Are K-D and Allen tools any good?

[ReedMeeks]

Are K-D and Allen tools any good?

I've noticed that they have a low demand. Especially the K-D brand tools. They don't appear to be worth much.

Are they just cheap made tools? I was wondering what the "Garage Journal" take was on these tools? Are they any good?

 

[Cope]

Allen makes Allen (Hex) wrenches among other things, and KD makes a lot of different automotive tools. Both were bought by Danaher years ago.

 

[Super Sport]

K-D and Allen are/were both Apex brands and are comparable to Craftsman. K-D ended up becoming Gearwrench, and Allen is still around but I think most of the line is imported now as well.

I have some K-D full polish wrenches that are a little shorter but otherwise identical to Craftsman Professional. Many of their ratchets and other tools were the same as Craftsman minus some slight cosmetic differences.

 

[kd3pc]

I have some 70's Allen ratchets and sockets and they have been as good or better than similar craftsman gear.

They are not as "sought out" as much as others, but as far as using them....I like them a lot.

 

[ReedMeeks]

So that sounds like they are pretty decent quality if they are the same as a Craftsman brand....I guess they just aren't as popular for some reason. I was wondering why the demand is so low on them even though they are USA made....for example I've seen some Allen ratchets that sell for around $10 new while the similar looking S-K ratchet runs maybe 4 times as much. I know S-K is popular but 4 times as much? I guess comparing K-D or Allen to S-K is like comparing apples to oranges.

 

[Super Sport]

So that sounds like they are pretty decent quality if they are the same as a Craftsman brand....I guess they just aren't as popular for some reason. I was wondering why the demand is so low on them even though they are USA made....for example I've seen some Allen ratchets that sell for around $10 new while the similar looking S-K ratchet runs maybe 4 times as much. I know S-K is popular but 4 times as much? I guess comparing K-D or Allen to S-K is like comparing apples to oranges.

For ratchets SK is superior to all of the cheaper Danaher/Apex brand ratchets. SK ratchets are far better than the old 36T pear-head Craftsman and Allen, and also better than the tri-wing style round heads. The RHFT design sold by Craftsman (not sure if it was ever branded by K-D or Allen) would be comparable to SK.

I'm not a huge fan of SK ratchets due to the larger size of the head, but they're pretty solid ratchets.

 

[FlushingDIYer]

I have some non-polish KD combo wrenches and they are almost identical to old USA Danaher Craftsman. (I believe they were made in the same factory.) They're very competitively priced! I like them and will probably be buying more from Cripe to replace the few Chinese pieces in my Craftsman set.

 

[6PTsocket]

Allen is probably best known for their name being attached to hex wrenches that are often referred to a allen wrenches or allen keys. The Allen line was probably more industrial as they kept cost down by not spending the time to polish them beyond where really necessary. Wrenches were not always the show pieces we expect today. An ugly but sound wrench will turn a fastener just as well and for just as long. I know this is hard to believe when people endlessly debate which company puts a better finish on their tools. KD was,heavily involved in specialty tools found in the serious auto parts stores that don't seem to exist any more. They were more akin to Lisle and OTC than the wrench and ratchet brands.

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[hangfirew8]

Both of these brands have been gutted. KD part numbers were all recycled for GearWrench. At one time KD made a full US made lineup of good solid mid-level tools, particularly specialty mechanics tools like pickle forks. Their sockets and wrenches were just OK looking but I would trust them more than same-era US Thorsen.

Apex tried to make Allen a full line brand in the 90's. The market was saturated and the effort failed. For a while after that they replaced common SKU's with cheap Chinese imports, the part number being the same except the newer imports have a "G" at the end. Even these are closeouts now.

I have a small mechanics set of Allen sockets and wrenches, and the chrome and overall quality is up there with better US Craftsman or Armstrong. However the wrenches are thin and painful to use, and the 36pt teardrop ratchets are nothing special. Although it combines Metric and Imperial the assortment leans way too much towards the Imperial. I think they failed to differentiate their product in a competitive market.

-HF

 

[Cope]

KD originally was a supplier of specialty tools; brake hones, door panel tools, feeler gauges, etc..

 

[ReedMeeks]

Thanks so much for the replies....sounds like this brand is more dependable than I was thinking.

