Wiha

Why r/BuyItForLife recommends Wiha

24 mentions from real owners

• #1Nov 4, 2025

  Which brands/products have gotten better over time?

  > Wiha hex I worked at a place with machines that 90% of adjustments made were 5mm, 6mm, or 10mm hex. We purchased them by the case because people would lose them, break them, or they would wear out. Mostly the 5mm. We always bought packs of Bondhus replacements but initially issued Wiha. The Bondhus would be rounded over and worn after months but the Wiha looked brand new after a decade.

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• #2Oct 5, 2025

  how do you find a product that actually lasts online?

  I'm going to disagree with this. Maybe we're thinking about different types of distributors. I'm talking about professional/industry distributors that literally carry brands and products you don't find in more general places. Examples would be: * Tools, especially non-power tools. A lot of the best tools I have are European, especially German, and you don't get these from Home Depot. These would be brands like Wera, Wiha, PB Swiss, Stabila, though I have high-end American stuff too like soldering equipment from Metcal and JBC. There are tons of specialist tooling distributors, often times for specific types of tools. Examples would be woodworking, automotive, manufacturing (for example, [here](https://www.gotopac.com/) is a distributor I use for tools and and other manufacturing-grade equipment), and all sorts of hand tool distributors. * Lighting. Compare a lighting store (including common ones like [Lamps Plus](https://www.lampsplus.com/)) to a hardware store. You'll realize that a lot of the products at the hardware store are cheap copies of the brands they carry at actual lighting stores. * Plumbing. Another easy one. Water heaters for example use cheaper parts for many of the big box store models (which is also annoying in that you sometimes can't get off-the-shelf replacements at a plumbing supply store and need to order from the manufacturer, which takes time and is more expensive). Also, many brands of fixtures aren't sold at hardware stores. * Lumber. General hardware stores typically carry lower quality lumber. * Audio. You can find a decent amount of Hi-Fi at some large electronics stores, but the selection will be limited. Same goes for pro audio gear at something like Guitar Center. I could go on, but you get the point. Sure, you can find small distributors that are selling the same things as giant ones, but in this case, that's not what I was referring to.

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• #3Oct 1, 2025

  Why are we allowing posts that are not in the spirit of BIFL?

  I used to think the same. Usually just machined steel and a handle, right? how could you go wrong? I still have my grandfather's craftsman screwdrivers, wrenches, estwing hammers, stanley chisels, and a few pliers that were made in the late 50s to early 70s and those are the quality and standard I expect. I broke a diagonal cutter of his (craftsman) and went to Lowe's to warranty it. After a fair amount of bitching, the cutters they were going to give me were not of the same quality. The hinge was not as tight. The machine finish was rough. It was just not to the standard I expected. I chose to keep the broke ones (I was using them as a pry bar and snapped a tip off - so still functional but not ideal). The tradespeople (and total hacks) I've worked along side have noticed a consistent decline in quality too. As soon as a big company or private equity buys into a brand - quality goes to shit. I coddle my grandads tools for sentimental reasons. And "replaced" them with Wera, Vessel, Wiha, Knipex, and Bondhus tools. But your average Joe typically wont spend the money for those brands. I use my tools everyday. So my perspective and needs are different from a DIYer/home owner. Am I just bitter and angry about minutiae? Probably. But I've broke enough (newer) craftsman and Stanley tools to never buy them again. So you're probably right if you only use your tools for a job/project here and there. Thanks for coming to my ted talk.

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• #4Sep 6, 2025

  Please recommend a screwdriver set before I lose it on these curtain rods.

  Go for a quality set like wera kraftform, wiha or stanley cushion grip, they last and feel solid in hand. Ergonomic handles makes long DIY sessions easier and reduce stripped screws.

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• #5Sep 6, 2025

  Please recommend a screwdriver set before I lose it on these curtain rods.

  Sounds to me like you got a cheap ass set of bits. There are plenty of us men who have one time or another regrettably bought bits from DeWalt or some other brand just to break them or destroy them. Wiha is great, Klein is great.

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• #6Sep 6, 2025

  Please recommend a screwdriver set before I lose it on these curtain rods.

  Came to say this. Wiha is all you’ll ever need.

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• #7Sep 6, 2025

  Please recommend a screwdriver set before I lose it on these curtain rods.

