Best brands for certain tools?

[noid]

Looking to see what everyone thinks is the best company for each tool (wrench screw drive, pliers, etc.) or maybe even put a comprehensive list together:

Im not the guru or master of tools but if i had to take a spin at it i would say

Ratchets/sockets - Hazet

Wrench - Stahlwille

Screw drivers - wiha/felo/wera?

Vice grips - gedore

Pliers - knipex

Screw extractors/punches - Rennsteig

Most of my selections are European but not intentionally, snap-on, mac, etc are more then welcome.

 

[Cummins_Powered]

I think including some of those less used items, but when you need they save your life would be good.


swivel sockets? line/flare nut wrenches? stubby wrenches?

 

[tyreguy25]

Pliers, Knipex
Screwdrivers, PB Swiss, Wiha, Wera, Felo, etc
Ratchets, Facom/SK palm drive, SO
Wrenches, SO, Stahlwille
Locking Pliers, Grip On

You did a pretty damn good job there...

 

[Marauder470]

What may be the best brand for you may not necessarily be the best for others.

Remember that there are several key factors that can determine what is the best for you:

Ease of warranting the tool
Fit and finish
Price
How easy it is to obtain the tool

And so on...

 

[noid]

Forget about price/warrenty/etc. im talking the best, as in are the most less likely to brake, or are innovative (ex. handle comfort), or do the best job out of all the brands that it was ment to do

 

[Bolster]

Noid went all German. Can you warranty them easily? I can "forget" about price, but not about warranty.

Pliers- Knipex are nice, but not confident about their warranty at this point. Wiha also makes a quality plier. Not a fan of SO pliers, however.
Pliers Wrench - Knipex, gotta have one of these, even if there were NO warranty!
Wrenches - happy with Proto & SO & Toptul
Screwdrivers - PB Swiss, Williams (hear great things about SO Phillips #2)
Sockets - I like big labeling, so Matco (altho don't own any). I realize I'm 'odd man out' to like Cman sockets...big label, inexpensive, work. Also like my SO sockets.
Ratchets - well SO obviously. Also the fine tooth SK is very nice. Sometimes Protos fit where others don't.

What's so good about a Hazet ratchet?

 

[Thumper]

line wrenches.......Snap-On

 

[noid]

Well I remember seeing a comparison on here (im sorry but i cant for the love of god find the thread with the search function again) between the hazet ratchet and snap on ratchet and the hazet had at least twice and thick walls on the insides/plates, and looked like it would never in a million years wear out/bent/break.

Also i have seen a few of hazets manufacturing video's and ive seen snap on's manufacturing video's (on "how its made") and by what ive seen Hazet takes a hell of alot more care and precision in their work.

You know as they say: you get what you pay for, and the highest line of hazet is very expensive.

They also say that the focus to precision/detail and engineering of a German is second to non. Plus they get better benefits and probably are happier at their jobs LOL!

For the record im not German (lithuanian born, Canadian citizen). Bit off topic but would be AWESOME to find out if any Lithuanian company makes tools.

 

[strnjss]

I've always been partial to Channellock for pliers

 

[sarel.wagner]

Vicegrip: Gedore and ViceGrip
Ratchets: Matco, Snappy, Facom, Gedore, Nepros, Gearwrench,
Sockets: Hazet, Gedore, Nepros, Beta, Gearwrench, Metrinch
Universlas: Beta
Screwdrivers: Wera, Vessel
Wrenches: Gedore, Hazet, Stahlwille, Beta, Metrinch
Pliers: Knipex, Gedore
Body hammers: Sykes Pikavant, Dagger tools

Rgrds

 

[bmxr4life87]

Fluke makes a mean dmm and thomas and betts make some wicked stripper/crimpers
Gearwrench has the best value/selection of ratcheting wrenches and afaik vermont american or hansen make a fine tap and die set

 

[lestat]

If I were to pick one single (most consistent across the whole range) manufacturer, and on an absolute scale, my list would look like this:

Toolboxes: Snap on
Wrenches/Ratchets/Sockets: Snap on (Facom, Stahlwille and a few others are equally as good and consistent but It'll have to come down to finish - Snap on's is hands down the most aesthetically pleasing)
Screwdrivers: Snap on
Pliers: Knipex
Pullers: Kukko
Vise grip: Vise Grip
Tube flaring: Ridgid
Plastic tools: Bojo
Cordless drills: Festool

Facom gets the special prize for having the most in house-engineered tools across the whole range, rather than cherry picking and rebranding - where Snap on is king. For instance, their electronic pliers (at least the one I have in my box) are Lindstrom made in Sweden and shamelessly stamped 'Snap on', not Blue Point, and a quick mark-up of 50% added to the price. So much with the myth that all Snap on is made in US.

