Some new Wera goodness!

[deepcreek]

I finally received my Wera order after the shipment got lost in transit.

Unfortunately I just learned that while Wera is a German company, their screwdrivers are made in the Czech Republic.

I'm not thrilled by this discovery.  I value German craftsmanship as much as their engineering.

I am seriously considering returning them and buying either Felo or Wiha instead.

Any thoughts?

 

[six-point socket II]

Hi!

Wera "always" had an entry line of screwdrivers made in Czech Republic - those were sold as rather cheap sets in typical "DIY-Markets". They were called "Kraftkant" - while "Kraftform" were higher end.

Somewhere in 2005, others list 2007 - complete production was shifted to Czech Republic.

But they are very good at "hiding" this in plain sight - many people don't know/notice and still think they get a "Made in Germany" product. Truth is, only their "self-service packaging" - those black boxes with soft touch finish - those are made in Germany. And the packaging only! (They even state this on the box: "Packaging made in Germany".

I have truly ambivalent feelings about this.

Wera actually makes great products and I trust their VDE tools. Personally I think their use of terms like "Designed in Germany" on displays, with German flag and all - is misleading and calculated/ done on purpose - the same goes for their "Tool Rebels" marketing approach - but who am I to judge? And I have said this before, they surely focus more on the financially stable DIY'er/ occasional user with their "Apple'esque" packaging and "self service" shelves in "DIY-Markets". But then again, there are enough Pros using their VDE tools, and rely on their really large selection of bits, speciality bits and bit holders ...

I will add that I wasn't very pleased when I found out that everything I had bought more recently came from/ was made in CZ, because for a long time I was sure, I was buying a product that was made only 30 miles from where I live. Then again, the quality is what you buy these for - and the quality is surely there - no matter of COO.

So while my personal purchases of Wera have certainly dropped sharply ever since, I still have and use plenty of their tools, bits, bit holder ... And I'm pleased with them, they are high quality.

In regard to your question:

If COO matters to you and you were under the impression of buying "Made in Germany" tools for the very reason that they are actually made in Germany - return them, they are not - none of Wera's portfolio is.

If you wanted reliable, high quality screwdrivers - you got them, keep them.

It's really all I can say.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Stephen B]

[member=61712]six-point socket II[/member]

They are not the only ones - Metabo, AEG etc., 'German Design' or 'German Engineering' but made in China. Even 'you know who' with elements of some batteries.

And Sysrock -http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/sysrock-made-is-china/

 

[six-point socket II]

I don't have any problems with that at all, honestly.  [smile]

Wera is a special case to me, because I felt somewhat "deceived" because for a long time I was sure when buying their higher end products I was buying a Product made in Germany.

Nothing in their old catalogs, or when buying single screwdrivers from the self-serice display, for example pointed to Czech Republic as COO. And if they had communicated that clearer, I wouldn't have taken any issue with it. And the fact that now, 10 or more years after the shift has been made, people still think they buy a Product made in Germany, shows that their communication on this aspect isn't as clear as it could be. (Should be, imho.)

But again, that is just my personal view/opinion and how I felt/feel.

This post, and my post from 04:36 AM is not to be seen as a/(my) general statement on the overall "COO issue" - because that would go much deeper (for me) and I have a very diverse/ many different views on that depending on what the product is and who the manufacturer behind it is and so on ...

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[HAXIT]

I don't have any problems with that at all, honestly.  [smile]

Wera is a special case to me, because I felt somewhat "deceived" because for a long time I was sure when buying their higher end products I was buying a Product made in Germany.

Nothing in their old catalogs, or when buying single screwdrivers from the self-serice display, for example pointed to Czech Republic as COO. And if they had communicated that clearer, I wouldn't have taken any issue with it. And the fact that now, 10 or more years after the shift has been made, people still think they buy a Product made in Germany, shows that their communication on this aspect isn't as clear as it could be. (Should be, imho.)

But again, that is just my personal view/opinion and how I felt/feel.

