Markers of quality

[i84x]

Tests were done that have NOTHING whatsoever to do with real world usage, meaning, they are irrelevant to people looking to pick pliers. And that's fairly typical for this individual, but he is by no means unique...

...Who the F cares if it takes 273lbs to break a pliers handles or 313? None of us can generate that much force. And that measurement has no bearing on the quality of the tool, or the material it's made out of...

100% Have to agree and its one of the reasons I stopped watching PF and other tool comparison videos.
Testing side cutters that are designed to cut electrical cable, thin steel wire, maybe small size or soft metal bolts etc try and cut thick tool steel with pressure above what is even humanly possible is completely irrelevant to the quality or application of the tool.
The issue I imagine these channels encounter is how do you actually test them in an interesting manor, like being able to say "$10 Chinese pliers beat SNAP ON" is way more likely to get views then to conclude basically you can use what you like because they all passed every (real world) test and can cut what they're actually rated for; plastic, copper cable, 1 to 2mm stainless pin and soft or small bolts.

 

[zendriver]

I think the video has not been out long and has 256k views, hopefully from someone else other members here

 

[Gmonkee]

Screwdriver comparisons frequently go into abusive testing too. I have been using a cheaper Stanley set for a decade that never was near top end. I didn't abuse them and still work like new.

The viewer needs to use his brain when watching any video.

 

[zendriver]

Most people probably watch these videos for love-hate entertainment

 

[hailwood1965]

I'm just glad he stopped doing that weird thing with his hands.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Most people probably watch these videos for love-hate entertainment

They certainly aren't watching them for his soothing voice.

 

[Etchase]

Interesting discussion, and I notice that no one is defending often mentioned reasons for buying tools like, you get what you pay for because price doesn’t seem to correlate with quality very consistently. Nor is anyone saying China makes junk and no reminiscing about how my old diagonal cutters were so much better and everyone is just cheapening their design in a race to the bottom. I’m sure there is a salesmen out there claiming their tool is better because of the metal, or the heat treating, but no one here is. I for one will be discounting these kind of thoughts when selecting tools in the future.

 

[zendriver]

One thing seems clear.

Internet content influencers/providers like to eat and that being "over the top" is the most likely way to get fed. Working literally like a charm, with PF product tests.

Looks like we can't get enough of him, even if to *****.

 

[drokihazan]

I don't typically make purchases based on Project Farm's test results, but I feel like Todd is nothing if not sincere.

 

[dnschmidt]

He simply tested the wrong things. Test cutting copper wire, Piano wire, safety wire, cotter pins. You know the typical **** people cut with diagonal pliers. With four Dremels and twenty angle grinders I don't need to cut anything more than that which I've listed above. The only thing dumber than this is testing 3/8" ratchets to 300 ft-lb. I'm too old and feeble to move a 3/8" ratchet to 300 ft-lb. Test tools for their intended purpose.

 

[Monte]

The unofficial winner of the PF test:

 

[drokihazan]

He simply tested the wrong things. Test cutting copper wire, Piano wire, safety wire, cotter pins. You know the typical **** people cut with diagonal pliers. With four Dremels and twenty angle grinders I don't need to cut anything more than that which I've listed above. The only thing dumber than this is testing 3/8" ratchets to 300 ft-lb. I'm too old and feeble to move a 3/8" ratchet to 300 ft-lb. Test tools for their intended purpose.

First ratchet I've ever broken was last year when I got an Icon G2, because folks said it was great and I figured if it got stolen at the junkyard I wouldn't be too mad. Unfortunately it was the only ratchet I brought that day, and I needed to remove a caliper bracket bolt that was torqued to 203 ft-lbs *before* rusting into place, I wanted a front diff to rebuild.
With every newton of force both my feet could muster, I got the driver's side bolts out. First bolt on the passenger side, I heard a pop and the ratchet spun freely. I don't think any 3/8 ratchet was meant for that - I really like the Icon besides the repulsive sticky soft grip. Ratchet head feels as good as my dual 80s, better locking flex mechanism. Just a terrible handle.


Anyways, folks are gonna use 3/8 ratchets on undercarriage bolts, it's inevitable.

 

[danski0224]

I prefer Markal over Sharpie.

Not particularly impressed with Milwaukee markers.

 

[WPSTECH714]

Plenty of casual tool buyers will buy the Workpro's based on this video and be perfectly happy with them when they cut the occasional zip tie. That is his target audience. I would never buy anything based on this or any other of his videos as he seems to only care about clicks and Amazon affiliate links.

Any "test" videos that have affiliate links to the products tested are not trustworthy IMO. The links are not there for your convenience - they are there to generate money for the creator.

 

[neophyte]

Plenty of casual tool buyers will buy the Workpro's based on this video and be perfectly happy with them when they cut the occasional zip tie. That is his target audience. I would never buy anything based on this or any other of his videos as he seems to only care about clicks and Amazon affiliate links.

Any "test" videos that have affiliate links to the products tested are not trustworthy IMO. The links are not there for your convenience - they are there to generate money for the creator.