 

[Fedwrench]

It's a personal choice based on location, availability, and the individual tool. However, I'll bite:

Screwdrivers: Wera
Any type of Flare wrench: Snap on
Ratchets: The Danaher (apex) 60 tooth ratchets
Wrenches (combination): K-D Second geration full polished models Long length, US made craftsman Pro wrenches
Impact sockets (non swivel): Proto
Impact Swivel sockets: Matco pinless design
Pliers: Knipex
Chrome sockets: Matco
Air tools: IR
Prybars/Punches: Mayhew

 

[mrholeshot]

Screwdrivers Snap-On
Wrenches- Snap-On
Ratchets-Snap-On
pliers -Knipex on some Channallock on others
Sockets-SK

I think the best tool must included the warranty portion of that factor. Even the most precision tools break and if you can't it warrantied quickly it isn't the best tool. Also just because it cost more and comes from overseas. I'd put my F150 up against a Rolls Royce anyday as far as durability and warranty is 200X easier on the F150.

 

[Elroy]

Vice grips - gedore

Do you ever find it curious that Vice Grips are always referred to as Vise Grips regardless of the manufacturer. People automatically know what you're talking about

Kind of like Channel Locks and Crescent Wrenches

What happens if you ask your buddy to hand you those Godore's

 

[woody 73]

Noid your list sounds fantastic good job, but as some of the other members have said,warrenty would be tough in the USA and I am not sure how where to buy some of those brands.

I bet some web-sites in the US would carry them,but I bet shipping and tax would be a killer.

I like the knipex very nice tools,but channelock tools will work very well,as far as screwdrivers,I like the tool truck brands,but williams make a pretty good screwdriver.

Wrenches again any from the tool trucks,but snap on makes a nice wrench,as far as air tools well all of mine are older CP but IR makes a nice product.

I am not sure about the word BEST I have seen men use cheaper tools and they keep going year after year.

 

[noid]

Noid went all German. Can you warranty them easily? I can "forget" about price, but not about warranty.

Pliers- Knipex are nice, but not confident about their warranty at this point. Wiha also makes a quality plier. Not a fan of SO pliers, however.
Pliers Wrench - Knipex, gotta have one of these, even if there were NO warranty!
Wrenches - happy with Proto & SO & Toptul
Screwdrivers - PB Swiss, Williams (hear great things about SO Phillips #2)
Sockets - I like big labeling, so Matco (altho don't own any). I realize I'm 'odd man out' to like Cman sockets...big label, inexpensive, work. Also like my SO sockets.
Ratchets - well SO obviously. Also the fine tooth SK is very nice. Sometimes Protos fit where others don't.

What's so good about a Hazet ratchet?

Finally found that thread.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24030&page=2

 

[Monte]

Mechanics Pliers: NWS, Knipex
Locking Pliers: Grip-On, Bollmann
Punches/Chisels: PB Swiss, Rennsteig, Gedore
Hammers: Peddinghaus, Habero/Gedore, Picard
Car Body Tools: Picard
Pipe Tools: VBW, Dako(Gedore), Sturem, Ega Master
Ratchets: Facom, Hazet (fine tooth)
Extensions: Stahlwille (Locking), Ko-Ken
Sockets: Hazet
Screwdrivers: PB Swiss, Wera, Witte
Tin snips: Erdi/Bessey
Clamps: Bessey, Turnus
Wrenches: everything from Stahlwille, Hazet 600N + 610N

 

[comedyman809]

its all how the tool works for the individual.....period.some people love the craftsman screwdrivers.

i personally hate them. i love my facom ergotwist screwdrivers(discontinued and im pissed about that), my pb swiss, and my sk sure grips.

i would love to own a nice set of the snap on hard handles that i think are dicontinued.

turns out, a few years ago, i bought the bondhus gorrila grip hex drivers, because they had a fancy looking grip.

well as soon as i started to use them, i realized, i hate the texture of that hard rubber handle.

so now i hate them and they will be up for sale soon.

so now im afraid to try the snap on comfort handle ratchets and their screwdrivers.

but, i do however love the chrome handles and knurled on just about every ratchet /breaker bar i have ever used.

my pliers...the klien journeyman series were ok, but i love the regualr slim rubber grips the best, same with my knipex. i like the new style grips, but not as much as the old style grips.

the craftsman grips feel good, but dont last worth a ****.

so the question you ask, its all personal. if you are happy with a particular tool, why change?

