Tekton Catalog and New Releases

[KnurledNut]

A real paper catalog, printed in the USA.
Free with any order.
https://www.tekton.com/product-cata...7HaHcDRjohhmA0Jf4WIRkyqfRTx0AQLLjW2Idx.YzeCp2

 

[drokihazan]

Oh that's cool. I was thinking about trying their new crows feet, and I sure do like paper catalogs. I like leafing through the snap-on ones, and I really miss when McMaster used to send one.

 

[wjjeep]

I prefer going paperless but it's good that they have this option.

 

[lardy1]

I'm surprised that they still do that. I think I get one every year without asking but I really can't remember. It's basically the same information that's on the website but it isn't updated until the next edition so it's not always concise.

Still a symbol of their excellent customer service. At one time stickers were free for the asking with every order too. Not sure if that still applies.

 

[Fedwrench]

I'm surprised that they still do that. I think I get one every year without asking but I really can't remember. It's basically the same information that's on the website but it isn't updated until the next edition so it's not always concise.

Still a symbol of their excellent customer service. At one time stickers were free for the asking with every order too. Not sure if that still applies.

currently, you can either get a catalog or a good sized sticker with each order.

I like when they offer their magnetic conversion charts for free

 

[Sanddollar]

Looks like the catalog is no longer a free bonus item with order.

 

[four.cycle]

Probably available in *.pdf format.
Paper catalogs are ungodly expensive to print and most of them are wasted.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

I agree that paper catalogs have gotten expensive for suppliers and manufacturers, and throwing them at people like candy is a waste, but:

I will always prefer manufacturers and suppliers that still provide them. I make notes in them, I keep them in my shop library for easy reference and they are a lot easier to navigate overall.

I have yet to come across a really well made digital catalog that really works EVERY TIME, on EVERY device. My background is in technical documentation, so I understand the ‘pain’ involved in creating large, truly usable PDF documents, but what I have seen so far from most manufacturers and suppliers really needs a lot of improvement.

I can’t count the times anymore that large PDF crash, links (TOC, overviews, chapter pages …) don’t work or aren’t even included at all.

Last but not least, to do what I do in a paper catalog in a PDF catalog will easily take double or triple the time. Not counting if you need to open the PDF two or three times before it’s actually ‘stable’ and usable. This has gotten much better over time, but it’s still far from perfect/ fully replacing paper catalogs for me anytime soon.

Believe it or not, I’m far more likely to buy products when I was able to research them quickly and easily in a paper catalog, referencing order# and page to a supplier and be done. And I’m far less likely to shop around then. Once I need to get on a device, then maybe even have the app or PDF take me to an external source/document … comparing prices, shopping around, (…) is only another swipe away.

Not an idiot though, I know ‘my’ prices - but I will factor in the catalog the supplier/manufacturer provided, as I know they are not free, especially in more recent times.

I really don’t want to be without my catalogs, knowing how scarce they get, I try my best to ‘collect’ new ones whenever I can.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Jgaz]

I agree that paper catalogs have gotten expensive for suppliers and manufacturers, and throwing them at people like candy is a waste, but:

I will always prefer manufacturers and suppliers that still provide them. I make notes in them, I keep them in my shop library for easy reference and they are a lot easier to navigate overall.

I have yet to come across a really well made digital catalog that really works EVERY TIME, on EVERY device. My background is in technical documentation, so I understand the ‘pain’ involved in creating large, truly usable PDF documents, but what I have seen so far from most manufacturers and suppliers really needs a lot of improvement.

I can’t count the times anymore that large PDF crash, links (TOC, overviews, chapter pages …) don’t work or aren’t even included at all.

Last but not least, to do what I do in a paper catalog in a PDF catalog will easily take double or triple the time. Not counting if you need to open the PDF two or three times before it’s actually ‘stable’ and usable. This has gotten much better over time, but it’s still far from perfect/ fully replacing paper catalogs for me anytime soon.

Believe it or not, I’m far more likely to buy products when I was able to research them quickly and easily in a paper catalog, referencing order# and page to a supplier and be done. And I’m far less likely to shop around then. Once I need to get on a device, then maybe even have the app or PDF take me to an external source/document … comparing prices, shopping around, (…) is only another swipe away.

Not an idiot though, I know ‘my’ prices - but I will factor in the catalog the supplier/manufacturer provided, as I know they are not free, especially in more recent times.

I really don’t want to be without my catalogs, knowing how scarce they get, I try my best to ‘collect’ new ones whenever I can.

Kind regards,
Olli

Amen brother! Well said!
A here I thought it was just because I was an old dinosaur

 

[2ndGearRubber]

currently, you can either get a catalog or a good sized sticker with each order.

I like when they offer their magnetic conversion charts for free

Those are super handy, I have them ob my fridge at work. Brilliant marketing.

