Wiha 9 Piece Ball End Hex L-Key set (Metric): amzn.to/3AFZ38z Wiha 9 Piece Ball End Hex L-Key set (Imperial): amzn.to/3PHPs5x $25 Bondhus Hext T-handle set (balldriver, Metric): amzn.to/2WGH1y3 $30 Bondhus Hext T-handle set (balldriver, Imperial): amzn.to/2KZKguR $30 Bondhus Hext T-handle set (Metric): amzn.to/2KXbrq6 $25 Bondhus Hext T-handle set (Imperial): amzn.to/3dioI8K Disclaimer: Tested may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links here.
I recommend the Wera Kraftform Kompakt Zyklop Mini 2 27 Piece set the micro 1/4” ratchet in it is more useful than you would ever expect it to be, also it has Hex-Plus Allen bits which are a joy to use and can put more torque into an allen head screw than anything else. Edit: Apologies if I spelt the product’s name wrong its not the easiest to spell correctly.
Colour coding you hand tools is a great idea. If you are starting as a field engineer here is another top tip. Put a bit of tape on each tool you carry in your case/bag. As you use it take the tape off. After 3 months any tool still with its tape on doesn't need to be hauled around in your kit. Leave it back in your vehicle for that odd occasion you may need it but get rid of that dead weight as you are not using it enough.
Hearing Adam say that "It is a universal rule that these wrench holders will always be missing one wrench!" This was the most comforting thing I've heard this week!!:)
I'm impressed by the fact that they shifted the spectrum between the sets, so that similar size tools between SAE and metric sets are clearly in a different color range. Makes it easier to differentiate between them.
Just put coloured PVC tape bands on all my Allen keys ( I certainly don't need any more) - but I used the resistor color code. Single glance tells you the size. Will be also using on reamers, taps, etc.
Beat me to it! Love that the smallest sizes are very different between the sets.. I've tossed piles of the smalls when they've accumulated in the bottom of my tool box... too hard to tell what they are and too high of a likelihood that you'll damage something (and extracting those tiny screws can be a real bitch!)
Yep. :) My wife (who owns her own core drilling rig) has all her tools painted neon pink... for the VERY sensible reason that you will NEVER be more frustrated than when you are looking for a dropped chrome tool (which automatically reflects its surroundings and thereby blends in) in a field full of tall grass! (Inspired by her example, my own outdoor tools are now largely dayglo red.)
@@andrewhill9568 No it wasn't, it was a well written visual description to make a good point. Never thought about chrome being a good camouflage in that way. The only superfluous words were the three you added...
The trick to finding stuff is (ideally not at midday) quickly flashing a light back and forth and looking for a reflection. Our brains are really good at picking out flashes of light--maybe akin to eyes of a predator in the dark? It's a good option if you forgot to paint them a bright colors at least.
I'd like to see an Adam Savage curated essentials toolbox. Like if "Uncle Adam" was to give a kitted-out tool box to a young person who was moving out for the first time, and he wanted to give a well-rounded buy-it-for-life tool kit, what would be in it?
@@tested These days, it's very difficult for people who are moving into a new place, or starting making to begin assembling a proper toolbox - there are so many poor quality or not fit-for-purpose tools out there, especially when you're starting with nothing, so you're looking at tools at entry level prices. I remember when I moved into my first place I asked my parents for a toolbox for christmas, with a set of tools for just DIY around the house... I don't think any of the tools that came with the box were still in my house ten years later. When you're an enthusiast, and you spend all your time working with these things, you learn what tools you like, and build up a collection over time, and it's easy to lose sight of how daunting it can be to get into making in the first place... you want good quality stuff, but have no reference points, and a single bad experience can be so disheartening. I think there's a lot of potential in a solid "basic" or "starter" toolbox where you can trust the contents to cover basic tasks and stand the test of time. --- The other problem I have is that my house is very small. These days, space is expensive and houses cost a fortune, so it's hard to afford a large space to store a lot of stuff (Especially here in the UK). I store all my tools in a canvas box at the bottom of an ikea Kallax, and it's positively awful, there's no way to sort through it, so every time I need to find my mole grips or a screwdriver, I'm rustling through piles of unwanted garbage. The bottom is (of course) fabric, so when I remove the box it bulges out, making it awkward to put back. They sell metal boxes to fit, but they've been out of stock for over 2 years... I want a good fold-out toolbox that'll fit nicely into the (33 x 33 x 38 cm-deep) hole, but the only toolboxes sold at my local hardware stores that are small enough to fit are cheap plastic ones. Everyone assumes if you want a set of tools you're going to have a giant workshop to hold everything.
