PB Swiss Tools is one of my favorite European tool brands. Heck, they’re one of my favorite hand tool brands, period. There are two downsides, though.
First, PB Swiss Tools make excellent, but pricey, products. Their higher prices mean you have to have a strong need or want to buy any of their tools. Second, their availability is very limited in the USA. The last I checked, there were only two distributors, ToolLady, and Count On Tools.
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You can also find them on Amazon, sold by Count On (Fulfilled by Amazon), and smaller independent importers.
I’ve posted about PB Swiss over the years, but not as often as I could have, mainly because of their cost and availability concerns. But maybe I’ll make a point to post about PB Swiss Tools more often. I use a number of PB Swiss Tools on a regular basis that I’ve been meaning to review, and wouldn’t be opposed to trying new ones out.
This was all brought to mind by a recent email from Chris:
I got in touch with the Toollady, and ordered a ratcheting 1/4″ hex driver, a 1/4 hex cross handled driver, and a “T” like the one you got .
Not cheap, but then again, I have ran Snap On and Mac ratchet drivers for many years.
All I can say is, Wow! Very solid Kit. It won’t be my last order. If they don’t get swiped, they will go into my estate!
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Another one joins the club! Thanks, Chris, for the email!
Here’s my quick video review of the T-Handle Chris is referring to:
I hate to admit this, but that T-handle driver has been on my review list since December. I have photos on my computer ready to be edited, and a bunch of notes just waiting to be whipped into a full writeup. But hey, at least I got the video up! And it is an amazing bit holder. The swivel collar works well to help me spin the driver for fast loosening or tightening, and it’s awesome that I can store a couple of screwdriver bits inside the handle
I wish I could say this is one of my favorite PB Swiss Tools, or at least my favorite PB Swiss screwdriver, but the fact is I haven’t met a PB Swiss product that I didn’t like! I also love my PB Swiss mini cross-handle Torx drivers, but I digress.
That image all the way at the top of the page is of my PB Swiss stubby screwdriver bit holder, which I reviewed back in October. Once you get a feel for Santoprene-gripped tools, other handle materials just won’t feel the same. And that’s a Dewalt FlexTorq screwdriver bit in the 1/4″ hex chuck.
You can find all of my PB Swiss Tools coverage here.
Have you joined the PB Swiss Tools owner’s club? Will you? Which PB Swiss Tools might you want to see reviewed in the future? (C’mon, please give me the justification I need to buy some more PB Swiss Tools from my wishlist!)
Be careful. PB Swiss Tools ownership is a one-way path where one purchase will often inevitably lead to more.
And no, there’s no PB Swiss Tools owner’s club. Maybe we can make one. We could call it the “I’m broke but at least I have these fantastic Swiss-made tools Club.”
fred
Over the years I’ve acquired a few tools from PB Swiss (aka Baumann). Some may be a bit oddball – some like their tapered reamers may no longer be available. Here’s a list:
COMPANY PART NO. EAN TOOL
BAUMANN 7672 7610733033171 RADIATOR HOSE HOOK
BAUMANN 7673 7610733033188 RADIATOR HOSE HOOK
BAUMANN 5280/12 TAPERED REAMER
BAUMANN 5280/20 TAPERED REAMER
BAUMANN 5280/25 TAPERED REAMER
PB SWISS 106/1 7610733013210 SETSCREW SCREWDRIVER
PB SWISS 106/4 7610733013241 SETSCREW SCREWDRIVER
PB SWISS 106/5 7610733029983 SETSCREW SCREWDRIVER
PB SWISS 106K/2 7610733013258 SETSCREW SCREWDRIVER
PB SWISS 106K/3 7610733013265 SETSCREW SCREWDRIVER
PB SWISS 196/1 7610733001873 NUTDRIVER – ROUND NUT
PB SWISS 196/10 7610733001965 NUTDRIVER – ROUND NUT
PB SWISS 196/2 7610733001880 NUTDRIVER – ROUND NUT
PB SWISS 196/3 7610733001897 NUTDRIVER – ROUND NUT
PB SWISS 196/4 7610733001903 NUTDRIVER – ROUND NUT
PB SWISS 196/5 7610733001910 NUTDRIVER – ROUND NUT
PB SWISS 196/6 7610733001927 NUTDRIVER – ROUND NUT
PB SWISS 196/7 7610733001934 NUTDRIVER – ROUND NUT
PB SWISS 196/8 7610733001941 NUTDRIVER – ROUND NUT
PB SWISS 196/9 7610733001958 NUTDRIVER – ROUND NUT
PB SWISS 755/2 7610733005352 PIN PUNCH
PB SWISS 755/3 7610733005369 PIN PUNCH
PB SWISS 755/4 7610733005376 PIN PUNCH
PB SWISS 755/5 7610733005383 PIN PUNCH
PB SWISS 755/6 7610733005390 PIN PUNCH
PB SWISS 755/7 7610733005406 PIN PUNCH
PB SWISS 8192/4-200 7610733216888 POZIDRIV SCREWDRIVER
Ahmad D
I was once part of the “I’m broke but at least I have these fantastic Swiss-made tools Club,” but now I’m an ex-member. I had my PB Swiss Insider 3 stolen and can’t get the wife to agree that it’s necessary to buy another $100 screwdriver.
