Genius tools

kippieland · Jan 1, 2012

I was at a local industrial liquidation center, looking at their hand tools (ratchets, sockets, etc.) The guy running the place was telling me about a tool company I had never heard of before. Their call Genius tools and it looks like they are a Canadian company that makes most of their tools in Taiwan. He really like them and they seemed good quality for an import brand. I was curious if anyone here has any experience with them (particularly our Canadian members), since I am not always the best judge of tool quality. I am more curious then anything.

btbsandman · Jan 1, 2012

kippieland said:
I was at a local industrial liquidation center, looking at their hand tools (ratchets, sockets, etc.) The guy running the place was telling me about a tool company I had never heard of before. Their call Genius tools and it looks like they are a Canadian company that makes most of their tools in Taiwan. He really like them and they seemed good quality for an import brand. I was curious if anyone here has any experience with them (particularly our Canadian members), since I am not always the best judge of tool quality. I am more curious then anything.

They are an American company. Suppose to be decent tools. They are also a vendor here at the GJ.

aroncornell · Jan 1, 2012

I have both standard and metric deep impact socket sets, the big ones. So far so good havent broken one yet. pretty impressed so far ecspecially for the price.

mypov · Jan 1, 2012

I saw these on Ebay before and was tempted, never purchased, my boss bought some I'll see how they are once he gets them. can't believe the price - he bought the 1/4" swival sockets...

SMKS · Jan 1, 2012

I have had several Genius ratchets. 72 tooth round heads. Made in Taiwan. I like them.

I actually have one for sale right now. It's a 1/4" drive flex head in this thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128926

WR250F · Jan 1, 2012

I have a set of the bolt/nut removal sockets from them and they work fine.

As good quality as any others I've seen.

Decent price too

blacK20 · Jan 1, 2012

I have some of the larger size impact sockets for some time now. Seems to be of great quality. They get my vote.

kippieland · Jan 1, 2012

They felt really good to me, I was actually really impressed by their ratcheting combination wrenches. Way more teeth then my Craftsman. The bonus is that they are the liquidation center from the MAC guy in town, and they are a FANATISTIC price. I might have to try some.

Fedwrench · Jan 1, 2012

http://www.geniustoolsusa.com/index.aspx

They used a Maple Leaf as part of their logo at one time so, many people thought they were Canadian but, they're a quality Taiwan made (varies with item and user opinion) tool company.

When SK shut down, many independent tool dealers went to selling Genius and Gearwrench tools.

The Genius zero offset long boxed end wrenches are sweet.

Seattle Tool is the Canadian based Taiwan made tool company.

kams1973 · Jan 1, 2012

Genius makes a good tool. I've beat the **** out of their wrenches and impact sockets. Two thumbs up here.

kippieland · Jan 1, 2012

Fedwrench said:
http://www.geniustoolsusa.com/index.aspx

They used a Maple Leaf as part of their logo at one time so, many people thought they were Canadian but, they're a quality Taiwan made (varies with item and user opinion) tool company.

When SK shut down, many independent tool dealers went to selling Genius and Gearwrench tools.

The Genius zero offset long boxed end wrenches are sweet.

Seattle Tool is the Canadian based Taiwan made tool company.

Thats what got me was the Maple Leaf on the cover. They must be older stock..makes sense sinces its at a liquidation center. Thanks for the info.

lbgradwell · Jan 1, 2012

btbsandman said:
They are an American company.

No, Canadian...

Fedwrench said:
http://www.geniustoolsusa.com/index.aspx

They used a Maple Leaf as part of their logo at one time so, many people thought they were Canadian but, they're a quality Taiwan made (varies with item and user opinion) tool company.

The Maple Leaf was not there by accident. The company was founded in Canada in 1975 and remains headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. I believe the company is privately held, so information will likely be hard to find.

SMKS · Jan 1, 2012

lbgradwell said:
The Maple Leaf was not there by accident. The company was founded in Canada in 1975 and remains headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. I believe the company is privately held, so information will likely be hard to find.

I can't find anything that says the company was founded in Canada. I can find lots of things saying the company was founded in 1975, but nothing about it being founded in Canada.