@@tested Would love to see it! Most people tend to kit cheaper, less reliable tools to beginners, bc let's face it, they will lose or break a certain percentage of them. But after that first round, it's time to start thinking about quality, longevity and even design. Would love to hear Adam's take on this!
I have very similar sets ofmulticoloured allen wrenches (or keys as we call them on this side of the pond) both in metric and torx. I was working on refrigerated vans for supermarkets and I'd be mounting the same compressor kit to 5 identical vans every single day. By the end of it I didn't know if I needed a 5mm or 6mm, I just knew I needed blue, and it made life so much quicker!! Also, mine are of the "extra long" variety which was perfect when you're lying on the ground beneath a vehicle because I could just hang my weight from them to get a decent level of torque.
This video is a great example of why I love watching Adam's videos. I'm not a maker, a builder, or any kind of person that would have a vested interest in tools. However, the kind of infectious enthusiasm Adam has for his tools and equipment of all kinds, particularly new ones, is like a child on Christmas morning. So amazed and happy with what they have and they have to show every single family member everything about it and how cool it is and everything it can do. Even if you didn't start the video with an interest in the topic, you have one afterwards.
You should try the Wera allankeys, they are also color coded, the same goes for their sockets sets ++. They have imo best design on the tool side. They are tapered and concave, so you wont round of the heads that easy. You shoud giv'em a try.
I came to the comments basically to say the above. Love the wera stuff over wiha. I find it stands up to more abuse, and let’s be real, tools in the field face more abuse than they probably should, the tool in hand often being the correct tool. Especially if the actual correct tool is in the van or back at the office.
I have the Wera set, and I recently bought the Wiha hexes. I like them both, but the rubber coating on the Wera tools has gotten in the way in a bunch of builds where I was trying to adjust screws down narrow slots, so I definitely prefer the much thinner powder coat on the Wiha wrenches. The default Wera holder is better, though.
This brings back some fond memories of the days when I was a field engineer for a chain of cinemas. We used Christie projectors (35mm) and every single fastener on the things were alan. My kit of choice were the Eklind brand long T handles. They were long enough to reach that fastener that was buried under multiple layers of gears and belts. The length of them also made them a bit more flexible around the twist axis which made it nearly impossible to over-tighten. Thanks Adam for the memories and consistently good content.
Another great thing about this colour coding is that it is the same across their range. If you buy any other tool from Wiha which is the same size as the orange metric hex key in this kit, it will also be color coded orange. Which makes it easy to find it no matter the style of hex you want. Same with their other tools, like torx or screwdrivers. Wera does the same thing. Wera and Wiha are my go-to for tools like these.
There's a reason the missing wrench is always "the one you need right now." It's because it is the size that is currently in most demand (because you are working with a particular size bolt, or whatever) and so it is the one that was most recently used. I can't say how many times I found the missing wrench on my workbench, right next to the thing I am working on.
3/16 for 1/4 socket screw and M5 for 6mm socket screw. Because if it was a 5mm screw you would have all those Ikea m4s available. Those are the ones that go missing in our shop, though the standard/imperial is used far less, except in some plumbing and Boeing aerospace.... Come on aerospace N America time to get onto the easier metric system.
love those. I work as a heavy equipment mechanic for a company that runs ski resorts. Often times ive got to go out and recover equipment, and i often work on the backup motors for the lifts. its really nice having these they keep me organized and i love the ball ends as well. really helps in tricky spots
I do wish the colors were standardized. There are different brands that use different color schemes. The best I can do is use colored heat-shrink tubing. It works pretty well, especially on T-handled wrenches.
That’s what I thought, I have three types of sets of Allen tools, powder coated ones from repco, chrome ones I don’t mind hitting with hammers, and my cheapo powder coated ones
Wera have their 'Take It Easy' colour codes across their allen keys, sockets and spanners - making it super easy, barely an inconvenience. PB Swiss tools make some great RainBow coloured L-wrenches (and parallel pin punches too). Bottom line: colour codes for quicker identification helps. And is nice to look at!
