also were a factor.

[@jbeutell]

Long time ago my dad taught me to push a small piece of paper into fastener so it does not fall off the tool. Some brands now include a retainer function. The Wera's I bought fit so well that they basically cut the paper when I try this trick.

[@stevebean1234]

Man, you are a HERO. I grew up in the woods/mountains so I know the value of good tools and now I’m a Mechanical Engineer with enough budget to get something to last me decades. I always end up in a rabbit hole spending hours researching things like gas cans and hex wrenches… half the time, your videos come up and save me hours of research and speculation. Have you considered setting up a Patreon, donations? Or is there a charity you support? If I can avoid getting hit by a bus, struck by lightning, or smote, the advice you’ve given me will pay dividends over the years and I’d be happy to repay :). Sincere thanks, regardless. I’ll be picking up some Wera tools.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks! At the beginning of each video there is a link to become a Patreon.

[@InsiderCarpentry]

Great job on this video. I have been purchasing Wiha sets and this puts my mind at ease knowing I'm using the tightest fitting sets.

[@pr0fet]

I was watching Adam Savage's shop videos and noticed he used Wiha for a quite a few tools as well.

[@steakandchips9046]

@Craig Dendy neither I would rather undo it 😉

[@kevinnemetchek7164]

@Craig Dendy Definitely the hex key, especially if it's a common size. Getting the drill is work lol

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks! Glad to hear!

[@JimFortune]

@Craig Dendy That depends on how hard it is to replace the bolt...

[@madnadn]

My favourite is wera hex plus, which I use a lot at my job every day for the last 7 years. Before wera, wiha was my choice. They both do very well but wera lasts the longest before any wear is visible. I have used facom as well for about one, two years and is better than average but bellow wiha and wera in my opinion. Next below facom, I’d say it’s bondhus and gearwrench. For the same brand you can buy more choices of materials which can make a big difference.

[@poeticsilence047]

Yeah, seems like America struggles to know how to make good quality hand tools. We got electric one downs though lol

[@reinermiteibidde1009]

What really makes the Weras great is the thickness of the smaller sizes. I've snapped countless 3mm (and smaller) right at the bend because the material is too thin. With the Weras you get a 4mm handle even for the 1,5mm key.

[@G-S-D]

I wonder if the American made Craftsman is better then the new Asian made ones you get now?

[@ashes2ashes863]

@@poeticsilence047 I dont think we make horrible ones. I think Wiha is at the top of their game though. I have have many Wiha tools but i have had a set of Bondhus hex tools forever. I also have an Xcelite set. They are driver driven so not apples to apples. Id bet the would have done well in this test.

[@poeticsilence047]

@@ashes2ashes863 Xcelite definitely does make great tools. I have that set, as well.

[@maxcactus7]

"Easy to see size markings for those with bionic vision." 🤣 I actually had to watch that twice to make sure I wasn't imagining things. Very nicely done, sir! Love your work.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks and you are welcome!

[@alanhillyard1639]

I use the Wera myself, the way they are made from a larger bar of round and then machined or formed down only at the ends makes them stiffer in use and much nicer for it imo. I first used these at Mercedes F1, so they must be good!

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@LogiForce86]

The competition also uses Wera, as Wera even makes (or has madep Red Bull Racing special editions of some of their toolsets. So yeah, they are good if more F1 teams desire to use them. Especially for the smaller wrenches, the strength is important, as I have seen allen wrench sets of other brands that had bend small size wrenches out of the box. I first had a set of Wiha wrenches for a long time, but I ended up with round ends after much usage. The Wera set is still like new.

[@wesley8599]

​@@johnnycab8986excessive force testing is more for the layman, who may not approach a fastener the same as someone who's wrenched 10 thousand bolts and can tell a bolt size by eye. Misuse happens and it's good to know what will take it.

[@kikixchannel]

@@wesley8599 None of them will, really.. Even the highest value is something that a human adult can achieve with some leverage (aka. something anyone would do by adding a pipe if the screw got stuck). All of them can critically fail within an adult humans range. Now, the value matters sometimes when there are sizable differences (for example, as it is between Wiha and the middle brands for the first and last test, or the middle brands and the worse brands), as higher value gives you a chance of the screw getting unstuck before the allen key goes dead. But ultimately, not even a rookie will have that problem in normal use. Screws don't just randomly get stuck (though they tend to require more force than was used to fasten them originally under certain conditions) and if they won't, none of these forces will get even close to being utilized. What I wish was show was a 'normal' use of screwing and unscrewing a number of times with a fixed strength that corresponds to what an adult human can do without leverage if they 'put some strength' into it. Poorer quality allen keys bend and twist or get rounded even at this use very quickly. Some other would round down the screw instead. A lot of them have really bad fit so that latter problem would be common, I assume. But while fit was tested, the rest was not unfortunately.

[@calebkemplay6040]

​@@johnnycab8986The colored sleve is nice for quick size ID if you are using a few different similar sizes but thats about all its useful for. I keep a set of cheap Pittsburgh in my bag for those times I need to slip a wrench over them. I am a WERA snob so I had to get a set, never had one of their tools break, even when improperly used😂

[@44beebe]

I think in addition to testing the fit you should measure them with a caliper to see how close they are to the correct size. There could be variation in the hex bolt heads giving some a tighter or looser fit. Some of the more poorly made brands could in fact fit tighter due to being oversized slightly in production or due to the hex bolts not being consistently sized.

[@Nevir202]

An interesting point, though I'd be pretty shocked if there's more variance in the bolts than the tools.

[@danhard8440]

@@Nevir202 well measure one tells you the other

[@Nevir202]

@@danhard8440 Not really, you have to measure every key and every hole to know if there's variance between one, the other, or both.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the constructive feedback.

[@BrandonDrew87]

@@ProjectFarm thank you for replying!

[@blackbird_actual]

I used Bondhus when I used to work as a maintenance technician in an aluminum plant. The HF or other cheap Chinese allen keys would always break or round off the socket cap screws or set screws(which were often times rusted up due to the plant roof being full of holes and leaky + some of the production process involving a water quench). Yes, with enough time you could spray some PB blaster or something on it to let it loosen up, but we often didn't HAVE time for that("Make it run and cut downtime at all costs" mentality) - the Bondhus allen keys NEVER failed me during the time I used them, often having to endure what many would consider tool abuse. I had the silver/gold colored sets that were easier to see if you dropped them on a floor covered in hydraulic oil, dirt, etc. Whatever set you get, the ball-ends really help in certain situations - wouldn't buy a set without them.

