My new Ti Millie and PM2! First impressions!

[jalcon]

I have the same husky 8 in 1 torx set..
I have adjusted my PM2 to hell and back because of my OCD
I've also probably switched from clip up to clip down and back around 10 times because I could not decide what I liked better.

All of my screws are good as new. Sure, maybe under a loupe, you could tell they've been tinkered with but c'mon.

 

[JNewell]

Probably the result of (1) being a reasonably careful, competent person and (2) having a tool that fits properly.

 

[nccole]

I have the same husky 8 in 1 torx set..
I have adjusted my PM2 to hell and back because of my OCD
I've also probably switched from clip up to clip down and back around 10 times because I could not decide what I liked better.

All of my screws are good as new. Sure, maybe under a loupe, you could tell they've been tinkered with but c'mon.

Just a word of advice on that Husky set, the bits themselves are not the best quality so make sure after you wear them out a bit you don't mess up your screws. My little pocket set branded Benchmade is superior to the 8 in 1 set.

 

[jalcon]

Just a word of advice on that Husky set, the bits themselves are not the best quality so make sure after you wear them out a bit you don't mess up your screws. My little pocket set branded Benchmade is superior to the 8 in 1 set.

Thanks. The set was like 4.99 so I can't complain.

 

[nccole]

Thanks. The set was like 4.99 so I can't complain.

True but you will be cussing it when it leaves a screw stranded in your knife that you want out. I had to drill one out already, not too big a deal, but it was an expensive knife.

 

[jalcon]

True but you will be cussing it when it leaves a screw stranded in your knife that you want out. I had to drill one out already, not too big a deal, but it was an expensive knife.

Like I said, I've taken a knife apart with it, changes clips a dozen times..seems like a solid set for.themmoney and many have had the same.experience. Maybe you had a dud?

 

[JNewell]

Just a word of advice on that Husky set, the bits themselves are not the best quality so make sure after you wear them out a bit you don't mess up your screws. My little pocket set branded Benchmade is superior to the 8 in 1 set.

The Husky 8-bit set I've got (I have four, tucked away in various places) are superior - as good or better than the Wiha sets I've got. Unlike many sets I've got or had, the bits are properly sized and properly hardened. I've never had any problems at all with these sets. The number is HD-74502 with varying alpha suffixes.

 

[NoFair]

By the way, many Wiha tools that say "made in Germany" are in fact made in China today.

Are you sure about this? Mislabeling country of origin would get them in trouble with EU regulations. From my experience Wiha and Wera tools are very well made and their bits take a lot of use and abuse with no damage.

 

[gooeytek]

... By the way, many Wiha tools that say "made in Germany" are in fact made in China today.

...

Care to elaborate? That breaks some very serious international trade laws, and I doubt Wiha/Wera would play that kind of game. Even VW puts "Made in Mexico" on some of their cars, although I'm sure they wouldn't like to have to do that.

 

[JNewell]

Are you sure about this? Mislabeling country of origin would get them in trouble with EU regulations. From my experience Wiha and Wera tools are very well made and their bits take a lot of use and abuse with no damage.

Care to elaborate? That breaks some very serious international trade laws, and I doubt Wiha/Wera would play that kind of game. Even VW puts "Made in Mexico" on some of their cars, although I'm sure they wouldn't like to have to do that.

Start with these news articles: http://www.thelocal.de/20120116/40137 and http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/4250231-made-germany-under-pressure and this general Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_of_origin then Google "Wiha China Germany Country of Origin"

Snip from one of the above:

"Germany industry will have to adapt to stricter regulations for products carrying a ‘Made in Germany’ label," explains Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. On October 17, the Internal Market Committee of the European Parliament voted to tighten existing product safety and market surveillance rules.

As it stands, manufacturers can label that items are "Made in” any particular country, explains the Frankfurt daily. If the Parliament’s proposal is approved by the Council of Ministers, manufacturers will no longer be able to make use of “Made in the EU” or “Made in a member state” labels for products that have not been “substantially processed” at “a key stage of their production” in the jurisdiction in question.

This will hardly be to the taste of German manufacturers, points out FAZ, because they will no longer be able to make use of "Made in Germany" labels on goods that for the most part been produced elsewhere, particularly in China and North Africa. German industry thus runs the risk of losing its main trump card. However, even if it is approved by EU institutions, the project is unlikely to come into force before the European elections in May, 2014.

It isn't a violation of German or international law. COO labeling requirements are (pardon the pun) all over the place. In the US, there is no single standard for "Made in the USA," for example; various agencies define it in different ways.

 

[FCM415]

I have the Husky set for $5 from Home Depot. It's of good quality and am happy with it. I use it often and the knife sizes 6,8,9 are slowly wearing but again, it is used often (some abuse from over tightened/threadlocked screws). It comes with a lifetime replacement warranty and after four years of use, I may take them up on that deal for the first time. Directions say bring it to place of purchase (HDepot) and receive a replacement. It's a great set, like how the bits fit in the driver. What a deal for five friggin bucks.

I have Wiha torx bits in 6,8,9. Comparing the two, the Wiha does seem to have either better steel, better hardening or both. It is better of quality but if you need a set, the Husky will do just fine.

As far was Wiha being made in China now... Mine says made in Germany and if it was really made in China, the cool factor of "Made in Germany" is the only thing that "affects me" because if I start worrying about made in China, Id have to throw out more than half the things in my house!

 

[NoFair]

Judging from that most of their items are still made in Germany. My small torx is Wera (German) so I can't check what Wiha states on their small torx sets, my larger Wiha bit drivers are marked made in Germany.

One small note on smaller torx sets; sometimes the screws are not correct to spec so I sometimes use a cheap torx drivers since on some screws they fit better than a correctly sized one.

 

[JNewell]

Judging from that most of their items are still made in Germany. My small torx is Wera (German) so I can't check what Wiha states on their small torx sets, my larger Wiha bit drivers are marked made in Germany.

One small note on smaller torx sets; sometimes the screws are not correct to spec so I sometimes use a cheap torx drivers since on some screws they fit better than a correctly sized one.

Your point about fasteners is very well made. Small fasteners are often very inconsistent in quality. There have been a few threads in the CRK forum about problems that CRK has had with fasteners.

In the same vein, it's very possible, maybe likely, that the Husky set has been sourced from various manufacturers over the years. Some are clearly excellent, but others could be less than excellent. That's an issue when buying "house" brands.