Klein Tools

[MoparTrucks]

I coulndt find anything about them in the forum search so I apologize if this has been covered somewhere. I was buying some 100 amp wire and conduit at an electrical supply warehouse today to get the electrical to my shop and they had a display of Klein tools and man was I impressed.

They all said made in the USA and even as a weekend warrior I could tell they were far and above anything I currently own (mostly Craftsman, Kobalt and the like). Even the screw drivers blew me away and they seemed like they were of better quality than some of the tool truck brands my friend has.

I have never seen this brand come up in discussions here and none of them had prices marked so I assume they are pricey but does anyone have any experience with them?

 

[Richard Cranium]

yes, they are very good and very expensive...

 

[jim1987]

Try this in for size. It'll change the way you search forever.

Klein site: garagejournal.com

Type that into your search bar. Put anything you want before site: garagejournal.com and boom. Works for any website

 

[jagwinn]

I have 2 of these bags.

 

[MoparTrucks]

Try this in for size. It'll change the way you search forever.

Klein site: garagejournal.com

Type that into your search bar. Put anything you want before site: garagejournal.com and boom. Works for any website

I must be missing something, when I type that all I get is this thread. Can you clarify?

 

[jim1987]

Oh and before joining I seen where Lowes cleared all of their Klein tools last year for pennies on the dollar. Not sure how you could have missed that.

 

[jim1987]

I must be missing something, when I type that all I get is this thread. Can you clarify?

Try Klein tool site: garage journal.com type it into your browser bar. All the search result will be for whatever website you type in after site:

 

[Halfdawg]

I've used their screw drivers, nut drivers, and especially wire strippers and crimpers for 12 years now. Some of the original screw drivers are about shot now, and just last week I bought a set off of the SO truck, so we'll see. But Klein has been good to me.

 

[jim1987]

http://www.bing.com/search?setmkt=en-US&q=klein+site:garagejournal.com

 

[MoparTrucks]

Hey thanks, I think I figured it out and that worked. First thread I found was about how they really arent all made in the USA....

 

[b18ccivics]

I hate the screw driver's, look cheap, handles, ****, and I have a few nut driver's that the chrome has flaked off. I use them every day at work and not impressed. The crimpers and other tools are great. I personally own crimpers and other things but will not buy the screw and nut driver's. Talking with older electricians the screwdrivers were/are great. But I have not seen it. Maybe like everything else, older hand tools are better.

 

[jim1987]

Hey thanks, I think I figured it out and that worked. First thread I found was about how they really arent all made in the USA....

Np

Late at nite when there's no much traffic here I'll search random things. Like last night I searched duralast tools, dual 80, and some other things. Killed about 45 minutes each time from.all the threads lol

 

[MoparTrucks]

I hate the screw driver's, look cheap, handles, ****, and I have a few nut driver's that the chrome has flaked off. I use them every day at work and not impressed. The crimpers and other tools are great. I personally own crimpers and other things but will not buy the screw and nut driver's. Talking with older electricians the screwdrivers were/are great. But I have not seen it. Maybe like everything else, older hand tools are better.

This place I saw them is an old electrical supply warehouse so they may have been old stock but the screw drivers were extremely well made. Heavy black rubber handles with a hefty shank and good feel to them.

 

[MoparTrucks]

I get frustrated with computers Jim so I appreciate the help. Sometimes I want to just fling this thing against the wall!

 

[jim1987]

I get frustrated with computers Jim so I appreciate the help. Sometimes I want to just fling this thing against the wall!

Not a problem. I feel the same way, substitute my phone though lol. I just think that way of searching is easier then this forums search function.

 

[zkling]

I coulndt find anything about them in the forum search so I apologize if this has been covered somewhere. I was buying some 100 amp wire and conduit at an electrical supply warehouse today to get the electrical to my shop and they had a display of Klein tools and man was I impressed.

They all said made in the USA and even as a weekend warrior I could tell they were far and above anything I currently own (mostly Craftsman, Kobalt and the like). Even the screw drivers blew me away and they seemed like they were of better quality than some of the tool truck brands my friend has.