[@GunnerAsch1]

I repair all types of machine tools in machine shops and Bondhus is found in all of my tool bags and boxes. For light duty work.. the HF work well enough and I keep a few sets of them in my service truck. Cheap as hell when they go on sale, I give them away to employees who need an allen wrench set.. with the warning at they are not bad.. but not great. Id run Elland.. and tney rounded or snapped early in their life span. As the tests show.. Craftsman are not half bad at all and I have a pair set in my work bench at home.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for sharing.

[@2bfrank657]

I too have a set of Bondhus allen keys that I've given plenty of abuse to and never managed to hurt in their 20 year life. The amount of deflection they can handle before just springing back to straight is quite impressive!

[@Paladin1873]

@@GunnerAsch1 Bondhus are my go-to Allen wrenches when the job is tough. I have a Popular Mechanics set that offers the best fit. I have no idea who made them, but they remain my favorite, though the Bondhus appear to be tougher.

[@weee1049]

i too use bondhus at my job and they are great, they are what i buy. I always seem to end up with a few oddballs that i lose keys or break one, but if one is missing from my bondhus i order a replacement immediately.

[@jakeb8856]

I stumbled in the Wiha Allen keys many years ago, and most of my coworkers have switched to the Wiha hex sets since using mine. You just confirmed my suspicion: they fit the hardware better and hold up better under daily use. Also, that wrench holder that swings them out is awesome. If you use hex keys every day, the Wiha are worth it just for the tool holder.

[@Gfoke]

I was surprised he didn't mention the swing out holder. It is a game changer for sure. I have a craftsman set and the wihas in my tool box. I never go for the craftsman unless it is one of those bizarre sizes like a 5.5 or a 7mm, just because the craftsman has those sizes.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@somebodypeculiar]

I can't help but wonder how much variability in size there was in the bolts the wrenches were fit into. High variability would impact the test severely.

[@splitframe]

All the wrenches were so loose I almost question if he might have used a metric bold with imperial wrenches. Where I am at, everything is metric and even the cheaper wrenches have absolutely no wobble whatsoever when I insert them into the bolt. Though I got to admit I only use small wrenches I never have to use 8 and up.

[@jack_2000]

@@splitframe I agree, some of these wrenches should've been rock solid in the bolt head

[@RK-kn1ud]

I'd argue that the testing method is valid. Usually when you're pushing an Allen key to it's limits, the fastener is usually in poor condition anyway.

[@somebodypeculiar]

@@RK-kn1ud It seem possible that if the fastener is in bad condition, having a perfect fit is MORE important.

[@synnovevikstrom9841]

Sample size of one makes it difficult. I've a set of Eklind SAE wrenches and I don't recall them being as delicate as this set.

[@philip_rahul]

I've got both the Wera and the Facom. I must add the plastic sleeve on the Wera is much nicer to hold in the cold than bare metal hex wrenches. However the plastic sleeve can cause access issues inside long thin bores.

[@adrianbadea1179]

Use gloves 🙂

[@paradox963]

I love the wera's and I did find it odd that his did not fit tight, I have never used SAE wera wrenches but all the metric stuff fits really tight.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@brianworley7705]

@@paradox963 A part of the fitment is actually what class the fastener itself was made to meet. Some fastener classes result in a better fit. And there are tolerances for fasteners so not checking the fit in a single undamaged fastener for an equal comparison may not tell quite the whole story here.

[@mickenoss]

Ye, I pulled off the plastic on some of mine. I must say though my Wera's definately fit better than this test. They always fit tight - no play at all mostly.

[@tyrereviews]

I love this man

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks! Thanks for watching!

[@ricecowboy]

Hmmm. He didn’t say ‘I love you’ back. Awkward…. 😆

[@cynot71]

@@ricecowboy He's married?

[@adamfpv8294]

I appreciate you both helping me find the best tires and tools!

[@rfehr613]

I have bondhus Allen wrenches, and they are outstanding. They grip perfectly and never slip. I'm shocked to see they just scored middle of the pack here. They're the best allen wrenches I've ever used.

[@freedomliberty7611]

But as you can see middle of the road.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thank you!

[@rfehr613]

@@freedomliberty7611 per this assessment alone...

[@danand6907]

I have bondhus also but i have the ones that are colored like the pbswiss ones and they are really good

[@DavidD-qr2vn]

Bondhus makes 2 types, normal (which is tested here) and Hex+ which is what you normally get from McMaster in most industrial plants. The Hex+ Bondhus are much superior wrenches to the normal ones. I've used them for years in a plant and they hold up well. Also use Wiha and everything they make is very, very good.

[@TheHarrie93]

Impressed by Craftsman again. They're turning out to be quite a good price/performance brand. Wiha and Wera show again that Germans know how to make tools that last a lifetime!

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@Zamorakboomz]

One thing I can say is the larger ones are ok. At my job we use a lot of 1.5, 2 and 3mm. They break easily at those sizes especially 1.5 and 2. The bondhous and wera have been the best.

[@lovejesus-JT]

@@Zamorakboomz - I have wiha but at small size it’s just ok , I want to try stahlwille or gedore or wera - that what I want to know how good at small size ! Thanks

[@Zamorakboomz]

@@lovejesus-JT I like by bondhaus but small sizes will twist under a good strain. U can only make a little piece of metal so strong.

[@Scrubworks]

@@lovejesus-JT I have some Stahlwille 3/8 drive allen key sockets. They're superb.

[@greggweinstock2236]

I as well as the wood working community would love to see you do a comparison of the 5" round orbital sanders. I personally thank you for the time and effort you put into these videos. They are tremendous and really help us out. Thank you again! Gregg

[@jamiesmith1207]

Bosch always comes out either on top or near the top for those 5” random orbit sander shootouts. Read many many reviews before I bought mine. FYI

[@1pcfred]

Learn how to use a card scraper.

[@jayschafer1760]

@@1pcfred There's a surprisingly long learning curve to that, especially getting the edge of the scraper just right. Much harder to learn than just reading a few instructions.

[@jayschafer1760]

@@jamiesmith1207 I probably have a few hundred hours on my Bosch RO, and for the $50 it cost me 3 or 4 years ago it has been a good tool for the money. I'd definitely suggest hooking a dust extractor up to it, however (or, lacking that, a shop vac), and either using it outside or in a shop with a good air filter, along with a good P95 dust mask (I like the GVS Elipse), but that goes for all powered sanders.

[@CrookedSkew]

@@jamiesmith1207 I'm surprised to hear that. Many claim that Mirka and Festool are the top two.

[@electronicsNmore]

Fantastic as always! I can't believe the PB Swiss set cost that much. The performance and high price are mismatched. LOL Thanks for the video!

[@ProjectFarm]

Thank you!

[@justinogle150]

the place where i work exclusively buys the pb swiss sets

[@MrGtbehr07]

The metric sets are about $50. I guess they charge that much for sae because who cares. I have the metric set and they are near indestructible, but if it was my money i would buy the wiha.

