To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Favorite brick and mortar store for hand tools.

Ton ton

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 16, 2019
Messages
4,592
Location
Page County,VA
I am going to say Napa because of their convenient location. I would like to go to H.D. Supply in Charlottesville,VA sometime before I die to see if they actually stock Wright wrenches. What is your favorite hand tool store?
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

GTO

Well-known member
Joined
May 8, 2009
Messages
3,927
Location
NJ,FL
I have a tool place near me called Eppy's(Howell,NJ)
and a place called Joseph Fazio(Wall,NJ)
 
Last edited:

lardy1

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 17, 2019
Messages
3,397
Location
Michigan
Funny stuff. I live in a rural area. Good luck finding domestic tools on the shelf.
 

Packard V8

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Messages
7,380
Location
Spokane, WA
Too bad Hardwick's in Seattle is closing and moving. That was my favorite store for hand tools. Every trip there, I always planned to spend an hour in there.

jack vines
 

xlowxyotax88x

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 4, 2015
Messages
210
I am going to say Napa because of their convenient location. I would like to go to H.D. Supply in Charlottesville,VA sometime before I die to see if they actually stock Wright wrenches. What is your favorite hand tool store?

What is this HD supply? I'm about an hour away from Charlottesville and go a few times a year acctually am going there on the 20th may have to detour lol
 

xela456

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2014
Messages
344
I am going to say Napa because of their convenient location. I would like to go to H.D. Supply in Charlottesville,VA sometime before I die to see if they actually stock Wright wrenches. What is your favorite hand tool store?

If it's anything like the HD supply near me, none of us could afford to shop there. It's mostly a contractor supply type place. Building materials and rental grade power tools, gangboxes and the like. It's gearee towards the kind of customer that doesn't look at prices. People that ware buying on a company account. I think a Stanley 25 foot tape is like 22 dollars for example.

As for me with brick and mortar tool stores, I live in Kansas City so you can guess Epsteins is near the top of the list. Clark tools is a really good one too!
 
OP
T

Ton ton

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 16, 2019
Messages
4,592
Location
Page County,VA
If you decide to go to H.D. Supply, let me know if they have Wright wrenches in stock. I bet they could beat Snap on prices.
 

Junkdrawer Dog

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 14, 2019
Messages
1,460
Location
LV NV
ACE hardware, True Value, Do It Best, any of those. I don't buy lumber, roofing, etc. (condo dweller). Don't want to walk 40 miles trying to find some help. I can usually find what I need at these places and often some friendly help.
 

mc4life27

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 2, 2014
Messages
404
If it's anything like the HD supply near me, none of us could afford to shop there. It's mostly a contractor supply type place. Building materials and rental grade power tools, gangboxes and the like. It's gearee towards the kind of customer that doesn't look at prices. People that ware buying on a company account. I think a Stanley 25 foot tape is like 22 dollars for example.



As for me with brick and mortar tool stores, I live in Kansas City so you can guess Epsteins is near the top of the list. Clark tools is a really good one too!



As far as price the HD supply by me seems to have both ends. On things that are construction staples the 5/8 nuts or rebar they seem to be the cheapest in town but in their tools they seem to be high but they have some cool odd ball unique tools that most places don’t carry. But what’s funny the one by me has the biggest selection of mineaukee pack out items and are either the same as home dip shits or a dollar or two cheaper.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
 

Empty Pockets

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 21, 2015
Messages
4,942
Location
Rural New York
Whenever work takes me to Kansas City, I always find an excuse to go to HJE. Good folks there.

If I have to have something and need it now, usually a big box or Ace Hardware
 

BiggityBen

Well-known member
Joined
May 1, 2018
Messages
93
Location
NJ
I have a tool place near me called Eppy's
Great selection of S-K and just about everything else you would need.

i go there occasionally. they either have in stock or can order most SK, OTC, Lisle, or Gearwrench stuff i'm looking for.
 

Semi-hole mechanic

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 2, 2017
Messages
1,017
Funny stuff. I live in a rural area. Good luck finding domestic tools on the shelf.