I do like the reviews you’ve done so far on the PB Swiss tools. I would like more comparison between other comparable brands but I can see some fan boy wars breaking out because of direct comparisons. The reason I’d appreciate it is because the Insider 3 was my only PB Swiss screwdriver and I’ve never bought any premium tools before. Most of the tools I’ve ever owned have been whatever the cheapest priced tools at hardware stores.
Also, what’s your opinion on the hard handle vs SwissGrip handles from PB?
Thanks for your work!
Wesley
Losing your Insider 3 must have hurt!
I own the long shaft version and it’s the only other thing I check if I’ve left behind each time I leave a job site, besides my cellphone.
The grip on the Insider is a superb feat of engineering. Comfortable, doesn’t attract dust/grease/grime, and feels like a unibody construction without ever knowing that the bit compartment is there.
Without incurring the wrath of your missus, I say just go ahead and get a new one.
Brett
That T handle looks way too long to be useful. If you need a lot of torque you probably shouldn’t be using a screwdriver bit to begin with.
Brent
I would like a review showing the distinction between PB Swiss slotted tip design and everyone else’s. PB Swiss is not tapered at the tip, so it avoids camming out and ruining slotted screw heads. This is the benefit I have read about but have yet to experience first hand.
herp derpson
That sounds like hollow ground tips… Which isn’t so much a PB thing as just a quality thing. A recent post on dewalt screwdrivers had that as well.
superautobacs
Grace USA also makes hollow-ground tips. The difference would be that PB Swiss/Baumann has bevelled edges while the Grace’s don’t.
These are the tools I just used today at work.
classic handle flat-head screwdriver
stubby T-handle flat-head screwdriver
scratch awl
tapered pin punch
their largest and smaller deadblow hammers (best deadblow mechanism in the market)
taper reamer
Most of my purchases were from 5 years ago.
I have one of those T-handle drivers that I use exclusively for woodworking (for pocket-hole joinery), using Robertson #2 bits of different lengths, which I keep in the handle.
The only thing I’ve purchased from them that I wasn’t too keen on is their 225-series interchangeable blade system. Other than that, they are great tools to use and look at.
Chris Fyfe
I’m very satisfied with the 100 mm Twister , the T , and the Cross handled stubby . Some of their Allen keys are under consideration .
I would like to try a few of their 1/4″ hex bits , tho I would probably reserve them for more critical applications , where ca out had to be avoided .
Despite it’s length , the T is very useful for operations where a long screw needs to be run in quickly , but needs precise final adjustments .
Chris
Dan
I recently bought my first PB Swiss items too, Rainbow L keys, a few hex bits, awl, a small slot head screwdriver and some file handles. I think from now on if they make it I will be buying it, its really good stuff and definitely worth the money.
SteveR
Funny; the name of the Snap-on tools club is quite similar. That’s the double-edged sword that comes with buying well-made tools. The catch-phrase of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars used to be (something like), “The quality will be appreciated long after the price is forgotten”.
SteveR
I found the phrase and it actually reads, “Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten”.