Rank' em

[Conductor562]

Everyone has an opinion, so let's hear your's. Rank the top 5 hand tool brands you've used. No rules here but tell what you rank them based on (quality, value, etc.)

 

[JoeyMitch]

Snap On
Mac
Matco
Proto
Craftsman

 

[rusty65]

Snap on
Mac
Wright
Williams
Sk

 

[Conductor562]

1. Snap-On
2. Proto
3. Matco
4. Wright
5. Williams

I have never used MAC. SK was a close 6th.

 

[96snma]

for total brands

1. Gray
2. upper end Danaher (matco, Armstrong)
3. Snap on (mainly warrantee for being ranked lower)
4. kobalt (good value for home use)
5. Chraftsman (small product line in Canada coupled with been china for 20+ years)

I don't have to much experience with proto, wright and Williams other than few odds and ends. However I mainly tend to go with certain companies "specialty items." The things that they are known for. Knipex, channel lock and grip on are examples. Also buy high end items for ratchets and the like that get used all the time and lower end for occasional items

 

[amguttin]

snap on
proto
mac
sk
craftsman

 

[dr_clyde]

Snap-on (warranty and overall quality)
S-K (overall quality and commitment to USA manufacturing)

Old Mac (won't buy any new stuff)

Proto

Wright

 

[Rickster]

Based on value to me, non-pro, no access to a tool truck:

1. Older Craftsman
2. SK
3. Cornwell
4 Proto
5. Williams

I can get these cheaply at estate and garage sales and they're good quality.
Downside is they're usually not the pretty chrome!

 

[djjsr]

Craftsman
Williams
SK


I know the truck brands are better but I don't own any of them so I can't rank them.

 

[bcradio]

1. Knipex & NWS
2. Snap On
3. Proto
4. Craftsman
5. Wright

All of these are based on ROI.

 

[rjwilliams]

I am hoping that everyone is talking about the vintage J.H. Williams tools. I am a bit of a J.H. Williams ***** but I refuse to buy any new items.

1. J.H. Williams
2. Snap On
3. SK
4. Proto
5. Craftsman

 

[bcradio]

I am hoping that everyone is talking about the vintage J.H. Williams tools. I am a bit of a J.H. Williams ***** but I refuse to buy any new items.

1. J.H. Williams
2. Snap On
3. SK
4. Proto
5. Craftsman

The new ones are awesome... I love their Snap-On copy of the ratcheting screwdrivers... Come up to the times man!!

 

[rjwilliams]

I can't even bring myself to use their locking pliers. They are amazing pieces of **** and normally get passed over for an old set of vise grips with surface rust.

 

[canuckian]

Snap On
Hazet
Matco
Wright
NWS

 

[rjohnson]

Snap-on
Mac
Cornwell
Wright
Proto

 

[frankush]

1. Klein, I make my living using these tools
2. Craftsman, I won't buy the Chinese stuff but the american made stuff is a good value and does the job well.
3. Wright, I've picked up a bunch of their stuff over the years and it has never failed me and still looks great.
4. Armstrong, A few of my newer items are Armstrong, when I can find it at a decent price.
5. Proto, SK, I have a little of both.

I do have some Snap on and it's good stuff. I just can't justify the cost usually for what I do.

 

[oilfieldtrash4]

For using and value for the dollar I'd go with craftsman. I find it cheap and it works.

For buying and resale it's snap on and number 2 is not even in the same solar system.

