The Klein Tool addiction thread! :)

[KnurledNut]

A couple new additions.
This is my second HD multibit driver. I really like the extra beefy build quality.

 

[Mirage]

Now that I actually have a truck assigned to me at work I wanted to shed some weight from my backpack (put a ridgid milk crate in the truck to dump stuff in) . Got the hard Klein case and some screwdrivers for the heck of it. Made a little glad hand seal kit, don't really need too much but some of these terminals are dark and it's an easy fix.

 

[willf650]

Ok, here's a winner and a loser.

I always carry a 11 in 1 in a pocket on my carpenters pants. For you guys in an industrial environment you know you're required to wear FR rated clothes and all my pants are the same with the pocket that seems designed to house a 11 in 1.

This is the best 11 in 1 I've used to date and is the magnetic version. I picked it up a couple weeks ago put it into rotation about a week ago.


Part #


Now to the loser. This is one of those flippable magnetic nut setter. You use these most for self drilling screws and often times on a ladder. You stick your drill in a hole in the ladder and pull it out and the tip constantly falls off.


Here's what you should be buying. This is a Malco version of the same thing but this one is a different size. Malco makes them in 1/4"-5/16" and 5/16"-3/8" as well as multiple lengths. The simple addition of a shoulder on the shaft stops the socket from coming off in most situations where your hunting on the ground for the socket on the Klein.


The additional feature of the Klein being able to hold a 1/4" hex tip such as a Phillips is a gimmick that is seldom used as it not great for that purpose as the tip stays in the screw as much as it's held in the 1/4" hex on the driver.

 

[KnurledNut]

@willf650
I do like the Malco version, but Dewalt seems to have pulled off (pun intended) the best retention. My Malco’s are older so maybe they have improved. YMMV.
I paid $7 for this set:
https://www.dewalt.com/node/4301

 

[LXCam]

Ok, here's a winner and a loser.

I always carry a 11 in 1 in a pocket on my carpenters pants. For you guys in an industrial environment you know you're required to wear FR rated clothes and all my pants are the same with the pocket that seems designed to house a 11 in 1.

This is the best 11 in 1 I've used to date and is the magnetic version. I picked it up a couple weeks ago put it into rotation about a week ago.


Part #


Now to the loser. This is one of those flippable magnetic nut setter. You use these most for self drilling screws and often times on a ladder. You stick your drill in a hole in the ladder and pull it out and the tip constantly falls off.


Here's what you should be buying. This is a Malco version of the same thing but this one is a different size. Malco makes them in 1/4"-5/16" and 5/16"-3/8" as well as multiple lengths. The simple addition of a shoulder on the shaft stops the socket from coming off in most situations where your hunting on the ground for the socket on the Klein.


The additional feature of the Klein being able to hold a 1/4" hex tip such as a Phillips is a gimmick that is seldom used as it not great for that purpose as the tip stays in the screw as much as it's held in the 1/4" hex on the driver.

Several of my guys have bought klein’s universal fit socket / nut driver sets over the past year or two. All of it is pure **** with the same type of retention issues.

 

[KnurledNut]

Several of my guys have bought klein’s universal fit socket / nut driver sets over the past year or two. All of it is pure **** with the same type of retention issues.

I never got into those Klein 'full socket set on shaft' drivers. They seemed to be more of a hindrance than a help for me.
I do like the single Malco 1/4 & 5/16 flip in the 6" length and it's my most used. I got the DeWalt above for impact driver use.

 

[willf650]

I agree that dewalt may have the best "flip" socket system.

This one is in my truck console at the moment and I haven't used it yet. It's 4 sizes and has the shoulder to help prevent lost sockets.


I have 2 of those Klein 1/4"-5/15" flip sockets and have been waiting for them to lose the socket or bend before I break out this DeWalt.

 

[KnurledNut]

I agree that dewalt may have the best "flip" socket system.

This one is in my truck console at the moment and I haven't used it yet. It's 4 sizes and has the shoulder to help prevent lost sockets.


I have 2 of those Klein 1/4"-5/15" flip sockets and have been waiting for them to lose the socket or bend before I break out this DeWalt.

Lol...Least Used Tool be lurking the forum again for video ideas as usual.
Always cracks me up when we talk about stuff here and then it shows up shortly after and portrayed as if he just thought of it.

 

[willf650]

Lol...Least Used Tool be lurking the forum again for video ideas as usual.
Always cracks me up when we talk about stuff here and then it shows up shortly after and portrayed as if he just thought of it.

I saw that and thought it was oddly timed and showed the exact same tool. That DeWalt one I posted is not easily found nor particularly popular.

