My First Tool Review
I recently posted (April ‘25, if you’re reading this way in the future) on Instagram about my birthday gift from my beautiful Gillette; the Wera Kraftform Kompakt 900, Set 1. As an upcycler of old, solid wood furniture, this is an absolutely fantastic gift. In truth, this wasn’t an entirely spontaneous gift on Gillette’s part. I had previously mentioned that I was looking to purchase this set, but other priorities had taken precedence. I’d added it to my list of “to buy” tools and hadn’t given much more thought to it.
So, it was still a complete surprise when I opened the gift. The set has already been put to good use, as we had a garden gate issue that needed to be rectified. Whilst using it, I decided that this would be a great opportunity to review the Wera Kraftform Kompakt 900, Set 1. I always intended to have tool reviews on this site, but they’ve just been lower down the priority list. So, whilst the first use experience is still fresh in my head, let’s get the review blogs off the mark.
Disclaimer: I am in no way sponsored by Wera. And, even though I didn’t buy this set with my own cash (as it was a gift for my birthday), I intend to make this an honest and thorough review. Along with any and all future tool reviews, irrespective of brand. #NotSponsored
What’s In The Box?
Unboxing the Wera Kraftform Kompakt 900, Set 1, you’ll find the obligatory Wera Tool Rebels sticker, a couple of multi-language leaflets, and a self-adhesive patch of “hook and loop” loops. Along with the kit, itself. The leaflets comprise of a fairly basic user manual and a “Recommendations and warnings for adhesive tapes”. I don’t intend to use the self-adhesive patch of “hook and loop” loops, but if you think you might, then I’d probably give it a read through.
Wera 9467 Textile Box Kraftform Kompakt 900
The entire kit comes enclosed in a “box” manufactured from a heavy duty textile. Running this textile through finger and thumb, I get the impression that there’s some stiffening agent (potentially plastic) sandwiched between outer layers of textile.
The term “box” is used loosely, as it’s more of a stiffened tool roll, with two tabs (of the same textile) that form sides when the roll is closed. There is a strip of “hook and loop” fastener that keeps the roll closed, and strips of elastic material are stitched into the roll, to house all of the tooling.
On the outside of the “box” is the opposing patch of “hook and loop” hooks, to attach the self-adhesive patch of loops (if you’re using it). The patch of hooks are intended for use with the “Wera 2go” system, if you’re using it in conjunction with other items within that system.
Wera 921 Kraftform Plus Impact Screwdriver
Weight
The Wera website states that the textile box is “low weight for easy transport”, but picking up the set for the first time, I was surprised by the heft. Almost half of this weight is (reassuringly) down to the impact screwdriver itself. As I’ll be smacking the end with a hammer, the respectable 308.8g weight fills me with initial confidence as to the build quality and longevity of the screwdriver after multiple impacts.
Look & Feel
The handle has the usual Wera Kraftform profile and (as with all of the Series 900 screwdrivers) the handle has yellow accents. This denotes that this range can handle a little hammer tap, for those who tend to use flat head screwdrivers as pry bars and/or chisels.
Side Note: Yes. I’m fully aware that Wera has an ESD Series for their Kraftform Micro screwdrivers, which also have yellow accents. But, I would suggest that if you need the use of a hammer with delicate electronics work, then whatever it is that you’re working on is probably already buggered!
Having previously owned a set of Wiha SoftFinish® VDE screwdrivers (which were victims of my international shipping fiasco, from Australia back to the UK), I can honestly say I prefer the Wera Kraftform handle profile. I seem to get fewer blisters and less hand fatigue when using the Kraftform screwdrivers, than I ever did with the Wiha SoftFinish® ones.
Impact Cap
At one end of the handle is the metal cap, which forms part of the “pound-thru” system that all of the Wera Series 900 screwdrivers have. Only in this instance, the impact from hammer blows converts that force into rotational movement. This rotational movement has a stated maximum force of 25Nm and also rotates any inserted bit 40° around its central axis (which means nine impacts for one complete 360° rotation).