 

[91bronc300]

Mechanic

1. Knipex
2. NWS
3. Proto
4. Old Craftsman / current Gearwrench (tie)
5. HF

Machine

1. Starrett
2. Mitutoyo
3. Brown and Sharpe
4. Lufkin
5. Chinese

Edit - I only have what I own to go off of

 

[charle10]

Used stuff: I'm cheap
Cornwell - Nice stuff and usually super cheap because no one has heard of them
Bonney - awesome wrenches, and sockets
Matco - high end quality, and I frequently find these in with lower end tools
Armstrong - high quality and usually less than craftsman
SK - high quality and usually less than craftsman

New: I'm still cheap
Channel lock
Gear wrench
Master Mechanic
Craftsman
Klein

 

[royesses]

1: Snap-On
2: SK
3: Herbrand
4: Cornwell
5: Matco

 

[Hammer1963]

Matco
Snap-on
Cornwell
Proto
SK

 

[metaleltr]

Snap-On
Cornwell
Mac
Matco
Wright

 

[Rogue1987]

Snap On
JH Williams
SK
Armstrong
Craftsman Induistrial

 

[Brownsfan]

Limited to stuff I have used over the years in automotive electrical and as an integration tech(low voltage)
Snap On
Cornwell
Channellock
Klein
Craftsman/ Kobalt

 

[woody 73]

Tough question Let me give it a stab:

Snap on because talking with them over the phone is super easy and they take care of me asap.
Cornwell again talking with them is very easy and they take very good care of me.
Matco makes some very nice tools.
Mac back in the day they made some very nice tools.
Sk Value comes to mind when I buy their tools.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Williams USA (New & Old) - Old stuff is top quality, and new stuff is Snap-On sockets for 1/4 the price.
Snap-On - Best quality hand tools out there, just damn pricey.
Old Craftsman USA - Best USA tools in the price range, back in the day.
Kobalt (3rd Gen) - Good quality and best value available when they regularly go on sale.
Channellock - Excellent pliers and cutters, at a good price.

Also love everything I've bought from Proto, Matco/Armstrong, Gearwrench, Klein, Dewalt, etc. But those first five were the first to come to mind.

 

[jhelrey]

Harbor Freight
Task Force
Tool Shop
Astro Pneumatic
Mountain

 

[Neuswede]

Knipex: best quality pliers and cutters
Facom: Palm control ratchets very well made
Wright: Wright Grip wrenches best damn wrench made today USA made
Armstrong: high quality USA made
S-K: Pro quality and well priced USA made

 

[Firestarter Fred]

Well that is tough but I will give it a go.

Snap on screwdrivers hard handles
Mac tools 100 tooth ratchets
Knipex pliers
Proto sockets
Craftsman wrenches too poor for the big brands

 

[BJ42LX]

Hard to rank, so in no particular order:

Snap On
Facom
Knipex
Hazet
Wiha
Whitte
Craftsman
SK

 

[matt1977]

proto
snap on
wright
sk
kobalt/mastercraft maximum

 

[Conductor562]

Harbor Freight
Task Force
Tool Shop
Astro Pneumatic
Mountain

Geez man, no love for BenchTop or the current Thorson line?

 

[Conductor562]

I based mine solely on quality. Going strictly on value I'd have probably ranked SK 1st. I believe SK and Proto offer the best quality for the price.

 

[babyjimmy]

1. Snap-On
2. Knipex
3. Matco
4. Channellock
5. Gearwrench

 

[Heaty]

Holy **** snap on seems like the most favorable one...

 

[lennoxlennox]

i'm going to take a wider view of hand tools

1) Snapon
2) Midtronics
3) Fluke
4) Sioux
5) Ingersoll Rand

Honorable Mentions

Power Probe
EZ Red - just because I like my flex, reversible xl ratcheting wrenches

 

[Boiler]

Since for me money is no object

New tools:

Snap-On
SK
Matco
Wright
Cornwell
Proto (close 6th)
Mac (distant 7th)

When considering their hay days:

Snap-On
SK
Bonney
Mac
Plomb / Proto

 

[balane]

Snap On
NWS
Facom
Armstrong
MAC

 

[Geurt]

Snap-on
Stahlwille
Knipex
Hazet
Wiha

 

[Beaubeau]

1: stahlwille
2:hazet
3:knipex
4:snap on
5:koken