Honestly I thought that may have been you.

That guy has some decent videos but he seems to be one of about 5 guys that all pop up in my YouTube feed that all post the same stuff within the same week. He does differ a little but most seem to rush to put out the same videos on new Klein tools.

All these guys have videos of $1000 tool bag "load outs" of tools that have never been used. I feel like a poser too because I just split my main tool bag into 3 of them for different purposes because I'm getting older and can no longer carry the weight of my main/big bag all the time. 1/2 my tools are new because of that.


The "American Electrician" is also one of the worst in sporting tons of new tools that have never been used although he says these are great and the best tool I've been using this year. I finally got that channel to stop popping up in my feed.

 

[KnurledNut]

Honestly I thought that may have been you.

Please don't insult me like that.

He actually didn't seem to care for the Dewalt but didn't highlight the one thing I appreciate about the design, the retention. He silently showed it though when he was trying to pull the socket off.

 

[willf650]

Please don't insult me like that.

He actually didn't seem to care for the Dewalt but didn't highlight the one thing I appreciate about the design, the retention. He silently showed it though when he was trying to pull the socket off.

I honestly think he's one of the guys that gets the Klein kickback so that probably his MO.

There's no mention of the Malco when it's probably the best for the intended use. Drilling in tek screws.

The Klein multi sockets are useful for our HVAC service guys as they can throw them in a M12 impact in their bag and cover 75% of what they would ever need on a service call on a air handler 25hp or less or a rooftop unit.

The heavy duty guys use regular tools as they roll into a job and set up for a week or more at a time. They maybe pulling apart chiller that is 1000 tons or more. They are rolling in with the pack out setups or the new extra large dewalt tough systems. They use straight up 1/2" drive impacts.

The Klein multi size that are used for tek screws with just the single socket are pitiful for all purposes.

I fit somewhere in the middle as most of my work is electrical and automation in nature so can appreciate each tool in some fashion except the single socket Klein flip socket.

I hate to say it but I have 2 standard and 1 metric sets of the Klein flip sockets. I drank the cool aid but it's a little bitter tasting. I've only used them a few times as a catch all.

 

[Steel_Rain]

I hate to say it but I have 2 standard and 1 metric sets of the Klein flip sockets. I drank the cool aid but it's a little bitter tasting. I've only used them a few times as a catch all.

Im on the fence with the Knect stuff so far, especially the sockets. I’m mostly automotive but have electrical, HVAC and heavy equipment background.

They are helpful, but I feel like they are more of a gimmick in some applications. If I was a full time sparky, I’d probably feel differently. Having a giant toolbox, where the work comes to me, these take up valuable setup time that slows workflow, but if I was in the field and worked out of a Veto bag everyday, I’m sure I’d feel differently. I know Klein and the Knect stuff is targeted for tradesman in the field, not Automotive Technicians, so I’m not upset in the slightest.

Nice stuff:

 

[redwrench60]

I looked at a Klein catalog that was posted online from the 60s. I honestly think their pliers inventory has shrunk in comparison to back then.

As far as rebranding German pliers Klein did that for a bit and in typical fashion for them now a days they swapped their vendor to China.

I thought I had a set of Channellock 420s of recent production but can't find them to compare to the Kleins. Now you're gonna make me run and pick up a combo pack to compare.


Here are 420s with a bolt, Kleins and a set of 440s with a rivet but they aren't laser etched. They’re still roll stamped.



Here are the Kleins compared to the older 420s. The Kleins are thicker and way more ungainly to handle.




Here are the Kleins compared to the 440s. The jaws are same thickness but the 440s are a way larger plier than the Kleins.



I have some sets of Channellocks some where from my father that are old. They predate plastic dipped handles and may also predate the “Channellock” name.

Shoot, the 420s pictured above are probably 50 years old and were my fathers. I notice their classic blue handles are a different shade than current production.

I'm still of the opinion Klein Pump pliers are horrible.

Finally caught my Klein’s and Channellocks together so here they are. My Klein’s are thinner jawed than comparable size newer Channellocks. The old Channellocks are thin like the Klein’s. I find the thin jaws, extremely handy messing around with small pipe fittings, brass fittings, electrical fittings, and lock nuts on conduit or inside boxes.

 

[willf650]

I must be old as my channelocks are all the “slim” ones and my Klein pump pliers have a nut and they were all bought new.

I see the new Klein paid for promotions happened again. 2-3 people all showing the same Taiwanese tool not available to purchase yet demonstrating its virtues.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I must be old as my channelocks are all the “slim” ones and my Klein pump pliers have a nut and they were all bought new.