 

[6PTsocket]

Both of these brands have been gutted. KD part numbers were all recycled for GearWrench. At one time KD made a full US made lineup of good solid mid-level tools, particularly specialty mechanics tools like pickle forks. Their sockets and wrenches were just OK looking but I would trust them more than same-era US Thorsen.

Apex tried to make Allen a full line brand in the 90's. The market was saturated and the effort failed. For a while after that they replaced common SKU's with cheap Chinese imports, the part number being the same except the newer imports have a "G" at the end. Even these are closeouts now.

I have a small mechanics set of Allen sockets and wrenches, and the chrome and overall quality is up there with better US Craftsman or Armstrong. However the wrenches are thin and painful to use, and the 36pt teardrop ratchets are nothing special. Although it combines Metric and Imperial the assortment leans way too much towards the Imperial. I think they failed to differentiate their product in a competitive market.

-HF

Very good. I learned a lot. You are really up on tool history. I find the corporate musical chairs and directions they take their companies really interesting.

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[wmm2]

A number of years ago, someone at the local auto parts place told me that KD and Easco were related, or pretty much the same thing. According to a Wikipedia article, KD and Allen were brand names under the Easco company.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easco_Hand_Tools

Following some of the links from the Wikipedia article lists relationships between KD, Allen, Easco, Apex, Daniher, and Craftsman

 

[wasabiboys]

I have some older KD sockets and box wrenches. They aren't that bad at all for auto and other repairs.

 

[woody 73]

K-D and Allen are just the worst junk around pure dog **** , so op don't touch those tools any more you might become infected, wrap them all up and send me the box asap so I can dispose of them for you...

Slow day op! Great tools

 

[Bdgjr215]

This k-d rhft is a desireable little ratchet.

 

[davethorik]

I have a couple Allen rhft, and a few 1/4 and 3/8 sockets. The rats are similar to craftsman but with knurled handle. The sockets are identical

 

[Bdgjr215]

I have a couple Allen rhft, and a few 1/4 and 3/8 sockets. The rats are similar to craftsman but with knurled handle. The sockets are identical

Easco was making all those ratchets at that time including the craftsman rhft
My pic above is actually a k-d and an easco side by side.

 

[davethorik]

Easco was making all those ratchets at that time including the craftsman rhft
My pic above is actually a k-d and an easco side by side.

Weren't you the guy who bought those nos flex head easco and kd flexheads after I posted the link? Lol and yeah, I know...

 

[Fedwrench]

The short answer is yes.

For clarification, I am talking about the pre Gearwrench US made KD & US made Allen.
Back in the day before the formation of the dreaded Apex tool group, Danaher Corp made several tool lines (Craftsman, NAPA, KD, Allen, Master Mechanic, & others) on Armstrong and old Easco factory lines. These were mostly mid priced, quality, durable, no frills get the job done type mechanics tools.
They were sold in auto parts stores & hardware stores, around the country.
Unfortunately, with the creation of the Apex tool group, gerarwench was expanded into a full line of mechanics tools killing off KD tools in the process. The other brands such as NAPA and others also died off and were replaced with imported tools. Although it has been more than a few years since all of this happened, there is still quite a bit of old KD inventory floating around. My favorites from the old KD line are the full polished combination wrenches in stubby and regular lengths, and the round head fine tooth quick release ratchets. The only thing I don't care for from the old lines would be the round head non quick release ratchets, the screwdrivers had nice handles but, soft blades.
So when you come across some old US made KD, if you like how it looks and feels in your hand, buy it if the price is right. It will serve you well but, it's not fancy.

 

[Bdgjr215]

Weren't you the guy who bought those nos flex head easco and kd flexheads after I posted the link? Lol and yeah, I know...

Yes I was ,and I'm pretty sure I sent u a thanks thru the thread and if I forgot thank you,They are nice little ratchets.

 

[four.cycle]

Are K-D and Allen tools any good?

I have no idea what K-D is up to currently. They were acquired by the Apex Tool Group in 2014.
Originally they shared a specialty market niche with Lisle (and to a degree) Kent-Moore. We carried a few of their specialty tools on a revolving display rack in our stores; door handle clip removers, "triple square" metric bits, and a few other items that weren't available from our "full line" tool vendors. It was all top-notch product targeted to pros.