Try Meijer...they carry Tekton. Not all of Tekton's stuff is US made but a lot of it is and they are a MI based company, as is Meijer. Meijer is opening new stores all the time.
 

xela456

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2014
Messages
344
As far as price the HD supply by me seems to have both ends. On things that are construction staples the 5/8 nuts or rebar they seem to be the cheapest in town but in their tools they seem to be high but they have some cool odd ball unique tools that most places don’t carry. But what’s funny the one by me has the biggest selection of mineaukee pack out items and are either the same as home dip shits or a dollar or two cheaper.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
They have a good selection that's for sure, all their hand tools are high end as well. They sell wright wrenches, klein pliers, Kraft concrete tools. Definitely things that are worth the money, but it is all at or above msrp. When you need 100 pairs of the same glove though, they are the place to go. I've got to admit though, I kindof avoided the place for a while because I didn't care for the salesman that handled our account.

Funny story. I came in ton work one day to tie some rebar with my coworker, and they were all ribbing a certain coworker about his pliers. They asked me about my klein pliers and how much I had paid for them, I told them "about 25 bucks at home depot" (it was a few years ago). After that they said "hey Dennis, hear that? 25 bucks, how much did you just pay at WhiteCap?(HD Supply)" His face just turned red. He couldnt find his and decided to buy a pair there on the way over. He had paid 52 dollars!
 

shelteredV

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 3, 2015
Messages
532
Location
The Rock
Up in Islip by McArthur airport is a place called Dynamite Tool. It is by far the best tool store around, it's set up really well.
 

BK13

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Messages
2,692
Location
PDX, OR
Too bad Hardwick's in Seattle is closing and moving. That was my favorite store for hand tools. Every trip there, I always planned to spend an hour in there.

jack vines

I'd rather drive to Post Falls than Seattle anyway... I'll have to check them out when I get up that way again.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Nineeightyone

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 21, 2018
Messages
393
Location
Pennsylvania
I've been meaning to go to the retail end of MSC Industrial Supply, I ordered a Blackhawk 9mmx11mm flare nut wrench from them that was super reasonably priced and was able to pick it up after hours at a location roughly half an hour from my house after work one evening.

Given that they have brands like Blackhawk on hand, I'd love to see what else they carry. My local options are pretty much Lowe's/Home Depot/Harbor Freight/Ace/True Value, and while they're decent, they generally only cover the lower end of the spectrum of hand tools.
 

montanafordman

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 10, 2013
Messages
621
Location
Meridian, ID
Probably AMB tools and Equipment for me in Tacoma. They have a major selection of SK tools and some Martin tools too in addition to Waterloo toolboxes, Ernst organization stuff like wrench racks, socket rails, Champion Compressors, imported tools too if you're on a budget. AMB tools and equip is more of an industrial dealer and their prices are a little high, but for the occasional thing I like to support the local business and american manufacturing.

Second to AMB, I like the Carlyle stuff at Napa if I"m going to buy something imported. Unfortunately the Napa parts stores closest to me don't stock Carlyle but I can order online and have it there by the afternoon on the same day. If I want to window shop the carlyle stuff its a 20-30 min drive to Auburn or Kent for the nearest napa that carries Carlyle.
 
Last edited:

jeffmoss26

Well-known member
Joined
May 25, 2011
Messages
12,854
Location
Cleveland, Ohio
I've been meaning to go to the retail end of MSC Industrial Supply, I ordered a Blackhawk 9mmx11mm flare nut wrench from them that was super reasonably priced and was able to pick it up after hours at a location roughly half an hour from my house after work one evening.

Given that they have brands like Blackhawk on hand, I'd love to see what else they carry. My local options are pretty much Lowe's/Home Depot/Harbor Freight/Ace/True Value, and while they're decent, they generally only cover the lower end of the spectrum of hand tools.

