Teng vs. Tekton

[Fialaja]

So these 2 brands seem to be the upper echelon for Chinese tools. I see Teng sponsored Junkyard Diggs you tube channel, while Tekton seems to sponsor Goonzquad.

Who has experience with these tools?

Does anyone own both brands?

Are there similar brands out there?

Why don’t we see these brands in stores?

Is one brand better than the other?

 

[Tallpilot]

Teng is generally more expensive and has 0 North American sourcing. Between the two that makes Tekton the obvious choice for me. Specifically on ratchets, Teng seems to be still using the formally ubiquitous 72-tooth design which is generally quite strong but suffers from self-reversing since there is no positive retention for the selector lever. I much prefer the 90-tooth design Tekton is currently sourcing.

Word of caution: Purchase Tekton directly from their website. Third party sellers are extremely likely to have old stock which will not be the newest designs.

 

[lardy1]

The only retail source I know of for Tekton is Meijers. Their website is better pricing with the rewards. I do see older model stuff in discount tool places and different sales as well as online. I only know what I've read in here about Teng.

 

[Dave455]

I’ve seen no Tekton here in the U.K, but I have seen it. The tools I’ve seen were Taiwanese, not Chinese, and while I'm not the greatest fan of Taiwanese tools, this didn’t seem bad. Towards the upper end of the Taiwanese for sure.

Used a set in the U.S. to change a set of brake pads. It worked fine. I would rather buy Taiwanese tools at Taiwanese prices (Tekton) than Taiwanese Tools at U.S. prices (an increasingly large amount of Mac etc).

Teng is common in the U.K. low grade tools with high grade marketing, so it’s no surprise it turns up on all these TV programmes.

I was given some in the late 80’s, and back then it wasn’t too bad. Maybe the position that Tekton are in now. I’ve seen some of the more recent tools, even had to use some when forced to borrow tools. It’s all pretty crappy. Ratchets are plastic things with a cheap pressed cover.

My 80’s vintage had O.K. chrome. Later tools had a rougher chrome, current ones a matte finish, which is presumably cheaper still. Strange, because most Taiwanese brands (certainly Tekton) can manage reasonable looking chrome. Don’t know where it’s made.

Go to any British boot fair (swap meet) and you will find a guy with boxes of generic loose Taiwan / China tools that he can’t sell. Teng will be included, in fact it’s probably the stuff that’s hardest to sell. Most of it goes for scrap.

There are many many similar brands out there. The tools don’t vary much, only the spin! It’s not hard to find them. The better trick is finding tools that are not made in Taiwan, but not much more money, which can be done, certainly in the U.K.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Tekton is sold at Rural King it is amazing stuff the screwdrivers are USA made and I think the nutdrivers are too. As far as Teng goes I know Junkyard Digs on YouTube uses them but have never seen them in the stores anywhere or never had any experience with them nor do I know anyone that has. But the Quality of Tekton is absolutely amazing it’s one of my favorite middle of the road tool brands.


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[Dave455]

Just to put things into perspective, the Teng set shown below is £298 on their U.K. website. Even if they discount it by 50%, DON’T be thinking you’re getting a bargain. Those are crappy tools with probably the crappiest ratchet out there, and I doubt worth a tenth of the list price.

By contrast, I can get the Gedore set shown, which is German made, and in a different league quality wise to the Teng, for £130 from TBS Aachen.

Why on earth would you buy the crappy tools for more than twice the price?

Perhaps this explains why Teng can spend so much on marketing...?

Don’t think Tekton offer a set with mixed drive sizes (very wise) but they sell a very comprehensive 3/8 drive set with SAE and metric sockets, including deep, for $70, or just over £50. Seems very fair.

 

[Mr_B]

Yes teng best avoided unless almost free .
poor design, poor sets and not particularly great quality ...
Seem rely on marketing fluff to support silly pricing .
Plenty far better asian tools like toptul. welzh, carlyle, etc .

 

[vanapplebomb]

Tekton is local here in West Michigan. There design center and offices are in Grand Rapids. A lot of their wrenches are actually produced here using local shops to do laser cutting, machining, etc. their wrenches are super nice. Other things, such as torque wrenches, are outsourced to overseas operations. Generally good quality, and they stand behind their stuff.

 

[WittHay]

Teng is a Swedish based Taiwan tool importer, Jet is Vancouver,BC, Canada based. Tekton is Michigan and HF Icon is California.

Tekton being American is set up mainly as a mail order company. Noboby really sees the tools before purchasing. Where as Jet and Icon are sold mainly through brick+mortar

HF Icon being the newest Taiwan tool importer has less baggage then the other companys. Mit/Tekton, Jet and I assume European tool importers have been doing it for so long there is always somebody who is going to complain they bought whatever brand in 1991 with the little oval Taiwan sticker and it was cheap garbage.

