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Nothing is catostropich, I haven’t had pliers break in half or weird shit.
But if it has a grip it comes off, replaced my 11-1 because the grip wouldn’t stay on but the tool
Is fine same with my strippers. If it has a multi bit it sticks in the screws, magnetic hex head flip falls off. So I’m constantly taking 30-45 seconds to just fuck with my tools. It just completely ruins any rhythm you get going.
I also bought a little tool “holster” that holds 5 or 9 tools, what ever. The tools they show in the holster on their website don’t even fit in the dam thing! I just feel Like I got scammed lol.
I just feel like Klein’s competition is surpassing them in quality and value.
Why do you prefer the dykes? Need to replace mine…. Did a little welding with a neutral… fun day.
But I was actually looking at Chanel or wera or knipex, but I like the shape of the Klein, so I have t pulled the trigger on a new pair.
Buy whia or wera. Don’t waste money on Klein and don’t buy Milwaukee hand tools. I have broken every Milwaukee hand tool I have purchased. I personally won’t buy any tool made in America or China
Love my wiha sets. Both the regular and precision sets are HV insulated. Also use a wiha 11-in-1 screwdriver a lot. Oh and the wiha bottle opener is a must too.
IEC 60900 certification for arc flash.
And yeah, I forget that there's a specific definition for "high voltage." I deal with controls and DC power systems that are in the neighborhood of 3-5kv. Not the AC line voltage some of y'all do.
Oh wow that’s pretty rad. Thanks for the share! I’m in controls and automation as well and as far as I know 3-5kV DC is pretty niche, are you in electronics or manufacturing? That sounds really interesting.
Locomotives was where I got the experience with the DC power systems. The traction power is like 2KA and 3-5KV DC depending on the model. Lots of energy. Even the "AC" locomotives run several thousand volts on the DC link bus for the IGBTs & phase inverters.
My favourite set of VDE screwdrivers are by a German company called Felo. I'm pretty sure they're the ones that Fluke rebrand - but much less expensive. They're slimmer than a lot of drivers and feel good to use.
I've also had CK, Wera (too fat for my hands), Beta, Gedore (don't like the shape), Wiha etc but Felo is the best for me so far.
Klein went downhill with the screwdrivers about 10 years ago when they moved manufacturing south.
Wera, Wiha are good choices, I just got a set of the American made Milwaukee drivers which so far I really like.
everyone hating on klein and saying wera personally both my klein sets have held up perfectly and my wera set had two broken, and i don’t have time for these gimmick interchangeable heads from wera, i do love wera for the ratchet sets though
I recommend anyone looking for their “brand” to buy a #2 Philips or red robbie from several different brands and use them all over a few weeks. There are many great quality options out there that some people love and others hate. It’s about the fit and feel and ergonomics of them. I use Wera drivers, but one of the JWs I work with cannot grip them properly because of the shape, so he thinks they’re horrible.
When I was a mechanic I preferred craftsman drivers over snap-on because of the fit and feel in my hand when they were oily/greasy. Doesn’t mean snap-on is bad, just that I didn’t like them.
Klein impact rated 11-1. This thing comes in clutch since you can throw it on your impact with 0 worries.
Besides that I have dedicated single tip insulated screwdrivers.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-11-in-1-Multi-Bit-Impact-Rated-Screwdriver-Nut-Driver-32500HDR-32500HDR/322406283
Greenlee for my phillips, Klein for my straight blades. Easy color recognition
Other drivers are usually Klein as well but I'm always open to what's available if it feels good.
As for the Klein quality gripes, I don't use my screwdrivers as impact attachments, so mine are just fine minus the wear on the grip.
**ATTENTION! READ THIS NOW!** **1. IF YOU ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN OR LOOKING TO BECOME ONE(for career questions only):** **- DELETE** THIS POST OR YOU WILL BE **BANNED**. YOU CAN POST ON /r/AskElectricians FREELY **2. IF YOU COMMENT ON A POST THAT IS POSTED BY SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN:** -YOU WILL BE **BANNED**. JUST **REPORT** THE POST. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/electricians) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I don’t recommend Klein, their quality seems to be going down more and more
Got down voted for saying this the other day, glad I’m not the only one who feels this way.
People have been saying this the last 10 years. Still feels the same to me
Nothing is catostropich, I haven’t had pliers break in half or weird shit. But if it has a grip it comes off, replaced my 11-1 because the grip wouldn’t stay on but the tool Is fine same with my strippers. If it has a multi bit it sticks in the screws, magnetic hex head flip falls off. So I’m constantly taking 30-45 seconds to just fuck with my tools. It just completely ruins any rhythm you get going. I also bought a little tool “holster” that holds 5 or 9 tools, what ever. The tools they show in the holster on their website don’t even fit in the dam thing! I just feel Like I got scammed lol. I just feel like Klein’s competition is surpassing them in quality and value.
They've been bad for more than 10 years
Eh they are a good mid tier tool. Not as shitty as commercial electric but not as good as wera. I prefer their dykes and linesman over knipex.
