Affordable (and better) ToolCheck Plus alternatives for EDC + toolkits

[Music] [Applause] [Music] hey everyone I really love the Vera tool check plus because it packs a ton of highquality german-made tools in a compact organized package there's a set of 30/4 in bits seven metric sockets but they also offer an imperial version a small screwdriver handle that's somewhere between a stubby and a Precision handle a micro ratchet with super fine teeth and a locking bit adapter that I uh crazy glued to this Dremel it's really useful the key to this design is all the components use the same quarin hex bits so everything is interchangeable and works in any combination that's something so smart and an important feature I want to keep all of this German engineering doesn't come cheap the tool check plus sells for $72 so I set off in a quest to find an affordable alternative that didn't sacrifice quality I figured it would be easy everyone knows the tool check plus is overpriced right there's got to be a bunch of less expensive options out there as I started to research this I was surprised I actually couldn't find anything that had all four of the main features in a single kit so the tool check plus is actually pretty unique I decided instead to focus on buying the best individual tools that could be combined into an EDC kit bits buckets ratchet and bit driver for the bit set I found three good options the Klein 32 piece bit set for $22 the viha 32 piece go box for $31 and the Harbor Freight icon 35 piece kit for $40 the Klein is a set of 32 bits in a very compact organizer for $22 which is fair for a highquality set of bits from a brand like Klein it's a chunky boy with Phillips flat hex square and torx bits tightly packed into a rubbery tray that holds holds them tightly so they won't fall out of your bag but it's still very easy to get them out even the ones in the center the torqus aren't security like the tool check and the hex bits are imperial rather than metric but that's just how Klein rolls the VHA go box is a beefy metal case with matte gray finish for $31 inside there's a set of 30 bits a micro ratchet and tucked under it an extension so you're getting a lot more tools for $9 more viha is a German manufacturer known for the quality of their bits so these are even better than the ones in the tool check plus and impact rated the selection of bits is hex heavy with both Imperial and Metric sets they have a good selection of torqux but I wish these were the security version with the holes in the center the ratchet's very similar to the Vera and is around 3 in with a comfortable grip and smooth 72 to mechanism the bit extender is a really slick lowprofile design that I didn't realize had to lock at first you just pull this collar back and the bit will eject up but it's still held with strong magnets inside and this works great in comparison the Vera rapid adapter looks really bulky these labels on the lid make it really easy to find the bit you're looking for and the lid's a handy place to store parts overall the case organization design and build quality is excellent the Harbor Freight icon kit has a beefy rubberized plastic case with metal latch for $40 inside there's 32 bits a flex head micro ratchet and extension this has my favorite selection with 11 security torque bits nine metric hex bits and a good selection of Imperial hex Phillips paa Drive and Flathead bits the micro ratchet has a pivoting head design so you can press this button and angle it in any position which is really nice but I think this straightforward angle is a bit awkward because it's offset I really like that this has a bit holder in the bottom so you can use it as a screwdriver too the extension is really nice because it can give you more reach or be used as a tea handle for more torque the case is very rugged but compared to the go box it's a little bit bigger for EDC the kits with built-in ratchets are the way to go personally the VHA go box is my favorite because of the reasonable price tidy organization bit quality and comfortable design of the ratchet and bit extension I just wish it had the same bit selection as the icon kit because of the wider range of torqus and hex bits so I might make some adjustments on mine you can decide for yourself which you prefer the viha or the Harbor Freight are both great options these kits cover half of the tools in the tool check plus so now we just need to add sockets and a driver handle for EDC sockets I really like this Makita 8piece metric impact socket set for $15 and coverage sizes 6 to 13 mm they also offer an imperial version so you could carry both if you wanted the sockets aren't colorcoded or nearly as slick looking as the ones in the tool check but they're impact rated which is very nice they're stored in a flexible organizer that holds them securely and is very minimal I wish I could find more of these for sale by themselves there's an included adapter that let you use these with quarin drivers and ratchets but all the bit sets also include the same adapter adapter my only complaint is this adapter sticks up a lot so I might swap it in for a standard lowprofile adapter that's not impact rated the last piece of the puzzle is a screwdriver handle and there's a few features to consider for this to work with our bits and sockets it needs to hold standard quarter-inch bits and most of the multi- bit screwdrivers I found use short or long double-sided bits that won't work so that limits our options I can actually buy the exact same bit holder from the tool check Plus