I see the new Klein paid for promotions happened again. 2-3 people all showing the same Taiwanese tool not available to purchase yet demonstrating its virtues.

Link?

 

[willf650]

Link?

Race to put out videos. Saw 3 this weekend

Tool

I have the original Klein one and have already found 2 others that are better and carry instead.

 

[willf650]

I didn't buy this because honestly I have too much **** already but this caught my eye.

I've never seen a pair of dikes this large. They are the size of linesman's.



Compared to my normal set I buy.

 

[jeffmoss26]

They are great!

 

[willf650]

Lowe's clearance.

Sorta needed the tweakers because I have a tendency to snap them off using the 1/8" in number 2 Phillips because it's in my pocket.

The screwdrivers were marked down from $29.99 to $19.99 but actually rung up $13.**

The key sets were $30 and marked down to $9.99. There was a metric/standard package with only the two hex sets for $19.99 right next to them.

 

[413dan]

Found the insulated screwdriver set on clearance for $11.24 at Lowe’s so I could not leave them behind.

I got a set of these screwdrivers today for 20 bucks. 21.25 with tax. They were in the clearance section marked 38 down from an original price of 44.95. Another guy asked about them not having been reduced in weeks. Asst. manager told him 20 dollars and he said sure, I grabbed the only other set and said I'll take them too. He rang us out and we were on out way. I'd ad a picture, but it's the exact screwdriver set pictured above. Not sure why they're being clearanced but I'd been considering an insulated set of Wihas, but for this price and made in USA I couldn't say no. I do very little electrical work and always have the breaker off, but redundancy in safety protocols is not a bad thing. They'll see limited use, which means they should last me a lifetime. For $3.55 each, I think it was a good buy.

 

[willf650]

Was looking at the tradesman club and Kleins site to see pricing on a set of long hex sockets as I could have used a metric set today and see they are going to go harder into the Milwaukee Packout space.

They are selling wall mounts for lifts with basically the modbox rails in reg intervals and some accessories to go with them. They have a ways to go to have a line as big as packout but with the regular sales that are available on them they wind up 30-40% cheaper than the competition. The rolling drawer I picked up for $135 where Milwaukee’s came out a year after and has been $250

 

[willf650]

My new Klein sticker pack came this week. I have to give Klein a hand as they are smoozing people with free swag.


I had to make some connections this week in an MCC bucket since I don't do this often anymore I had to use the only hex key set I had with me which was one I bought to get into control panel with large hex latches.

In using this set in the bucket I found it has a unique feature compared to my old hex key sets. You can flip the body of the set 90 or 270 degrees. This allows you to basically flip the handle over to allow the key to remain engaged and flip the handle overto keep spinning in limited space such as a starter.

Basically the keys can come out at 90 degrees from the front or the back of the set.


I did a little soul searching and compared the new Klein hex key sets made in Taiwan compared to some that are probably 30 years old made in the USA. There are good points to each. The new ones I probably have $30 for all of them because I picked up a three pack on clearance for $10. The old ones probably have $50 into them.


These two are basically the same, just 3 decades apart.


You can take your pick which you prefer. I can tell you for guys in the field there is a double edged sword here. The metal American made ones are physically smaller but weigh more. You can fit them easier in your pouch but you're carrying more weight.


I will admit the keys themselves are nicer in the ones made in Taiwan. The American ones the ends of the keys are simply sheared off square although in my unscientific perspective I think they are harder steel.



The ones made in Taiwan have chamfered ends that would make insertion easier.



I'll point out for most electrical purposes this one set on the left would take place of the two on the right. The plastic set goes one size larger than the two on the right combined. The two on the right combined go one size smaller.




The one thing I can say with certainty is the American made metal ones will still be around in another 30 years but I would be doubtful the plastic cased ones will survive that long.

 

[boom_bap]

Bondhus gorilla grip would might be a good choice for you (if they go up larger enough for your needs) if you still want american made folders

 

[willf650]

Bondhus gorilla grip would might be a good choice for you (if they go up larger enough for your needs) if you still want american made folders

In looking at them I think I have a 3 piece set of them already as Craftsman rebrands if they have been around that long.

The Craftsman's date back to Sears and are probably 20 years old at this point but look similar and are made in the USA.

The Kleins were in my work truck and the Craftsman's made their way into my personal truck when headed out for something.