Locking Collar
Just before the bit-holding end is the locking collar. This is where the impact rotational feature can be locked off. Essentially, turning the handle into a very heavy screwdriver. The indented padlock open/closed icons denote whether the main feature of this impact screwdriver is active or not.
Bit-Holding
At the opposite end of the handle to the impact cap, is the bit-holding end that has a standard 1/4″ socket. Which (the Wera website states), conforms to DIN ISO 1173-C 6.3 and E 6.3. I am unsure as to whether the bit-holding is magnetic or friction fit, as the Wera website neglects to state.
Part of the bit-holding shaft is hexagonal. This is so that, when the locking collar is in the off position, a 13mm spanner can be employed to assist with stubborn screw removal.
Impact Screwdriver Bits
The Wera Kraftform Kompakt 900, Set 1 includes the following impact bits:
- 3x 851 S Phillips Impact Bits [PH1, PH2, PH3]
- 3x 855 S Pozidriv Impact Bits [PZ1, PZ2, PZ3]
- 5x 867 S TORX® Impact Bits [TX15, TX20, TX25, TX30, TX40]
- 4x 840 S Hex-Plus Impact Bits [3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm]
- 3x 800 S Slotted Impact Bits [0.8x 4mm, 1 x 5.5mm, 1.2 x 6.5mm]
Each of the bits included are 1/4″ hex by 70mm in length and altogether weigh in at 312.6g. It’s unclear as to what these bits are made out of, but the Wera website assures readers that they are; “…extra tough bits…”, that “…stand out with their particularly long service life” and that “Premature breakage is prevented”.
I’m not sure if the lack of a TORX® T27 bit will be an issue for some users. But, then again, I rarely use (or find) the TORX®/hexalobular/star drive system in my upcycling endeavours. I do have a blog on the TORX® drive system, which (I have been reliably informed) is a fun read. If you’re interested, then click here.
There is an imperial version of this set, which swaps out the 3-6mm Hex-Plus bits with 1/8″, 5/32”, 3/16” and 1/4″ Hex-Plus sized bits instead. Having OCD and autistic tendencies, I have since bought the four imperial bits for completeness sake. Only now I’m triggered again, as these bits don’t fit nicely into the set. Aaargh.!!
There are also three Robertson square drive bits available for this system (unsurprisingly, #1, #2 & #3), which I’ll probably end up purchasing. The square drive system isn’t a big thing, here in the UK, but I saw plenty of them in Australia. They have boxes of them on the shelves in Bunnings (Aussie equivalent to B&Q here in the UK, or Home Depot in the USA). In fact, a couple of boxes did come back with me.
In Use: The Wera Kraftform Kompakt 900, Set 1
As mentioned in the first section of this review, my Wera Kraftform Kompakt 900, Set 1, has already seen some use. A garden gate (and adjoining fence work) needed some attention, after approximately a decade (at least) of neglect. The gate came with the house, so the neglect was not on our part. Time had obviously taken its toll, and the gate and fence were considerably wobbly (technical term).
First Strike
The first point of call was removing the gate from the fence. The screws attaching the gate hinges to the fence looked like they had been replaced (at some point in the last decade) as they were Pozi #2. Whereas, the two (out of the four) screws that were supposed to be holding the latch in place were dreaded slotted dome heads.
A quick test, with a regular screwdriver, on the hinge screws showed no sign of them budging. I inserted the PZ2 bit into the bit-holder, slid the locking collar into the unlocked position and placed the bit into the first screw head.
With hammer in hand, I gave the handle a little twist lefty loosey (anti-/counter-clockwise) and gave the impact cap a whack. A minute plume of powdered rust indicated that the screw head had indeed moved. Another few hits and the countersunk screw head was visibly proud of the hinge. A few more bashes and the hinge screw was loose enough to be removed manually.
Losing My Head(s)
Removing the rest of the hinge screws was just as simple. Well, I say simple. The heads of four (out of the eight) screws fixing both hinges to the fence post, completely sheered off! This was more likely due to the age of the screws, as rust was apparent on every single screw I removed.
I suppose, this is likely to be a common occurrence for me, when dismantling old wooden furniture.
Chancing The Slots
With the Pozidriv heads out of the way, it was time to tackle the dreaded slotted dome-head screws. Thankfully, two out of the four screws, that were supposed to be holding the gate latch in place, were missing. The third was so corroded, it just fell out and looked more like a nail than a screw.
Which just left the final screw holding the latch in place. It was covered in layers of black paint, but the slot wasn’t so covered that the blade of the impact bit wouldn’t fit. The first hammer strike dislodged the majority of the paint from the screw head, anyway.
Thankfully, the screw was removed without incident.
Concerns
Impact Cap
After the initial strikes with the hammer onto the impact cap, I did notice some slight deformity of the impact cap. The hammer I was using was my Fiskars® IsoCore 16oz Finishing Hammer. After noticing said deformity, I switched to my Wera 101 Soft-Faced Hammer, with nylon heads, for the rest of the screw removal process.
I am unsure as to how much this deformation of the impact cap (over time) would affect the tool’s use and/or performance. Only time will tell. But, I expected the impact cap to be made of harder metal. Maybe, I was just using the incorrect hammer.
Impact Bits
Again, after the initial screw removal, I did notice some marking and deformity of the Pozidriv 2 bit head. This marking and deformity was (surprisingly) less so on the flat head bit, although still apparent. Could this just be removal of some corrosion inhibitor coating?
On the up side, as these bits are interchangeable, getting a replacement for a damaged bit is as simple as buying a new bit. Having said that, I’ll have to work out the cost effectiveness of this set, as a whole, when I have to replace bits.
Cost
Speaking of cost (yes, I know this was a present, but as I stated near the top of this blog, I’d already looked into buying this set before it was a birthday gift). A search on Google will bring up sites selling the Wera Kraftform Kompakt 900, Set 1 for anywhere between £90 to £124 (approx. $117 to $160 USD).
For just the 921 Kraftform Plus impact screwdriver, you’re looking at prices from £54 to £79 ($70 to $102 USD). The price for the individual impact bits can be found for around £4 to £10 ($5 to £14 USD) each. Remember, you may have to account for shipping costs for the individual items, which will bump overall costs up.
Conclusion
Concerns aside, for me, the Wera Kraftform Kompakt 900, Set 1 is amazing..! I can’t decide whether I’m in love with this tool, or in love with the concept of this tool. The thought of no more red palms (easy tiger), when trying to remove difficult screws from old wooden furniture (or reclaimed fence posts), is more than a little pleasing to me.
I could most certainly have done with this tool, when I completely renovated a late 1930s house (pretty much on my own and from scratch), back in 2005. The number of flat-head screws that I had to remove from door hinges, that had layer upon layer of paint on them. It doesn’t bear thinking about and it still pains me to remember.
One thing to note, however, is that the 921 Kraftform Plus Impact Screwdriver is intended for the removal of screws, only. Wera does make the 2090/17 Impact driver set, which does have the function to tighten screws, nuts and bolts, as well as loosen them. But, this set is around £100 ($130 USD) more expensive, and uses a completely different set of bits and accessories.
If you’re in the upcycling business and deal with old furniture frequently, or are in the home renovation game, then the Wera Kraftform Kompakt 900, Set 1 may (potentially) save you time and (most definitely) painful palms. Plus, the cost for the set isn’t beyond the pocket.
Further Reading And Footnotes
If you wish to find out more about the Wera Kraftform Kompakt 900, Set 1, (or, indeed, for any of their tool offerings) then head over to their website. There, you’ll find various images of dirty people, in dirty workshops using surprisingly pristine looking tools. *knowing look* Remember, #NotSponsored
For more information about me and all that is Silverhand Creative, go check out the About Me page on this website. I have a presence on Instagram and Facebook, where I post photos (and the odd video) of ongoing and finished projects. There’s also a YouTube channel, where you can see how I go about doing what I do and what tools I prefer to use. So, feel free (there’s no pressure) to follow and/or subscribe to any (or all) of the above.
I am most definitely amenable to commission work and have a web form for you to get in touch, should you be looking for something a little more custom.
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