PF pits links up for all the products available on Amazon.
He could try making money from the Amazon ad revenue, but any frequent youtube channel has already realized this revenue is minimal, unless the youtuber is PewDiePieor someone similar.
This is the reason most youtubers accept free stuff, and/or do ads within videos, or sell branded merchandise, or sell cookbooks, etc.
Most frequent youtubers otherwise, are trying to build up a channel do they can otherwise sell out, or bored retirees, or someone who posts a video on x or y subject, because they just really want the info out there, but usually, those people aren’t posting a new video every week.

 

[john.k]

I have cutters that are work tested .......how so ,you might ask .......they were dropped by thieves cutting into the salvage yard next to my yard .........these guys know their trade ,and seem to only use hi end cutters and multigrips .......had one funny when a copper ( not the metal) was asking about the latest blag (claimed $30k worth of the contents of cat converters stolen ) I noticed something bright red in the dirt ......stepped on it to hide it ......when the copper left ,I picked up a new Knipex Cobolt like the pic .above

 

[john.k]

One previous breakin, I found a Beta Untensli compound cutter thieves had dropped .....this has to be the #1 of compound cutters ,beautifully made box jointed ,heavily chrome plated ........Beta tools have to be at the top of any list ,,on cost alone.

 

[lund]

My impression was that he's trying his best. It's at least plausible that he is.

The Project Farm guy needs engineering training 101. A lot of his tests are strange or for entertainment doing things way out of range and then measuring to breaking with sample sizes of one rather than proper statistics. Some of the stuff he does and sub-parts has some value. Some not. Then he gives overall rankings based at least part on the odd stuff mixed in. There is little on subjective stuff like ergonomics and context of use. A lot of the rankings should depend more on what you are doing. The guy can be creative or at least cobbles in enough suggestions from his followers to cover a lot though in his compressed rapid-fire format. It gets a little repetitive though even for 15 min (seems to be his recipe).

Abusing tools out of parameter range is not a good test. Life cycle stuff is also pretty hard to measure and takes a lot of work, setup, and time and may not generate click $ for him.

 

[john.k]

A million followers for bustin stuff in a hydraulic press ? .....are people actually that stupid .......in the case of young males ...yes

 

[zendriver]

If he'd only listen to us - he'd have 163 followers.

This **** never gets old.

 

[john.k]

The Knipex cutters will cut fair sized nails with little effort .....they are actually very simple without a compound linkage ,but have very good performance.......The cost was quoted as A $ 92 ,far more than I would ever spend on cutters .

 

[john.k]

The Beta #1094 toggle cutters list at A$ 350 ,so I will certainly not be buying them either ............but its nice to know thieves have discernibg taste

 

[neophyte]

The Beta #1094 toggle cutters list at A$ 350 ,so I will certainly not be buying them either ............but its nice to know thieves have discernibg taste

I have a similar pair of end cutters, although labelled USAG.
I used the pair to cut up numerous mattress springs so I could break a mattress down into trash bag size.
The nipper edges looked exactly the same when I was finished.
I had to break out a pair of bolt cutters for some larger diameter steel though.

 

[john.k]

End cutters #1092 list A$ 350 .....so I wont be buying them either ........The whole Beta price list is an eye opener ......there are single items list at $30,000 ..........doubt even th SnapOn van can beat that.

 

[Monte]

The Beta #1094 toggle cutters list at A$ 350 ,so I will certainly not be buying them either ............but its nice to know thieves have discernibg taste

these from Facom might be cheaper

 

[dchawk81]

Sharpies are pretty good markers of quality.

 

[john.k]

Ive already got some I found beside the fence ......nicely polished chrome too ,which it seems current ones do not have .

 

[neophyte]

Ive already got some I found beside the fence ......nicely polished chrome too ,which it seems current ones do not have .

I don’t think Facom or USAG have chromed these in decades, and I’m sort of doubtful Beta has either.
Similar cutters are made in Germany, and I generally just see those painted as well, rather than plated.
The listed specs from Facom Just list Piano wire, rather than capacities in various steel types, so the cutters are basically just made for cutting the the “toughest” wire possible.
I sort of wonder how the cutters would do in one of the Project Farm destructive cutter tests.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

The Knipex cutters will cut fair sized nails with little effort .....they are actually very simple without a compound linkage ,but have very good performance.......The cost was quoted as A $ 92

He quoted $38, that's slightly high even for the US.

End cutters #1092 list A$ 350 .....so I wont be buying them either ........The whole Beta price list is an eye opener

Someone is screwing over at that price. These are around $100 in Europe.

these from Facom might be cheaper

Likely. With somethings Beta seems to be trying to be more premium, by just charging higher prices.

 

[john.k]

Those prices are from the panel that appears on top of the screen ,and from ebay Oz and a supplier in S Korea ...... Knipex is as much as $118 ..... Current exchange rate is 70c .......Beta is from the Oz agent........Mine are Chrome plated with dipped yellow handles