Wera has come out with new 10-piece 1/2″ drive hex bit sockets.
These new bit sockets are color-coded, as are some of Wera’s new socket sets, and also feature a screw retention mechanism.
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The sets include a holding holder with “twist and lock” socket rails.
Screw retention looks to be accomplished by means of a ball detent. I don’t think I have seen ball detents on hex bit sockets before. It seems like I would favor this over some of the other retention mechanisms I’ve seen, but it likely adds to the cost.
Wera says that the Hex-Plus drive design allows for up to 20% more torque to be transferred to fasteners, and also helps to prevent rounding out of fastener heads.
Sizes: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 mm
The pricing is steep – ~$144 via Chads Toolbox, the only USA distributor I could find. Overseas, via Amazon UK, it’s around £77 including VAT, or around £64 excluding VAT plus £13 and change shipping. The “to my door” price is around £77 and change, or around $102 USD.
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Buy Now(via Amazon UK)
Model no.: 8740 C HF
SKU: 05004201001
If you’re interested in hex bit sockets, also check out these previous hex driver reviews and discussions:
Wera is also coming out with new Torx bit sockets. Sizes include T20, T25, T27, T30, T40, TX45, T50, T55, and T60.
Although Wera shows a secure fastener fit, it doesn’t look like there’s any active fastener retention mechanism as with the hex bit sockets.
But, like the hex bit sockets, the new Torx bit sockets are also color-coded.
The price for the 9-piece set is £75, or around £63 excluding tax and including shipping, for a “to my door” price of £76 and change, or ~$100 USD.
Buy Now(via Amazon UK)
Model no.: 8767 C HF
SKU: 05004202001
Lack
They are cheaper on Amazon.de.
Torx set comes up to about $90 shipped to the US (EUR 60 for the item + 17.5 for shipping).
Stuart
Thanks! I didn’t even check, I assumed that Amazon Europe sites would have similar pricing.
Even so, I’m more inclined to order from Amazon UK than Amazon DE, unless there were huge savings to incentivize me otherwise. My assumption is that it’s easier working with an English-based retailer than a German one in case of issues with an order.
fred
When I was in Germany – back in May – I bought a Wera 8100 43 piece socket set for my son-in-law. I went armed with USA prices, the EAN # for the set and some prices in Euro’s from Amazon.de. I did better at a warehouse-like place in ESSEN – was a bit nervous because they had no stock to show me and my German is limited. I was also unsure about a non-VAT purchase – shipping cost – import duty etc. – but it worked out that I saved about 25% and my son-in-law had the novelty of the set arriving from Germany.
Hilton
I have bought almost all my Wera, Knipex, Stabila and Bosch SDS bits & jigsaw blades from Amazon DE. This is since November 2015 and I’ve coughed up just over 1200 Euros before shipping and import duties. I’ve not had a problem with any of the orders and delivery time averaged about 10 or 11 business days.
Most of the German products are sometimes twice as much on Amazon UK and the irony is that they all ship from the same Surrey warehouse. Nothing has actually shipped from Germany.
Amazon DE has an English beta program and if you use Chrome it’s easy to ‘right click + translate’. The resulting translation for the reviews can be quite challenging to follow sometimes.
ca
They look good and I love Wera, but I’m wary of such an expensive and hard to find set of these bit sockets because I find myself breaking them quite often. Admittedly, the ones I break are rather cheap and perhaps these would hold up better.
Richard
I need a high quality 2.5mm and 3 mm hex bit for my work. The fasteners in question are stainless, so fit is important. Lower quality bits leave the screws with stripped heads.
Suggestions?
Hilton
Wera has lovely stainless hex drivers.
Chris
Also consider RC-focused tools for smaller hex stuff. The MIP hex drivers and bits are quite good:
https://www.amazon.com/MIP-9009-2-5mm-Thorp-Driver/dp/B0006NAO3Y
https://www.amazon.com/MIP-Speed-Tip-2-5mm/dp/B001BKT13K
Hepdog
Apex are the best I have found
http://apexbits.com/185-2-5MM-Apex-1-4-Socket-Head-Hex-Allen-Hex-Insert-Bits-Metric.aspx
fred
Wiha also makes some small metric bits in 4mm hex drive down to 0.71 mm, fractional bits down to 1/16 inch hex and a 0.05 inch hex bit.
I believe Wera has about the same selection – and they also make small sized Hex Plus Bits like this one
https://www.amazon.com/Wera-Tools-05135060001-Hex-Insert/dp/B00JFL34U8
Farid
Try these German made drivers. The fit is good and the price is excellent. BuddyRC offers excellent service.
http://www.buddyrc.com/3mm-magnetic-hex-screw-driver-bit.html
http://www.buddyrc.com/2-5mm-magnetic-hex-screw-driver-bit.html
Zack
Hex socket caps come in various depths. For shallower fastener caps, the retention ball would actually be a disadvantage. But maybe it’s not an issue — at this price, they’re probably not your only hex bit sockets.
Nathan
Can you pull the hex pieces out and use the bases as normal sockets? I mean that’s mostly what they are?
That would be a hell of a feature IMO. Mostly for the guy that’s working in the field.
Here’s your socket set, bit holders of size and strength (brake caliper bolts can be on hard and some use cap screws), and hey here’s a set of hex’s 1 inch length and 4 inch or something – and here’s a set of torx to go in them too.
total set pouch – easy peasy. That would be a nifty product.
Stuart
I doubt it. All of the hex sockets I’ve seen are either permanently fixed, or semi-permanently attached, requiring deliberate but not necessarily considerable effort to replace bits.
Nathan
Exactly it would be nice if they made some flavor of a shank retention in the socket – maybe just like that ball detent there – and leave it where you could put a pin in the side of the socket – release the hex shank – now you have a ____ socket in hand. trade shanks and have hex ____ or Torx _____ or 4 inch long hex ______ etc etc.
I would be willing to pay more for that sort of a kit – made with quality.
Fred
Several folks make sockets for holding bits:
Wera makes this one for 1/4 hex bits:
https://www.amazon.com/Wera-Female-Square-Quick-Release-Adaptor/dp/B003KN3FUG
Vim makes this one with a Universal joint:
https://www.amazon.com/VIM-Tools-UJH614-Bit-Holder/dp/B00CDD5TUS
Mickey O
Does anyone know where these are made (what country)?
Cade
Deutschland, ja?
Hilton
Most of their tools are made across the border in the Czech Republic. This doesn’t bother me one bit as their quality control is what counts. Same with stuff made in China.
EMILIO E GONZALEZ
Why do we not see any Torx T70 socket/bits from Wera, Wiha, etc…? I use t70 for some auto fasteners and there are only a few manufacturers making T70. Snap On has one, but very pricey.
I finally found a T70 1/2″ drive bit socket. Vintage Wright USA, for a good price.
Would love to see Wera make them.
Brian
How have you found the 6mm over time? A bunch of reviews on Amazon listed that specific size breaking at the detent ball.
I want to buy these, and I know Wera will warranty a 6mm if I break it, but a 6mm hex is also my second most commonly used socket.
The Wera Hex Plus shape is enough for me to buy these alone, if the 6mm can be reliable.