Tools: Almost as Bad as an Oil Thread

I am not — as I suppose, in present company, goes without saying — a wrench.  I love doing that sort of thing, and can (usually) without causing major damage and (ordinarily) with only a few leftover mystery parts, do several basic owner-level maintenance tasks in a near-competent manner.

Accordingly, I do not need nor have Stradivarius-class tools.

Most of my collection is Sears Craftsman, with a smattering of others, usually arising from “Oh, shix” moments in the middle of some metal surgery when I realized I had to make a run to Pep Boys, NAPA, AutoZone, Lowes, etc.  With one exception, these have all been quite fine enough.

And, I cannot say I was not warned about that exception.  From the outset, Georgia friend and Guzzi guru Wayne Orwig had recommended that I avoid Craftsman hex wrenches in any form.  He was (and I suppose remains) convinced that Craftsman has flawed dimensions in these.  I have come to believe that he must be right.  In low-torque applications, and when used with a modicum of “wrench art,” these seem to be OK.

But, when must lean into it, things go awry … and “awround."  Witness my late attempt to remove the large fastener holding my Norge’s left handlebar in place while trying to get my front forks out of the triple trees.  

Thus this post: what is, in your opinion based on experience, the producer of the highest quality, “true to spec” hex tools?  

As I am not looking to stock an entire shop, but only hex tools of the key-wrench and socket-drive sort, price — while never irrelevant! — is not a warstopper for me.  Neither, however, am I looking for high-end name brands, e.g., Snap-On, for vanity’s sake.  So, if I just need to go to Harbor Freight, fine with me!

Flame away … I’m in kevlar.  

Seriously, appreciate your counsel.

Bill

P.S.  Yes, I'll ask Wayne, Lord Orwig, too, but, as he does not post or lurk here, I'll do it off-line.  

Bondhus. 'Nuf said.

Beetle is on the money I have a collection of various brands as the gremlins at work borrow one here and there and never return them, so when the tool truck shows up yet another set is bought. Bondus and Snap-On look identical to me
Something I found that helps is I use a 3/8" drive Hex set , insert the hex bit into the fastener, give it a sharp rap with a Small hammer ( or several ) before using the ratchet to undo it. I find this helps Break the tension and lowers the torque required to get the fastener moving. Anything that has a nut on it, Use the Nut to release the tension, not the socket head cap screw.

Bond his are very good. Also worth considering for jobs like you are tackling Bill are 1/4 or 3/8 drive stubby sockets with a hex key. While 6mm tends to be driving an 8mm shank and therefore gets done up, (Steel into aluminium.) to 22ft/lbs which is a bit high for 1/4 drive a short 6mm key 3/8ths socket will make short work of such nonsense ashore bolts.

It is in applications such as this though that quality really is important. Some of the fasteners that Piaggio uses are of a quality that can only be described as mediocre at best. The classic example being the small dome head screws used to blamnk off the balance ports in the inlet manifolds in markets without the charcoal canister and .the identical one that closes the hole that you have to put a key in to lock the camchain tensioner on 8V's LH cylinders. These take a 4mm hex key and appear to be made of well cooked tapioca loosley formed into a threaded object! It is for these that I have some very dinky 1/4 drive Snap-On key sockets and as long as I'm careful I haven't rooted a screw yet!

The advantage of sockets too is that you can use an extension and 'T' bar to get greater and gradually increasing torque on scrap like the yoke bolts which may look pretty but are really fairly drac!

Pete

Yeah Bondhus we use at work - almost unbreakable - both imperial and metric. I try to avoid ball ends as it encourages "wannabes" to use them at the most inappropriate time and place. Another brand I find good is Roebuck, but I have had trouble finding a supplier over here of late.

beetle wrote:

Bondhus. 'Nuf said.

Bondhus appears to specialize in hex drivers. Looks like good stuff.

I've had Craftsman spanners, box-end wrenches and sockets, both fractional and metric, forever - never had sizing issues. I've broken a few sockets, always replaced free without question.

For pliers, it's Knipex for me. For cutters & crimpers, Kline.

Back in France, I used to swear by FACOM and I still have vise grips I bought when I was 16. lol
Now no longer made in France, I wouldn't give a shat about the brand.

And Bill, I've been in the US a bit over 25 years now and I can tell you that Craftsman can't make a rachet worth a damn, except maybe in the half inch size. So it's not the wrenches only...
Good thing you can return broken tools and get a new one or reconded no questions asked.

When I started my apprenticeship many yonks ago (OK 1972) I had to purchase a set selection of tools. I probably still have half of them and all are in good working order. Sadly, many tools bought since didn't quite make the grade and have passed to the metal recyclers in the sky.