This post, and my post from 04:36 AM is not to be seen as a/(my) general statement on the overall "COO issue" - because that would go much deeper (for me) and I have a very diverse/ many different views on that depending on what the product is and who the manufacturer behind it is and so on ...

Kind regards,
Oliver

Hi Oliver
I highly value your writing here and my thinking and viewing is identical with you. So thanks and nice to have you here. [smile]
While back I was looking for a hand deburring tool and I came across the Gedore. I did buy it and I like the tool a lot. But my problem is, this item is sold almost everywhere under the Made in Germany but go to this link and look under the country of origin and you can see that there are three countries involved in this little had tool.

https://www.kctoolco.com/gedore-8730-deburrer/

 

[six-point socket II]

Hi,

Thank you very much!

The handle is made by Oplast ->http://www.oplast.si/index.php?id=8&tip=vsebina&vsebina=6&jezik=en

It's Gedore's 1/4" Multi Grip. As far as I know quite a couple of the Gedore handles are made there.

The bit holder is Gedore Germany, and the 1/4" deburring bit, if I had to guess (and it's nothing more than a guess) I'd say it's made by Noga of Israel ->http://www.noga.com/

So 3 COO because it's actually 3 single pieces

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Cheese]

...and the 1/4" deburring bit, if I had to guess (and it's nothing more than a guess) I'd say it's made by Noga of Israel ->http://www.noga.com/

Hey Oliver you're probably right, or the bit could also be made by Vargus/Shaviv which also has manufacturing in Israel.

 

[ben_r_]

These days its becoming not so much WHERE products are made, but how much time and effort the parent company is spending on sending their OWN people to that country of manufacture to monitor and keep up with quality control. If they are spending the money to do that, then it really doesnt matter whose factory the product comes from, just that its held to stringent quality standards.

 

[six-point socket II]

Rationally speaking, yes absolutely.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[deepcreek]

[member=61712]six-point socket II[/member] - I really appreciate your in depth explanation about Wera.

My issue is I feel deceived.  I bought three loose square drive screwdrivers that came with a retail "hanger".  That's where I noticed the "Made in Czech Rep." notation.  It's not on the tools themselves.  I had to look hard to find the COO on the back of the box of the 14 piece set.  Also made in Czech Republic.

I should have dug deeper.  I shouldn't have assumed.  It may not even matter.  I may be a tool snob.  But still, it pisses me off.

 

[six-point socket II]

No problem, gladly done!

If that's how you feel, send them back - and tell the dealer why. It will not change a thing at Wera, but maybe the dealer will put the COO in the product description.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[deepcreek]

I'm seriously considering the Wiha 20 piece soft grip set.  Item #30299.  These are made in Germany.

Does anybody on FOG have Wiha screwdrivers?

How do you like them?

 

[Cheese]

I'm seriously considering the Wiha 20 piece soft grip set.  Item #30299.  These are made in Germany.

Does anybody on FOG have Wiha screwdrivers?

How do you like them?

My full size screw drivers are all Snap-on, however I do own a set of Wiha miniature sized screw drivers because they are actually nicer than what Snap-on sells. Everyone is made in Germany and that declaration is printed on each handle. The miniature ones are very nice.
https://www.wihatools.com/tech-tools/precision-screwdrivers

 

[RKA]

I have a set of heavy duty Wiha drivers.  I like the textured finish on them, not really keen on the round body and the tips seem a little soft, but they do seem a little harder wearing than my Wera lasertips.  My favorite Wiha is the xeno driver or terminal driver (?) for electrical work.  The tip is a combination phillips and straight edge.  They engage every groove in a terminal screw and don't cam out like a phillips or straight edge might. 

 

[yetihunter]

Same here, coincidentally.  PB Swiss for most things, but I still sport Wiha's Heavy Duty Microfinish, the Xeno and the precision screwdrivers (the classic style). 
I prefer Wiha over Wera, but Wera has way better consistency, finish and quality control. 

About the COO thing.  I've got German and Czech Wera's of the same line and they're indistinguishable.  It's the same robots making them.