for $12 it's nicely made with a magne bit retention but it's kind of an in between size it's too tall to be a stubby and really small as a regular screwdriver but if we use this option our complete kit with the viha bitbox and Makita sockets cost $57 I also think we can do better with the bit driver handle and I think it's worth taking some of those savings and getting a more capable tool if you want to go with a proper stubby the PB Swiss is really great at $16 this is the first time I've used a PB Swiss and I can see why people like these so much because the handle is super grippy and comfortable for $4 more this is a big upgrade I just think you're going to want something bigger as a primary screwdriver you can step up from the Baseline driver to the craft form 810 for only $2 more at $14 and the difference between these is unbelievable this is a full-size driver that's way better to use and feels almost identical to my compact that cost triple the price now it's Bare Bones with a simple retaining ring to hold the bits but you get a very comfortable Vera handle lots of reach and this has great balance and weight for EDC I feel the Vera is a bit too big and I spent a ton of time and money trying different drivers including the craft form 86r for $17 and the ratcheting version for 35 both were really good but the smaller handle wasn't as comfortable as I'd like so these are getting returned I then found this hit 810 BH for $20 and this is by far the best bit driver I've ever used this isn't a flashy design but it's german-made and is a very comfortable handle that gives you lots of grip and is an uncontroversial design that I think everyone will like best of all it has an incredibly good locking mechanism that has zero play none seriously with a good quality bit this feels like a permanently attached blade not a bit driver every other driver I've used has both play side to side and forward and back but this is 100% solid keep in mind that this is only true with insert style bits with these little notches if you use a power style bit with this tapered Notch they always have more play but it's still really solid this two-in-one extension from 7eleven L is a nice compliment to this driver because it gives you more reach and makes it really fast to switch between driving bits and sockets just pull this collar forward to use it as a magnetic bit holder or slide it back to reveal a quarin socket holder it's made in Taiwan and has a nice pickup for $9 up until now I didn't even know it was possible for a bit in a driver to to feel this solid even expensive drivers like my Vera have a fair amount of wobble so I live my entire life thinking this is just how things had to be as happy as I am with a hosit I heard the VHA Sentra fix bit driver is even better so I delayed this video so I could buy one and test it out yeah I have a tool problem so what the secret to the Cent fix is it has four ball bearings inside that apply pressure evenly to fully lock in any type of bit not not only is this rock solid with insert bits it holds power bits equally well that means that extensions also have no play at all it's incredible the VHA cost $30 so it's definitely a premium tool but I'd argue the main job of a bit holder is to hold bits securely so this one knocks it out of the park it 100% feels like a fixed blade screwdriver and makes everything else feel like a wobbly mess the handle design and overall balance is also great this is the best bit driver I've seen nothing even comes close it's also compatible with the double-sided VHA technician bits so you can make a lightweight EDC kit by carrying 26 bits and a driver the Leatherman extension is one of the few options that can hold these bits and somehow the cix can grab onto the proprietary base with no wobble you could even bring along this 7eleven L micro ratchet so you can pack a ton of functionality into a tiny package the it is still my recommended best value since it's just as solid with insert bits but pretty average with power bits and extensions if you can afford the extra $10 for the VHA you will not be disappointed if you want something with integrated bit storage check out the Klein 14 in1 for only $21 you get a full-size driver with Magnetic retention 12 impact rated bits stored in a twole Carousel and an adjustable shaft length you can even combine it with this to Voltron a Mega Tool it's really good but for me it's just a little too bulky and heavy to be my daily driver I know people really like clein grips and if you have bigger hands this might be your perfect tool some people myself included like ratcheting drivers so I wanted to find an affordable version of my Vera compact because that's $45 I eventually found this vestel Crystal in TD 6800 ratcheting screwdriver for $27 which is almost half the price of the Vera Compact and I actually got it on sale for 23 the 72 to ratchet is silky smooth and it holds bits tightly with a magnetic tip this is a hard plastic handle that reminds me of the classic Craftsman screwdrivers and it's comfortable to use when you lock it out to be a standard screwdriver there's very little slop from side to side it comes with two magazines of eight bits each so this is almost a complete set of bits including an extensive set of torque security a few hex Phillips and a flathead the biggest downside is the bit storage is really hard to open until you modify it a bit with a pair of pliers worse the bit loading is beyond fiddly if they aren't perfectly inserted the magazine won't fit in and that's a big problem