Brands like UltraPro always are improving and changing their import product line. For the record have never seen a Tekton tool but am familiar with at least a dozen other Taiwan sourced brands

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

Use tektons locator. They are all over the place. Alot of there stuff looks really nice but i think theres some things that haven’t been updated and look like standard hf stuff. Wrenches, sockets, pliers and screw drivers look great. Tool boxes are supposed to be really good. Im not sold on there ratchets yet but others seem to really like them. Hammers look Like pretty standard hf stuff to me. They are a family owned company and as mentioned in Grand Rapids Michigan. Formerly known as MIT and have come a long way since those days. I see them in Meijer and seen them at the PRI show last year and i will certainly consider them on future purchases

 

[lardy1]

I just came in from using one of my Tekton 90 tooth ratchets. I don't know what's to not like about them. Smooth as butter and very affordable. I only wish they offered some different fixed handle lengths.

 

[richfinn]

So these 2 brands seem to be the upper echelon for Chinese tools. I see Teng sponsored Junkyard Diggs you tube channel, while Tekton seems to sponsor Goonzquad.

Who has experience with these tools?

Does anyone own both brands?

Are there similar brands out there?

Why don’t we see these brands in stores?

Is one brand better than the other?

Got any examples of what tools you want and what your willing to pay?

Never seen any Tekton

Teng is hit and miss (some junk, some good)

 

[Fedwrench]

So these 2 brands seem to be the upper echelon for Chinese tools. I see Teng sponsored Junkyard Diggs you tube channel, while Tekton seems to sponsor Goonzquad.

Who has experience with these tools?

Does anyone own both brands?

Are there similar brands out there?

Why don’t we see these brands in stores?

Is one brand better than the other?

I have a few Teng items and a bunch of Tekton items. To me, current Tekton is light years ahead in quality compared to what Teng offers. Tekton offers better finished tools at lower cost in a much wider range of sizes without skips.

Teng's satin finish is on the rough side. I think Teng's claim to fame was that Edd China used their tools on older wheeler dealer episodes.

Teng lacks a US distribution network so, that's why you see them in stores. Tekton does appear in some places like tractor supply, and some parts houses.

A similar brand to Teng might be Sonic because, both brands seem to knock off German tool designs. However, sonic is pretty pricy.

You can browse or order Teng tools at tengtoolsusa.com they're even having a Labor Day sale with 15% off everything.

 

[KnurledNut]

Tekton has a strong following here, largely because of their excellent customer support, including having a company rep GJ member ready to help, an easy warranty, excellent website and free shipping. Another major reason is their new offerings within the past 5-6 years, including Wilde sourced USA pliers, punches and prybars, USA screwdrivers, USA goodyear air hoses (2011?), redesigned ratchets and sockets, and most recently USA made angle wrenches and crowsfeet.
If you would have asked this question 6 years ago, the replies would have been largely negative, perhaps even comical. The tools then were all generic cheap lower quality imported goods, cookie cutter products found manufactured for many other cheap brands.
Tekton seems to be “upping the ante” here of late, and slowly improving their product quality, which is nice. As quality goes up, so does price, and it seems they are finding a balance between the two that will attract a more professional clientele, while still providing for the occasional end user.

 

[Jtels85]

I was expressing some interest in Teng Tools around 2016/17 as I saw them as the tools Edd China was using on the old Wheeler Dealers episodes. They began showing up on places like Amazon and eBay and the sets appeared to be comprehensive for the most part. I liked their page on Facebook...

It wasn’t until they shared a post from some event, SEMA or something similar I’m guessing? The caption read, “Lunch with Chip Foose” and below was a blurry picture of what appeared to be Chip standing up from a table in the distance, waving hi like someone called out his name from the back of the room and he was caught off guard.

That’s the moment I knew I wasn’t going to buy any of their tools and immediately unliked their page.

 

[Tallpilot]

I was expressing some interest in Teng Tools around 2016/17 as I saw them as the tools Edd China was using on the old Wheeler Dealers episodes. They began showing up on places like Amazon and eBay and the sets appeared to be comprehensive for the most part. I liked their page on Facebook...

It wasn’t until they shared a post from some event, SEMA or something similar I’m guessing? The caption read, “Lunch with Chip Foose” and below was a blurry picture of what appeared to be Chip standing up from a table in the distance, waving hi like someone called out his name from the back of the room and he was caught off guard.

That’s the moment I knew I wasn’t going to buy any of their tools and immediately unliked their page.

That's a great story. Whoever said earlier that they are mediocre (maybe worse) tools with excellent marketing was correct. But if you have a popular YouTube channel and want free tools, they just might be your Huckleberry.

 

[Ralf11]

So these 2 brands seem to be the upper echelon for Chinese tools.