 

[liliysdad]

I’d just as soon a manufacturer (or distributor in Tektons case) save the effort wasted in producing a paper catalog and instead use it to create and curate an effective website.

This one of the major downfalls of many industrial tool sellers. They have a very nice paper catalog, but their website is garbage. No live inventory, missing or incorrect images, etc.

 

[Dave.R]

I’d just as soon a manufacturer (or distributor in Tektons case) save the effort wasted in producing a paper catalog and instead use it to create and curate an effective website.

This one of the major downfalls of many industrial tool sellers. They have a very nice paper catalog, but their website is garbage. No live inventory, missing or incorrect images, etc.

Dave with Tekton here.

I have to say, this is the first I've heard of someone not finding our site helpful. It's typically highly praised. If you have a moment to let me know what you don't like, I'd love to pass that along to our developer team.

We developed a paper catalog based on the feedback that we received for guys that wanted a more analog way of browsing our product offering.

We make many tools right in Grand Rapids, MI as well as in the USA. All tools we make, regardless of country of origin, are closely developed in Grand Rapids and then manufactured to our specs.

 

[liliysdad]

Dave with Tekton here.

I have to say, this is the first I've heard of someone not finding our site helpful. It's typically highly praised. If you have a moment to let me know what you don't like, I'd love to pass that along to our developer team.

We developed a paper catalog based on the feedback that we received for guys that wanted a more analog way of browsing our product offering.

We make many tools right in Grand Rapids, MI as well as in the USA. All tools we make, regardless of country of origin, are closely developed in Grand Rapids and then manufactured to our specs.

I believe my message was communicated poorly. I was not at all denigrating your site, it’s actually very good. I was instead speaking to the state of the paper catalog in general.

I was actually praising Tekton in this regard…I think the shift of resources from paper to a very good online presence is a very wise move.

I am, on the other hand, very unhappy with the looming loss of the US made hard handle drivers.

 

[mikey03]

Dave with Tekton here.

I have to say, this is the first I've heard of someone not finding our site helpful. It's typically highly praised. If you have a moment to let me know what you don't like, I'd love to pass that along to our developer team.

We developed a paper catalog based on the feedback that we received for guys that wanted a more analog way of browsing our product offering.

We make many tools right in Grand Rapids, MI as well as in the USA. All tools we make, regardless of country of origin, are closely developed in Grand Rapids and then manufactured to our specs.

Honestly Dave you got the best website in all of tools and it puts all other tool companies to shame. Keep it up man!

 

[mikey03]

I am, on the other hand, very unhappy with the looming loss of the US made hard handle drivers.

is this true I heard rumors but didn’t see it for sure posted. Can you comment @Dave.R

 

[moemc]

Oh that's cool. I was thinking about trying their new crows feet, and I sure do like paper catalogs. I like leafing through the snap-on ones, and I really miss when McMaster used to send one.

I can send you mine! I always feel bad carrying mine from mailbox straight to the recycling bin.

I guess I like catalogs up to a certain point. If they had to put it on bible paper to make it fit, I will stick to the website personally

 

[Dave.R]

is this true I heard rumors but didn’t see it for sure posted. Can you comment @Dave.R

We are about to move our screwdriver program to a premium supplier in Germany that makes drivers for the tool truck market.

 

[liliysdad]

We are about to move our screwdriver program to a premium supplier in Germany that makes drivers for the tool truck market.

And that’s a damned shame.

 

[308guru]

And that’s a damned shame.

Why?

 

[Sanddollar]

I don't know if that makes want to get a hard handle set now or wait?

 

[liliysdad]

Why?

If wanted Witte drivers, I’d own Wittes. You can buy them anywhere, branded however you like.

The US made hard handles were quite literally the only thing I found attractive in the entire Tekton lineup. They are great drivers with a very good handle. With the loss of those, I don’t really have any interest left.

 

[mikey03]

We are about to move our screwdriver program to a premium supplier in Germany that makes drivers for the tool truck market.

The hard handles you make for your screwdrivers are also used on your picks. Are you going to change the picks too?

Will you still make the 6 in 1 screwdriver or is that gonna go away too?

 

[Sanddollar]

Yeah I was looking to get everything matchy, matchy

 

[mikey03]

If wanted Witte drivers, I’d own Wittes. You can buy them anywhere, branded however you like.

The US made hard handles were quite literally the only thing I found attractive in the entire Tekton lineup. They are great drivers with a very good handle. With the loss of those, I don’t really have any interest left.