for the top row of bits because they are near impossible to put back in correctly since there's not enough clearance the bit storage isn't great but in my mind it's a bonus feature so I'm going to put the top four bits I need in the bottom row and just skip loading the top row all together that'll make it lighter too I'm going to take the security torx bits that are left over and add them to my VW go box to level that up all right so that was a lot of information in the end let's keep this real simple if you want a fantastic stubby driver pick up the PB Swiss for $16 for a comfortable allaround bit driver with Rock Solid bit retention it's hard to beat the hosit 810 BH for $20 if you want a ratcheting driver with bit storage go with the vessel for $27 so for EDC where you want something compact I think this is an amazing set of tools that are way better than the tool check plus and slightly less money after doing all this research and testing I got to admit that the tool check is actually a great mix of tools and quality for fair price but you can do better if you roll your [Music] own let's shift gears and talk about the other scenario where you use using the tool check plus as part of a larger toolkit in this situation this is mostly used as a bitten socket set I know I felt that way when I picked up the Vera craft form compact $825 for $40 a few years back to complement the tool check it's much longer adds a smooth ratcheting system onboard bit storage and can use all the quarin bits and sockets eventually I also wanted to have a larger ratchet for more torque and splurged on the xyclopz that lets me use the same bits and sockets straight on like a bit driver or angled as a ratchet for more torque all three tools combined cost over $170 which is really Steep and you have duplicate tools with two bit drivers and two ratchets I figure you can easily put together a much less expensive kit my first thought was to just buy highquality versions of the individual components based around a quarter-inch shank for bits the client 32 piece bit set for $22 is the most economical option and I don't think the micro ratchet and the other kits is very important in a standard toolkit like this you may want to add a slightly bigger set of quarin sockets than the Makita and Harbor Freight has a ton of budget options I got this Quinn 10piece Quin metric socket set that seems like good quality especially for $11 but you can get a very similar Pittsburgh set for around eight their prices are wild it doesn't come with a quarin adapter like the Makita but the client set already includes the bit adapter we need and instead of buying a socket rail for storage I repurpose the packaging by carefully removing the sockets then sanding the little retaining ring on each socket holder with a Dremel so they slide off easily but still friction fit I then cut the top of the packaging off with a hacksaw sanded down any rough edges and to keep the sockets from sliding off I drilled a hole and added a zip tie but you could also Crazy Glue the last one if you wanted thanks to Brandon lond for the idea this is a great way to save a little bit of money instead of the zop at $60 the Pittsburgh Quin swi dble head ratchet from Harbor Freight is an absolute steal at $15 like the cyclop it is a fine 90 to ratchet mechanism and rotating head that lets you use it straight on like a screwdriver or nut driver or it can rotate to become a ratchet for more torque the only downside is this doesn't lock at 0 and 90° like the cyclop but it does mean you can smoothly transition between modes without fiddling with a switch the head stays in place with just the right amount of friction but it rotates smoothly when needed this little slit down the center is a bit Sharp but overall the fit and finish is pretty darn good instead of the Vera craft form driver at $45 I'd go with the hosit 810 BH for $20 a bit driver's main job is holding bits tightly with a comfortable grip and this does that really well this lacks a ratchet but I feel like the Pittsburgh ratchet I'm carrying already has that covered all in this kit is $68 which is almost 13d the price of the tool check plus with the craftform screwdriver and cyclops ratchet that's a much better value with less duplication of tools and excellent quality I'm debating whether I would upgrade to the vessel ratcheting driver for $7 more or if I should use that money and pick up the PB Swiss stubby for $15 or both heck you saved a lot of money already treat yourself personally I might spend the extra $9 to upgrade to the vhha go box to get the rugged case micro ratchet and extension for a total of $77 if you want more of an all-in-one kit the HB 45 piece socket set is packed with tools for only $50 it includes 13 metric sockets spanning four to 14 mm with no skips a swivel joint and/ Quin bit adapter that gives you three more than the Pittsburgh ratchet and will let you tackle more Fasteners the sockets look really nice with a matte finish knurling at the base and deep etch lettering for the size I like that they also emboss the size at the bottom of the case to make it easier to find the right size and I like how the sockets clip into a rail Style space rather than just sitting in a well so these won't fall out if you open the case upside down the 6-in ratchet feels great and is the main reason I chose this set as far as I can tell this is made in the same Factory as the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh ratchet other than the handle design they are 100% identical on the top cover