From the info I can find, it appears Genius Tool is headquartered in Taiwan. Genius tools is a subsidiary of Tian Fu Industrial Co., Ltd., a Taiwanese company.
http://cens.com/censv1/en/showpic.jsp?SUP_ID=4772&PUB_ID=38&PD_ID=609

Here's the list of all their facilities:
http://www.geniustools.net/FR/top_menu/contact.xml

This is a press release sent out by Genius tools in 2006, when they opened a second regional headquarters in the US. It indicates the company's global headquarters is in Taiwan and the facility in Canada is a regional headquarters. (emphasis added by me):
http://www.geniustools.net/news08/pdf/Buffalo_Warehouse.pdf

About Genius Tools: One of the world’s leading tool companies, Genius Tools has been manufacturing tools since 1975. With global headquarters and manufacturing in Taiwan, Genius Tools also maintains regional headquarters in Belgium, Lebanon,
Canada and the United States. Genius Tools offers a line of 7000 products that are sold in over 80 countries around the world.
Genius Tools – Made For Life.

The press release also says the Canadian office was opened in 2005, which may make it the first they had in North America. That's probably why they used a maple leaf on their tools for a while. Now, they have the Canadian distribution center and two US distribution centers.

Ontario, California (June 29, 2006) – Genius Tools is proud to announce the opening of its newest warehouse located in Orchard Park, NY on June 1, 2006. The 30,000 square foot facility is the third warehouse in North America for Genius Tools which also owns warehouses in Ontario, California and Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. This is the second 30,0000 square foot warehouse that Genius Tools has opened in the last 18 months following the opening of it Ontario, California warehouse in January of 2005.

This pamphlet released in early 2011 describes the company as "Genius tool group of Taiwan."
http://www.geniustoolsusa.com/News/pdf/2011_New_Product_Release.pdf

lbgradwell · Jan 1, 2012

Up until recently, the story of the company's origins in Canada was on the website, but it seems to have been removed...

SMKS · Jan 1, 2012

lbgradwell said:
Up until recently, the story of the company's origins in Canada was on the website, but it seems to have been removed...

Well, it looks like it's a Taiwanese company now. I wonder if Genius was bought out by Tian Fu Industrial at some point?

I can't find too much info about Tian Fu Industrial.

chadster1 · Jan 1, 2012

They make some good tools. Their round head ratchets do not hold up to professional use. Their sockets and torx bits are first rate.

kippieland · Jan 1, 2012

stephen9666 said:
Well, it looks like it's a Taiwanese company now. I wonder if Genius was bought out by Tian Fu Industrial at some point?

I can't find too much info about Tian Fu Industrial.

I looked on google taiwan. Said the same thing..I imagine they were bought out by them.

G1GRANDEUR · Jan 1, 2012

I have used their 0° offset long wrenches / Snap-on Hi-Performance like and it was it was pretty nice, didn't feel cheap at all.

nexum1919 · Jan 2, 2012

i have the 3/8 swivel metric impact socket set, $45 on ebay for 8-19mm full coverage, mostly used as go to sockets with air ratchet. on several occasions had to use 13mm with a 1/2 impact with reducing adapter to remove hubs because nothing else will fit! i cringe everytime i pull that trigger on that IR2135MAX, everytime the socket comes out of that hole in one piece, still relatively tight, minimal mushrooming on pin bore

marcusicp · Jan 2, 2012

Where do you guys buy Genius Tools? I have been all over the internet looking for someone who offers the full line and have had no luck. Most places carry 50 or so items and that's it.

Also, has anyone tried to use the Alliance membership discount with Genius? How do you go about doing so?

defy · Jan 2, 2012

I have some 1/4" wobble plus extensions from them, which are ****, the retention ball is too far back on 2 of them and it doesn't grip the socket well and just falls off. I mentioned it to the tool truck I brought it off (Sulco NZ) and he didn't give a ****, so I no longer buy their tools or from that truck, I now import a lot of my stuff from usa with mail forwarders.

Wayfastwhitie440 · Jan 29, 2012

How are they marked and dose anyone have a close up of the sockets also does the small sizes do the weird short cone at the top or are they cut about half way down. Because I see them both ways on the internet???

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