[@ArthA122]

I'm swiss and we use exclusively PB Swiss at work. Our metric sets cost between 50-60 USD. I can't find the standard one he used in this video on our supplier website. The color code adds a tremendous value to it.

[@jaredjohnson8553]

I've been thinking about this, and I think the best product is the PB Swiss. It seems to have deformed the least and also corroded the least. I can't see any way that in my use cases I'd ever actually come close to applying the torque he applied to get to failure. But with so little deformation and such great corrosion resistance I know that it should last forever. So it's probably the best to me. Now best *value*? In that case, perhaps a different answer....

[@nickdibart]

I have a set of the Wera and the Wiha wrenches and I'm more than happy with the performance of them both but I ended up getting the Wiha to replace the Wera for 2 reasons. The plastic sleeves on the Wera wrenches will eventually get damaged and if you work with solvents or oils, the marking will wear away. There are no marking in the metal itself. The real deal breaker for me is the fact that the set skips a few sizes and at least one of them is a size I use regularly at work so I had to get a more comprehensive set.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@nickdibart]

@@nathanwaight The bigger issue for me is that the Wera set is only a 9 piece and doesn't include sizes I use on a regular basis.

[@bobthompson4319]

@@ProjectFarm you should link each thing you test to Amazon so you get a commission from Amazon. Or maybe other websites as well if you looked into it.

[@bobthompson4319]

@@ProjectFarm huge 👏👏👏👏👏 on 2 million subscribers. Woo

[@jammin2070]

@@bobthompson4319 he does

[@Human17891]

I've used a lot of the brands tested in this video. The Wiha is my choice. They perform very well and the holder (which wasn't talked about in this video) makes selecting the proper wrench a breeze.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for sharing.

[@Iffrat]

I train of a group of engineers around the world and almost all of us use the wera hex plus exclusively. We don’t use the tool to failure so the main feature is that it holds up over time. We can get 1-2 years of heavy professional use out of the hex tools before replacing. Amazing quality.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for sharing!

[@JohnSmith-ty2he]

That's because you guys are overpaid and can afford overpriced crap. For the average Job we can just replace a set of Craftsman tools every 3-4 years and be fine.

[@madjimms]

@@JohnSmith-ty2he Engineers overpaid? You know what they do right?

[@Iffrat]

@@JohnSmith-ty2he You seem like a pleasant person. Its more to do with the fact that I use my tools all day every day and when a tool starts to wear down it has a higher chance to round out a fastener. Spending 1-2 or more hours extracting a screw because of a tool is FAR more expensive than just buying good tools. I have jobs that cause me to fly from the United State to places like the Middle East and Africa almost weekly so the total job cost is $15,000-$20,000... saving $24 on a tool is just bad math. The average home gamer or simple professional that has access to replacement parts or tools can save some money if you want to but its not like we are talking about hundreds of dollars here.

[@Kosahdus]

Bondhus has been good at work 20 years. But those Germans price is just 2 high.

[@byronwatkins2565]

An obvious question is "How well-dimensioned was the hex socket used for the test?" If it is over-size, then the keys that fit well might not even enter a more accurate screw/bolt...

[@SecretSauceyjuice]

Yeah, I was thinking about this. I've found with high precision fasteners the PBSWISS actually fit really well at all sizes. However, the Bondhus in the tiny sizes seem to be slightly too large so it doesn't want to go into the hole and instead wants to round out. It seems to be worse on the coated versions so the coating may be part of the issue.

[@Cenedd]

I see where you're going with that....but at the end of the day, you're going to be using these on real-life fasteners so testing them on a couple of random brands of fastener seems quite a fair test. The closer you get to a perfect theoretical fit, the larger the chance it won't fit some fasteners at all....so really it's a test of how well they're chosen their compromise between theory and real-world.

[@robinlambregts]

More accurate bolts? Bolts and tools have tolerances. Never in my carreer came across inaccurate bolts.

[@byronwatkins2565]

@@robinlambregts Define "tolerance." Define "accurate." Accuracy and precision in science and metrology are tendencies toward the correct average and smaller tolerances, respectively.

[@robinlambregts]

What has metrology to do with bolts anyway? 😂

[@jonmopar7917]

“Easy to see size markings for those with bionic vision” hahaha. His dry humour gets me every time. Great video as always!

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks!

[@Scrubworks]

Good to see you testing more European stuff, as that's what I tend to encounter more in the UK. Stahlwille and Elora are another pair of German brands I'd love to see tested if possible.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks!

[@nickshepherd1935]

I'm always so happy when I see a tool I use in the final shot. I've not had a single failure on my Wera Allen keys, a fair few of their screwdriver bits have died on me though but that's usually abuse related.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for sharing.

[@siggyincr7447]

These tests are much appreciated. But I think this one could have been done better. 1. Testing using Stainless button head screws was probably a poor choice as button heads are generally not very strong (shallow hex) and stainless is also generally pretty weak when compared to grade 8 or 12.9 grade carbon steel. The hex in the bolt was failing, not the wrench. Grade 8 socket cap screws would have been a better test. 2. Using the fit in the screw just illustrated how inconsistent the screw heads were. Measuring with a pair of good calipers would have been a better test for size accuracy. I used to work in stamping plant as a tool and die maker. Allen wrenches were probably my most used tool along with the pipe I used with them. Bondhus were my go to brand as they were fairly cheap and never rounded off. I only needed to replace them when they snapped. Junk Allen wrenches will deform. Good ones are hard enough to hold up till they snap right off.

[@tubastuff]

That was my thought on (1)--my experience with stainless tells me that it's much easier to deform than high-carbon steel.

[@mediocreman2]

Yes, Bondhus is the better choice over Craftsman. And made in the USA instead.

[@bcr1973.]

agree, the button head was a poor choice..

[@hymesinc]

His test rings home to me. Mechanic in a cannery where everything is stainless, hard to get to, and more often than not a bit corroded.

[@pattheitguy]

But would that matter if all tools tested against the same? The rankings shouldn't theoretically change if the test rig is the same, no?

[@brennansnitkey8530]

You should test ratcheting wrenches. You could test the durability by spinning them in the opposite direction for 10 minutes or so and see which one has the most play. You could also see which one could get the most force before it breaks.

[@DanKoning777]

Great idea!

[@jameshaulenbeek5931]

I think he's done this already... maybe 2ish years ago? I'll have to look back through the videos.

[@anperson9440]

Same with torque wrenches, wera prices are nuts but is it worth it?