I have some really old sets of bondhus t handles. The handles on most of mine were destroyed. You can strip and re-dip them in automotive truck bed liner and it adds really good grip for when your hands are greasy.
i have got a wiha set my own. On mine, all wrenches can flip 90 degrees to the side to get them out easily. Best Design Trick ever. Adam you have to get one!!
I have owned a set of Metric Whia ball end wrenches for 20 years and I still use them daily. Surprisingly enough I haven't lost a single one!! I love Whia tools, high quality and great finish. Thank you for highlighting these lovely tools!!✌️🤍
Big fan of Wiha tools. I have done things to my Wiha screwdrivers that should never be done to a screwdriver, and they are still rocking. The Wiha insulated jewelers screwdriver set is amazeballs for electrical work.
Yes! Those color coded sets are great! Once I got one, I copied the color scheme to my bondhaus and hex bit driver sets so they all have the same pattern, with acrylic paint pens! It saves so much time! Food for thought for the alacarte Allen key drawer you have!
Adam, I love all of those brands you spoke of, but when it comes to smaller hex wrenches, I absolutely love my precision ground Thorp hex drivers. They are sold by MIP (Moore's Ideal Products) on their website and also Amazon. I have a set that is about 15 years old and the edges of the business end are still very crisp and have yet to soften. They are sharp enough to shave/scrape plastic and aluminum like a carbide scraper, not that I do that often, but I have. When inserted into a screw head of the correct size, there is very little play. It does require being dead on straight when inserting them, but it always fits amazingly. I never wear out my screws when I use them because they fit so well. They also have ball drivers and nut drivers available that I am sure are of the same quality. A set of 3 is about $45 so they aren't cheap, but I've never worn one out. The only downside is that they do not sell them in a lot of different sizes. Just the common metric and standard sizes used for the RC car hobby. If I ever find a full set of hex drivers that are precision ground like the Thorp tools, I'd pay good money for them. Nothing against Wiha or Bondhus as they are amazing, but there is just something about the Thorp drivers that really stands out. You have to see them in person to understand. If you have an RC car hobby shop near you, they may carry them. Ask to take a look and see what you think.
I used the gold colored Bondhaus set for a while, then picked up a color coded Wera set. The colors absolutely help. I don't even think about sizes anymore, just colors.
As someone who has worked in field service for over a decade, in particular field service that required air travel, I do appreciate the comment about the fascination with tools for field service. Because it is indeed a very different way of looking at tools. When you ask a mechanic in a shop about multi-tools or tools with multiple purposes (aside from being a hammer) it's often met with some amount of distain. The same is very much not true when you have to carry all your tools with you or have to figure out the best set of tools to fit under 20-30lbs in order to not need multiple check in bags for the plane. As for some tools I love. Almost any decent Leatherman multi-tool is amazing if you really need to pack light. A good ratcheting multi-bit screwdriver is also a must have. Personally I prefer Wera's Kompakt 27 as the solid thin shaft makes it very easy to get into hard to reach places and the bit holder in the handle makes it very quick and painless to swap out bits without needing a separate bit holder. Wera also makes my favourite socket wrench in the Zyklop Speed due to it's ability to very quickly swap between socket wrench and nut driver functions. Even simply working the same bolt, you can have the arm sideways to apply torque to break the nut loose and then swap it vertical to very swiftly spin the nut off the bolt and hold the nut inside the socket as not to lose it (sadly all too common out in the field and you don't always have the luxury of even replacement hardware). Another tool but one that is less obvious (and perhaps a bit more specific about my field of work) is a butane soldering iron. A good one can get plenty hot to do very simple wire soldering and even soldering of larger board components. But particularly for wires the other great part is the side vent for the combustion chamber spits out very hot gas. Which conveniently is very nice for using on heat shrink and is a much more controlled source of heat then something like a lighter. And trying to keep a lighter lit when it's decently windy out is asking to pull your hair out. One I had in the past even had a little attachment where you take off the solder tip and put on a scoop on the end to simply shoot the hot gas straight out and have it redirection around the scoop to be able to shrink the heat shrink pretty quickly. Plus butane is quite cheap to get and easily available at any hardware store so even very remote towns will have access to it even if electricity isn't so easy to access where I need to do the work. I'd love to hear any other recommendations that fellow field techs have for favourite tools to take with them to keep their pack light but still be able to tackle any job!
