Tool Review: Wiha 34154 5.5mm Magnetic Nut Driver

Key Features:
 +   Strong magnet
 +   Contoured handle with good grip


If you're a Ricoh or Xerox technician, chances are good that you'll need a 5.5mm nut driver at some point.  The Wiha 34154 magnetic nut driver is a good one, and I highly recommend it -- especially if you're getting reimbursed for it so the cost doesn't come out of your pocket.

The 34154 is a longer driver, 360mm from the tip to the end of the handle.  It's great for reaching into tight places, and it's not overly heavy.  The handle is a soft plastic/rubber combination that provides good grip as well as good leverage.

The magnet in the nut driver is very strong.  It easily attracts 5.5mm screws, but you have to be careful when you put it down because the magnet will also easily pick up staples and other small metal objects, including developer particles.

I've had the same Wiha 5.5mm nut driver for almost 10 years now, and the only thing that's changed is that the handle looks slightly dirtier.  It still functions just as well, the magnet still works great (with the occasional quick dip in a magnetizer) and the handle still provides just as much grip.

The 34154 nut driver is the only 5.5mm nut driver I use, and if I needed to get a new one, I would buy the same model.  It is very reliable and dependable, which is what you need for a nut driver that gets used on a daily basis.  This nut driver can be purchased for $21.98 from Wiha, or $22.72 from Amazon.

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 Deals on Amazon

With Black Friday just passed and Cyber Monday coming up, there are a lot of great deals to be found online.  Here are some tools that can currently be had for lower-than-normal prices on Amazon.com:

- Irwin Pocket Level, $2.63

This pen-sized pocket level was listed for $3.09 last week -- not a huge discount, but cheaper is still better.  If you use a level a lot, this one doesn't weight much and can clip onto a pocket, belt, or strap.

- Stanley All-In-One Screwdriver, $3.58

This simple screwdriver with 4 bits and two hex nut driver sizes is normally sold for about $5 on Amazon.  It's a good screwdriver to throw in a drawer or glove box, because it has several standard-sized bits included.

- Stanley Stubby Ratcheting Multibit Screwdriver, $4.24

This driver is a good stubby screwdriver.  It ratchets, has magnetic tips, and comes with several different bits, as well as storage for those bits in the handle.  The Stanley stubby ratcheting driver usually costs $5 or $6 on Amazon.  You can read a full review of this driver here.

- Leatherman Wingman, $19.96

The Wingman is one of the cheaper Leatherman multi tools that you'll find, but it's not a cheap multi tool.  It has many tools built into one -- pliers, knife, screwdrivers, bottle opener, etc.  The Wingman is typically sold on Amazon and in Home Depot stores for around $30.

- Wiha 1000-Volt Magnetic Driver, $22.85

If you do any work around live electricity, an insulated screwdriver is a good thing to have.  This one from Wiha comes with both slotted and Phillips bits, with internal storage in the handle for 8 bits.  It normally sells for close to $30.