Wera Screwdrivers, A Comparison and Review

Wera Tools has long been at the forefront of screwdriver design and quality. They also make a ton of different screwdrivers in a vast array of colors and sizes. It can be mind-boggling! Let’s take a closer look and examine the different variations and features of each.

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THE FLAGSHIP: Kraftform Plus

The ubiquitous green-and-black Kraftform Plus handle is the flagship of the Wera brand. Heck, it’s even used in their logo! Wera has long believed that the hand should dictate the handle and not vice-versa. If you squeezed some putty or Play Doh in your hand, you will essentially have the shape of a Kraftform handle. This shape prevents blisters and calluses, while the large contact area ensures high torque. The handle is made of multiple materials, all with a specific purpose. The core is a resistant plastic for holding the blade securely. The black hard surface prevents sticking so the hand can be repositioned easy. The green soft surface offers friction resistance, so your grip is firm while exuding less effort.

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THE OPTIONS: Lasertip and Hex Bolster

Before we go any further a word about laser tips and bolsters. Lasertips are Wera’s version of anti-cam out technology. The tip has lines etched into the steel, so that it bites into the screw and doesn’t slip out. There is even a video review by our friends over at Real Tool Reviews where the reviewer pulls a tool cart with only the Lasertip holding on! If you need an extra bit of torque, some come with a hex bolster where the handle meets the shaft. This gives you the ability to attach a wrench for even greater torque. Both of these elements are optional.

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FOR ELECTRICAL: Insulated

If your needs are of the electrical nature, then to ensure your safety you need insulated tools. Wera’s insulated tools are in the industry standard red and yellow and are tested in water baths at 10,000 volts, ensuring your safety up to 1,000 volts. They are also impact tested at -40 degrees, so they can be used in extreme environments. Sometimes you may need to get into hard-to-reach places, so there are also slimline versions. These have a reduced blade diameter and have a seamless joint between the insulation and tip. These also come in a reduced handle size as well, the Wera “Super Slim.”

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FOR THE ELEMENTS: Stainless Steel

Speaking of water baths, if the handle has light blue soft areas it is made of stainless steel. Stainless fasteners are usually used either outdoors or near water sources. To prevent rust, stainless tools should be used with stainless screws. Through an ice hardening process, the tools are manufactured to industry standard strength, so there is no limit to where they can be used. With the exception of the Square and Torx blades, all the stainless drivers come with a Lasertip. These come in insulated (the red and light blue), too, if you are working on electricity near water.

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ON A BUDGET: Kraftform Comfort, Kraftform Classic**

If you want the Wera quality but don’t want to spend as much money, a budget friendly option is either the Kraftform Comfort or Kraftform Classic line. These all have the same grip design as their higher-end counterparts without premium features such as bolsters or Lasertips. They come in standard or insulated. The comfort line has a multi-component handle, while the classic is all one hard material. There is a rumor that the Classic line could be discontinued soon, but as of right now are available to purchase.

**Important Update! Both of these lines of screwdrivers have been discontinued since this was published. They are still available at a few retailers, but no longer available at KC Tool**

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FOR STRIKING: ChiselDriver

If you have ever used a screwdriver as a makeshift chisel before you know how risky of a proposition that can be. Wera’s ChiselDriver line of drivers make this a much safer action with the addition of striking caps and a shaft that extends through the handle. The tempered material prevents the blade from splintering or breaking. The entire line has hex bolsters, but no Lasertips. Among the ChiselDrivers is also a line with an additional square-shaped socket cap for inserting a ¼ inch ratchet or T-handle for adding extra torque. On a cautionary note, there a few screwdrivers in the ChiselDriver line that don’t actually have socket caps and are not meant to be hammered!

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THE ODDBALL: Wooden Handles

But oddball in a good way! A straight-out-of-grandpa’s-workshop kinda way. The wooden drivers are shaped differently than any other tool in the Wera line. Though the handles are a different shape, they are still well-designed to fit the hand with indents for fingers and a hex bolster built into the shaft. And just like the chisel drivers, the shaft runs from the end of the handle through to the tip, so striking with a hammer is a safe possibility.

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FOR PRECISION: Kraftform Micro

Finally the Wera precision drivers combine fast turning zones, along with a power zone that is similar to the larger gripped handles. The rotating cap allows the user to hold it in multiple ways, allowing for use in a broad array of applications. They come in both standard and ESD safe for use on electronics like computers and smartphones.

The Fine Print

All of these drivers have the Wera limited lifetime warranty and run the gamut in terms of tips: Phillips, Slotted, Torx, you name it. Check out this YouTube video to see these tools in motion and learn a few more interesting facts! And as always, all your Wera screwdriver needs are best fulfilled by your friends at KC Tool.