Klein tools
- Thread starter big red
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Big Bad Jon
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2008
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- 719
I am not sure of their country of origin. My wife's Grandfather is an electrician and he has a set of them. I used them once to replace an alternator on one of his work trucks. I have used better but if you can get them at a decent price, depending on your needs they might be good enough. I do not think that they would last a month in a shop.
JohnMcD348
Well-known member
My father's an electrician and he's got quite a selection of Klein pliers but that's about it. He swears by them but not much else.
theWORLDSaNAIL
Well-known member
All klien is us made the ratchets are great for line work and that's what there designed for klien is for mostly for the electrical industry were the standard are different
RRmech
Well-known member
Klein ratchets and sockets are USA-made.
They are rugged, well-made, and relatively inexpensive.
I'm still using Klein and VACO tools that I purchased in the late 60's.
Does THAT tell you about Klein quality?
Steve
They are rugged, well-made, and relatively inexpensive.
I'm still using Klein and VACO tools that I purchased in the late 60's.
Does THAT tell you about Klein quality?
Steve
Autoguy
Well-known member
I have some KLIEN pliers and they are great (1990s vintage). The wrenches I used to have one set that came in a cloth roll in shiny full polish. I think it lokks similar to the new SK wrenches ( combinations) KD and QUALLEN. I guess may be made by SK. You know better.
sberry
Banned
I have some Klein sockets, as far as I can tell they are as good as any. We use the pliers and a ton of screwdrivers and nut drivers. I like the grips on the drivers.
HandyManny
Well-known member
Don't know about the sockets. I know that the adjustable wrenches are USA made TOPP clones. (TOPP is an excellent quality Japanees made wrench) Klien makes some excellent linemans pliers and long nose pliers as well. I really like their nutdrivers as well.
Their screwdrivers **** big time! Although precision ground and fit very well, the tips are just too soft in my opinion. But some people like them.
Their screwdrivers **** big time! Although precision ground and fit very well, the tips are just too soft in my opinion. But some people like them.
HandyManny
Well-known member
I would imagine that the sockets and ratchets used in electrician work would not be subject to anywhere near the high torque use in the automotive mechanic areana.
lbgradwell
Well-known member
I'm not familiar with this company. I just tried Googling them, but nothing comes up. Do you have a link?
Vinko
Well-known member
I don't understand what's so great about their screwdrivers.
I've used their New England linesman pliers and really liked those.I have some klein screwdrivers I bought for the specific purpose of assembling plugs and connectors. The screws they use for the terminals in these are wierd and many screwdrivers tend to cam out and damage the screw. I have found the way the kleins are ground seems to match these screws quite well.
superautobacs
Well-known member
The reason you won't find anything is because the correct spelling is TOP.
They are most well known for their adjustable wrenches (they exchanged manufacturing technology with Klein Tools back in 1987).
http://www.toptools.co.jp/index.html
This is just your standard adj. wrench, but they have some pretty unique ones in their line up. Big Red, sorry for getting OT.
HandyManny
Well-known member
Ooops! You are correct, it is TOP, not TOPP.
lbgradwell
Well-known member
Thedroid
Well-known member
I don't know what the difference is between the electrical industry, and any other. I'm an industrial electrician, and as far as I know a screw is a screw, and a bolt is a bolt. There is no difference between a 1/4-20 in a panel,d under the hood, or on a packaging machine. Dikes are Dikes, and the same for Needle nose or channel locks or anything else. Other than the specialty tools for doing electrical specific jobs, the only thing that makes a Klein screwdriver a little more handy for the electrician, is the small round ball at the front of the handle the slips into a tool pouch loop real nice. Only problem is Kleins screwdriver tips are terrible. Something changed in the last two years in the quality of their steel. I still buy the insulated screwdrivers, because I like the shape, but one of my favorites is about 4 yrs old, and still going. The others I replace about every 6 months because the tips are shot.