Good stuff is harder to come by, and starts to attract high $. Sigh

1/4" ratchet and bits and screwdrivers = FELO, a small factory with low prices for professional quality.
3/8" and 1/2" ratchet and sockets = Hazet for heavyduty or Proxxon for semi professional use. Spanners from Gedore are good for professional use and not so expensive as the ones from Hazet.

Good tools are not cheap, but you buy them only once in a lifetime.

Sven

+1 for Gedore spanners.

40 years ago , when I started my time, Dad gave me a set of Geodore combination spanners. The 1 1/16" got broken when I lent it. Other than that the set is still intact and it has had a hard life.

There is a sub-brand from Gedore named Carolus. Nearly same quality for lower price. They are recommended for torquewrenches.

TBS-Aachen sells only professional and semiprofessional tools. Good for research. Ah, they also sell Stahlwille the third german brand for professional tools.

Sven

VERY much appreciate all of the advice.

Will do some shopping shortly.

But, can't just now. Kathi returns in about an hour after several days away, and I have about three hours of "hide the evidence" ahead of me. Yikes!

Bill

Asking forgiveness is easier than asking permission Bill. Just sayin'

If you are looking for Hex sticks for the home box or on the bike, grab a set of Titans. Just the right amount of flex to torque without busting threads.



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Hi Bill, I thought you might be interested in having a look at me tiny little tool (ratchet that is)
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Its a nice little ratchet and bit set made by German company Wera and seems pretty nice, especially for getting a turn on some of the hard to reach hex head bolts and fasteners on the GRiSO. I got a nice set of colour coded hex keys also, handy tools around bikes and seem to be good quality.

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Didn't realise it was that small that it didn't even come out in the photos

Guzzi Cat wrote:

Hi Bill, I thought you might be interested in having a look at me tiny little tool (ratchet that is)


****

First, apologies; just saw yours, Guzzi Cat.  And, thanks.

Second, ordered a set of Bondhus sockets with hex inserts/bits.  

I had read some criticism of that system -- e.g., [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] -- but sure like them for my purposes.  

In fact, as a brief example, the Bondhus 6mm removed the handlebar-riser fastener that my Craftsman had rounded out!  

You may note, however, in the second and third pix, a wee problem, since resolved by the distributor.    

Good thing I didn't have an immediate need or a 10mm.  FWIW, no one was especially apologetic about the error and, in fact, doubted my truthfulness until I sent these pix.  

None of that minor muttering, of course, affects my satisfaction with the tools.

Bill

P.S. Wish I had sprung for the black case for these, as such seems unavailable separately.


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Good choice Bill, despite incorrect tool supply issue. I find Bondhus stuff better sized than pretty much anything I've used. Mostly indestructible. I did manage to break a 3mm ball-head Allen key once though. I was however, using it in a manner it was not designed for.

Bill Hagan wrote:

 Second, ordered a set of Bondhus sockets with hex inserts/bits.  

Now you've got it Bill.  My youngest boy and I have found that you really need a 3/8" drive socket - hex with a decent breaker bar for the frozen bolts.  This along with liberal doses of "Po-man's red" penetrating oil has done the trick on many a frozen bolt on the '80 V50 we've been resurrecting.  

The ability to put some real "in" pressure on the bolt (to keep the allen from "jumping) along with not having to yank on the breaker makes all the difference in the world.

The red penetrating oil is 50/50 mix of ATF and Acetone.

Then you have "Ed's Red"  25/25/25/25  ATF/Acetone/Mineral Spirits/Kerosene for cleaning firearms

They're a red suspender thing ---- Mark

A good  3/8 and 1/4  socket set containing socket drive allen / hex drives will manage most regular stuff on a bike. I love this Hazet set that her indoors gave me for Christmas last year (after dropping lots of hints and going on line to order it for her) . Hazet stuff is a bit pricey but are excellent, especially for small size stuff. You will get much cheaper stuff that will do the job fine. But I convinced her that at my age I needed a good set.
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I like Hazet too, here's my simplified/compact version of Guzzi Cat's set

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That's neat Phang!

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I like that Hazet. I use one of these mini ratchet sets almost daily working on those wretched medical imaging devices. For my stuff at home I like Snap ON, but wayyy too expensive, so I buy them used off the interweb at 50 cents on the dollar or less. My buddy has a repair shop so if I do break one I just leave it with him and he gets it replaced.

sideshowbob wrote:

I use one of these mini ratchet sets almost daily working on those wretched medical imaging devices.

Snap! I work on those horrors too. Dare I ask whom you work for?