I own two TorqueVario-S from Wiha.
Seen ESD compliant versions as well.
BTW, can you comment on how delicate/robust they are to help
Dawn out?
But in the near future I will definitely go for the new Wiha iTorque.
I've seen the literature on these, but they cost a small mint (MSRP ~$500USD here, on sale for $325USD).
More than what
Dawn is willing to pay I suspect, so I didn't mention it.
@Nanofrog:
I have an inventory of mostly very old tools that I've kept maintained either by repair or self sharpening, but after all these years, most are pretty worn and I'm updating my tools for my home shop. I still do work on occasion for other shops that don't have their own component level service and still do work for some long term clients.
Thanks for the details.
Just trying to understand your specific needs, particularly on having to get it recalibrated & repaired on both a cost & turn-around time.
BTW, I envy you're ability to keep stuff going as long as possible (resharpening, self-repaired, ... sorts of skills).
I pretty much built my tools like most techs from Xcellite and tools available from trade sources catering to the industry.
Grew up hearing about Xcellite back in the '80's as well from those who'd try and help teach me about electronics.
My question is sort of rhetorical. Uticas both adjustable and preset could be taken to most electronic cal labs that handled test equipment and papered and/or repaired on the spot since they were pretty much the defacto standard. Other brands could be papered, but the repairs often meant sending it to the manufactuer rather then a field repair or upgrade. There were probably other test labs that catered to mechanical trades that could handle others, but generally the electronics trade favored particular brands like any other trade unlike today with the exception of maybe the mechanical trades that still value Snap-on and MAC as symbols. That's no longer an issue as there are many manufacturers of precision tools available through electronic supply vendors.
As per calibration & repair, it seems you have options other than sending it back in the case of Wiha or Wera (
Micro Precision Calibration for example). No idea on cost, but might be worth a call or email. CDI likely isn't that different (suspect even more places would be able to handle this brand).
I'm pretty much ditching most of my old Xcellite as the quality has been long surpassed by other companies and the tools are very old. Same goes for most of my cutters and pliers that were primarly xcellite, hunter, and Diamond. The last two were considered high end years ago and I've kept them sharpened, but sadly they've seen better years.
Understandable. There are better options around, particularly when looking at reduced quality of some of the older brands that were snatched up by giants such as Cooper.
Most of my screwdrivers at this point are Wiha, cutters are Tronex, Lindstrom (not what they used to be either), Swanstrom, and Erem. Pliers are Schmitz. Tweezers are Ideal-Tek. Only paid retail on the Schmitz, which offer a lot of value (i.e. bit under $30 per pair shipped from Germany FWIW; they make the yellow ESD grip electronics pliers sold by NWS for example).
I'm just looking at the market now for something newer with the hopes that the mechanisms aren't as delicate and need frequent service. Uticas new still command prices in the $200-$300 USD range while most others are half to a third. While the necessity of NIST trace is no longer an issue, I question purchasing any of these newer low priced units based on the CDI type mechanism. What if any service is available and if they are as volatile as the Uticas.
If in your position, I'd be asking the same questions.
Unfortunately, I haven't had my hands on any of these to know.