The US made hard handles are the best and most unique tool in there lineup I agree.

i think there sockets are good enough, for a Taiwan socket, you can buy singles or do warranty real easy instead of trying to call a special phone number to order individual sockets from harbor freight or Astro. And sunex dont offer individuals but they moved to china anyway. Vim tools sells individuals but there shipping is real expensive. Husky and kobalt and craftsman you got to deal with Home Depot or lowes giving you a hard time.

so honestly based on how easy warranty and also buying singles for any you lost sockets I would say tekton is the way to go for sockets.

 

[mikey03]

@Dave.R

will it be possible to bring back the current hard handles screwdrivers if the change to witte is the failure that GJ thinks it will be? Honestly we’re not 100% of the tool market or even representative necessarily but we all seem to think it will bomb and I was hoping your not destroying the molds or whatever tooling in case your able to bring it back in the future.

but we don’t got all the facts maybe there being made by a factory that’s shutting down permanently and we’re never going to see them ever again.

 

[KnurledNut]

currently, you can either get a catalog or a good sized sticker with each order.

I like when they offer their magnetic conversion charts for free

Looks like the stickers now are no longer included free with orders.
Guess they pulled the plug all together on SWAG.
Interestingly the sticker is made in Sweden of all places.

 

[KnurledNut]

We are about to move our screwdriver program to a premium supplier in Germany that makes drivers for the tool truck market.

The real win here would be German blades in your USA hard handles. And add a little more texture please like the red MAC handles.
Judgment pending until we see what is actually released.

 

[mikey03]

The real win here would be German blades in your USA hard handles. And add a little more texture please like the red MAC handles.
Judgment pending until we see what is actually released.

Oh yeah honestly I don’t care about the blades, it’s the hard handles I like.

 

[Dave.R]

The hard handles you make for your screwdrivers are also used on your picks. Are you going to change the picks too?

Will you still make the 6 in 1 screwdriver or is that gonna go away too?

The picks and prybars are staying put. I have to check on the 6-in-1, but I believe they are being discontinued.

Edit: This may change but it sounds like the 6-in-1 and 3-in-1 will be sticking around for a bit.

 

[mikey03]

The picks and prybars are staying put. I have to check on the 6-in-1, but I believe they are being discontinued.

Edit: Just heard back from the product team, the 6-in-1's are tentatively discontinued.

That’s too bad the 6 in 1 are my favorite because they got the amazing hard handle and there shorter overall length compared to most 6 in 1s

 

[liliysdad]

Without digging too deep into your business….why are the US made drivers being discontinued? I was under the impression that Tekton was dedicated to bringing more US made tools to the table.

What do the German sourced drivers do that the current models do not? Conversely, what do they offer being branded by Tekton that isn’t offered under another, existing banner?

If the hard handle picks and prybars are continuing, it’s quite clear that the current manufacturer is still in business, so the issue must be something else.

I will reiterate my opinion that I feel this is a very unfortunate and misguided move by Tekton. Not only would I greatly prefer these drivers to stay in production, owners of the existing drivers are hosed come warranty or lost tool time.

 

[Dave.R]

Without digging too deep into your business….why are the US made drivers being discontinued? I was under the impression that Tekton was dedicated to bringing more US made tools to the table.

What do the German sourced drivers do that the current models do not? Conversely, what do they offer being branded by Tekton that isn’t offered under another, existing banner?

If the hard handle picks and prybars are continuing, it’s quite clear that the current manufacturer is still in business, so the issue must be something else.

I will reiterate my opinion that I feel this is a very unfortunate and misguided move by Tekton. Not only would I greatly prefer these drivers to stay in production, owners of the existing drivers are hosed come warranty or lost tool time.

The picks and pry bars are made in-house at our Grand Rapids facility, the screwdrivers were made in collaboration with a local supplier.

Whenever we can, we make tools in the USA. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't. It depends on the tool line and the capabilities we have available to us.

Our main priority is making tools that we feel accurately represent the Tekton brand.

 

[liliysdad]

I assume that means the hard handles themselves are made in house? Is there any hope of those handles making their way onto new blades?

I understand the money has to work for the project to work. I do feel that these drivers were the “crown jewel” of the Tekton fleet. Rebranding drivers that are already available from any of a number of sources is the easy way out.

As I mentioned earlier, that truly puts those who invested pretty heavily into that line, a line that was advertised and touted as a huge accomplishment of US manufacturing by the way, in a very tough spot. If, in a year or two from now, I lose a driver or need a warranty replacement, they are stuck with whatever driver Tekton is currently putting their name on. It might be Witte, or it might be someone else by then.

It’s a shame. I’m currently torn as to whether I should stock up on hard handle drivers now, or go a completely different direction. The hard handles from SnapOn, CAT, and Williams will likely get the nod in the end.

