Wera Zyklop

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

I'm pretty new to Festool, but I've been overspending on tools due to an upcoming move to Hawaii (Thanks to the Navy) and fear of not being able to continue my tool addiction due to exorbitant shipping costs.

Other than a good start on the Green Kool Aid, I've also been upgrading my hand tools from Craftsman to mostly German made stuff.

Here are a few of the highlights I think ya'll would like if you haven't seen them already:

Felo ergonomic screwdrivers.  A little pricey, but they're rock solid on screws, no issues with cam out, and the darned things are just comfortable.

Wera Zyklop socket wrenches.  Man am I loving these things; I'd give a lengthier review, but youtube can probably sum it up better than I can:

Wera Zyklop Ratchet

The only 'downside' is that they don't come in a systainer.  The quality and thought that's gone into these things is over the top, the handles are much easier on the hands than my Craftsman, they're super fast to use thanks to the rotating head design, easy to lock the extensions/sockets, and the sets are laid out in a very small footprint with just about everything useful crammed into a tiny space, (pretty handy for someone who has to move everything they own every 3 years).

Lastly, some pliers from NWS and Knipex.  I don't have anything to compare with the NWS pliers/needle nose/cutters.  I can't find any faults with the maching and finish, and the handles are comfortable, easy to grip without hurting my hands, and easy to clean.  The Knipex plier wrenches are just cool, (I think even the likes of Snap-On has contracted Knipex to make some of their pliers).

Not sure if this is at all helpful to ya'll, but I figured Festoolians wouldn't mind being pointed to a few top end tools, (at least in my opinion).

Dave

 

[semenza]

Well ya know , Dave... it is easy enought to put them in a Systainer  [smile]

Those Felo Ergonic handles look cool  [cool]

Seth

 

[sw1211]

Chadstoolbox is a great site for many brands of German hand tools

 

[Mac]

Hi Dave,

I've just recently got hold of the Zyklop socket set and also love it...you might enjoy flicking through this thread:

http://festoolownersgroup.com/other-tools-accessories/wera-zyklop/

Cheers,
Rick

 

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

Steve; that' the same place I've been ordering mine from; can't be the price and they'll match it if you can find better.

Mac; probably should've done a search before posting, thanks for that.

 

[Mac]

Steve; that' the same place I've been ordering mine from; can't be the price and they'll match it if you can find better.

Mac; probably should've done a search before posting, thanks for that.

No worries Dave. I haven't come across those Felo screwdrivers before; better than wera?

 

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

The felo's fit my hands better than wera; they have a little bit more 'give' in the handles but not too much.  Sorry for the generalities; basically they feel pretty firm when you're not exerting much pressure on them, but when you're really bearing down you can feel them conforming to your hand. 

I debated between the wera stainless lasertips and the felos for some time, but I read one too many reviews about the lasertips wearing out.  That being said, you'd have to pry the zyklops out of my cold dead hand, and I still love the kompakt for field work, (carrying one pouch around for just about everything is pretty handy).

 

[MarkusS]

I prefer PB Swiss over any other screwdrivers.

 

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

Markus,

I've never tried the PB Swiss.  How do they compare to the Wera and Felo?

 

[MarkusS]

Great!

The tips are very durable and fit outstanding in the various screw heads.

I especially like the color coded grips, I've my screwdrivers in upright position in a systainer, I can find any screwdriver easily with the different colors

The grips fit very well in my hands, much better than Wera - and the PB Swiss tips last much longer than the Wera tips.

Some years ago I switched almost complete from insulated Wera to insulated PB Swiss, I only kept the Wera 900 Kraftform http://wera.de/catalog_de.html?L=0&file=/de/schraubendreher_kraftform_plus__serie_900.html and a set of insulated Wera Kraftform Kompakt VDE http://wera.de/catalog_de.html?L=0&file=/de/schraubendreher_kraftform_kompakt_vde.html in my notebook bag.

 

[Mac]

The felo's fit my hands better than wera; they have a little bit more 'give' in the handles but not too much.  Sorry for the generalities; basically they feel pretty firm when you're not exerting much pressure on them, but when you're really bearing down you can feel them conforming to your hand. 

I debated between the wera stainless lasertips and the felos for some time, but I read one too many reviews about the lasertips wearing out.  That being said, you'd have to pry the zyklops out of my cold dead hand, and I still love the kompakt for field work, (carrying one pouch around for just about everything is pretty handy).

I've been debating which kompakt to buy Dave, just for general use (I'm a hobbyist so don't need anything fancy)...which version have you got? I'm wondering whether the ratcheting version is worth getting? Any feedback would be great.

 

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

Appreciate that tip; I think we're of the same opinion that the Wera Kraftform isn't the most comfortable grip.  Maybe it fits the 'average' hand well, but the bulges hit my meat hooks in the wrong places.

Looks like other reviews look pretty favorably on the PB Swiss as well, particularly how good the bits are.  I may have to try out a few to compare w/ the felo ergos and and see how their Insider compares to the Kompakt.  

 

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

I went w/ the 21 and the 62.  The 21 is great for just throwing in the pocket since you can store the bits inside the handle, (it has pretty common sizes of slotted, philips and torx).   The 62 has the longer bits in case the screws are recessed and it also has a pretty wide variety just in case I'm trying to take apart the odd fastener.  

If you check out chadstoolbox.com, at the top they have a link to the wera catalog pdf, I think it it lists all of the varieties on page 154 thereabouts.

I'm waiting for the day when there is 1 standard for fasteners vice the philips, slotted, torx, torx plus, security torx, hex, spanner, tri-wing, M-plus, (am I missing any?)

Dave

Edit:  Haven't tried the ratcheting version, so any advice I could give on the topic would be out of ignorance...here it goes anyways!
While it makes sense for a wrench to ratchet, usually because of clearance for the wrench, I just can't wrap my hand around a ratcheting screwdriver.  There's not a clearance issue, and you accomplish the same thing, (with the same range of motion) just by loosening your grip.

 

[MarkusS]

I've the largest VDE Kompakt set with 18 pieces - although there are some tools in I've never needed http://de.rs-online.com/web/p/schraubendreher-saetze/6115855/ - it contains the non-ratcheting handle.

I've the Zyklop Kompakt as well in my EDC http://www.amazon.de/Wera-05051045001-Kraftform-Kompakt-Zyklop/dp/B0046ZU1PO - in case I need something ratcheting I can use this.

As a EDC, I've a Maxpedition MBP XXL http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/MPB-XXL-13p1389.htm the tools are stored in the large side pocket. It holds my MacBook pro, lot of cables, some papers and whatever I may need during the day.