[@jameshaulenbeek5931]

I was mistaken - I might be thinking of one of AvE's videos, as I know he did test different ratcheting wrenches. It wasn't a very comprehensive test though. One thing to note, he did find that most could far exceed the maximum torque of the fastener size they were made for.

[@brennansnitkey8530]

@@jameshaulenbeek5931 so did the fastener break before the wrench?

[@darkhorse4034]

Absolute legend and on top of your game, keep up the good work- truly a pleasure to watch

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks so much, will do!

[@100vg]

"Easy to see side markings for those with bionic vision." 🤣🤣🤣 Good one! It's amazing that a $15 Craftsman and Kobalt performs so much better than the $140 PB Swiss, except for subjective damage. What do these expensive tool makers think they have? Thanks for the video and Thank you for everything you do for us!

[@ProjectFarm]

You are welcome!

[@carstenhilbert5472]

I laughted at that too.

[@jasoncook5307]

If you use tools every day you want the ones that last without twisting, breaking, deforming and come easy to read or identify a size at a glance. The length of the tool is also a factor, I own several sets just for different lengths, ball tips and would never expect a shallow button head made of soft metal to have a chamfered Allen used in let alone the chamfered edges where it contacts the fastener under load, its the wrong tool for maximum torque and that fastener is a low torque spec type that would have lock tite applied if in a critical location. I would choose the pb or whia and never need another set or require replacement, the majority off these sets are too short for use in the bare hand to apply much force and lack the ball tip or easily seen size markings the higher end versions have.

[@ThoRSuisse]

Hello, in switzerland the pb-tools set costs around $ 60 and the tools come with a lifetime warranty. in switzerland we use this brand a lot

[@maxegloff3001]

@@ThoRSuisse yep... also you cant really compare these because screws have huge differences... not all of them are equal so it really is unfair...

[@davidsteinhour5562]

I've been using a Wiha "glasses size" screwdriver set for about 10 years now on my micro RC cars/planes. Ball-end hex bits are holding up well for the most part. Excellent performance on the other tools, including prying 18650 spot welds apart with the small flat-tip screwdrivers (don't do that!).

[@dougrobinson8602]

Wiha makes the best micro screwdrivers for hex and Torx that I have ever used, and it's not even close. Maybe someone makes something better for NASA or jewelers, but I haven't found it.

[@SDsailor7]

@@dougrobinson8602 Can you buy those micro screwdrivers from amazon?

[@ashes2ashes863]

@@SDsailor7 yes sir, mine came from there.

[@seymoarsalvage]

Wiha ftw

[@tkreitler]

About 30 years ago I worked in a camera store. We had a regular customer who owned a company which sold supplies to horologists (clock repairmen). He came in one day with a broken camera which I fixed using a cheap hobby screwdriver set from Radio Shack. He came back a couple days later and gave me a Wiha precision screwdriver set. I still use that set except for the smallest tips which twisted due to abuse on my part. I've never used their hex wrenches but would expect them to be very good.

[@mitchellblu3]

As someone who had to work with machines that used hex bolts for everything the pittsburgh brand will let you down almost every time if the bolts are on there even remotely tight. I went out of my way to buy a bondhus set and never had an issue since. Although My set was slightly different as they were silver and gold for the 2 different measurements. The fitment was excellent especially for those pesky 1.5mm bolts that had Loctite on them. Allen keys are definitely a tool I recommend spending a bit more money on and those craftsman seem like a good recommendation for the price. My bondhus set was about 28$ if I remember correctly.

[@Boom10ful]

Love my Bondhus set! They haven't stripped a fastener or broken yet.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@MyRetroJourney]

I have been using Wera tools almost exclusively for years and am absolutely satisfied. They aren't cheap, but they are very durable and I have never been disappointed.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@Inlinetodie]

Easily top 3 channels on KZbin Project Farm deserves awards

[@ProjectFarm]

Thank you very much!

[@WayneRandall]

Finally a set of hex wrenches for me! I'm getting the Kobalts. I never feel like I get to use my bionic vision to it's full potential. You made my day!

[@majbach1968]

I enjoyed that rare humorous jab too. Took a sec to realize he wasn't serious as he is almost always 'just the facts'. The fact that he rarely cracks a joke is what makes it so funny too.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks! Great to hear!

[@martinjooste2726]

Having to paint my cars engine block. I was wondering whats the best heat resistant paint. Not having good results with Rustoleum high heat ultra. Might be a good product test in the future.

[@ProjectFarm]

Great video idea! Thank you

[@darthtripedacus1]

Been there. Had my paint flake off.

[@nateh.1295]

Having just purchased some wiha's, I'm happy to watch this. I've owned several of their bit sets and they have all been stellar quality!

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for sharing.

[@boomersuperbike3787]

I'm a motorcycle technician, working on very high end race bikes, some wellover $100k. Some fasteners are very hard to get to , and you get one shot to remove them right and don't want to strip one. I've been using a set of Bondhus for over 25 years and they've never let me down. I've used cheaper ones doing bench work and eventually threw them away when they rounded out a fastener. There is a big difference

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@mediocreman2]

The Bondhus are a great bang for the buck and made in the USA.

[@thecommonsenseconservative5576]

100k and crappy fasteners...yep sounds as legit as your name

[@thecommonsenseconservative5576]

Post some videos of these bikes

[@danbearheart2634]

Hey thanks I'm starting out motorcycle mechanic same situation I have cheap ones right now and I hate them

[@markhermann209]

Great content as always. As many others have posted, would like to see this repeated with a better fastener and perhaps a measurement of the hex-keys. I have older Bondus and Craftsman sets that often destroy the fastener long before the tool. When I cam out, it's not the tool's fault.

[@Brotastec]

yes

[@tubastuff]

Same here--old Craftsman stuff seems to be much better than the average imported stuff. I also have a big container of random sizes and brands of loose hex wrenches. There were a bunch (I can't determine the brand) that used a very different grade of steel (somewhat "redder" looking alloy). They've held up very well; I wish I know who made them.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks! Thanks for the constructive feedback.

[@quantumleap359]

We've always bought Bondhus, and have had good results. They look like a pretty good value, not the best but middle of the pack in quality. As usual, your tests are fair, quick and no fluff! Thanks so much.

[@ProjectFarm]

You are welcome!

[@mediocreman2]

They're made in the USA too! I use mine all the time especially in situations where I might lose or damage them.

[@leonguyot4991]

You are my Saviour, for many years I have had only cheapish tools, and thrown a lot of worn out stuff away, now in my later years I find I have more money available, but don't wish to waste it. so your reviews have served a dual purpose of pre-testing tools for me, and helping me to buy good stuff. Harbour freight products have their place, usually in our vehicles in case of breakdown, and if stolen then I won't lose sleep over losing my good tools. Thank You so much.

[@ProjectFarm]

You are welcome!