there are 20/4 in bits that cover popular fasteners like security torqus hex Phillips flat and paa drive but there aren't any Square bits these feel pretty high quality and I really like the clear printed label so you can quickly find what you're looking for they also include six Precision bits and a Precision screwdriver handle with extension this is a nice bonus but I think the selection and quality of the bits and especially the handle aren't that great Precision bits are handy to have for things like eyeglasses and electronics you'd be better off picking up this Precision bit and Driver set that has a ton of bits and a nice machined aluminum driver with spinner Cap all of this was only $6 which is pretty incredible I've never heard of H B but this is made in Taiwan and seems to be high quality let me know in the comments if you have experience with this brand but I think it's a keeper the hit 810 BH bit driver fills out the set nicely for $20 and even has a matching color scheme All in This is a similar price to the individual tools at $70 so if you like the idea of everything packed into a rugged box and appreciate a bigger socket set this is hard to beat for the quality if you're on a really tight budget the mwar 77p piece kit pack in a set of sockets Quin bits Precision bits Precision handle and ratcheting screwdriver handle for only $26 and I've seen it on sale for much less the 10 metric sockets range from 4 to 13 mm with no skips and included hex to Quin adapter lets you attach them to the ratcheting driver handle like a socket driver there's 37 Quin bits that cover security torqux hex Phillips flat square and paa drive similar to the HB set but they went way overboard with the nine flat tips that's a ridiculous amount the ratchet handle is a little small but it's still comfortable and it's slightly oval shape gives you good grip a ratchet feels pretty crisp and smooth and there's not too much slop the bit retention is magnetic but it's not super strong they also include 25 Precision bits and a Precision driver handle which is really cool you know quality seems pretty solid overall but we're far from fancy German tool territory the case feels like a slightly cheaper version of a DeWalt case everything's held in decently with friction so nothing much should fall out when you open it upside down the only thing youd need to complete this kit is the trusty Pittsburgh quarin swivel head ratchet from Harbor Freight for $15 all in this kit is only $41 which makes it an ultra value option if you spend any less than this you're going to be disappointed so what about Harbor Freight they are the masters of affordable tools right well we can start with their icon bit set and mini ratchet but it's a steep $40 although the mini ratchet in the icon kit is nice I'd suggest adding the Pittsburgh Pro quarin ratchet for $15 because the pivot mechanism is Miles better and the longer handle will give you a lot more torque you'll need to add a rail of quarin sockets like the Quinn for $11 lastly we need a ratcheting screwdriver handle that uses standard bits and this is a big gap in the harbor freight product lineup your only two options are this 26 piece Pitsburg set that has a ratchet that looks suspiciously like the one in the mworks kit and a bulky case design that that just wasn't my favorite I ended up buying the only other option this 34 piece Pittsburgh set for $8 sure it's inexpensive but this is absolute junk the ratchet sounds like it has 10 to 12 teeth versus 60 on the Vera the direction switch is this tiny thing that just feels bad and the handle is barely okay it comes with a small set of SAE and metric sockets but they are terrible look at how thin the walls are it also comes with three bundles of bits that seem okay but the storage on this is really odd I thought they might drop in the handle but nope they're just weird circles all in this kit costs $74 which is more than all the other kits I put together and the ratcheting screwdriver is garbage so this is one case where Harbor Freight isn't the best value and I wouldn't go with this kit although certain tools like the Pittsburgh ratchet and their socket sets are a real bargain so in the end is the tool check plus a ripoff as a mini kit in your vehicle or for EDC where you're actually using the small driver handle and micro ratchet I think nothing has the same mix of highquality german-made tools in an all-in-one package with such a great case design so I think $72 is reasonable for what you get that said the kit I've put together is even better more rugged and a little less expensive take that be if you're building a larger toolkit and want to do serious work you definitely need to get full-size versions of the ratchet and Driver handle and that's where the value proposition of the tool check plus starts to fall apart it can be a lot less expensive to look at the other options where you buy individual pieces and save anywhere from 50 to 80% of what I paid for my Vera tools I've spent weeks researching in testing tools but I'm sure I've only scratched the surface let me know in the comments what your favorite budget bits sockets and ratcheting drivers are so I can make this even better I'm planning on doing a full budget toolit video this winter so please be sure to subscribe so you know when that drops thanks everyone till next time but

Channel: Todd Parker

Views: 168,447

Keywords: wera toolcheck plus alternatives, idc toolkits, best bit drivers

Id: wX_qK-VF4DM

Length: 21min 59sec (1319 seconds)

Published: Mon Jan 01 2024