 

[KnurledNut]

@willf650
One of my favorites from Klein was the SAE/MM set rebranded from Bondhus.
It doesn't cover large sizes but otherwise offers a lot of potential in a compact set.
I mentioned it in this thread:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...t-contain-both-inch-and-metric-in-one.548859/

 

[four.cycle]

^ Watching the proliferation of those plastic-sided folding sae hex key/metric hex key/torx key sets is causing me to wonder if a good many of them are all coming out of the same manufacturing facility.

 

[boom_bap]

I agree i bet Bondhus makes them for a lot of companies, park tool compny is one example. They just change the color blue

Eklind as well.

 

[terrific]

I agree i bet Bondhus makes them for a lot of companies, park tool compny is one example. They just change the color blue

Eklind as well.

Eklind's catalog lists the part numbers for individual keys that you can place in one of their plastic handles. That's such a cool idea, because you could make a very specific set (I think my bike would be 2,4,5,6mm, PH2, T15, maaaaybe a couple others). Unfortunately, I don't think anyone actually stocks the parts. Really cool idea, though.
I guess you could buy a bunch of handles and then swap the blades around. Kind of wasteful.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I was referring to the Asian-made models that have sprung up at Home Depot, ACE, and now ebay.
Here's the "Husky" version at Home Depot. (they were blowing these out for $9.99 for the 3-pack just before Christmas)
ACE house brand
latest "Craftsman" version
looks like Crescent jumped on the bandwagon too.
Kobalt from Lowes
Klein version for twice as much money

I'm bettin' money marbles and chalk those are all coming out of the same plant in China or Taiwan.

 

[willf650]

^ I was referring to the Asian-made models that have sprung up at Home Depot, ACE, and now ebay.
Here's the "Husky" version at Home Depot. (they were blowing these out for $9.99 for the 3-pack just before Christmas)
ACE house brand
latest "Craftsman" version
looks like Crescent jumped on the bandwagon too.
Kobalt from Lowes
Klein version for twice as much money

I'm bettin' money marbles and chalk those are all coming out of the same plant in China or Taiwan.

This is the one that I haven't seen in another line so far. Klein did their homework for electricians and made one set with a larger range that will cover most of the bases an electrician will need.

The one really unique feature is the 3/8 and 1/2 inch sizes are a reduced shank bit to save weight.



This is physically a lot larger than other key sets as well.

 

[four.cycle]

This is the one that I haven't seen in another line so far. Klein did their homework for electricians and made one set with a larger range that will cover most of the bases an electrician will need.

^ That unit is completely unlike those others I listed above, all of which appear to be the same other than the color/shape of the plastic "handle" part.

 

[willf650]

Here's a new one I got yesterday. It's a lightly padded pouch with a divider down the center. It's marketed for a tone generator and that's what I bought it for.

It's the small clean bag on the right. It just so happened that my PC cabling for the system I'm working on right now was carried in a regular black pouch for comparison.

Don't use a tone generator much but using it heavy this week hence the purchase. Adding sensors to a control system installed by a competitor. Every single cable leaving the panel is 8-10 conductors and it is spliced to different cables and may change colors twice by the time the conductors end at a a device. I hate when people wire stuff like this.

 

[willf650]

^ That unit is completely unlike those others I listed above, all of which appear to be the same other than the color/shape of the plastic "handle" part.

I just saw a Milwaukee set identical to that weird Klein set today at the supply house. Basically just red with different branding. I feel safe to say your right, there is a factory somewhere turning them out in Taiwan for whoever contracts them.

 

[willf650]

For you Modbox guys I just picked up this. It's a steel mounting plate to allow Modboxes to be fastened to the floor.

I'm going to redo the back of my work pick up and intend on stacking two sets of drawers on the rear of my bedslide facing sideways. Pull the bedslide out and get into the drawers from the side. I bought some 3d printed plastic ones but they are ok but I need to raise the base slightly to clear the lip on the bed slide.

On another Modbox note I saw a guy post some footage going over a Lowes event he was invited to. He briefly talked about Klein and didn't speak about the Modbox in any detail but in his footage I saw some boxes not listed on Kleins website and also saw a 4 wheel swivel cart. Not sure if the cart was a product or just something they used to get the boxes into the show. I'm assuming its the former.

In literature in some of my boxes it showed a dolly but I've never seen a part number for it nor any indication it was ever produced. Seems they skipped the dolly and went straight to the rolling drawer set.

 

[LXCam]

For you Modbox guys I just picked up this. It's a steel mounting plate to allow Modboxes to be fastened to the floor.

I'm going to redo the back of my work pick up and intend on stacking two sets of drawers on the rear of my bedslide facing sideways. Pull the bedslide out and get into the drawers from the side. I bought some 3d printed plastic ones but they are ok but I need to raise the base slightly to clear the lip on the bed slide.