I have never seen this brand come up in discussions here and none of them had prices marked so I assume they are pricey but does anyone have any experience with them?

I mean if you are going to straight up lie, at least make it believable.

Next week, I hear a new brand called "Snap On" is going to come out.

Oh and before joining I seen where Lowes cleared all of their Klein tools last year for pennies on the dollar. Not sure how you could have missed that.

That was quite a while ago. About the only large box that carries a good selection of Klein stuff is Home Depot.

 

[MoparTrucks]

I mean if you are going to straight up lie, at least make it believable.

Next week, I hear a new brand called "Snap On" is going to come out.

Huh? I have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[zkling]

Huh? I have no idea what you are talking about.

You said, and I quote.....

I coulndt find anything about them in the forum search

.....

I have never seen this brand come up in discussions here

You are either
a.) lying about the fact that you even searched.
b.) lying that you couldn't find anything about them.


With just the word Klein, there are 20 pages of results.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=15724014

 

[MoparTrucks]

I dont know what your issue is beside being a troll but if you go to the search function at the top of the page you get nothing on Klein tools except this thread and a bunch of other unrelated threads.

Crawl back under your rock if you cant be helpful. I got what I was looking for through the assistance of another poster who wasnt so impressed with himslef as you apparently are.

 

[C96]

Klein tools are pretty much the standard in the profesional electrical construction industry as Snap-On is in the auto industry.

Yes, the Klein are good solid built tools made to last.

 

[bareass172]

I've owned a few Klein's over the years and haven't been terribly impressed with them. I guess they work for some people, but not all (depending on application I suppose). I recently did a lot of reading on drivers and asked a lot of people on here, the most commonly mentioned names I could find, probably about in this order, were Snap-on, Williams, Wiha, Wera, Craftsman (pro series), and Felo. That's not a fact, but it's what I took away from my reading. There were a lot of other brands mentioned too, but not nearly as often as those. If I were in your shoes looking for drivers (and I kinda am) those are the brands I'd look at except for the Cmans. I'm sure the Cmans are great, but with the store crashing I think warranty will be an issue. Williams seems to be highly sought after because they are re-branded Snap-on for much less. You can get a set on Amazon for < $50.

 

[sloppy]

klien wrench's seem kind of soft to me.. I like the low profile of the the wrench but the open end deforms pretty easy..

also not all klein is USA made.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Not sure what happened here ... Klein has been around forever. Not a new brand. Maybe the OP is not in the electrical field...

 

[gasaxeman]

I'm my field as someone else stated Klien is the standard tools you get as an apprenticie from the hall. A big bag of tools so that you have tools when you show up to work. Granted you had to pay for them.
The term "Kliens" to an electrician typically means line men's pliers.
I have switched to Knipex in the last few years as I find the are a little better in quality ,sharper cutting surfaces, and are different than most of what the other guys have.
My two cents.

 

[Brownsfan]

Oh and before joining I seen where Lowes cleared all of their Klein tools last year for pennies on the dollar. Not sure how you could have missed that.

That was knipex and channellock. Klein was a couple years earlier when home depot was named the exclusive big box dealer.

 

[Brownsfan]

You said, and I quote.....



You are either
a.) lying about the fact that you even searched.
b.) lying that you couldn't find anything about them.


With just the word Klein, there are 20 pages of results.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=15724014

It will give you 20 pages of useless results. The search function here needs a little work. And most people outside of the electrical world don't know much if anything about Klein. Just because Klein has been discussed here a lot and the op has been here a while does not mean anything. There have been a lot of carpentry tool discussion here since I joined but if I don't open them I would have no idea about some of those brands.
Point is not everyone is computer savy and not a tool snob. The whole point of this forumn is to help.

 

[sonvolt]

I work for a machine tool builder and my Klein screwdrivers have served me well.

 

[jmscollinsiii]

It will give you 20 pages of useless results. The search function here needs a little work. And most people outside of the electrical world don't know much if anything about Klein. Just because Klein has been discussed here a lot and the op has been here a while does not mean anything. There have been a lot of carpentry tool discussion here since I joined but if I don't open them I would have no idea about some of those brands.
Point is not everyone is computer savy and not a tool snob. The whole point of this forumn is to help.

