Brands and items worth buying in Toronto?

[zippy1981]

I'm traveling to Toronto this week on business. Despite many trips to Canada I've never been to a Canadian tire. Going to go there, and probably Sears.

So other than buying a Robertson Screwdriver that I'll never use, what's actually a good value that's worth the hassle of checking my bag on the way back? Maybe an assortment of metric sheet metal screws to replace dropped screws if i take apart chinesium?

Cool hardware stores to tour?

Anything uniquely Canadian besides Grey tools?

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[vekster]

i used to love Canadian tire 20 -30 years ago...not worth the drive anymore.

a cool place near Toronto is..... https://www.atlas-machinery.com/

 

[mr.jake]

lee valley is a pretty neat store, pretty sure Toronto has one.

 

[6PTsocket]

I'm traveling to Toronto this week on business. Despite many trips to Canada I've never been to a Canadian tire. Going to go there, and probably Sears.

So other than buying a Robertson Screwdriver that I'll never use, what's actually a good value that's worth the hassle of checking my bag on the way back? Maybe an assortment of metric sheet metal screws to replace dropped screws if i take apart chinesium?

Cool hardware stores to tour?

Anything uniquely Canadian besides Grey tools?

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You can cross off Sears. They folded in Canada in January.

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[Pipe_guy]

Get a piquic super 8 at Canadian tire. It's a Canadian made multi screwdriver with Robertson bits. They are awesome.

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[Red Robbie]

You can cross off Sears. They folded in Canada in January.

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I found that sears in Canada had only a small fraction of the selection of tools the ones in the US had, that I visited anyway.

Canadian tire always has tools on sale 50-75% off (never pay full price for a tool at cdn tire). Most of them are pretty decent for the money.

Wont likely find much here that you couldnt get in the US for the same price or cheaper. Princess Auto would be worth checking out...I understand its like Harbor freight. Also IHL in Woodbridge if you're in the northern part of the city. They dont have many mechanics tools but huge selection of channellock, knipex, and other pliers.

 

[Millwright77]

Pick up a piquic screwdriver they're made in Canada

 

[buckwheat_la]

Depends what you want to spend. I would suggest checking out Gray tools. An industrial brand that is Canadian made.

 

[The Cobbler]

For woodworking, cabinet hardware and hobby stuff I would go to Lee Valley Tools

 

[Doug Arthurs]

Metric sheet metal screws?

 

[zippy1981]

Metric sheet metal screws?

Well a lot of stuff you buy these days from china uses sheet metal screws in cast iron/steel or plastic. I assume their not The imperial #4-#12 sheet metal screws. I assume they have an even millimeter OD and a thread pattern different than whatever the thread pattern is for Imperial sheet metal screws.

I figured it would be nice to be able to replace one, if I had to, with a sheet metal scree with the same thread pattern.

Or I could tap it out with machine threads and use one of the many machine screws I have.

 

[rmsg0040]

IHL Canada, Atlas Machinery, and Canadian Tire

To be honest, there isn't much here to see

 

[shawndp]

Tech-Pro tools at Warden and Ellesmere has some more unusual stuff. Same with Variety tools in the basement of Sheridan Mall @ Wilson. They had e-torx and triple-square before it was widely available, so you get the picture. BUT, expect plenty of import tools.

 

[zippy1981]

Pick up a piquic screwdriver they're made in Canada

I didn't see the Super 8 but I got a metric hex-caliber to stick in the linen closet to help with the Ikea furniture.

Sadly, they've outsourced the bits to Taiwan, but they still make the handles here.

 

[ItsNemo]

Canadian Tire if stuff is on sale...Mastercraft wrenches/sockets are decent, pliers are ****, screwdrivers are meh, misc hand tools are decent, power tools are ****...Maximum is the better version of Mastercraft.
Princess Auto is our version of Harbor Freight
TSC is our version of TSC
Lowes is Lowes
Home Depot is Home Depot

You actually won't find much metric hardware for cheap...we sell a lot more standard stuff up here.

 

[shepherd]

OK, I'll add it for completeness, at the risk of being bashed by haters....Busy Bee Tools, our version of Grizzly...

 

[rmsg0040]

Tech-Pro tools at Warden and Ellesmere has some more unusual stuff. Same with Variety tools in the basement of Sheridan Mall @ Wilson. They had e-torx and triple-square before it was widely available, so you get the picture. BUT, expect plenty of import tools.

Tech-Pro is ok, could browse the store in under 5 minutes

I use to visit Variety Tools a bit, haven't been to in a while. Guy is too old school. He writes his sales in a ledger. Receipts are a joke which. Told the guy to order me something, show up and he doesn't have it, happened a few times. Plus some recent shootings and murders inside and around the mall has made me stopped going altogether.

 

[Bottlecapdigger]

Get a piquic super 8 at Canadian tire. It's a Canadian made multi screwdriver with Robertson bits. They are awesome.

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Pick up a piquic screwdriver they're made in Canada[/There the best! bits are long enough to use a drill, not them short ones, I have one in every vehicle and tool box. BCDQUOTE]

 

[Millwrong]

Where exactly in Toronto are you going? There isn't much (toolwise) to see downtown that I know of, but if you have time to kill there's some spots on the outskirts...

• Lee Valley Tools - High-quality woodworking stuff, gardening stuff, and lots of random interesting gizmos...
• Princess Auto - Canadian Harbour Freight, but with perhaps more of a rural/farm vibe. Much more in the way of parts and hardware, hydraulics, pneumatics, etc...
• Busy Bee Tools - Import woodworking and machine tools, accessories, and name-brand power tools.
• Investments Hardware Limited (IHL) - Work clothes, all the big-name power tools, power equipment, Knipex, Stabila levels, and some other random interesting stuff.
• Nitro Industrial - Hand tools (Gray, Jet, Signet), hydraulics, pneumatics, work and safety clothing, consumables, cutting tools.
• Concord Hardware - Hand tools, power tools, specialty trade tools, fasteners, etc....

That's all I can come up with. I'm sure there are more "tool places", but these are the only ones I have personal experience with.

 

[shawndp]

Tech-Pro is ok, could browse the store in under 5 minutes

I use to visit Variety Tools a bit, haven't been to in a while. Guy is too old school. He writes his sales in a ledger. Receipts are a joke which. Told the guy to order me something, show up and he doesn't have it, happened a few times. Plus some recent shootings and murders inside and around the mall has made me stopped going altogether.

I remember when Terry from Tech Pro used to come around in a Sprinter van - never been able to catch the store open. I’m kinda disappointed that it’s a 5 minute stop...

Variety Tool is what I imagine an old school hardware store would be like with a sketchy vibe. He does sell stuff that not many others carry and it’s almost bizarre to see him know where everything is.

Oh and thanks for selling me those SO sockets!

 

[Pantsfall_McFixit]

There's a few places to check out. On Queen street, try Jacob's Hardware and Transcontinental Tool Co. In the greater area are a few other shops as well. Toronto has a great metro system too.

 

[dnschmidt]

Let me put it to you this way. My friends from Canada that come to Phoenix for the Winter always leave with their trunks filled with tools that they buy here in Phoenix. That doesn't give me an optimistic view of what's available in Toronto.