Whats with the Milwaukee Hand tool hate?

[defektes]

so in other words, you have nothing constructive to add..

He asked a question, and my answer was relevant. If you like the tools, good, but I gave my opinion on why I do not. The question was not one that required constructive answers, more so opinion related ones. I can buy USA stuff for the same price or less most of the time.

 

[the_nelson]

the bottle opener seems to do the trick

 

[stikman56]

You know how it is, you like what you like, you hate what you hate. To each their own is how I would put it. You can't make someone else like the same things you like, and really what difference does it make in the end. None really, you just have to go with what you like. I like a lot of things that people on this forum say are no good, but yet they have been time-proven for me. I like Ford's, Trials bikes, Snap-On's Ni-cad cordless stuff, HF tool boxes, Mcculloch chainsaws, Troybilt riders, and don't care at all what anyone else thinks of them, I like them each for some reason or another and that's all that matters. I hate Snap-On pneumatic impact wrenches. I hate Poulan chainsaws with a passion. I like Nitrocat impact wrenches. Many people feel they are garbage. I have no reason to dislike them, they have been tried and true for me. Many people feel Snap-On impacts are superior, I feel they're garbage, I'll never own one. My dollars get spent where my likes are, never do they get spent on what other people prefer.

 

[bob15]

If they say something other than Made in USA or certain European countries, I don't buy them, nor do i want them. I consider them junk or scrap metal (and/or scrap plastic).

 

[defektes]

If they say something other than Made in USA or certain European countries, I don't buy them, nor do i want them. I consider them junk or scrap metal (and/or scrap plastic).

Canada makes good stuff too.

 

[kctyphoon]

Is that the tape that's so heavily curved for extra standout, that you can never mark it accurately because it's about 1/2" down to the surface you need to mark?

just saying, but you can rotate one edge of the tape to be level on the surface your working on, so you can see the numbers looking straight ahead.. works for me.. (thats a milwaukee tape)

 

[Wanna Ride]

Some of you guys need to get a life and stop arguing over simple ****...

 

[PaulyC]

i have the complete set of the hollow core nut drivers and the fast back utility knife. i have no complaints about any of them, and the nut drivers are the best ones ive ever had imo.

 

[kctyphoon]

Back when Milwaukee Electric Tool was actually Milwaukee Electric Tool, they made really good electric tools. Now that Milwaukee is just a brand name of many that are owned by basically a Chinese company, they’ll put their name on just about anything to make money. That’s the real problem I have with the Milwaukee hand tools. Not just that they’re Chinese, although that alone would make me buy the superior Channellocks instead. The Milwaukee hand tools are more of a symbol of what America has become lately, and that statement reflects both the sellers and the buyers of those tools.

what was that you said about Milwaukee putting their name on anything??

 

[kctyphoon]

and for anyone that hasnt realized, Milwaukee redesigned the lineman pliers only a few months after the originals came out.. the new ones (center) and exactly the same handle size and shape and the Kliens. in this picture are the old milwaukee, new milwaukee, and some older crescents.. basically the older crescents dont have much difference than Kliens, or Jonards - which is another professinal brand.

i own BOTH Milwaukee's, the old crescents, the new cresecnts pivot pro's, the crescent compound cutting model (probably my favorites), Jonards, Channellocks, Kliens, and Knipex. both models of the Milwaukee are very smooth to operate - not Knipex quality, but neither is Klein. the grips on the new model are REALLY nice.. i already like them alot more than i thought i would, and they are not suppose to peel, which is one thing that plagues many of the others. by holding and moving them around, i would rate the new model on par with Klein - there really is not much difference at all between them - i had them side by side in the store with a new pair of Kliens. so i dont know who refered to the hand tools as "harbor freight quality" but you obviously have not handled or used either model.. also - there is only a $1 difference between these and new channellocks - and in all honesty, there is nothing special about channellocks other than them being made in the US. for me, i think the $1 difference is worth it to not have grips peeling off the handles a few weeks after buying them.

if you are dead set on US hand tools, channellock is a good option - but by no means are they superior to some other options out there, and the new Milwaukee's seem like a really viable option now..

 

[defektes]

what was that you said about Milwaukee putting their name on anything??

At least Channellock makes stuff here. Same goes for them though (Channellock), if it is Chinese, I wont buy it, regardless of the brand stamped on it. Milwaukee was my power tool of choice, got a USA sawzall that has been abused, a heavy duty corded drill USA, a Czech 14v cordless drill, all have been great. But when the Chinese company bought them everything got shipped out, and they flood the market with overpriced Asian tools.

 

[kctyphoon]

At least Channellock makes stuff here. Same goes for them though (Channellock), if it is Chinese, I wont buy it, regardless of the brand stamped on it. Milwaukee was my power tool of choice, got a USA sawzall that has been abused, a heavy duty corded drill USA, a Czech 14v cordless drill, all have been great. But when the Chinese company bought them everything got shipped out, and they flood the market with overpriced Asian tools.

we get it - but none of that means the those the other tools arent quality too.. i have a $20 HF sawzall i bought myself, just so i had one for work at the time, cause the other option was a hacksaw... its 5 or 6 years later, has never seen a case, has be used in dirt, mud, stepped on, and still works fine when i need it to.. i have USA made milwaukee tools too, and they sit in a case never being used, cause the new Milwaukee stuff works better, and i have no desire to use 30 year old power or hand tools.

 

[rick carpenter]

The joint in my lineman pliers is very sticky even with repeated soakings with WD-40 and trying to wear in with back and forth motion.