 

[bonneyman]

I prefer older American tools (estate sales are my friend!), and have tried to accumulate any I can find and restore for use. Also, most of my tools are for minor car repairs and around the house, so they don't get punishing use. And my job isn't on the line with them, so, you be the judge.

Wrenches: Bonney Loc-Rite
Sockets and Ratchets: S-K, Old Proto
Screwdrivers: Enderes, Malco
Pliers: Utica, Channellock
Adjustable: Old Crescent
Vise Grips: Petersen, Irwin (not Chinese)

 

[Bolster]

...the hazet ratchet and snap on ratchet and the hazet had at least twice and thick walls on the insides/plates, and looked like it would never in a million years wear out/bent/break.

Sounds like the old "Ruger vs. Smith and Wesson" debate...how important is "thickness"...personally I don't look for the thickest ratchet I can find, I do the opposite. I saw the link you posted, very interesting, and that Hazet does look solid.

 

[Monte]

Well I remember seeing a comparison on here (im sorry but i cant for the love of god find the thread with the search function again) between the hazet ratchet and snap on ratchet and the hazet had at least twice and thick walls on the insides/plates, and looked like it would never in a million years wear out/bent/break.

the Hazet fine tooth Ratchet looks strong too. At least the housing won´t break

 

[Bolster]

Very thick!

 

[Fedwrench]

the Hazet fine tooth Ratchet looks strong too. At least the housing won´t break

I don't think the housings break but, I hope those fine teeth cut into the housing and on the ratchet pawl are uber strong.

 

[tyreguy25]

I must retract one thing on my list. I added Wiha screwdrivers to my list. I only own Wiha SoftFinish products, and I just used one for the first time this morning to disassemble a stock pot for homemade baked beans. I didn't care for how the handles felt in my hand while using them. The PB Swiss red, translucent handle feels like gold, but the Wiha handle was a hair too large for my mid sized hands.

Now, I was taking the handles off the pot to stick the pot inside my water smoker under some pork spare ribs to accumulate the juices that drip from the ribs...

 

[Bolster]

I must retract one thing on my list. I added Wiha screwdrivers to my list. I only own Wiha SoftFinish products, and I just used one for the first time this morning to disassemble a stock pot for homemade baked beans. I didn't care for how the handles felt in my hand while using them. The PB Swiss red, translucent handle feels like gold, but the Wiha handle was a hair too large for my mid sized hands.

Wihas have proponents and detractors. I tend to fall in the detractor category. Not only do the handles feel lumpy, but see other screwdriver threads where their tips appear a little undersize. I find some cam-out problems with my set of Wiha insulated. However they seem to be well-hardened. Myself, I am migrating slowly to PB Swiss.

 

[tyreguy25]

I have added a bunch of PB tools to my Amazon cart. I am waiting on funds to make the jump .

I like the fit and finish of the Wihas but just cannot get them comfortable in my hands. I compared my Cman P2 to my Wiha P2 and they aren't the same size, but the Wiha is definitely a better made tool.

 

[caper]

the Hazet fine tooth Ratchet looks strong too. At least the housing won´t break

I have a couple hundred ratchets and have never had a desire for a Hazet,Gedore or Stalwhile ratchet.I find them way to ugly to justify the asking price.You would think if the companies are going to price them as a premium tool they could at least put a quality finish on them.Satin finish on a ratchet priced that high is just wrong.I suppose that's the reason I have no interest in most European tools,I just don't like the way they look.

 

[caper]

Looking at some pics of Hazet ratchets they appear to be copies of old Snap on and Herbrand designs.

 

[tyreguy25]

Functionally, your European top-tier tools are just as nice, if not nicer, than your SO, Mac, etc. I actually prefer the satin finish to the mirror polished finish.

 

[sarel.wagner]

Bright chrome or satin finish is just different. You like one or the other, mostly. Functionally chrome looks nice when new, but wears off over time with use and abuse, satin finish stays looking that way much longer as scratches do not show up so well, it does wear off over time as well, normally leaves a bright spot where this happens. I do have tools with both finishes, prefer the satin one from a usability point of view, it aint so damn slippery.

Warranty on tools, locally the Gedore stuff is lifetime, take it in, swapped out, done. I imported quite a few US tools, warranty would be a tad difficult from here to say the least. Nobody else works with my tools, so they don't break as I use the right tool for the job. It's an investment for me, so I look after them. I got a spread as wide as anyone from a brand point of view, USA made, Taiwanese made, Swiss, German, Japanese, South African, British, French and Italian but no PRC stuff.

Rgrds

 

[sarel.wagner]

Looking at some pics of Hazet ratchets they appear to be copies of old Snap on and Herbrand designs.