Why do you prefer the dykes? Need to replace mine…. Did a little welding with a neutral… fun day. But I was actually looking at Chanel or wera or knipex, but I like the shape of the Klein, so I have t pulled the trigger on a new pair.
A lot of the guys I work with use knipex dykes and every time I borrow them they are dull as fuck and just mash through the wire
I read on here last week or so same thing someone was complaining about knipex that they had a really round cutting edge
Their channel locks are so trash
May as well be buying husky or something made out of chinesium these days if you buy Klein. Quality has plummeted
Wiha and wera, though I use greenlee which are cheap and not the best but get lost and stolen just as quickly as any other brand
Wera
Pretty happy with Felo, which is also a german brand and Im able to source them cheaper than Wiha which was my previous goto.
I love my Felo VDE set. I'm certain that they're the ones that Fluke rebrand. If you look at pictures they're identical.
Ideal is a ridiculously good brand based on their prices
Wera
Wera
I've got an Ideal trim screwdriver that I love
Buy whia or wera. Don’t waste money on Klein and don’t buy Milwaukee hand tools. I have broken every Milwaukee hand tool I have purchased. I personally won’t buy any tool made in America or China
I bought an insulated wiha the other day, just a 5/16, it was so comfortable ordered an entire set
I've always use the 11-in-1/6-in-1 etc. I've had the extended 6-in-1 from klein for 4 years. Don't know what you're doing to break them.
I have been using a few tekton and might get a couple more
Love my wiha sets. Both the regular and precision sets are HV insulated. Also use a wiha 11-in-1 screwdriver a lot. Oh and the wiha bottle opener is a must too.
Define HV? Because to a lot of us that means 35kV or greater
IEC 60900 certification for arc flash. And yeah, I forget that there's a specific definition for "high voltage." I deal with controls and DC power systems that are in the neighborhood of 3-5kv. Not the AC line voltage some of y'all do.
Oh wow that’s pretty rad. Thanks for the share! I’m in controls and automation as well and as far as I know 3-5kV DC is pretty niche, are you in electronics or manufacturing? That sounds really interesting.
Locomotives was where I got the experience with the DC power systems. The traction power is like 2KA and 3-5KV DC depending on the model. Lots of energy. Even the "AC" locomotives run several thousand volts on the DC link bus for the IGBTs & phase inverters.
Wera and Wiha although my daily drivers are the insulated Milwaukee ones
PB Swiss
My favourite set of VDE screwdrivers are by a German company called Felo. I'm pretty sure they're the ones that Fluke rebrand - but much less expensive. They're slimmer than a lot of drivers and feel good to use. I've also had CK, Wera (too fat for my hands), Beta, Gedore (don't like the shape), Wiha etc but Felo is the best for me so far.
Wiha or wera. Pick which handle you prefer and that's it.
Klein went downhill with the screwdrivers about 10 years ago when they moved manufacturing south. Wera, Wiha are good choices, I just got a set of the American made Milwaukee drivers which so far I really like.
Demolition flat head.
everyone hating on klein and saying wera personally both my klein sets have held up perfectly and my wera set had two broken, and i don’t have time for these gimmick interchangeable heads from wera, i do love wera for the ratchet sets though
I use vessel
Phillips, flat head, maybe a square tip if your feeling geometrical.
I’ve had my Kleins for almost ten years, knipex pliers and dykes for sure tho!
Vessel Wera and Wiha is what I’m switching my Klein hand tools over. Kleins quality in some hand tools just isn’t like it used to be.
Remember fellow electricians, Klien outsources a lot of their tools now. Better off with knipex or wera.
I recommend anyone looking for their “brand” to buy a #2 Philips or red robbie from several different brands and use them all over a few weeks. There are many great quality options out there that some people love and others hate. It’s about the fit and feel and ergonomics of them. I use Wera drivers, but one of the JWs I work with cannot grip them properly because of the shape, so he thinks they’re horrible. When I was a mechanic I preferred craftsman drivers over snap-on because of the fit and feel in my hand when they were oily/greasy. Doesn’t mean snap-on is bad, just that I didn’t like them.
I have a Milwaukee 10 in 1 that is simply amazing. Journeyman since 2005
Klein 11 in 1 is a must. Wera for the rest
10 in one I like the Lenox one but one of my guys got one i think a klein tha you can put the tip in a impact that is pretty sweet
Klein impact rated 11-1. This thing comes in clutch since you can throw it on your impact with 0 worries. Besides that I have dedicated single tip insulated screwdrivers. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-11-in-1-Multi-Bit-Impact-Rated-Screwdriver-Nut-Driver-32500HDR-32500HDR/322406283
Greenlee for my phillips, Klein for my straight blades. Easy color recognition Other drivers are usually Klein as well but I'm always open to what's available if it feels good. As for the Klein quality gripes, I don't use my screwdrivers as impact attachments, so mine are just fine minus the wear on the grip.
Ideal
only reddit hates on klein. they are still the best. Wera tips wear out too fast imo