Tool Review: Wiha 38460 Magnetic Bit Holder

Key Features:
 +   Very strong magnet
 -   Does not hold up as well to rust as other drivers do


Being over 16" long, the Wiha 38460 magnetic bit holder is not a screwdriver most people will carry every day.  At around $20.00, you probably won't buy one until you think you'll need it.  But once you have it, it's a good screwdriver to hold onto and keep in your tool box for emergencies.

The shaft is made of CRM-72 steel, and while it holds up well to every day use, it does not hold up well over time to rust.  It lived in my car for many years, right next to a long Snap-On driver, and while the Snap-On driver showed no signs of rust, this Wiha driver grew many rust spots along the shaft.  Store it somewhere dry and it should be okay.  The handle, on the other hand, is very well-made and does not deteriorate over time.  It's a mixture of plastic and rubber in Wiha's signature black-and-red coloring that provides a good, solid grip.  I've had this driver for close to 10 years and the lettering on the handle looks just as bright and new as when I first got it.

The picture above is not to scale.  This driver has a 300cm (11.8") blade and measures 410mm (16.25") from end to end.  It provides a lot of leverage and is strong enough to stand up to heavy use.  It has a hexagon shaft that provides additional grip for your off hand.  The bit holder uses standard 1/4" bits.

This bit holder has a very strong magnet, stronger than most magnetic bit holders I've used.  It easily attracts and holds every screw I've used with it.  With Wiha tools, you can typically expect that they will be well-made, and this bit holder will do nothing to change your mind.

The Wiha 38460 magnetic bit holder currently sells for $19.19 from Crawford Tools, $19.95 from Amazon, and $22.58 directly from Wiha.

Wiha tool reviews

Bit Holders / Screwdrivers:
- Wiha 38460 Magnetic Bit Holder

Nut Drivers:
- Wiha 34154 5.5mm Magnetic Nut Driver

Tool Review: RadioShack 6400187 23-Piece Mini Tool Ratchet Set

Key Features:
 +   Good bit/socket selection
 +   Good grip
 -   Can't turn ratchet position to off


RadioShack sells some neat tools, but they are often over-priced.  The RadioShack 23-Piece Mini Tool Ratchet Set (model #6400187) is no exception.

This set includes a small ratcheting offset driver, a set of bits, and a set of sockets.  There's also a 2" bit extender.  It's a good variety to keep around the house or in a tool bag.

There are 12 bits of several different types: three slotted bits, three Phillips bits, three star bits, and three hex bits.  The nine sockets are all SAE sizes, ranging in size from 5/32" to 1/2".  The bits are a little more rounded than you'd like to see, but function well enough.  The sockets are good and fit nicely onto the driver.

The driver itself has a good rubber and plastic handle that provides a decent grip.  It ratchets easily, and the ratchet direction can be changed with a slide switch.  There is a small plastic thumbwheel that can help in tight places where you can't swing the driver around.

Switching from the bit driver to the socket wrench is simple, and you can have both a socket and a bit attached at the same time if you want.  To use the socket wrench, you just remove the black plastic thumbwheel.

The 2" extension bar is just barely magnetic.  I don't know if it's supposed to be, because the packaging doesn't say, but it looks like every other magnetic extension bar I've seen.  If it does have a magnet, the magnet is horrible, or way too small, because it only just barely picks up very small screws.

The case that the set comes in is good, and can be used to store the tool and sockets in.  It is easy to open and easy to access the bits and sockets.  It has a hole at the top so you can hang it from a hook or peg.

This tool had a list price of $13.39 when I saw it.  However it must not have been selling well, because it was on clearance for just $1.47.  For $1.47, I'd snatch it up every time -- the bits and sockets alone are worth that price.  However, I wouldn't pay any more than $4.00 or so for this tool set.  It's a decent extra set to keep in case of emergency, but it's not worth anywhere near $13.39.  RadioShack.com was selling it for $10.97 (not sold on the site anymore) and Amazon.com has it for $9.97, both of which are overpriced for what you get, but are still better than the in-store list price.

RadioShack tool reviews

Tool Sets:
- RadioShack 6400187 23-Piece Mini Tool Ratchet Set

First Impressions: Gerber Vise and Stanley STHT71699 Multi Tool

Home Depot recently had some tools on sale, so I picked up two tools I'd had my eye on for a while: the Gerber Vise and the Stanley STHT71699 Multi Tool.

I bought the Vise because I wanted a small multi tool I could carry for work -- something lightweight with a good pair of pliers, a knife, and a Phillips driver.  I currently carry the Gerber Mini Suspension-P, but the cross driver is not easily accessible, and I wanted something a little lighter.  The Vise seems like it will do the trick, at least so far.  The pliers feel flimsy, but I'll see how they hold up.  The Phillips driver swings out a lot easier.

The Stanley multi tool looks kind of neat online, but is not very awe-inspiring once you hold it.  The tool feels cheaply-made, the slide mechanism is jerky, and the sharp jab saw is very close to being exposed even when it's all the way closed up.  Not a good first impression, but I'll use it and see how functional it is.  It only cost $6.45 so I'm not expecting big things from it.