If you try the google search string "breaking klein site:electriciantalk.com" you'll find several threads on breaking in Klein pliers. I assume the same might apply to Milwaukees but I'm not making those recommendations.

 

[Van Johnson112]

I have to say Im not a big fan of there linesmen's as to me they felt bulky, but the tin snips I tried had me pretty impressed, better leverage and more comfortable than my wiss set.

 

[geojag]

I have several of the 10 in 1 screwdrivers, picked them up after Christmas on clearance the last couple of years. I also have one of the stubby ratcheting screwdrivers. I use them often and they work well. I have a pair of the adjustable cobra like pliers and a pair of their electrician needle owe pliers. Both are functional but a little bulkier than they need to be. I replaced both with their respective Knipex versions. I also have a couple of their vise grip style welding clamps. They work great and in my opinion are better than the offshore vise grips.

 

[kctyphoon]

If you try the google search string "breaking klein site:electriciantalk.com" you'll find several threads on breaking in Klein pliers. I assume the same might apply to Milwaukees but I'm not making those recommendations.

i just put a few drops of 3-in-1 or sewing machine oil on them.. they are very smooth until you open them up wide - but even some knipex stuff i have is the same way. its funny though, all the different types and brands of lineman pliers i have, and my "favorite" sets (coumpound cutting crescents w/ locking spring loaded handles) are the cheapest - and offer the best of everything with the greatest ease of use - all for around $15

 

[Kracin]

The guy who installed my kitchen counter tops last summer had the magnetic Milwaukee tape measure. I played with it a little and I was impressed. It's on my "to buy" list.

Is that the tape that's so heavily curved for extra standout, that you can never mark it accurately because it's about 1/2" down to the surface you need to mark?

HAH, thats why i skipped it over and got a fatmax with the magnet.. fatmax magnet is like twice as strong so it makes a hell of a good pickup tool also.

the milwaukee blade is so curved, they tried to make it a thin tape and screwed over the ability to easily use it, you have to twist it a ton. the problem comes when you need to hold something and make a mark, the tape is so far above whatever its laying on that it makes it real difficult to get accurate to the 1/16th

 

[Ign]

Knipex is the quality standard in pliers nowadays,Milwaukee asian made pliers are not up there, they look cool and have some usefull features but quality wise not there.The joint in my lineman pliers is very sticky even with repeated soakings with WD-40 and trying to wear in with back and forth motion.

If you try the google search string "breaking klein site:electriciantalk.com" you'll find several threads on breaking in Klein pliers. I assume the same might apply to Milwaukees but I'm not making those recommendations.

I grabbed the Milwaukee Lineman Pliers today 95% because they look like a nice product to me and 5% to annoy the COO snobs - - but hey, at least said snobs can blame me and me alone when the nation's economy crashes tomorrow.

I cut away the annoying blister pack and noticed the joint on mine was quite stiff. I worked it back and forth a few times, and then it got noticeably worse. WTH? I was thinking I may exchange these but I kept working it and it suddenly got better, then really loosened up and now it's silky smooth. It spit a bunch of black (metal I assume) dust out of the hinge.

 

[Fugio]

I've been tempted by those linesman pliers!

The ones I HATE are the impact bits. I go through a #2 phillips bit almost every day. They wear out FAST! But the alternative is ones that shatter. Makita impact bits shatter on me often. So it's a trade-off.

 

[kctyphoon]

i bought the originals just cause they looked so cool, and that lead to me buying most of their handtools... the newer lineman pliers are alot better though.. most lineman pliers are not "silky" smooth, until you get into knipex/NWS money... even Kleins are stiff when new, and even after being used..

 

[Redex]

I've been tempted by those linesman pliers!

The ones I HATE are the impact bits. I go through a #2 phillips bit almost every day. They wear out FAST! But the alternative is ones that shatter. Makita impact bits shatter on me often. So it's a trade-off.

They certainly don't look as strong as other impact bits. I've had good luck with Hitachi and Bosch impact bits. My Milwaukee bits look pretty gnarly after a day.

 

[Wizzard]

I've been tempted by those linesman pliers!

The ones I HATE are the impact bits. I go through a #2 phillips bit almost every day. They wear out FAST! But the alternative is ones that shatter. Makita impact bits shatter on me often. So it's a trade-off.

I switched to Apex impact bits and there is a world of difference in quality over the box store offerings. I've put up hundreds of feet of fencing (and decking, etc) using an Apex #2 ACR bit that I bought a couple years ago and still going strong. Last I checked they used Apex bits on aircraft assembly lines (i.e Boeing).

 

[rice rocket]

Any links to where they sell Apex bits in bulk?

 

[Wizzard]

Any links to where they sell Apex bits in bulk?

Not sure...I pieced together an order on Amazon when I bought them.

 

[defektes]

Graigner does but you may be raped by the prices. I've seen them when I place my order for Ideal USA bits.

 

[1982fxr]

made in china by a chinese owned company?

pass

 

[kythri]

Graigner does but you may be raped by the prices. I've seen them when I place my order for Ideal USA bits.

Cheaper via Zoro?

 

[defektes]

Cheaper via Zoro?

Never shopped there, i'll check em out.

 

[kythri]

Never shopped there, i'll check em out.

Zoro is owned/operated by Grainger. It's like the "civilian" version as opposed to the corporate/"pro" that is Grainger.

Usually ends up being cheaper by a fair amount

 

[defektes]

Zoro is owned/operated by Grainger. It's like the "civilian" version as opposed to the corporate/"pro" that is Grainger.

Usually ends up being cheaper by a fair amount

Did not know that.

Thanks.