[@planespeaking]

I think the tolerances of the bolts is skewing the results, getting high tolerance bolts, would be better. Also measure face to face accuracy with a micrometer and hardness with a hardness guage.

[@kboxvegas5393]

Could just perform the test three times and take an average with the current bolts.

[@santiagoeltoma5122]

maybe the bolt has bad tolerances and not the tools? because it is a common problem

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the constructive feedback.

[@planespeaking]

@@santiagoeltoma5122 There's a reason that a plane's nuts and bolts are expensive.

[@planespeaking]

@TheCheesePlease Okay, Fromage

[@MAGAMAN]

I have had a set of Bondhus wrenches for about 12 years and they have been great and they are made in the U.S.A. I would highly recommend them. On a side note, I don't care too much about the corrosion test because I take care of my tools. 😁

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@cbnto]

Another fine Todd Torture Test! The Craftsmen seemed to perform very well overall and at a great price point. Here in Canada, I bought the Princess Auto brand. They're relatively cheap, colour coded, ball end, small magnet insert and lifetime warranty.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks! Thanks for sharing.

[@HypocriticYT]

Princess junk, all Chinese made. Have a torx set and the largest one broke. A long power bar from Princess the half inch stud shattered. Id rather have tools I don’t have to return and my knuckles don’t fly into a steel part when a tool fails. Also prices are being raised a lot lately, they jack prices to see if they will still sell. Many tools at Princess are way overpriced.

[@victorfiori105]

The big benefit of the Wera I’ve found is they grip better then other brands. There’s these cap screws on my lathe that all my hex keys slowly destroy when removing them due to the amount of force needed. I ended up rounding one and decided to give the Wera keys a try. They worked perfectly getting it out.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thank you for sharing!

[@Patriot513]

Confirms my experiences with Bondhus and Wiha. I have several sets of the Bondhus Allen wrenches and they performe better than average and good.for the price. But when it came to torx wrenches I opted for Wiha and I've been quite happy.

[@Patriot513]

Also great job, love your channel

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for sharing.

[@dermax_hd]

I can absolutely reccomend the Wera Hex Keys! Theyre quite a bit more pricey but last forever! also the color coordination is such a game changer. It takes some time to get used to but then you instantly know which color to pick for which size of bolt!

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@SeaCowsBeatLobsters]

A great feature, although the coating makes it harder to get them out of the organizer

[@cynot71]

@@SeaCowsBeatLobsters I'm with you, Bro! Don't forget that it costs more too!

[@dermax_hd]

@@SeaCowsBeatLobsters oh true yeah. the organiser is great if you wanna carry a full set with you but for home usage, I just drilled some holes in my bench to have a super nice holder. Altho you could also just put them in a box and with the colors it will still be pretty easy to find each one

[@Lohengrin1966]

"for those with bionic vision" was a big laughter, thanks for this one and a happy first Sunday in Advent from Germany 😂

[@ProjectFarm]

You are welcome!

[@LongFlowAdventures]

All of your videos are awesome! Scientific, reproducible results, all done in a practical way. I’ve learned something from every one of them. Hats off to you man!

[@ProjectFarm]

Thank you!

[@Grayson203]

Allen key test is a good idea, always having mine strip out on me.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thank you and hope you enjoy the video!

[@homesteadengineer]

You can clean up the rounded end on a belt sander....just don't overheat the steel.

[@TheAndre8900]

Because it's a century old design, the straight sides on the bolts are not made for torque and grip. Not even the best allen key in the world can prevent that.

[@AKJeeper]

I think the hex/allen type fastener is my least favorite of all the different types out there. What a crap design, it doesn't take much to strip one out even if you have a tight fitting tool like the Wiha.

[@jayschafer1760]

@@AKJeeper I'm a fan of the Torx and Square/Robertson designs, myself. There's a good reason that those are what you most commonly see on high end deck screws sold in the US, as the fittings used for deck screws have to withstand a lot of torque.

[@ronskopitz2360]

I’ve had my Bondhus sets for about 30 years and they are still going strong. I think a great fit is more important for fastener longevity than some of the stress testing - even the Pittsburgh pulled 100 ft-lbs, and seriously, when are you going to put that much force on an Allen key?? Great job, as always!!!!

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks!

[@Samosayummyyay]

@Jesus is LORD You should repent!

[@Chrazzari]

They're a solid brand, lots of people at work use them. The main reason I don't myself is the lack of colour coding, for me I find otherwise they're a really good set and well priced too. I just find the colours make it really easy to switch between them. Could always tape them or colour them myself if I got keen I guess.

[@seanp1129]

Surprised by the PB Swiss set you received. I’ve been using them for ages and they fit tighter than any Allen sets I have. My 1.5mm which I use daily hasn’t worn at all in over 3 years which previously I went through several a year from wiha.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@SeriousSchitt]

Listen Dude, thanks very much for posting, I really like your videos, they're very thorough. I'm Bondus and Wera myself.

[@ProjectFarm]

You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.

[@AshleyGlenn]

I keep a Wera set on hand for when I need to tweak an angle on my prosthetic leg; it had been well worth the investment for me. I ruined too many Kobalt and Stanley hex keys in between adjustment visits, haven't broken a single Wera.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for sharing.

[@rebel4466]

In case our American friends ever wondered: yes, the German brands are pretty much the same kind of expensive here. But especially for professionals they're a good choice. If you treat them well, they'll last for decades. If you're just using the tools once in a while, maybe go for a more mid range option.

[@curtisweller4138]

Where is “here”?

[@eyesonlyvideo]

@@curtisweller4138 I would guess in Germany.

[@9249-x8d]

No, they are not. The Gedore set is 10€/8 USD here in Germany.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thank you!

[@wadewells808]

"Easier to see for those with bionic vision!" Hilarious!

[@ProjectFarm]

lol. Thank you!!

[@xxxblanco]

even if its not a video im particularly interested in, i give it a thumbs up just cause this guy makes the best videos....straight to the point no BS

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks so much!

[@Neil_Roberts]

It would be cool to see a comparison of fastener drive designs: straight blade, Allen, internal and external hex, Torx, Robertson, and others. That tests the tool, the fastener, and the drive design. The differences in drive designs are the most interesting to me.

[@actionjksn]

I don't see any of those beating the Torx. I use them with large screws and an impact driver and beat the crap out of them, I've never seen any of those others perform as well under hard use. I notice they are using Torx a lot in the automotive industry now as well. Plus none of the other designs have nearly as much surface area for gripping. Regardless of which design you use the most important thing is that the fitment is as close to perfect as possible.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the suggestion.