There was clearly a relationship between KD and Easco at some point:



Other than the shape of the raised panel on the shanks of those combination wrenches, they don't appear to be much different than Craftsman from the same era. Easco was a contract supplier for Craftsman for years.

Other than the shape of the raised panel on the shank on the little 1/4" drive RHFT ratchet below, it doesn't appear to be much different than an equivalent Craftsman model from the same era. The sockets, however, do appear to have gotten more care on fit and finish:



I think the only Allen I own would be some hex keys.

The only other thing I can tell you is that neither Easco or Allen seem to sell very well on Ebay. That combination wrench set has been listed for weeks, and this little 1/4" drive set has been listed now for over a month:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/11PIECE-EAS...:g:rqUAAOSwo4pYOPuO&item=311774506891&vxp=mtr
(> same as my set above, but with a later vintage ratchet and it's missing the #11-1110 5/16" socket.)

Short version: as good (if not better) than Craftsman from the same era.

 

[6PTsocket]

I have no idea what K-D is up to currently. They were acquired by the Apex Tool Group in 2014.
Originally they shared a specialty market niche with Lisle (and to a degree) Kent-Moore. We carried a few of their specialty tools on a revolving display rack in our stores; door handle clip removers, "triple square" metric bits, and a few other items that weren't available from our "full line" tool vendors. It was all top-notch product targeted to pros.

There was clearly a relationship between KD and Easco at some point:



Other than the shape of the raised panel on the shanks of those combination wrenches, they don't appear to be much different than Craftsman from the same era. Easco was a contract supplier for Craftsman for years.

Other than the shape of the raised panel on the shank on the little 1/4" drive RHFT ratchet below, it doesn't appear to be much different than an equivalent Craftsman model from the same era. The sockets, however, do appear to have gotten more care on fit and finish:



I think the only Allen I own would be some hex keys.

The only other thing I can tell you is that neither Easco or Allen seem to sell very well on Ebay. That combination wrench set has been listed for weeks, and this little 1/4" drive set has been listed now for over a month:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/11PIECE-EAS...:g:rqUAAOSwo4pYOPuO&item=311774506891&vxp=mtr
(> same as my set above, but with a later vintage ratchet and it's missing the #11-1110 5/16" socket.)

Short version: as good (if not better) than Craftsman from the same era.

You are a little late on your date. KD had long been a Danaher company. In 2010 Danaher merged all of it's hand divisions, including KD, with all of the tool companies of the Cooper Group to form a new corporation, which they co owned, called Apex. The have since sold Apex to Bain Capital.

This k-d rhft is a desireable little ratchet.

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[colin39]

I have 2 complete sets of spanners 6 to 32 mm one k-d one allen and tgey are both fantastic both have gotta be 20 years old and bith are my first port of call when i grab for a spanner, the 24 has been beaten by a hammer on spring brakes nuts on lorrys and loosening caliper bolts on lorrys, with no failling chrome.
Ive loved these spanners since i bought them and will until i retire from professionaly spinning spanners in 10 years time.
Find a set and use em there great.

 

[Fedwrench]

I have no idea what K-D is up to currently.

KD is dead. it exists only as a two letter prefix for Gearwrench tools on some online vendors websites.

 

[colin39]

The only place i can ever get replacement parts is cripe distribution, even parts being sent to the y-uk has been a pinch

 

[jbcpwc]

If anybody is interested in NOS KD/Easco tools(sockets, wrenches and a bunch other stuff) and live in the Cleveland, OH area. There is a automotive supply shop in North Ridgeville that is closing and the owner is selling the stuff at pretty much cost.

Nice guy and he'll let you go through the back room and look around. Tons of shtuff back there and bring a flashlight as there is very little lighting.

The address is: 34400 Lorain Rd, North Ridgeville, OH 44039

Jason

 

[davethorik]

Yes I was ,and I'm pretty sure I sent u a thanks thru the thread and if I forgot thank you,They are nice little ratchets.

You did, and youre welcome. I like the rhft and i know the Craftsman flex heads go for stupid money, so I shared with gj when i found that. I used to have a KD flex but gave it to a friend, so the nos Easco flex was like meeting an old friend when I bought it.