So are many others, its the manufacturing process that make em good or bad. Snap-On was founded in 1920, Hazet by the way in 1868.

Rgrds

 

[inclined2fish]

What European manufacturers/suppliers do you like for carpentry or general handyman type work? I use STABILA levels and BESSEY clamps, but that's as "old world" as my toolbox rolls.

Suggestions?

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

snap on delivers right to my door , the german tools are unobtainable for the most part.I had started a pretty good euro tool collection before I got married ...had to back off on that

 

[sarel.wagner]

And the patent doc for the first Ratchet design in the 1860's: http://digital.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=scia;cc=scia;rgn=full%20text;idno=scia1010-16;didno=scia1010-16;view=image;seq=00252;node=scia1010-16%3A1

Rgrds

 

[inclined2fish]

snap on delivers right to my door , the german tools are unobtainable for the most part.I had started a pretty good euro tool collection before I got married ...had to back off on that

Marriage tends to do that.

 

[Monte]

Sounds like the old "Ruger vs. Smith and Wesson" debate...how important is "thickness"...personally I don't look for the thickest ratchet I can find, I do the opposite. I saw the link you posted, very interesting, and that Hazet does look solid.

The thickness of the plate is important i think since it acts as a bearing: thicker plate = higher strength & durability

I don't think the housings break but, I hope those fine teeth cut into the housing and on the ratchet pawl are uber strong.

sure !! uber-mega-super-abnormal-miraculous-strong !!!

I have a couple hundred ratchets and have never had a desire for a Hazet,Gedore or Stalwhile ratchet.I find them way to ugly to justify the asking price.You would think if the companies are going to price them as a premium tool they could at least put a quality finish on them.Satin finish on a ratchet priced that high is just wrong.I suppose that's the reason I have no interest in most European tools,I just don't like the way they look.

That´s a matter of taste, there are a lot of people who don´t like that style and a lot who do whether it´s here in the EU, in Asia, USA or even Japan where you don´t find any blog without at least a couple of Hazet, Stahlwille, Knipex or Wera tools (and Snap-On of course).

I think Sarel.Wagner brought it to the point:

Bright chrome or satin finish is just different. You like one or the other, mostly. Functionally chrome looks nice when new, but wears off over time with use and abuse, satin finish stays looking that way much longer as scratches do not show up so well, it does wear off over time as well, normally leaves a bright spot where this happens. I do have tools with both finishes, prefer the satin one from a usability point of view, it aint so damn slippery.

In most cases tool companies over here produce tools with a satin or rougher sandblasted finish, in case of wrenches you simply have a better grip, the open end sides are also polished when the wrench is polished so you can slip off easier from a nut or bolt too, the wrenches from here don´t have polished/glossy chrome plated open ends so you can´t slip off that easily. So the work safety is higher. Also you don´t get blinded if you work outside in the summer and the sun rays hit the glossy chrome plated tools.
Also the glossy chrome looks only good when new, so after you used your $30.- SO wrench a couple of times it don´t look like $30.- no more after a while , more like $8.- so i rather can buy a brand new Hazet wrench for $8.- here which still looks like 8.- after a while It also don´t hurt much if it should look like $4.- after a long time
Like if you have a brand new looking 57´ Bel Air with glossy paint but scratched chrome, it don´t look good too - same with the scratched glossy chrome plated wrenches.

 

[Monte]

Looking at some pics of Hazet ratchets they appear to be copies of old Snap on and Herbrand designs.

That´s probably where they have their design from. The ratchet idea was brought from the US to germany.

 

[caper]

I don't mind my scratched up chrome wrenches,my tools work for a living.The scratches have a way of becoming a patina after a while,but the wrench is still shiney.IMO a well used chrome wrench still looks beter than a satin finish.Satin finish just looks cheap to me and many North Americans.I don't think anybody has ever filed a safety complaint over being blinded by the sun reflecting off a polished wrench working outside.That's just funny right there!

 

[noid]

I don't mind my scratched up chrome wrenches,my tools work for a living.The scratches have a way of becoming a patina after a while,but the wrench is still shiney.IMO a well used chrome wrench still looks beter than a satin finish.Satin finish just looks cheap to me and many North Americans.I don't think anybody has ever filed a safety complaint over being blinded by the sun reflecting off a polished wrench working outside.That's just funny right there!

Its the little details that matter, everyone is right above, your hand will always slip off faster on a chrome finish over a rougher satin finish which you hand can grip onto better. Sure the sun doesn't blind you, but its just an inconvenience and although uncommon may cause *minor*safety issues.

What you must realize about the Germans is, they make what works best, not what looks best. If you like what looks best, theres nothing wrong with that!