Who would you consider to be the better of the Taiwanese tool makers?
- Thread starter impactims
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dr_clyde
Well-known member
Not sure if you’re trolling or just didn’t read the OP, but he’s asking for Taiwanese makers. SO makes their sockets in the USA.
A great product, but not what I'm talking about.
What's the question?
CGarage
Well-known member
Williams Taiwan / Vigor / Toptul for what you are after…..
Taiwanese tools are very good quality and I will happily support Taiwan manufacturing.
Taiwanese tools are very good quality and I will happily support Taiwan manufacturing.
nicks78camaro
Well-known member
VIM probably highest price of any of the non truck brand Taiwan tools. I don't know anything about Performance Tool.
Tekton makes 1/4" and 3/8" drive chrome universal sockets.
Capri only currently lists 1/4" drive.
Tekton has unbeatable customer service and warranty service for an online tool company.
Tekton makes 1/4" and 3/8" drive chrome universal sockets.
Capri only currently lists 1/4" drive.
Tekton has unbeatable customer service and warranty service for an online tool company.
IME/IMO, don't buy chrome 3/8 universal sockets- buy impacts.
For 1/4, I use a 10mm 99% of the time that I use a universal. So, I'm not sure you'd need a set. But if you want a set, then go for it. Tekton uses a different design than most, or did, and there have been complaints here about them failing because the pins don't go all the way thru- in order to shorten the length of the "universal" portion. And I'm a fan of Tekton, but..... sometimes there's a reason that things have been the same way forever.
My 1/4 universal metrics are old USA SK, so I can't personally recommend anything, other than to not buy 3/8 chrome. If you do want 3/8, then I'll sell you some old USA Craftsman metric that have essentially never been used. Because they've never worked for me. Oh, I also have some USA 12pt Williams in inch size that were my dad's that sit unused.
For 1/4, I use a 10mm 99% of the time that I use a universal. So, I'm not sure you'd need a set. But if you want a set, then go for it. Tekton uses a different design than most, or did, and there have been complaints here about them failing because the pins don't go all the way thru- in order to shorten the length of the "universal" portion. And I'm a fan of Tekton, but..... sometimes there's a reason that things have been the same way forever.
My 1/4 universal metrics are old USA SK, so I can't personally recommend anything, other than to not buy 3/8 chrome. If you do want 3/8, then I'll sell you some old USA Craftsman metric that have essentially never been used. Because they've never worked for me. Oh, I also have some USA 12pt Williams in inch size that were my dad's that sit unused.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
I would consider ICON before the options mentioned.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Not being a smart *** but, none of the brands you listed make their own tools. They pay companies like Kabo, High Five, Infar, William Tool, Tone, and others to make tools for them.
having said that, what features do you want in a 1/4 chrome swivel socket? If it's warranty and open stock availability is your key requirement, I'd recommend Tekton or Capri. If it's a shorter overall length, I recommend either Tekton, or the dual drive versions offered by Vim. I would also consider the swivel sets offered by Astro Tools or Icon on sale. What size range and square drive size are you looking for? Good luck in your quest
One thing I'll add is that the tool brand never wants divulge who is making what for who
having said that, what features do you want in a 1/4 chrome swivel socket? If it's warranty and open stock availability is your key requirement, I'd recommend Tekton or Capri. If it's a shorter overall length, I recommend either Tekton, or the dual drive versions offered by Vim. I would also consider the swivel sets offered by Astro Tools or Icon on sale. What size range and square drive size are you looking for? Good luck in your quest
One thing I'll add is that the tool brand never wants divulge who is making what for who
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isb cornbinder
Well-known member
I am of the mind that any of those companies can build High
Quality as well as low quality. It depends on what their customer wants. Some of these big tool building companies build for many tool brands that we all have in our collections,
Try to remember, build does not necessarily mean own.
Quality as well as low quality. It depends on what their customer wants. Some of these big tool building companies build for many tool brands that we all have in our collections,
Try to remember, build does not necessarily mean own.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
Who are the Manufacturers Behind the World’s Biggest Hand & Power Tool Brands?
Power tools and hand tools have drastically increased efficiency in the workplace, with their uses ranging from screw driving to metalworking. Plus, they make home renovation projects a breeze! But who are the manufacturers behind these big power and tool brands? Have you ever thought about...
www.diversitech-global.com
None of these are manufacturers. These are all distributors. So I think there is literally no answer. They could all be coming from the same factory, or they could each have a factory competing against the others’. Asian manufacturing is a hot mess. If we said Tekton, they could buy from a new manufacturer for the next batch and be great or really bad. Its more than a little pointless to compare products sold by distributors. Craftsman wasn’t different, btw. There were good manufacturers and bad.
Speaking of Tekton, guys like them here, but they don’t perform super well in the TTC tests. Hate to say it. Know what Taiwan sockets perform well? Icon.