[@jaydunbar7538]

@@actionjksn Robertson is a solid choice as well

[@jayschafer1760]

@@jaydunbar7538 Yup, Torx or Square/Robertson all the way. There's a reason that those are what expensive deck screws have, as those screws have to go through very hard wood.

[@actionjksn]

@@jaydunbar7538 they work well most of the time, except if the bit slips even once, you can not push hard and get it to bite. It will no longer grip after one little slip in the hole. Like if you fail to have it pushed in all the way and apply torque to it. I've had it happen and learned my lesson to make sure it is seated really well.

[@SteelSurgeon]

In my experience as a machinist of more than a decade, fastener quality has just as much to do with how good allen wrenches are as anything else. Those button head screws you used also have a shallower hex pocket than a regular socket head cap screw and are therefore easier to round off/cam out of. I use allen wrenches daily and have used many brands. Of them all, Ive found Bondhus is best bang for your buck. You can spend more money but you dont gain much as far as performance is concerned. Wera is good but they are brittle. Wiha as well. Broke many of them where as Bondhus wrenches will flex a little when you start pushing the limits which gives you the opportunity to stop before snapping the wrench. The cheaper brands like Craftsman, Eklind and Allen are very soft and they round off and twist easily. Bondhus is a good balance between being tough but not brittle at a price not much higher than the cheaper brands. Like I said, been using allen wrenches daily as a machinist for more than 10 years and Im only on my second set of Bondhus allen wrenches and thats just because I gave my first set away to a high school kid working part time in our shop that needed a set. Have also owned Wera and Wiha which are good, but the trivial amount of gained performance over Bondhus allen wrenches is not worth the price paid. You know, diminishing returns and what not.

[@operator8014]

I think that's the point though, as long as all the wrenches are competing on even ground, then the depth of the fastener will affect them all nearly equally.

[@NviForce]

Definitely agree. Been using Bondhus for the last 5 years and the quality is brilliant. The holder is also superior to other options in my opinion.

[@davelewis2174]

In the shop i've seen them all Bondhus is the standard period, The set i use everyday is about 20 years old now .

[@jsmith5443]

What do you guys think of Klein's folding ones?

[@matthewknowles2607]

Totally agree I’ve had a small Bondhus fold out set for 15yrs and despite owning other more expensive sets, it’s the Bondhus that I go to first. It’s ‘just right’ for so many applications.

[@Real28]

Having watched so many of these, I'm noticing a trend. If you want tools that will last for probably your whole life and work the best, Wera and/or Wiha are your choice. Consistently top performers.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@_BLANK_BLANK]

Wiha is definitely a great brand. If I get the chance I will buy them. I wish i could get them locally. Usually if I'm just in the hardware store, and I really need something I'll go with craftsman. I got one of the sets of precision screw driver bits kobalt sells, and the bits were terrible. So I ended up buying a craftsman set at the same store. I'm still using them.

[@timhartherz5652]

Good Tools ain't coming cheap, but they pay for themselves.

[@GunnerAsch1]

@@timhartherz5652 I cant buy the high end expensive ones. If I set them down and walk to the restroom.. by the time I get back.. they have been stolen.

[@timhartherz5652]

@@GunnerAsch1 seems like a toxic work environment.

[@nicholashicks3973]

I hadn't thought about testing these. Can't wait to see the results

[@travispratt6327]

Same here, yet I’ve broken/stripped more Allen keys than probably any other type of bit

[@ProjectFarm]

Thank you and hope you enjoy the video!

[@handlewithcare3]

Using PB Swiss and Wiha hex keys in metric at work and Wera metric at home. This just confirmed that I‘ve got quite good sets both at work and at home. Something that just bothered me a bit: metric fasteners seem to have less wobble and side to side movement compared to the ones you used. Maybe you should repeat one of the tests with a high quality 10.9 or 12.9 metric fastener! I‘m suggesting to test hammer wrenches next. I only use Stahlwille, Gedore and Walther at work. Could be interesting to see the American competition! Keep up the good work!

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks, will do! Thanks for the suggestions.

[@hugobloemers4425]

I have used Allen wrenches a lot over the years. In my field (semiconductor manufacturing equipment) rounding a hex screw is one of those things that will ruin your day. Bondhus is what you find the most in fabs but I prefer Wiha for the fit.

[@dragonamp2]

I work in medical device mfg, and I find the Wiha to be the perfect balance between strong and not going to ruin your bolt.

[@enricoforster5309]

We use PB Swiss in our Fab and I‘ve to agree with this test: durability is good, but the fit could be better

[@AKJeeper]

@@enricoforster5309 I use PB Swiss in my shop. I've always been pleased with durability, but wish the fit was more like the Wiha.

[@joshuahulce5630]

i work in microwave signal analasys, all hex tools are bondus. the tools will twist and deform long before they break. the only size that i have fitment issues with is the 0.050" wrenches.

[@davenhla]

In the 1990's Eklind was everywhere. When the economy went bad in the early 2000's, Eklind made their tools different, now they are butter soft junk. Every proffesional I know bought one set of Eklinds, threw them out in disgust two or three months later and bought Bondhus. The old ones had the picture of a Gorilla on them. I have had mine, used daily, for over a decade and they look like new.

[@shawnpierschbacher416]

Can't believe you didn't test Allen wrenches. But you did a great job. I like your videos a lot. Thank you for doing them.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks and you are welcome!

[@Techno0908]

I’ve got to say I’ve been very impressed with the Wera hex+, when I was going through a set of ‘medium level’ Allen keys every couple months as a machinist and I’m getting about 2 years out of a set of Wera’s that’s a big difference.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@AlainHubert]

I've been an industrial mechanic for 23 years now and I've always been a Bondhus man. Thanks for sharing this interesting test! However, I would have liked to see which one would break under heavy load when used normally (held by the long part of the key).

[@ProjectFarm]

Thank you!

[@F0XD1E]

"easy to see size markings for those with bionic vision" 😂 nailed it

[@ProjectFarm]

lol Thanks!

[@nicholaslacovara2381]

“Easy to see size markings for those with bionic vision” and that is yet another reason this is the best channel on KZbin!

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks!

[@DVeck89]

I’m surprised at Bondhus. I’ve had a couple of their folding sets for close to 20 years and they are still in perfect shape. They have the best grip with little to no wear after years of use. I always reach for them first. So satisfying using a quality tool like them.

[@samsonslmpson1986]

He's testing torque with a button head screw. Button head screw slots are about 50 thou more shallow than a socket head cap screw. He needs to re-test with proper screws imo.

[@garybezner6774]

@@samsonslmpson1986 Yes this is the first project farm test that I feel was faulty.