  Almost any "name brand". Wera, Wiha, Bahco, Bosch, Stanley... there are differences in quality and design between brands, but for general DIY, you just want to upgrade from "screwdriver shaped object" to "actual screwdriver with hardened tip". People who use them every day will have strong opinions that you don't need to care about. But the really cheap stuff is just worthless. Make sure you are using a bit that fits tightly in the screw head with no wobble. Try a size up and down. Make sure the screwdriver is exactly in line with the screw, not bent off to one side. Apply plenty of pressure when turning - the harder it is to turn, the more pressure you need into the screw. At your maximum effort, you should be putting a lot of your bodyweight into it. Drill pilot holes, unless you are screwing into something very soft. You can look up a guide for how to correctly size pilot drills. You don't need a nice drill, or a cordless drill, but spend money on name-brand drill _bits_. Make sure you are not trying to screw directly into masonry. There are various sorts of plugs and anchors, depending on the wall type. Again, lots of guides that are better than anything I'll write.

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• #8Sep 5, 2025

  Please recommend a screwdriver set before I lose it on these curtain rods.

  Basically any screwdriver set you get at Home Depot will be fine. I got a Milwaukee set for the tool library and they're holding up okay. Screwdrivers do wear out, so then you regrind the tips if possible, or you toss them. Another option is to get a bit-holding screwdriver that take those short insert bits. That way you just replace the bit when they wear out. Also you can buy weird tips like Pozidriv, torx, tri-wing, pentalobe, and the various security heads. The downside is that the shaft is wider than the standard screwdrivers, so you might have trouble reaching into deep holes (like in toys, consumer electronics, etc.). If you want to spend more money, Wera is good, but yes, those handles are polarizing. So there's also Wiha, PB Swiss, NWS, etc. But even Kobalt, Husky, or Craftsman will be fine, and will cost a lot less.

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• #9Sep 4, 2025

  Best Buy it for Life Gift?

  > skateboard, enjoys single-track riding, fixing cars with his friends, Tools, specifically automotive and bicycle tools. Instead of figuring out if individual tools are correct, a great gift would be to spend the effort to track down a really good deal on a high-end BiFL set like one from a German brand like Wera, Wiha, Knipex, Stahwihl. These are the kind of tools that people find hard to buy for themselves, but will be delighted to show their friends that they got as a gift. North Americans should get both SAE and metric sizes, while most other places in the world can get by with just the metric. > enjoys a fancy bourbon drink every now and then. Vintage decanters and classic mixology apparatus isn't bad, either.

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• #10Aug 10, 2025

  Hard to get brands without a huge markup?

  Yeah. Wiha screwdrivers FTW. I've had my full set for a decades now after buying one (that I still use) 30 years ago.

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• #11Aug 6, 2025

  $2K Amazon Budget—Help Me Turn Digital Money Into Sawdust

  Wiha ergostar for some good hex wrenches. Knipex pliers wrench is the best adjustable wrench on the market and capable of holding torque than a vice grip.

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• #12Aug 2, 2025

  What products used to be well built back in the day but now are low quality?

  I would actually argue that this is one area where globalization benefited the consumer. Taiwanese tool steel and manufacturing has basically increased in quality to the point where the differences with American and German brands is almost negligible. Torque Test channel just did a video basically acknowledging that Icon’s new G2 ratchets are virtually indistinguishable from Snap On, with an easier and better warranty. Agree with others that Wera, Wiha, Knipex, and Gearwrench, and Tekton are all solid brands. The biggest issue in tools is that the premium market has gotten out of hand. Companies have learned that there is more profit up market and have really accelerated leaving the middle-class buyer behind. Premium tool brands have popped up left and right to fill this market; they’re often the companies I look at and find cheapening practices. Say what you will about Harbor Freight, but lines like Hercules have really approached the value of the bigger names like Milwaukee, Dewalt, and Makita for a third or less of the prices. Milwaukee’s prices have grown astronomical in several territories.

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• #13Aug 1, 2025

  What products used to be well built back in the day but now are low quality?

  Still plenty of good stuff out there. Tekton, Gearwrench, Icon, Wera, Wiha... All super solid without being too pricey

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• #14Aug 1, 2025

  iFixIt Mako/Essential Precision Bit Set

  I wouldn't put them at BIFL status, they aren't bad per day, but the tip quality is pretty lacking. For BIFL you are competing with the likes of Wiha and Wera.