Tekton is "a family-owned company in Grand Rapids, Michigan"

 

[ForrestT]

Love both my new Tekton 90 tooth flex head ratchets. 3/8” drive 12” handle and 1/4” drive ratchets were nicely done and very easy on the tool funds.


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[kudakev615]

^i cosign this statement. i bought the tekton long handle flex 3/8 ratchet on the day it was released and told myself i was going to try it out and give my SO FLF80A a break. it is still my go to ratchet and it has been just as good day in and day out as my FLF80A. it did take a little while to get used to the detents on the flex joint but ive learned to work with it and actually do like it in some situations. i do own their extra long fixed handle 3/8 and 1/2 ratchets and i dont think they are up to the quality of a SO equivalent. the handles i feel are too thin and have actually seen the 1/2 flex when breaking camshaft bolts loose. but i still them and my other tektons ratchets and tools all the time with great pleasure

 

[txvwnut]

I see several post stating Teng has no US support, https://tengtoolsusa.com/ , I own three Teng sets that I use as roadside emergency kits and when I do a house call. I will agree with the above statement about the satin finish but it does clean up like a chrome finish. The ratchet I can’t quite get impressed with as I’m not a fan of laminated tools but so far when they’ve been used they’ve been great. Wrench’s and sockets all have a good fit on fasteners. The screwdrivers feel kinda cheap but they do the job so I can’t complain too much. The pliers feel and look like Knipex and seem well made. I do have some Tekton stuff and I will say I can’t complain about them for the price they were.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

Lardy1 just Looking at them at Meijer the long 3/8s ratchet just doesn’t look like it would hold up. To me they look like A copy of other brands. I did get the metric stubby wrenches snd 3/8 drive extentions And those are really nice. Now if they had a set of stubby flex heads with a detent I would be interested in them for sure. My hf set is a pos but what can you expect for $10.

 

[dnschmidt]

I'll be brief Tekton - Good Teng - *****. Teng, for reasons only God could possibly know, charges more for their garbage than TOPTUL does for some of the best tools Taiwan has to offer. Worse, they seem to get away with it. If TOPTUL had Teng's marketing they would rule the world.

 

[M635_Guy]

I have Tekton for my chrome sockets (1/4", 3/8" and 1/2") and 3/8" extensions, and they've been excellent.

They saved some money by sharing blanks across several sizes, so some of the smaller sizes are taller than they have to be

That makes you wind up with stuff like this: (compared to the same size in the Icon set I have in my travel kit)

But overall I don't mind that much, the quality seems great and as mentioned somewhere else their customer service has a outstanding rep.

I also have a 6mm-24mm combination wrench set that I like a lot.

Lastly, I have their 3/8" x 8" ratchet. I'd like the handle fairly well, the action is really smooth and without backlash (though that seems to be mainly a 1/4" problem) and the head design is really nicely compact. I dig it.

(seen here on the far left with its Icon, Snap On, Sunex (yuck) and Carlyle brothers)

Overall, Tekton seems to be doing a lot right.

 

[MarvinBerry]

Can't say I've ever heard of Teng or seen any mention of them on this site until now...

Haven't seen any Tekton in person but based on the positive reviews here I wouldn't hesitate to order something if I had a need.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I have Tekton for my chrome sockets (1/4", 3/8" and 1/2") and 3/8" extensions, and they've been excellent.

They saved some money by sharing blanks across several sizes, so some of the smaller sizes are taller than they have to be

That makes you wind up with stuff like this: (compared to the same size in the Icon set I have in my travel kit)

But overall I don't mind that much, the quality seems great and as mentioned somewhere else their customer service has a outstanding rep.

I also have a 6mm-24mm combination wrench set that I like a lot.

Lastly, I have their 3/8" x 8" ratchet. I'd like the handle fairly well, the action is really smooth and without backlash (though that seems to be mainly a 1/4" problem) and the head design is really nicely compact. I dig it.

(seen here on the far left with its Icon, Snap On, Sunex (yuck) and Carlyle brothers)

Overall, Tekton seems to be doing a lot right.

Definitely nice stuff but I couldn’t buy that Tekton ratchet cause the ocd in me would be bothered by the name not being on the head that’s the only thing that would hold me back from buying them.


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[Semi-hole mechanic]

Tekton are in some retail stores in the midwest including Meijer, Rural King, and Big R (they have been bought iut and are now Field and Fence, so don't know if they still carry them), as well as on a lot of stores' web sites for ship to store such as Home Depot and TSC, but it's just as easy, and cheaper, to order directly from the Tekton site. They have free shipping, and if you sign up for a free account you get a 10% credit towards future purchases as well as freebies. I just ordered a 1/4 drive socket for $4.50 applied a $.50 credit from an earlier socket purchase and also got a free sheet of socket rail labels ( not sure if they'll work for my rails but they were free and I'll find some use for them).