Based on testing alone, I guess my answer is Icon for Taiwan tools.
nicks78camaro
Well-known member
Link to any specific TTC video showing a Tekton tool was subpar compared to Icon?
dont mean to be a smartass but honestly buy a Tekton 3/8 impact universal socket set and then buy a snap on 10 mm universal chrome in 1/4 drive
and get 1/4 and 3/8 chrome universal adapters from snap on if you can afford it or second choice is koken but buy from kokenusa so you get a legit warranty and wait for a 20% to 30% off sale they do them every few months.
im telling you this as someone who has wasted money on tools he didn’t need and wish someone told me the above and wish I would have listened if someone did tell me
and get 1/4 and 3/8 chrome universal adapters from snap on if you can afford it or second choice is koken but buy from kokenusa so you get a legit warranty and wait for a 20% to 30% off sale they do them every few months.
im telling you this as someone who has wasted money on tools he didn’t need and wish someone told me the above and wish I would have listened if someone did tell me
Interesting. I did not know they were all just a bunch of distributors.
As unique as some of the VIM tools are I thought for sure they are making their own product or at least some of it. Otherwise, some of their competitors would offer the same kind of thing.
As unique as some of the VIM tools are I thought for sure they are making their own product or at least some of it. Otherwise, some of their competitors would offer the same kind of thing.
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lovetap
Well-known member
Anyone have a problem reading this article? Reads like it's written by AI.Who are the Manufacturers Behind the World’s Biggest Hand & Power Tool Brands?
Power tools and hand tools have drastically increased efficiency in the workplace, with their uses ranging from screw driving to metalworking. Plus, they make home renovation projects a breeze! But who are the manufacturers behind these big power and tool brands? Have you ever thought about...
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That's kind of wild, especially today with how inexpensive and powerful impacts are. Why?
Probably Facom. When manufacturing switched over, they seemed to have shipped the actual tooling for them. Taiwan made tools were exact same high quality as they were when made in France. And it seems they keep up the high quality manufacturing to this day.
From actual taiwan manufacturers, Toptul does not disappoint.
From actual taiwan manufacturers, Toptul does not disappoint.
Not OP but if you're not a professional mechanic there's not that much need for one, you can do everything manually and you probably "damage" it less.
My lug nuts on my cars are all nice cause I always take the wheels off at home and drive them to the tire shop to swap them with a second car. I don't use an impact...
Also for working on certain things like motorcycles. Sure you can use power tools but the advantage is much lower and customers would notice and be bothered more if something gets dinged too. You'd maybe use an impact to remove some axle nuts, especially in the engine where things may spin otherwise. But to remove the wheel axle is easy and fast enough with a breaker bar anyway... Many people even rather pay more for you to do a nice job over a fast job (since they're hobby vehicles and not commuter vehicles like cars).
Even far less need for one if you work on bicycles.
I’m the same way. Why? Well, after using power tools all day at work it’s nice to relax by working on my cars by hand.
From working a nice ratchet, to the *crack* you get from breaking fasteners loose, to the tactile sensation of removing/installing threaded fasteners - The whole process is quite enjoyable to me.
I used to impact everything but lately find myself only doing it on the tough stuff.
I guess I enjoy working on my equipment more when it's a process not just a means to an end.
Plus it's really easy to go full stupid and break things with a power tool.
four.cycle
Well-known member
tool manufacturers in Taiwan:
www.taiwanhandtools.com.tw
Taiwan Hand Tool Manufacturers' Association(THTMA)-MEMBERS | TaiwanHandTools.com.tw
Taiwan Hand Tool Manufacturers' Association(THTMA) 台灣手工具工業同業公會。
seber
Well-known member
I don't live in the rust belt so my impact only comes out to work on lawnmower blades.
No law as you can’t use impact sockets with those handles.
I do it most of the time. The impacts are heavier wall and their six point.
Paul_The_Builder
Well-known member
Grey Pnuematic
milkovich
Well-known member
The guys at VIM make no bones about sourcing from Taiwan. They just did a series of Youtube videos in the plant, in Taiwan. They generally try to spec and sell tools that other distributors don't have which is why you might think they are "gimmicky." As soon as they stumble on a winner, everyone copies them and they're no longer a gimmick. I'd also give a shout out to Astro Pneumatic who do a great job sourcing from TW as well. Then there are the big brands that have been sourcing from TW forever but are moving toward China. You have to have the product in your hands and look at the package, because the newer inventory won't be from TW anymore.
CGarage
Well-known member
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
To each his own. I use an impact to both speed up work and make work easier on my body. I can't imagine grabbing a breaker and a ratchet to take lugs off when a compact impact zips them off with zero effort and nearly no time.
Everyone clutches their pearls here when you talk about a "tool maker" or manufacturer. Welcome to the 21st century, time to stop being offended.
If this was a tech forum and someone said who makes the best phone and someone said Apple, it wouldn't devolve into a debate over who actually makes what. Because it's a meaningless debate if you can't buy from Foxxcon or otherwise.
If you want Kabo ratcheting wenches, buy from the best/cheapest source for your needs. You can't buy from Kabo, so pointing that out is just being pedandic.
If you can't buy VIM's or Tekton's chrome universals elsewhere, what's the difference.
For me, Tekton's short universals are a nice size, but break far too easy. YMMV
If this was a tech forum and someone said who makes the best phone and someone said Apple, it wouldn't devolve into a debate over who actually makes what. Because it's a meaningless debate if you can't buy from Foxxcon or otherwise.
If you want Kabo ratcheting wenches, buy from the best/cheapest source for your needs. You can't buy from Kabo, so pointing that out is just being pedandic.
If you can't buy VIM's or Tekton's chrome universals elsewhere, what's the difference.
For me, Tekton's short universals are a nice size, but break far too easy. YMMV