[@timkooper]

The best

[@REEPER_ONE]

I have a theory that the bolts werent all the same, or that there was enough margin of error to unintentionally skew the results. I believe that the loosest fitting key should have been placed in many different bolts to see which one was tightest fitting and then the other wrenches should have been placed in that bolt to see how they fit and only the bolts that the loosest key fit best into should have been used for the test. however, I was not there and cannot see how tight the manufacturing tolerances are for the hex key bolts. Btw love your videos, always enjoy seeing your content.

[@ForumCat]

I agree. I was very surprised that a micrometer was not used to test the "fit". This would have been so much more fair than a bolt of unknown tolerance.

[@JohnSmith-ty2he]

@@ForumCat Frankly I don't think testing the "fit" is useful information at all. For the vast majority of people there is so much variance in bolts that it's just not worth it.

[@REEPER_ONE]

​@@JohnSmith-ty2he I do understand that part, was mostly making a point that one bolt with potential clearance issues would skew a lot of the results since there wasnt multiple tests per brand. If one brand got a bad screw and one got a good screw then the results would be heavily skewed and the small differences of 10 Lb/In would be different if the fits were the same across the board. A real world test would test the keys against many different bolts and average out the numbers. I get that it isnt always possible but I was just bringing up the potential flaws.

[@Tilt_TM]

@action jackson The less variables you have, the better. Bolt head variance is one such variable.

[@txm100]

@action jackson No. Your comment makes only sense if for every key 10 or more bolts were used to get some average.

[@mk.o]

As always, fantastic video! One I’d love to see is a rotary tool showdown (ie. Dremel tools). I recently purchased one and have been quite underwhelmed.

[@victortitov1740]

for fine work, i can't recommend nail drills enough (but make sure to upgrade the power supply, otherwise most are simply too weak).

[@mk.o]

@@victortitov1740 great to know thank you!!

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.

[@19ZOLTAN18]

I have wera hex plus. Since owning it, I’ve never rounded a single bolt or drain plug. I use them on diffs. Absolutely amazing tool

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for sharing.

[@Pilgrimman007]

I appreciate your consideration of people with bionic vision!

[@ProjectFarm]

lol. Thank you!!

[@j3jymann]

I'd love to see you do a comparison on lawn sprinklers. The kind that just attach to a hose

[@ProjectFarm]

Thank you for the video idea!

[@MrSopuli3]

Just out of curiosity, were the bolt just hardware store bolt or some standard approved? (like sae or ISO) i think there might be some slop with cheap screws in my experience

[@MihaSun]

The best, real and honest tests on KZbin are yours

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks!

[@PeterBaumgart1a]

Nicely done! I'm wondering though, how much was this a test of the bolt heads (tolerances in size and hardness etc.) too, compared to testing the wrenches? Wanting to say: Did the bolts potentially vary from test to test?

[@gretchenmorfea5988]

Nice comparison! Love the unbiased point of view! Would have loved to see the new park tool hex wrenches tested

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for the video idea.

[@rodneyjohnson4794]

a fellow cyclist! welcome!

[@JustFrana]

Parktool tools have garbage tolerance tbh , uf they were tested against Unior , abbey ect they would get killed. The only parktool i like is their big ass steel chainbreaker

[@awesomesauce3938]

I wonder in the first test if the manufacturing tolerances of the bolts themselves could have had an effect on the results. Like I wonder if some were slightly larger while others smaller. I cant imagine that there is an easy way to test that, but it came across my mind. I thought it was interesting Keep up the great work. Hope the cattle are doing well!

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks, will do! The cattle are doing well!

[@casemodder89]

i thought the same thing. and i found the 304 SS screws to be a bit more sloppy in the drive then precision 10.9 tensile 'mild steel' screws you'd use on flywheels and stuff. i use the wera hex plus set. it never let me down and grips extremly good. even better on grubscrews where the head can't expand in the thread and is forced to rotate.

[@skav2407]

I love your content. Normally I watch it on my Roku TV but I came here on my phone to say you're doing an awesome job.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks so much!

[@edwrench4796]

Great video! I have often wondered which hex keys are tougher. Stainless fasteners aren't as tough as grade 8. The test results may have been nearly as much about the fastener giving up as the hex key.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thank you!

[@bellluna9017]

Watching this, I wonder if the manufacturers are already considering fitment as a compromise to tool slippage. If the tool fits loosely it is allowed to slip, avoiding a tool failure. Seems the better fitting tools were at a higher risk of breaking.

[@iPownYouN00B]

You re gooing too be stripping the screwhead way better to break the tool thn the screw

[@HepauDK]

The looser the fit, the higher the risk of damaging the screwhead. I think it is more likely that it is a compromize to make sure that the key will fit any screw head. The tighter the fit is, the higher the risk is, that you will encounter screws that the key won't fit into, as not all screws are produced to the same high standards.

[@robertkovacic4623]

@@HepauDK As for the tolerances when the wrench matches the screw, you are right, but you are wrong when it comes to damage to the screw head. Take a look at the Wera Hex Plus approach ... it's basically the outside-inside geometry of newer socket wrenches, which have a round contact surface inside so that they don't transmit force exactly at the sensitive Corner, but on the less sensitive flat surface.

[@bellluna9017]

@@HepauDK I agree. Along my original thought, there could be a combination of compromises. Poor quality tool material, loose fitting. Would a manufacturer build the tool to be loose fitting so the tool is less likely to deform as easy? High quality material, loose fitting. Would this be best for fitting more screw manufacturer tolerances? Would this be unattractive to tool manufacturers since the user more than likely be rounding off screw heads of less quality material? In that case why not use, possibly cheaper, material for the tool and save some money. High quality material, tight fitting. Seems to be best case, if you know your tool is of high quality, make them tight fitting since there is less chance of your tool deforming. Tight fitting and the screw deforms, your less likely to blame the tool. If the tool breaks, and the screw did not deform, that screw more than likley wasn't going to come out anyways. Or they possibly don't consider these options at all 🤔

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@TimHenrion]

Hey Todd, nice review. Glad I just invested in the Wiha set. :-) One other interesting bit of data related to "fit" of the individual brands would be comparing the measurements of the key size against the ASME B18.3-1998 spec to see if they are in tolerance. For a 5/32 key I believe it should be 0.1547 - 0.1562 across the flats and 0.1745 - 0.1774 across the corners.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.

[@justingreen4450]

I paid $7 for a metric set of Pittsburg with ball end. They got the job done for very little money, and that's a good thing. Thanks for another great video.

[@ProjectFarm]

You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.

[@Aoxhw]

I think it would be pretty cool to see a comparison of the different digital torque adapters out there Your videos are always incredible and invaluable, it's not often you find people willing to go to such lengths to get trustworthy results, let alone show the whole process too.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks! Thanks for the video idea.