 

[yetihunter]

I'm seriously considering the Wiha 20 piece soft grip set.  Item #30299.  These are made in Germany.

Does anybody on FOG have Wiha screwdrivers?

How do you like them?

I'd say, go for it.  Be mindful that that set goes on sale every six months or so ($99 or something in the ballpark).  I have a gajillion soft finish (and "3k" range) screwdrivers.  They're not my preference, but I prefer them over 99% of what's out there.  If you have a Festool bit holding screwdriver, that's a Wiha softfinish bit holding screwdriver. 

The handle gives you more torque than average, and you can easily over torque and break the 6 and 8 torx tips.  Be warned.  All of my small ball end screwdrivers are dead too. :0

 

[deepcreek]

Thanks [member=19475]yetihunter[/member]

Now I'm looking into the PB Swiss line.

I wonder if their "unlimited guarantee" covers broken tips.

Any recommendations?

I really do appreciate it. 

My Dad always said buy the best tools you can afford and you'll only buy them once.

 

[RKA]

I believe it does, but I’ve only broken one bit in the last 7-8 years and that was because I was doing something they were not intended to do.  I had the bit installed on a 12v impact driver, which was fine until my approach angle veered too far off of the axis of the screw.  The tip chipped.  I didn't bother contacting them, it was my doing.  But 90% of the time I reach for their ratcheting driver and 1” bits.  They fit screw heads nicely and do what they are designed to do. 

 

[yetihunter]

Thanks [member=19475]yetihunter[/member]

Now I'm looking into the PB Swiss line.

I wonder if their "unlimited guarantee" covers broken tips.

Any recommendations?

I really do appreciate it. 

My Dad always said buy the best tools you can afford and you'll only buy them once.

Well, let me address the caveats: You may be underwhelmed.  They're still just screwdrivers. 
US distribution is kind of... eh...  I generally deal with Toollady (nice gals and quarterly 20-25% off sales), and then import from Werk10 as a backup.  The range is very limited.  The handles are very small.  You may not like that. (Wiha handles are much larger).

The hex keys are the bomb diggity. Both the general and the offset.  Long, of course.

But 10-20% better than Wiha at twice to three times the price. 
These Wiha's are nice:https://www.wihatools.com/on-sale/ergostar-ball-end-hex-l-key-inch-metric-22-piece-set
The "magic ring" version is wiggidy whack.
And I actually prefer Wiha t-handle hex to anything else... get ready for contradiction.... the ball ends I like only come in the magic ring flavor :0. https://www.wihatools.com/magicringr-ball-end-hex-metric-t-handles

I digress, back to PB Swiss.

Onto the screwdrivers:  Swissgrip.  The santoprene ones. 
You can get pretty rainbow sets, or plain red.  Whatever you prefer. 

Their phillips and pozi screwdrivers are the best in my opinion.  People rave about their slotted drivers, but I much prefer gunsmith and cabinetmaking style tips.  Coincidentally, their slotted bits are of that style. 

The torx range is good to.  Just very limited.

They make a heavy duty version of their slotted, pozi and phillips.  I do have those, too, because I'm cavalier with my finances.  Alas, they're only nice because of the heavier size and weight (still lighter than an average screwdriver).  And mostly because they're black.

Their insert and power bits are the absolute best.  All of them.  Particularly, the phillips, pozi, and hex/allen.
Best fit, best resistance to corrosion, best wear/lifespan.  For storing those bits, the red 10 slot bit strips they make are super perfect.
The actual cases that they make for those bit strips, however, are garbage.

The ratchet bit screwdriver (insider 3) is nice to have.  I like it.  I use it at least every other day.  However, I can see most people not being happy about the price compared to everything else out there. 

I don't like their t-handles. 

Their punches are super duper nice. 

 

[sigmatango]

I've joined the club of Wera worshippers.
It started by buying a mini driver set...
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Then I needed a reliable assortment of driver bits and sockets to compliment my T18...
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And on top of that, I was tired of relying on my crescent wrench...

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I am very impressed and chuffed.  And impressed...