On another Modbox note I saw a guy post some footage going over a Lowes event he was invited to. He briefly talked about Klein and didn't speak about the Modbox in any detail but in his footage I saw some boxes not listed on Kleins website and also saw a 4 wheel swivel cart. Not sure if the cart was a product or just something they used to get the boxes into the show. I'm assuming its the former.

In literature in some of my boxes it showed a dolly but I've never seen a part number for it nor any indication it was ever produced. Seems they skipped the dolly and went straight to the rolling drawer set.

They advertised the dolly a couple years ago, but it never came to fruition. I bet they weren't able to make to handle/base pivot point robust enough to handle a real load.

I made a kickstand type pivoting third wheel for mine and used it that was for a bit. It eliminated the need to balance the damn thing and you could easily roll it around on a flat surface one handed. Problem was it did get in the way when going up steps and took up more space that I liked when in the truck. And now that we're running the modbox carts, I never pull out my base anymore.

And thanks for that link, I might buy one to test out.

 

[willf650]

They advertised the dolly a couple years ago, but it never came to fruition. I bet they weren't able to make to handle/base pivot point robust enough to handle a real load.

I made a kickstand type pivoting third wheel for mine and used it that was for a bit. It eliminated the need to balance the damn thing and you could easily roll it around on a flat surface one handed. Problem was it did get in the way when going up steps and took up more space that I liked when in the truck. And now that we're running the modbox carts, I never pull out my base anymore.

And thanks for that link, I might buy one to test out.

I've been using this cart.

I won't say its great and is fairly expensive but when you are working out of a 1/2 ton short bed pickup with a cap fitting a real cart in the back basically takes up the whole bed and you have to pull everything out to get it in. This cart nice that it has a flat top with minimal lip for setting up a PC in addition to the folding aspect.

Honestly my Modbox cart/drawer base spends 95% of its time in the shop. I only bring it to a job if I'm there for a while which isn't often and I usually pull our box trailer there and drop it. At that point I also bring a couple Rubbermaid carts with me as well. I can't justify a Modbox 4 wheel cart, although they look like a marked improvement. I don't use carts enough and have two Rubbermaid carts already.

 

[LXCam]

I've been using this cart.

I won't say its great and is fairly expensive but when you are working out of a 1/2 ton short bed pickup with a cap fitting a real cart in the back basically takes up the whole bed and you have to pull everything out to get it in. This cart nice that it has a flat top with minimal lip for setting up a PC in addition to the folding aspect.

Honestly my Modbox cart/drawer base spends 95% of its time in the shop. I only bring it to a job if I'm there for a while which isn't often and I usually pull our box trailer there and drop it. At that point I also bring a couple Rubbermaid carts with me as well. I can't justify a Modbox 4 wheel cart, although they look like a marked improvement. I don't use carts enough and have two Rubbermaid carts already.

I almost bought a couple of those and they’re still a consideration, limited space is our issue too. What stopped me was the middle shelf, it killed the ability to carry what we use. At first I thought I’d just get rid of it but then after looking at them realized that ain’t gonna happen.

These Klein carts are really nice but they eat up a lot of space. Luckily most everyone just leaves them on a project, I’m the only guy who always keeps it available for an emergency call.

 

[willf650]

I almost bought a couple of those and they’re still a consideration, limited space is our issue too. What stopped me was the middle shelf, it killed the ability to carry what we use. At first I thought I’d just get rid of it but then after looking at them realized that ain’t gonna happen.

These Klein carts are really nice but they eat up a lot of space. Luckily most everyone just leaves them on a project, I’m the only guy who always keeps it available for an emergency call.

I assume you bought these too? I bought this and a modbox rail to bolt to the Crescent cart but haven't got to it yet.

 

[LXCam]

I assume you bought these too? I bought this and a modbox rail to bolt to the Crescent cart but haven't got to it yet.

Oh ya, I’ve gone all in with the modbox stuff including all my guys. It doesn’t have the same payoff as outfitting everything to Milwaukee 18v stuff, but it’s a nice second. Since everyone has the base unit I’ll outfit other boxes as organizers so mobility is shared without some lame *** excuse.

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this to you before. But we build and retrofit detention facilities. So anything I can do to mitigate trips in and out are a major win plus the guys appreciate the free tools.

 

[willf650]

Modbox work truck revision 2.

That steel mounting plate I linked earlier works well. There is some possibility of movement as it's thinner than the plastic of the Modbox cleats. I understand why as they would need to make it out of 3/16" plate to be the same thickness.



Still hate this work truck with a passion. It's too small.