At home I have a set of color coded T-handle Allen keys that are my go to. At the last theater I worked at I would mark the old black Allen keys I used regularly with metallic colored sharpees. The only specialty Allen keys I have at my current job are a couple extra long ones I bought for doing maintenance on our S4 Lustrs that I keep hidden in my office.
My fave hex key wrenches are the t-handle and the folding set. The folding set just makes it easier to get the right one with less time fumbling. The T-handles with the "ball end" are helpful too.
I remember the first time I found ball-end hex wrenches. They were a game changer! Invariably the bolt that you need to get to is someplace where you can't easily get to with the wrench straight-in!!
I have the Wowstick drill. It is a motorized pin vice. I use it to pin miniatures before gluing and painting them. There is also a Wowstick screwdriver as well. The drill tends to bite, and get stuck, but otherwise, it is great!
Random upgrade… put a couple of thin white bands near the ends of your imperial hex wrenches so you can easily tell if you are grabbing metric or imperial
i really like hex wrenches that are colored but red for metric and blue for standard.. also wiha makes a nice torque screwdriver. great for set screws. best 90$ i ever spent.
I work in a sports goods store atm, mainly building bikes and exercise equipment. P handle hex wrenches have quickly become my goto style. It's basically an L wrench but with a "nice" handle in the short part of the L. But my absolute favorite style is an large L style with what looks like a screwdriver handle on the long part of the L, really good for when you really need to crank something down.
Wera has been doing the colored l-shaped hex key for about a decade. Wiha doesn't seem to have released them until 2019. I think there are advantages to the Wera design as well.
Wera's "hex plus" allen keys are *superb* in my opinion. All made from round bar with the key machined into the end, and all designed to engage in a way that the socket is less likely to round out.
I recall having a tool set where the handels of the screw drivers were color coded by what head they had (Blue Phillips, Green Torx, Red Flathead exc) But this is next level and I love it!
as a bike mechanic the L handled allen keys usually metric are by far my most used tool, i'm so going to get my set color coded now. Adam i want to thank you for opening my eyes to making my job easier. also the most missing allen key is the 5mm or the 6mm
I'm a bicycle mechanic, and I use the color coded L-shaped allen wrenches more than any other tool. I generally reach for them before the ergonomic wrenches because they fit into places better. The color coding is indeed extremely useful, especially as these wrenches become scattered across an increasingly cluttered workbench over the course of a project. Bondhus and Wera both make these as well. I haven't tried the Wiha, but the Bondhus set is my favorite. When gripped at the end they'll start to bend slightly at a torque that's generally appropriate for a bolt with the matching head size, and once you're used to them their deflection dives you a sense of how tight the bolt is. The finish is extremely durable. While Wiha and Wera both use a color gradient from small to large, the Bondhus wrenches are colored so that adjacent wrenches use dissimilar colors, which I think is better. Most of the tools you find around a bike shop are made by Park Tool, and so their "P handle" set is what I have instead of T-handles for ergonomic wrenches. Park Tool's P-handles combine the ergonomic grip of a T-handle with that ball-end on the long side / flat-end on the short side functionality of the L-shaped wrenches, which is an improvement over a normal T-handle.
you should check out the fireball tool hex holder, ive been thinking about getting one forever just because i love how its designed so well that you can easily access every key easily and even stand them up while your working on something yet not being annoying to put back like most of the holders out there...its just i cant justify a holder thats probably worth more than my husky set of allens lol
@@zombieface666 probably not. Most channels ban links in the comments because of spammers. Just look up fireball tools. (he also has a cool youtube channel if you're into tools or fabrication)
I've slowly been upgrading my tools over time. I use very small bits frequently (small electronics) so it started with a very nice Wiha kit. At this point I have the big hex key sets like these (ball-end, non-colored though) in imperial and metric, a standard size bit set, and various others. Definitely worth the investment for the frequently-used stuff!