I disagree about the torque requirements also. All electrical connections need to be bolted down tight, or the results can be very dangerous. I would think that equipment designers would match fastener sizes to the expected torque of the connection. I imagine a certain sized bolt sees similar torque as it's automotive counterpart. Then there's electric motors, and all the goodies that come along with them.
I disagree about the torque requirements also. All electrical connections need to be bolted down tight, or the results can be very dangerous. I would think that equipment designers would match fastener sizes to the expected torque of the connection. I imagine a certain sized bolt sees similar torque as it's automotive counterpart. Then there's electric motors, and all the goodies that come along with them.
ironfist
Well-known member
I agree I love klein's pliers well the older ones . The new journeymen plier's feel wierd to me . And I won't buy a wire stripper that doesn't have klein on them . Their screwdrivers are great too. I haven't had any proplem with them .
theWORLDSaNAIL
Well-known member
The sockets a ratchets are tough and do see high torque putting a line bolt that's 12in long with 1/2" diameter in a creasot pole while hanging from it is high torque and high stress.
The screw drivers are not soft your just using the wrong ones your like for the type that can be struck with a tool and a tempered for such work the ones you might be using are design to strip or break to avoid damage to special equipment. I work in the electrical industries and this is a common occurrence even with trained technicians. I spend a lot of time with mechanical engineers matching fasteners for hold, conductivity, and environmental degrading lashing down a fastener as tight as possible is not always a option because it may destroy the device or impact it electrical properties this is become a bigger part of the industry to as smart device are being add.
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GDA
Well-known member
I grew up using them and consider them to be very good pliers and cutters. Never tried any of their other offerings though.
Their screwdrivers are soft. Not hard enough for anything but electrical work.
ironfist
Well-known member
What's an alternative screwdriver ? What would you use ?
Thedroid
Well-known member
I work with Rosemount smart transmitters on a daily basis, and I agree, if you torque the terminals down too tight the you've ruined the transmitter. I'm talking about the standard screwdrivers and phillips drivers. Using a beater screwdriver to tighten hubs, is not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about removing and installing standard screws the good old fashioned way. One thing that beats the tips up the most is opening up panels, and bucket doors in mcc's. They have a huge slotted 1/4 turn fastener holding the door shut. I will screw up the tips of my drivers before I carry around an 18' long screwdriver to fill up the slot.
All this talk about Klein tools got me to digging. I found a few old pairs that had different but similar logos on them, not sure how old they are though. I use Klein linesman's all the time for electrical work, and in my opinion are the best as far as linesman's go.
you can get stubby screwdrivers with a big blade....
showags
Active member
I agree with whomever posted above that they are not a good mechanics screwdriver. My biggest reason is that the soft handle rubber turns to mush when in contact with diesel or other solvents. However, I will say that I do own quite a few screwdrivers, dykes, linesmans, nutdrivers, and a couple 10 in 1s by Klein. The actual tips on the screw drivers are very tough to beat regardless of the brand, including SO. I don't know why, but they do seem to grip a screw better. Their cutters are also very good and prefer them to most others, except Knipex, I really like them. They also have a nice variety of strippers and crimpers. They definitely are designed for electricians/HVAC type work, but do that very well.
Mickey O
Well-known member
They used to, maybe still do, make all their own tools, wrenches included, I've only had their adjustable wrench and they were good. Their nut drivers are great. I read an article not to long ago about them still producing their own tools in plants in the suburbs of Chicago.
one thing I'm sure is their warranty is still good. found a broken wire cutter at school by the dumpster, called Klein for an RMA#, spent $2 on postage mailed it to the address they gave me and then 2 weeks later a brand new one showed up.
sberry
Banned
I live the nut drivers, have about 6 sets of them. I like being able to buy singles off the shelf for common sizes we lean on. The pliers are great, agree about the screwdrivers, they get replaced on occasion but are well used by that point and like the handles. When new they are really sharp and grip well although have used others just as good.