Very well put.

 

[GortonsFisherman]

Forum Nazis of the world, unite!

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

I have only bought two Klein tools in the last 10 years.

15 or 20 years ago, Klein was one of my favorite tools brands. It seems like something has happened to their quality in since then.

Most of my Klein screwdrivers have been replaced with Wiha and Felo.

My pliers are almost all Knipex now.

I still use my Klein EMT reamer/screwdriver quite a bit. Also, my Klein nutdrivers, but I bought them 15 years ago or so.

My Klein 10-in-1 has been replaced by a PicQuic Super 8. No more bits falling out or rusting overnight.

 

[MoparTrucks]

I appreciate the input, I am definitely not an electrician, just a weekend hobbyist who appreciates a well made product. I dont remember ever hearing about Klein tools before and I guess I was surprised to find what appeared to be a very high quality tool in this old run down store. There were no prices marked and I was in a rush but I think I am going to go back and check them out further...maybe I can get a deal since they were covered in dust and didnt seem to be leaping off the shelves.
Before I retired a couple years ago I moved every 2 or 3 years so never was able to collect a lot of tools and though I dont have a ton of money I would rather buy quality a few at a time.

As for the search function, I dont know why some people are so rude but I suspect they are mostly kids who dont understand that not everyone has high speed internet in this country. I am on dial up so if I search and I get pages of posts that mention nothing about the subject I am looking for it can take hours wading through it all to maybe find one post deep in a thread. I will heartily endorse Jim's search suggestion though, it works great.

 

[Westly]

Klein appeals mostly to electricians, which is why you saw them in an electrical warehouse.

A decent electrical screwdriver has insulation all the way up to the blade. That will save you many sparks, explosions, and blown components. Might save your life.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...&pq=insulated+screwdriver&sc=8-21&sp=-1&sk=#a

 

[Westly]

As for the search function, I dont know why some people are so rude

I haven't read what you're referring to there but my theory is there exist certain types with no internal restraint, only externally imposed restraint. Or externally imposed judgement if you will. On the internet those exteral aspects aren't present, so...

 

[GortonsFisherman]

I am an electrician. Klein have always been to us what Snap-on is to mechanics, the tools you're supposed to have. Personally, I don't buy into that mentality, never have. Still, much of my stuff is Klein. They are of very good quality, and priced as such. Have they dropped in quality as of late, perhaps. Do folks in here sometimes have unrealistic expectations, perhaps.

Maybe check the prices of some of the more common Klein hand tools on Amazon before bothering to go back. Check for Channellock offerings of the same tools you're interested in, which will also be US-made. For example, their 9" Lineman's will be half of a pair of Klein's, and serve you just as well. Not everyone needs the "Cadillac of the industry", despite what you read in a forum.

 

[captain14]

A co worker had a part time job with a local electrical distributor. He said they had 6 different prices for a lot of stock. Pricing Depends on your buying level , high volume buying lower price. Low volume means higher price

Ask them, they may be willing to negotiate. If not, all they can do is say no

Good luck and let us know how you made out.

As a side note, I like your D150s I have a 87 short bed.

 

[Steinmetz]

I just get tired of lazy, lying people. That is all. It's a personal problem I have, I realize that is expecting too much out of some folks.

Had you said, I couldn't find anything, that would have been one thing. But when you specifically said you searched and still couldn't find anything.

I'd refrain from calling others a liar if I were you.

 

[Brownsfan]

Now to actually answer the question. Klein pliers and cutters are great. I have a lot of Klein tools and they are great. Mopar. Go to your local Home Depot and check them out. The new screwdrivers look promising.

 

[skruft]

On a happier note:

Klein tools are typically used in the US by electricians. I have many and find them to be very good for electrical work. Probably the rubber handles, etc. are best suited to fairly clean environments, not greasy old cars, etc. They also make good pouches, canvas bags, belts, etc.

 

[Farmall450]

yes, they are very good and very expensive...

But I won't be trading in my instincts anytime soon.

 

[zkling]

I'd refrain from calling others a liar if I were you.

If the shoe fits. I'm not going to sugar coat it.