I've a colour coded Allen Key's for 10 years now. Easy to recognize with size and colour =). Done deal for only €5,- extra! Mine is made by Swiss Tool.
I have color-coded nut-drivers that my grandfather John Welikonich used, probably in the 1970's (Xcellite PS-120). We all love having lots of cool tools, but the reverse is often more impressive. As a TV repairman, he could talk to a customer on the phone, put one vacuum tube and one screwdriver in a paper lunch bag, drive to another town, and fix their TV.
I do a lot of "in the field" work. What I find very useful are sets of tools consisting of one handle and several interchangeable blades / bits. Wera and Swisstools are great for this kind of stuff. It allows me to carry one pouch that replaces 40 screwdrivers. The Wera L-shaped hex key sets are also colour coded, but they have a sort of plastic sleeve, instead of being painted or powder coated.
I've tried them all. L keys. L handles. T handles. "Multi tool". You can color them all you want but you always have a hard time picking out the correct size to use. The absolute best Allen key that I've used are the tri-spoke/y-keys. You get three Allen keys in one tool. You can get one with 2, 2.5, 3mm then another 4, 5, 6mm. That's will take care of 90% of your needs. No need to keep pulling out a tool to find the right size. Just rotate the tool 120 degrees. It doesn't always fit in tight spaces, so for those situations, you still need a traditional L-key. But for 90% of what you need, the Y-key is perfect.
I work in field and my dad used to have these allen wrenches and I loved them because you could spot the wrench across the entire factory floor and be like "the 4mm is over there"... I got my chrome set and thats when I realized how difficult it is to find the right one. So that's definitely something I will be returning to
I do a lot of work in the field, but I also have built my fair share of IKEA furniture, and my favorite hex wrench set by far is the Neiko security bit set. It is super affordable and it includes a variety of bits including ones for security devices. It is even better when paired with the Neiko mini ratcheting offset screwdriver. Hex bolts can often be in hard to reach spots, and the L shaped design can be painful to use for long periods of time. With the offset driver, I get in any tight corner, and with the ratcheting, I need very little play to tighten or loosen a bolt. I found this set originally on a Lockpicking Lawyer video and knew if it had his seal of approval, it was good enough to go in my tool bag.
In addition to a great explanation of not just what tools you like, but why specific features are well designed, I appreciate the Firefly Serenity poster on the exit door. :D
Bondhus ColorGuard! I have used the same set as a professional bike technician nearly everyday for 5 years. They are also color coded and very durable.
Those are the coolest Allen wrenches I seen! I agree ☝️ what Adam said looking for a specific Allen wrench can be a hassle! Color Codes Allen wrenches brilliant!
Something you've mentioned in passing a few times, but never drilled down in to, is that you work on your own cars. A toolkit for a car is a whole other thing, granted with decent crossover to other mechanical systems/devices. I'd love to see a tool tip on ratchets, but specically, an "upgrade" to the standard ratchet. I have two in mind... First, the Stanley FatMax Rotator (maybe called something different in the USA?). Standard ratchet action PLUS twisting the handle in EITHER direction rotates the head in the direction you want! Second, palm ratchets! I have a 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 for these and for accessing tight spaces they are incredible!
Should really look at the Wera socket sets and wrenches . The packaging is fantastic, both sockets and wrenches are color coded and match by size. I use them in the field all the time! They are a great little addition to my field kit. Highly recommend!
a few of my favourite tools:: knipex cobra pliers/grips - the 300mm is a fantastic size wera toolcheck plus - great to keep in the car (or an EDC bag) 'ox' brand adjustable wrenches - very thin jaws for tight spots, excellently built wiha electricians hammer - the perfect hammer, inexpensive compared to others C.K. automatic wire stripper - excellent for most gauges starrett 1/4" tap wrench - not only great for tapping but excellent for quick/fine handheld drilling retractable scalpel - very handy for modelling
we have a set of torex with the color codes at work. it makes it SO much faster for finding the one I need for common tasks. we usually need the mint green one (T25 i think). the missing one is always going to be the most used one...and your coworkers can never be arsed to put back
I work in the field, and I put bright tape on my tools so I can see them when I drop them in the mud, grass, or gravel. And I know that the tool with tape on it a certain way is definitely mine.
On a robotics team that I mentored, we standardized on 4 different allen key sizes. And since tools would disappear fairly often, we bought the 4 sizes we needed in bulk, and then used 4 different colored heat shrink on each of the sizes. Then you could ask the student team member for the orange allen key and they could get the proper one. The heat shrink held up far better than paint markers did on the allen keys.
Three thoughts: 1. The smaller Allens wrenches should be the brighter color as they are easier to lose. 2. If you are constantly assembling and dissembling the same item over and over, you could paint the fasteners to match the correct size Allen wrench. 3. The Metric and SA Allen wrenches need to have better distinguishing colors. Perhaps make the metric two toned.
If you have both sets in your shop and you need to distinguish them visually: get a cheap set of heat shrink tube on eBay (or Amazon, or whatever) and put a very short piece of that on the short leg of each wrench (5mm or 1/4 inch in length would be enough, you need 3 or 4 sizes of tubing). Or paint a thin stripe of nail polish or another lacquer on it. It just occurred to me: on the other hand if you really want to piss someone off - put the shrink tube on the long leg of the wrench... subtle, yet evil... 😝
Both Wera and PB Swiss tools also have color coded hex keys. Haven't tried the PB swiss tools one but probably a very high quality. I do have the Wera ones which are great, they have the Hex plus, which is there patentet version of hex which helps to avoid stripping the screw heads, seems to work but I haven't tested it against another pair of high quality keys, they are better then my cheaper set. One note is that they have a plastic sleeve instead of being powder coated. This makes them very resistant but may also make them too thick for some use cases.
last week i helped a bunch of mechanical engineers at my company prepare a couple of demo devices for an exhibit that is this week. one of the most heard phrases i heard was "gimme the lime green!" as they were passing around that one allen key back and forth between the three devices they were assembling. color coded allen keys are also very handy if you have interns or other non regulars in your workshop and you want them to pass you tools. they dont have to figure out what size a 3mm allen key is and can simply hand you the one with the color you called for. also it frees up the numbers for the combination wrenches! so "gimme the 7mm!" meant the 7 mm combination wrench and not the 7mm hex key
Around the farm I use Allen wrenches all the time. My metric set is plain, but the standard set I have goes up to 1/2” and I color coded all of mine with a couple layers of well applied oil based implement paint. Makes my repairs go a little faster for the couple odd hours spent tidying thr wrenches up.
The bondhus t-handle Allen wrenches are awesome. I have metric, sae and torx which I love. Tool tip for them is if you spin them via the shaft the weight of the t-handle. Gives it nice rotational momentum and lets a quick spin turn a small bolt (like a m3) way faster than a regular Allen wrench could. Similar to the way the wihas with their free spinning red cap let you spin much faster without letting up on vertical pressure.
I love the tools I bought from wiha. I don't have as many as Adam, but the few I own have never let me down. Great quality and they just have about everything one might think of.
Hey man - wow - I so enjoy you - I find myself smiling while watching. Weird - but you have some kind of magic personality that really comes through the camera. I know this is your gig (makes lots, lots and lots!) and thanks for being in the world.....oh, yeah ...and you are a genius - that's obvious.
At the age of 16 I joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1972 and first went to see in 1974 as a weapons technician with my own set of tools. The first thing my Chief did was get get me to come up with a unique colour combination of 3 stripes and paint each tool. Never lost a tool. I was sent to the United States Navy Great Lakes Training Centre 3 times to learn how to maintain different weapon systems. The most valuable tools were a set of Snap-on ball allen keys, which we called rose buds and Snap-on ratcheting box wrenches. 🇦🇺😀
I work maintenance at a lumber kiln so there's tons of motors and bearings with oodles of setscrews and I NEED THESE NOW I'm ordering them immediately 😂😂
This is amazing and why isn't a colour scheme agreed and 99% of tools colour coded. This would make life so much easier. So obviously once you've seen the idea. Would never have thought about it though.
I use Wera allan keys, a German brand, and they're the best keys I've ever owned. They also come in a colour coded variant but use a tough plastic coating rather than powder coat. All their tools are impressive
Adam also Wiha does an Allen wrench set called MagicRings that have a spring loaded circlip like thing on the end to hold onto the screw or bolt. Not relying on magnets it works on non ferrous screws. Quite handy.