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• #15Aug 1, 2025

  iFixIt Mako/Essential Precision Bit Set

  I recommend the Wiha screwdriver bits set. I've had mine since 2006 and it's in regular use, paid for itself hundreds of times over at this point. I broke one tip in that time and was easily able to get a replacement for like 3.50 Euros shipped. I have some ifixit stuff, but screwdrivers I would always go with Wera or Wiha, or a few other manufacturers because the bits actually are BIFL. The handle, being plastic, is still in perfect condition and the advantage to me is the simple, friction fit and non-magnetic retention. Around electronics I shy away from magnetic tools.

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• #16Jun 13, 2025

  I have money to spend. Advise me.

  Trusco or Tone toolboxes Leatherman Nicks, White's, or Viberg boots Horween wallet Hamilton Murph watch Good tools. Knipex, Wiha, Wera, PB Swiss... Benchmade 940 Bark River fixed blade Rio Bravo GoRuck GR2 backpack

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• #17Jun 3, 2025

  What are your favorite niche BIFL items that are currently available?

  Sorry I should have specified, Wera and Wiha both produce stuff outside of Germany now. I think Knippex is still all German yet.

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• #18May 10, 2025

  Brands you swear by that have Buy It For Life quality products

  Literally any semi decent hand tool brand is BIFL for home use. I'd generally put wera and wiha in upper-mid range quality, most of their lineup is not the best but they have some nice bits like wiha percision drivers or wera allen keys (if you ignore the stupid sleeves that fall off and get stuck). E.g. Vessel is a more high end brand, they innovate a lot but don't offer the same kind of gimmicks gimmicks like Wera.

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• #19May 10, 2025

  Brands you swear by that have Buy It For Life quality products

  And Wiha as well.

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• #20Apr 9, 2025

  What is your current BIFL item you recommend to everyone?

  Project Farm is a very useful channel. You cannot go wrong with most German made tools, handle preference being the variable. Wiha, Felo, Witte, Gedore, etc. all are great quality. Personally I’m a Hazet fan. Stahlwille is a little out of my price range.

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• #21Apr 9, 2025

  Items that made your life so much easier/saved time?

  I gotta disagree here for the most part. Hand tools built for tradesman are bifl. Matco, snap on, Knipex, wera, wiha, klein, vaughn, stiletto, ridgid (aluminum pipe wrenches are second to none). A 60+ year old screwdriver is inferior to wera screwdrivers in every possible way.

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• #22Mar 7, 2025

  A list of BIFL not made in the USA

  for tools- i highly recommend german tools like Wera, Wiha, and the swiss brand PBSwiss has an amazing lifetime warranty on top of exceptional quality tools harbor freight also has some really good options if you are good at tool shopping and knowing what to and not to buy, the lifetime warranty is also a no bullshit process snap on is overrated imo- for the money you can get better quality elsewhere, and the tool truck is a pain in the ass i would stay away from anything cheap as cheap tools don’t last long and will damage whatever you are working on, most notably screws- cheap screwdrivers will more often than not round out a fastener due to improper fitment

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• #23Feb 3, 2025

  A list of BIFL not made in the USA

  Hand tools and metrology tools: Knipex Wera Wiha Mitutoyo Brown & Sharpe Interapid I know there's a bunch of brands I'm missing, but these are what I use daily. Knipex pliers wrench, Wera Tool-Check Plus and torque driver, Wiha wing handle torx, Brown & Sharpe tenths indicator with half divisions, Interapid .0005" indicator. The Wera ball detent hex wrenches are fantastic and definitely help avoid dropping fasteners. The downside is that the plastic sleeves will come off eventually. My set lasted about a year with constant contact with cutting oil. The Wiha wing handle torx are honestly consumables with the amount of use they get. Wiha will replace individual drivers for a year if you buy through an authorized distributor like Amazon. The replacement rate for me was about 1 T8 every 4-6 months across 3 sets. That has since been reduced by using a Wera torque driver to tighten the screws. I highly recommend Mitutoyo digital calipers with a round depth rod and the Quantumike is game changing coming from their standard digital micrometer. I'll add Citizen sliding headstock lathes as a for fun bonus item. The L20 and C16 models I've run and seen are fairly bulletproof and I'm working on reviving a 1991 L16 that came out of a company's r&d shop in 2020 and sat for a few years.

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• #24Feb 3, 2025

  Looking for suggestions on high quality tweezers

  Sparkfun curved tip Aven Erem Wiha Excelta Knipex

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