[@barryoliver]

I would like to see this test done with "T" handle wrenches and hardened socket head bolts. Maybe you could grind out a socket like those hook installers and use a drill press to keep things straight and normalize the downward pressure.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the suggestion.

[@lovejesus-JT]

@@ProjectFarm - yes would like if you can do the test on T handle HEX , most time my job used T handle Hex - I have wiha , at small size it’s not really good, now I want to purchase different brands from Germany stahlwille ,gedore hazet or wera , but still don’t know which one should I buy ? Thanks

[@schonkat1982]

YEs, I would watch that

[@MarcoGonzalez-ph2pw]

@@schonkat1982 i wouldn’t

[@patherman6309]

You may want to check Super T Handle with Metric Allen Set, compact with a unique spinning feature

[@psoon04286]

In my 30+years as an aviation mechanic I’ve never come across a hex head fastener that been a problem fastening or unfastening. Accessibility is more often the issue as the bit has to be fully inserted and the L shape of the tool can make it inconvenient so, that’s when the ‘ball’ tip will save the day as it allows engagement and driving at an offset angle. Knowing that hex tools come in both metric and fractional sizes and that their differences are quite subtle and not obvious is important as a mismatch can ruin the fastener. Fortunately, as far as my experience goes, in the aviation line manufacturers tend to stick with fractional sizes. Manufacturing tolerance is most appreciated for a problem free job

[@gatoraudio1]

Hopefully in aviation though, there is less of the problem of gorillas assembling things to 500+ ftlb on a 5/16 fastener. Working in automotive repair on diesel engines, there is a much higher incidence of air tools or massively excessive torque loads from previous chimpanzees. For this reason I personally dislike fasteners that are unrated hardware - ESPECIALLY if they are socket cap! Give me grade 8 or 12.9 please!

[@psoon04286]

@@gatoraudio1 point taken. Most of the hex fasteners that I encounter are

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for sharing.

[@cheek1m0nkey]

This looks the same as the comment above from "dark". Here's my response: That's a completely different environment than home shops or people who like to restore old 'arn'. Think rusted, poorly maintained equipment with rounded off sockets.

[@adamfpv8294]

@@cheek1m0nkey seems to me “dark” stole part of his comment

[@brentjacobs7083]

Bought my dad a tire kit for Christmas based on your videos. Keep it up. Great stuff.

[@ProjectFarm]

That is awesome! Thanks, will do!

[@GeekRedux]

I might be misremembering, but it seems like Craftsman has shown itself to be a pretty decent performer for the price in the last few tests. Maybe SBD really is serious about bringing some respectability back to the brand's name.

[@ExtremeSquared]

Respect doesn't work symmetrically. It was lost almost overnight when Craftsman went to Harbor Freight quality. It'll take them years to gain it back, even if they have changed strategies.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@ErikEkedahl]

It was interesting seeing the difference between the new Craftsman and Old (USA) Craftsman adjustable wrenches, new stuff was middle of the pack for performance, old was top of the line.

[@davenhla]

Eklind was top notch.... in the 1990's. Something changed during the economy down turn with them in the early 2000's and IMO they are junk now. If you have an old set you can tell the difference in the steel just by feel using them(I have a set of Metric from 1998) I have since gone to Bondhus. One thing about the Bondhus brand, they make plated versions of the wrenches. You can get gold plated, chromed, and a few others. I can't verify as I haven't owned a plain set, but I suspect the wrench design for fitment was made with the thickness of plating in mind. I bought gold plated(I don't think it is actually gold, maybe I dunno) so people couldn't borrow my set at work without outting themselves and the fit is perfect. Craftsman used to be rebranded Eklind, but I don't know who makes their stuff now and i don;t care, their service for their warranty from Sears lost them a customer for life. Overall, real world use, good fit is important, and the softer metal brands don;t last, the corners round after while with use even when not under stress.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thank you!

[@gus473]

👍🏼Am familiar with a company that provided some electroplating services for them, and they are a great operation. Top notch plating! 😎✌🏼

[@henry06x]

I was pretty disappointed seeing them perform so poorly. I’ve been using eklind since like 2006 when I was in school for auto tech. Now maintenance in a factory I/we still use a lot of them but also have bondhus. Might have to switch although the eklind holder colors are so engrained in my head when reaching for them lol.

[@dovesr0478]

Hey Todd, would you be willing to test humidifiers? There are several different kinds: Evaporative (sometimes called a swamp cooler), ultrasonic, and vaporizer (basically a water boiler). I'd be interested to know which kind performs best in terms of humidity added to the air, how large the effective area of each is, and also which uses the least amount of power. Thanks, and great video as always!

[@seano51]

Good suggestion

[@chrisx1138]

Meanwhile, Technology Connection did a really good video doing comparisons. You should check it out.

[@dovesr0478]

@@chrisx1138 I've seen it, but I still want to see Todd test many different models.

[@chrisx1138]

@@dovesr0478 completely understand. Very different type of exploration into the products. This and TC are some of my favorite channels.

[@ProjectFarm]

You are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.

[@بدرالهلالي-ن6ف]

Hi, you are the best person to compare industrial equipment with a purely scientific method,thankyou. Your follower from JORDAN.

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks so much!

[@nickcook7408]

Please can you test the Wera Joker range of spanners? They are an automatic, self sizing, adjustable spanner. I have a 19-24mm and use it every day at work as an auto mechanic

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks for the suggestion.

[@josephpadula2283]

The only one US made was the Bondus and it was reasonably priced and in the middle of the pack or better on all tests. For most people this would be the best choice if you are interested in supporting US production. If you need the expensive European models for specialized or production level use That is fine. But most will be satisfied with the Bondus and my cousin keeps his job!

[@madjimms]

Europeans need jobs also ..

[@haviiithelegogunner907]

Since when does the USA settle on mediocre products?

[@andrewscott8892]

@@haviiithelegogunner907 agreed, we should be always trying to make the best product out there. American exceptionalism is suppose to mean something

[@TheUkfan69]

Eklind is made in the USA as well.

[@ernestgalvan9037]

… “middle of the pack”?? Your ‘cousin’ needs to up his game 😎

[@chickenwings9117]

Thanks for all your hard work! You come up with inventive, objective and real world (and a few torture type) tests to give us out here a very entertaining and objective analysis. I REALLY appreciate it!

[@ProjectFarm]

Thanks and you are welcome!

[@clayp6415]

It is great to finally see real tool comparisons via directly handling and using each brand. You would think this information would be easily accessible in our digital age. But no, all you get are biased opinions with no proof, or sponsored "reviews" shilling a certain brand. About time someone called out marketing BS claims and physically tested each tool brand. Thank you for the great information provided on this channel.

[@ProjectFarm]

You are welcome!