 

[Alaniho]

Teng is well marketed but overhyped and a little overpriced for what it is. Tekton seems good with good support, but Toptul would be the best in this bracket, if you can get it where you are.

 

[CR888]

I just came in from using one of my Tekton 90 tooth ratchets. I don't know what's to not like about them. Smooth as butter and very affordable. I only wish they offered some different fixed handle lengths.

It seems tools users are kind of obsessed by ratchets. Often a brand is ruled in or out by their ratchets and tooth count alone. Tekton like GW know this and really put some effort into their designs. Get the ratchets right....consumers will trust you and have no problem handing over good money for your out of spec wrenches, poor socket designs or screwdrivers that belong on a box store shelf. I'd buy a Tekton 90t ratchet like I have several 84t or 120xp ratchets, but I look very closely at their other offerings, very few have the design/function/quality of the socket ratchets they produce.

 

[jgromada]

I have never purchased the Tekton sockets, except to note that have a nice range of sizes. The prices did not seem outrageous but my preference is for Proto or SK. I do have some Tekton pliers and they are just meh, not up to the level of Proto or Knipex or NWS.

The Teng seems pretty high priced but i do like the foam tray idea. and satin finish is nice too.

I did get a Gedore ratchet recently. Red which i take it the lower line for Gedore. Not the best sounding ratchet but works fine. (am i getting too picky?)

 

[ozaudio]

regardless of weather they are worth it or not, tengs warranty in the UK at least is good. 2 items that i had broken i rang them and without proof they just sent me a repair kit and something else within 48 hrs. wouldnt pay the new prices but ive had a good few items second hand for cheap.

 

[tonyciambrone]

Tekton are in some retail stores in the midwest including Meijer, Rural King, and Big R (they have been bought iut and are now Field and Fence, so don't know if they still carry them)

Big R is now Stock & Field-

I went in over the weekend to get a pair of wire strippers- I left both of mine at work and needed them fast. They had completely wiped out their Tekton selection, almost all the Amsoil, all kinds of tools and implements. They replaced Tekton with some other chinese private label brand.

Makes ya sad to see it, previously they had Tekton wrench singles up to like 46MM and 2", Torque wrenches, torx sockets I mean you name it. I bought quite a few things there because I could get it the same day.

Anyway Tekton is really quite good for the money

 

[Jmo371]

I like tekton, their strengths really seem to be sockets, and as of late ratchets. I have their complete Chrome sets in 3/8th and 1/2, and recently a bent handle 3/8 flex and a flex head 1/4 ratchets….all good to go.


The wrench selection is nice, but I am still a bit skeptical, your money may be better spent with another pro-lite brand, at least for-now.

I really really like that as a brand they are moving more and more production back to the United States, I will keep buying there USA made pliers, and screwdrivers as well as the Taiwan sockets. I hope they get a Combination wrench line that is USA produced.

 

[Ton ton]

There's an independent tool truck that carries tekton on a limited scale in southern Ohio and northern Kentucky. Quality craft tools.

 

[VolvoRyan]

Tekton is almost like Amazon's store brand. Solid stuff.

I gotta say, for the money GearWrench is the better buy for anything that ratchets.

My "snobbish brands" sockets are all on Tekton rails. Those rails are just awesome.

-Ryan

 

[Tallpilot]

I like tekton, their strengths really seem to be sockets, and as of late ratchets. I have their complete Chrome sets in 3/8th and 1/2, and recently a bent handle 3/8 flex and a flex head 1/4 ratchets….all good to go.


The wrench selection is nice, but I am still a bit skeptical, your money may be better spent with another pro-lite brand, at least for-now.

I really really like that as a brand they are moving more and more production back to the United States, I will keep buying there USA made pliers, and screwdrivers as well as the Taiwan sockets. I hope they get a Combination wrench line that is USA produced.

I carry the wrenches in my truck. I have Williams USA in the shop. If you like plain open ends they are excellent no frills combination wrenches with great chrome. The only real issue is they are not long pattern. They are longer than equivalent Craftsman raised panels but that is about it. Nobody touches them on price though for a no skip set. Tons of options 8-19mm but not so much in 6-22. They also go all the way up to 50mm for pretty reasonable money. You can go with ugly junk from Northern Tool if you need super cheap but for a little more you can fill out your jumbo drawer with nice stuff.

 

[M635_Guy]

Definitely nice stuff but I couldn’t buy that Tekton ratchet cause the ocd in me would be bothered by the name not being on the head that’s the only thing that would hold me back from buying them.

Did I notice that?






Yeah - I definitely noticed...

 

[toolaholic]

Here’s a comparison of teng and duralast(Taiwan ) duralast $15 Black Friday . Teng $38 amazon warehouse deal

 

[toolaholic]

12mm deep sockets 1/4 drive

 

[toolaholic]

Ratchets duralast 72 tooth . Teng 45

 

[toolaholic]

Shallow sockets