I thought they were mail order only.
 

mc4life27

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 2, 2014
Messages
404
my boss did the same thing on some iron worker pliers. i was there getting something for the footing we were getting ready to pour and he told me to grab him a couple pairs, so i did. i was in a rush and didnt pay any attention and once he got the bill he was not happy with him self. especially after he saw that i was using the channel lock one witch everyone seems to like better and i like them hands down over the Klein even though i have been a Klein fan for years and have many of their tools.
 

mikebaker1129

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 16, 2014
Messages
1,576
Location
Huffman,TX
Empire tools in Houston,TX.
They carry SK, Klein,Martin, makita,Dewalt , Milwaukee , and are a repair center for most power tools,carry welding Machine's and supplies, replacement handles.
 

joe_pinehill1

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 23, 2013
Messages
537
Location
Northern Virginia
Lowes, I'm not a pro, but I find with the Craftsman and Kobalt line I can usually find what I need. Also NAPA for Lisle tools. If I can wait one day, Amazon.
 

Prospecter

Well-known member
Joined
May 16, 2015
Messages
2,401
Location
Maine
1. Epsteins (except where I live, Epsteins is only a mailorder option.)
2. Liberty Tool, Liberty, Maine (A used tool dealer.)
3. Harbor Freight
4. Lowes (Because my health insurance gives me gift cards when I am good.)
 

Robinson1

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 22, 2015
Messages
834
Location
Kentucky
I have pretty much no loyalty to any store when it comes to tools. I buy stuff as I need it, when I find a good price, when I run across something that catches my eye.

I buy alot from Ace because I'm in there 2-3 times a week at minimum and always have a couple end caps full of stuff on sale.

Otherwise its

Lowes
Home Depot
Harbor Freight
Tractor Supply
Rural King
Local lumber yards
Wal Mart

Order a lot of things from Ebay as well.

At this point most if my tool buying is odd ball stuff and duplicates of duplicates to stage in different areas or for dedicated kits for specific jobs.

I'm starting to push shop work more than site work and breaking into custom cabinetry and high end wood work so I'm buying alot of router bits and jigs lately
 
Last edited:

Nineeightyone

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 21, 2018
Messages
393
Location
Pennsylvania
I thought they were mail order only.

I ordered online and picked up in person, my understanding is that the location near me has a storefront but unfortunately their hours are the same hours that I work, and I'm not keen on taking a day off of work to go buy things I don't need.

Regardless, their pricing is on-point and being able to order online and pick up within about half an hour of my home is a pretty good option considering the items they stock.
 

Bryan Burns

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 3, 2010
Messages
1,241
Location
Grayslake, Illinois
Berland's House of Tools.


Been a customer for decades but just now learned of their connection to SK (Sherman Klove).

From their web site:

A Tool Story

The Sherman family, owners of Berland's, got their start in the tool business in 1914 when Mason Sherman left the presidency of Birmingham Steel and teamed up with Roger Klove to create the S-K Wrench company. S-K was one of a handful of wrench manufacturers to survive the great depression. Mason’s son, William, and grandson, Dave, continued in the family’s wrench business.

Dave joined S-K in 1949 as a shipping clerk but soon convinced his bosses that he should be a salesman for S-K. By the late 1950s, Dave had also begun a side company with his uncle, selling tools out of the trunk of his car. This became a wholesale too company they named Clark-Hall, using each of their middle names. In 1960, Dave left S-K and moved Clark-Hall to Forest Park, a western suburb of Chicago. Dave began to see opportunity in retail and In 1969 bought a store on Chicago’s northwest side from Mae Berland, one of Clark-Hall's clients, .

At the time, Berland’s specialized in tools for the plaster, masonry, cement and trowel trades. Dave’s son, Dwight, upon graduating college, joined the company in 1974. Two years later, both Clark-Hall and Berland's moved to Downers Grove. Dwight saw the retail potential in Berland’s and greatly expanded the lines in order to cover more trades. Eventually Dave sold Clark-Hall and Dwight, with guidance and support from dad, turned Berland’s into the three location tool superstore it is now: a tool nut’s paradise, a carpenter’s candy store, a man’s best friend. Today, Dwight’s son Spencer and wife Janet are also key members of the company, ensuring that the family tradition continues. S-K wrenches are still sold at Berland's.
 

usdemt

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 1, 2010
Messages
644
Location
South Dakota
Menards used to be good but have also taken the turn. I always stop into Acme Tools when I get up north as they are still impressive. We have Tool Depot in town which isnt bad but can be hit or miss.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom