Tools: what's good between the Chinese crap and "truck tools" i.e. Snap-On, Mac, ...

[xyzzy]

Tools: what's good between the Chinese crap and "truck tools" i.e. Snap-On, Mac, ...

My tool chests are currently filled with 25+ year old Craftsman professional hand tools.

I've been doing a lot of research lately on mechanic hand tools (combination wrenches, sockets, ratchets, ratcheting combination wrenches, etc...), the stuff we use when we work on our rigs, home projects, and such. I am not finding consistent and decent reviews of quality hand tools between the Chinese crap and the super expensive truck tools.

My old Craftsman tools are great - they perfectly fit the "pro-sumer" market way back then, but when I need additional tools I'm not finding new tools in that same quality/performance/cost range.

What opinions can you provide on current available hand tools?

 

[cb1111]

I'm kind of stuck on European tools - Stahlwille - the German equivalent of tool truck tools or Wera and Gedore. Get baseline pricing on KCtoolco then order on amazon.de

amazon.de will automatically remove the VAT if you are in the states and convert the Euro prices to $. If you have prime, then there is a small shipping charge. As a rule of thumb, the price in Euros will be roughly what it will cost you in USD.

I've had things show up in as little as a week but figure two weeks or so. There is no import duty if the daily received items total less than $800.

Some stuff won't ship to the US but most tools will.

 

[spartacus]

My rule when it comes to tools is buy the best you can afford.

 

[Ogre75]

I have always used crafstman as that is what was always gifted to me since I was a kid. The only derivation from that was a Kobalt ratchet/socket set. It's hard to explain but they are hollow through the socket and ratchet to allow long bolts. Been a great set and are now my go to for everything short of breaker bar work.

 

[KWSRStorm]

Always had good luck with craftsman for hand tools and dewalt for power tools.

Theres some specialty tools whered id want to spend more money, but theres also tools that i loose that i just go with harbor frieght (like wire cutters for 1$)

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[xyzzy]

I found this breakdown helpful because I'm actively trying to avoid anything manufactured in China.
Tool Industry Behemoths: Who Makes & Who Owns Most Tool Brands?

 

[xyzzy]

Anybody have any experience with KT Pro tools? Product Categories | KT PRO.

The pictures appear to show quality design and finish, but pictures can be deceiving.

What about Wera? They're out of Czechia and also show quality design and finish.

 

[cb1111]

Anybody have any experience with KT Pro tools? Product Categories | KT PRO.

The pictures appear to show quality design and finish, but pictures can be deceiving.

What about Wera? They're out of Czechia and also show quality design and finish.

Wera is probably my favorite tool company with top notch stuff. Wera is a German company making many of the tools in the Czech Republic.

I suspect that many on the Horizon tools are made in China. The website is very careful to not say where anything is made (so not USA or Europe or that would be splashed all over their site) and I cant find any reviews other that 5star Amazon reviews - but each item only has one review.

KT pro is King Tony Tools - a South African distributor selling Taiwanese made tools. Taiwanese tools are often decent quality, but they also make crap.

I bought most of my Wera tools on Amazon.de . Find the part number on the Wera site, plug it in to the Amazon.de site and the system will remove the VAT and convert the cost to $$

 

[ran]

I do wonder who made the early 70's and 80's Craftsman tool, still in use today.
_________________
2007 SE V6 titanium

 

[cb1111]

I do wonder who made the early 70's and 80's Craftsman tool, still in use today.
_________________
2007 SE V6 titanium

Old Craftsman was made in the US. About 12 years they started changing to Chinese made crap and when they sold the name to Stanley Black & Decker, everything was made in China.

A few months ago, they stated that some of their sockets and wrenches will be made in the US. Although they did caveat that with the statement "with global materials" so who knows.

I've bought lots of tools over the years and have yet to see a tool made in the US that was crap.

The only time I buy a tool made in China is when it is non critical (i.e. failure can't hurt me) and it is a tool I only expect to use one time.

 

[xyzzy]

...snip...

The only time I buy a tool made in China is when it is non critical (i.e. failure can't hurt me) and it is a tool I only expect to use one time.

That's part of my problem, I don't expect that any tool is a one-time use disposable item. It's not like they're stick matches or fireworks...

I'm actively de-supporting anything and everything I can that's made in China, even though you can find quality products from China.

 

[IH784]

China freight. Not my pick either but, they will work. If it’s a heavy use item buy once cry once. (Something decent)

 

[T4R2014]

I'm kind of stuck on European tools - Stahlwille - the German equivalent of tool truck tools or Wera and Gedore. Get baseline pricing on KCtoolco then order on amazon.de

amazon.de will automatically remove the VAT if you are in the states and convert the Euro prices to $. If you have prime, then there is a small shipping charge. As a rule of thumb, the price in Euros will be roughly what it will cost you in USD.

I've had things show up in as little as a week but figure two weeks or so. There is no import duty if the daily received items total less than $800.

Some stuff won't ship to the US but most tools will.

Those German brands are excellent. Downside is getting your tools warrantied, but I don't use my tools enough to break them. Another brand to consider is Facom. Now if I was running a business I'd just stick with SnapOn or Mac.

 

[cb1111]

Those German brands are excellent. Downside is getting your tools warrantied, but I don't use my tools enough to break them. Another brand to consider is Facom. Now if I was running a business I'd just stick with SnapOn or Mac.

Over the years, I've had some Wera and Knipex fail. Warranty wasn't s easy as walking up to the SO truck but an email with a picture to the US distributor got it sorted and one of Knipex pliers was ancient.