 

[mikey03]

the hard handles screwdrivers are so good, it’s honestly why I got as much tekton tools as I do. I started with the 6 in 1 and screwdriver sets and thought they were so amazing I honestly then started buying a bunch of impact sockets then chrome sockets then chrome and impact extensions then four way angle wrenches.

if I had started with something else I wouldn’t have been as impressed and kept going tbh

for whatever reason every company wants to make comfort grip screwdrivers these days and the hard handle tektons are/were one of the great alternatives on the market today.

on the other hand honestly if you want to discontinue them and clearance them out for 50% off I’ll just buy a lifetime supply and then not worry about it, will be someone else’s problem who can’t get the good screwdrivers anymore

 

[Ohio Andy]

I like the hard handles so I have a very large set... I think all of them. For some things I like the the other handles.

If they improve the tips and keep the hard handles, I might replace some for improved tips... Not that I need more screwdrivers

 

[cherrybomb]

At the Mid American Truck Show in Louisville Ky.at the end of March this year Tekton had a large booth with all their tools on display in which you actually could handle.As I like to handle the ratchets,this was ideal.They had their sales reps,explaining and taking orders.If my memory is correct,free shipping. The bonus,and I'm a catalog guy was the big book.Its mentioned here many times about Tekton quality,and I felt it and now agree.After the show,Wife and I went to New Zealand to see the Grandkids and family.I worked on the 4 wheeler with some less than ideal Stanley tools.I had taken some upgrades with me to leave their. When I got home I ordered the Tekton long 1/4 ratchet,a extension and 3/8 to 1/4 reducer,and a 10mm.socket.
I used a junk Stanley 3/8 ratchet to change out the battery.It will be more enjoyable next time working on the machine with good tools.
Since then, the Wife's daughter flew here and I sent a aluminum bracket to fix a table,the Tekton tools,tool bag.Their will be more Tekton next time,you can be sure!That display,handling the tools,the catalog and they have a great website. I handled some XZN Bits at the show,and got them also.And the icing was,order and two days later,I'm using
Next time ,the S.I.L can look on the web,figure out what he needs,I can deliver quality Tekton half way around the world!!!
Yes to catalogs

 

[drokihazan]

The picks and pry bars are made in-house at our Grand Rapids facility, the screwdrivers were made in collaboration with a local supplier.

Whenever we can, we make tools in the USA. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't. It depends on the tool line and the capabilities we have available to us.

Our main priority is making tools that we feel accurately represent the Tekton brand.

So does this mean there's a chance of sourcing screwdriver blades from Witte and installing them in the hard handles made at your existing facility for picks and prybars?

Your hard handles are by far the best product in the Tekton lineup, and are so good that I have been buying a ton of Tekton drivers recently with the plan to sell off all the German-made Wihas they are replacing because I'm just delighted by these handles.

I'm really disappointed to hear Tekton is discontinuing these to move manufacturing, and it has driven me to begin ordering a backfill of Tekton drivers. I also worry what will happen to me if I lose one and need to replace it, and a similar hard handle isn't available.

 

[Ohio Andy]

So does this mean there's a chance of sourcing screwdriver blades from Witte and installing them in the hard handles made at your existing facility for picks and prybars?

Your hard handles are by far the best product in the Tekton lineup, and are so good that I have been buying a ton of Tekton drivers recently with the plan to sell off all the German-made Wihas they are replacing because I'm just delighted by these handles.

I'm really disappointed to hear Tekton is discontinuing these to move manufacturing, and it has driven me to begin ordering a backfill of Tekton drivers. I also worry what will happen to me if I lose one and need to replace it, and a similar hard handle isn't available.

I can predict the future... And my prediction is...

They will come out with a driver that has a better head and that same handle and then you'll be torn between the five sets you just ordered and buying another couple sets because you like the new drivers better...


Signed... Evil Andy

 

[Sanddollar]

I for one appreciate that @Dave.R chimed in here and brings insight and some behind the scenes information, instead of just popping popcorn and watching a bunch for fools on the internet kick around opinions and rumors.

Going back to the topic, I can imagine that paper catalog has to be a nightmare in this current age of tariff talks, printed catalogs could be completely wrong even before they hit the customers, but damn they sure are nice to look through and are a throw back to a simpler time.

 

[liliysdad]

I can predict the future... And my prediction is...

They will come out with a driver that has a better head and that same handle and then you'll be torn between the five sets you just ordered and buying another couple sets because you like the new drivers better...


Signed... Evil Andy

If they can find a way to improve the drivers while keeping the hard handles, I will buy them with glee. Hell, I would probably buy a whole new set and relegate my existing drivers to vehicle kits. If they don't offer a hard handle similar to the current iteration, I have no reason to buy a Tekton anything at this time. Maybe that will change, but with their rapid about face from the push to bring more manufacturing to the US, I am doubtful.

That being said, there is nothing wrong with the existing drivers so I don't see a need to improve them.