 

[555]

A friend of mine picked up 6 Air Force surplus tool kits last week. All the sockets and wrenches were K-D which really surprised both of us. The wrenches were sturdy, but without polish. I don't know when these were used by the Air Force, but I would say in the last 20 years as they were in pelican type cases. I really wanted to buy one from him, but he is a wheeler dealer and already had them sold or traded. I'm waiting on a new iPhone, so I didn't get a chance to take pictures.
Regards,
John

 

[Bdgjr215]

You did, and youre welcome. I like the rhft and i know the Craftsman flex heads go for stupid money, so I shared with gj when i found that. I used to have a KD flex but gave it to a friend, so the nos Easco flex was like meeting an old friend when I bought it.

Sounds like we all made out,I had a mechanic friend who was pestering me for my craftsman version because his was stolen a few years earlier,so I sold him
That and bought a k-d and an easco and still ended up in the profit zone

 

[drink]

Are K-D and Allen tools any good?

I've noticed that they have a low demand. Especially the K-D brand tools. They don't appear to be worth much.

Are they just cheap made tools? I was wondering what the "Garage Journal" take was on these tools? Are they any good?

From what I remember, Danaher Tool Group dropped the Allen line of hand tools somewhere around the mid to late 2000's. Northern Tool used to sell some of the Allen hand tool sets and other tools they made. You could buy a nice SAE mater mechanic's set of tools (like the 19633 set in the picture) for about $1700 with free shipping. The Allen USA socket sets looked like rebranded Armstrong A-Line tools.

In my opinion the Allen USA tools are good tools and you can do a lot of work with them. I own a few sets of the Allen USA tools and I like them. They have a nice finish and they were made to last. Some people criticize the ratchets because of the tooth count but I like them. The ratchets have a knurled handle and have a good feel.

 

[drink]

Another thing to add is the people at the factory said when they dropped the line the Allen tools would be replaced with either a GearWrench or an Armstrong tool. Over the years I have seen the same Allen tear drop ratchets rebranded with other brand names like Husky, Armstrong, Master Force, etc.

As far as prices are concerned I have found some Allen USA tools deeply dicounted after they dropped the line and moved on to other things. Why not snap up some bargains while the getting is good? They are good tools!

Here's some of my Allen tools and tool boxes.

 

[ryan20021982]

These were my grandpa's, both USA made Allen

 

[drink]

Here's a comparison between an Allen 19210 23 pc socket set and an Armstrong 15-517A socket set. Can you tell the difference other than the brand name and item numbers?

They look the same huh?

 

[6PTsocket]

Those following other threads know that Apex just pulled the plug on Allen and Armstrong with 170 laid off.

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[oldtools]

KD make pretty good automotive tools which I have quite a bit. Not sure about their hand tools.

 

[Scotty_B]

You can still find KD and Allen USA NOS tools on eBay. Cripedistributing has quite a bit.

I have a couple USA KD SAE socket sets. They are at least as good as Craftsman USA stuff, and that's just fine for me since I pretty much use SAE sockets/wrenches only for lawn mower repairs.

I have a few Allen USA sockets and wrenches, too.

Good quality stuff that you can find really cheap if you look around.

 

[6PTsocket]

I have some non-polish KD combo wrenches and they are almost identical to old USA Danaher Craftsman. (I believe they were made in the same factory.) They're very competitively priced! I like them and will probably be buying more from Cripe to replace the few Chinese pieces in my Craftsman set.

They were made in the same factory. KD was probably best known for auto specialty tools. Most of that stuff was merged into Gearwrench. Many still have a KD prefix on the part number. Allen, best known for the hex keys, was a brand for unpolished, lower priced stuff, but equally functional. Armstrong got the full polish. All sadly gone. Apex has gone with Gearwrench, made where it can be done at the lowest price with little concern for warranty. Any of those terminated brands will do the job.

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[Mr.Nutcase]

If I am not mistaken KD and Allen dont exist no more.
I think they were replaced with GearWrench brand

 

[NUTTSGT]

You can still find some Allen stuff at Menard's along with the sister house brand MasterForce.

About 18 months ago O'Reilly's clearanced out their KD hand tool line. I bought some stuff fairly cheap, including long extensions and breaker bars.