Tool brands that are hard to get

[Wamsutta]

Make a list of tool brands (in current production) that are hard to get.

I'll start with:

1. Toptul
2. Cornwell

 

[Parrothead]

Make a list of tool brands (in current production) that are hard to get.

I'll start with:

1. Toptul
2. Cornwell

There’s a Cornwell truck around here, so if I really wanted to I could just visit the local Midas/Jiffy Lube and check it out. Not worth the effort.

Toptul, just Taiwanese import stuff, plenty of that around without going through the hassle for tools I’ve never seen anywhere. I’ll go with Tekton and their products. Some is probably made by Rotar anyway.

For me?
Wilde
Titan

 

[48548]

For toptul, dennis and mike wren stills sells them. Hell i got a lot of stuff from mike when he was starting out. He has a site. Www.wrenhandtools.com



Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Tenex]

KTC for me. I can't get Frank to return my emails.

 

[48548]

KTC for me. I can't get Frank to return my emails.

He returned all of mine...

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[shanny19]

Given that I've actually tried to give Cornwell money in exchange for tools, and been told NO, they HAVE to be at the top of the list.

Bought Koken from Frank, no problems, easy peasy.

 

[anetode]

Deen (Factory Gear's house brand from Japan)

 

[davethorik]

Anything that has to be shipped from another country. I thought I was going to give myself a nerve-induced heart attack waiting on a pair of Hozan pliers to get here from Japan. But I am impatient.

 

[BigBoreFan]

same here on FranksTools, crickets.

 

[shawndp]

Cornwell is the big one for me and I think most Canadians. Finding a Mac truck can be almost equally challenging. Other than that, a lot of brands taken for granted on the forum like Proto / Williams / Gearwrench are online-purchase only.

 

[Snakebyt]

there is a guy that runs a cornwell truck about 3 blocks down the street from me, but i have never stopped by and talked with him though

 

[klassenl]

I bought an ITC socket set before Christmas (second hand). And you think I could find a retailer.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Cornwell -- I bought a NOS 3/4" drive socket set from a eBay seller, and was pleased with the price and quality of the USA product. I do not know if this seller was a former Cornwell Dealer selling His remaining inventory, or if Cornwell Dealers are allowed to sell on the internet???
After reading about Softails experience with Cornwell; My thoughts concerning any further purchases are tarnished.

MAC and MATCO? That makes three rarities as far as tool trucks in our area.

Other than those three: Between area retail stores, Nick's weekly stops with His Snap-on Truck, and the Brown tool truck, I lack any justifiable reasons to request better service. Keeping quality tools in stock is a sizable investment for retailers. A good share of the customers will buy lower cost tools, leaving the quality tools to hang on the board. For this reason; I cannot fault a local retailer in their reluctance to stock an excessive amount of quality tools.

 

[shawndp]

Given that I've actually tried to give Cornwell money in exchange for tools, and been told NO, they HAVE to be at the top of the list.

Bought Koken from Frank, no problems, easy peasy.

Cornwell will not sell you tools? Isn’t that the whole point of being a tool company - the exchange of shiny pieces of metal (and paper) for other shiny pieces of metal?

 

[plumber84]

Binford tools are are like rocking horse , unless your Tim Allen

 

[shanny19]

Cornwell will not sell you tools? Isn’t that the whole point of being a tool company - the exchange of shiny pieces of metal (and paper) for other shiny pieces of metal?

They will not sell direct over the phone or Internet, "as a show of support to our dealer network".

 

[Fedwrench]

I have at least three Cornwell dealers around where i work so, i can hit one up if i needed something.

For me, it's the Asian tools that I have trouble getting JTC, Tone, KTC, and even Toptul Although Dennis isn't too far from work I've got most of the things he offers.

I know JTC has some mobile dealers in the Atlanta area and some Ebay dealers but, it's been hit & miss for some items.

 

[shawndp]

They will not sell direct over the phone or Internet, "as a show of support to our dealer network".

Wow! I can almost understand that at some level - it may not be the 2018 version of doing business but I see a rationale. I thought you got bounced out of the tool truck... I have heard of a tool truck guy who wouldn’t sell to non-pro users...

 

[Millwrong]

Binford tools are are like rocking horse , unless your Tim Allen

https://www.kmstools.com/search/results?inc_subcat=1&search_in_description=&keyword=bynford

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Toptul- Is a lot of the stuff that is not hardline hand tools not the same as sourced by other companies like Astro? They have great support. I'm not getting that feeling with Toptul and am extremely hesitant to seek it out with any amount of effort.

Wright- The sockets and such are really nice, I sure wouldn't mind having more Wright. The best source seems to be HJE, which in another thread I explained....gives me a weird vibe. Nothing shady, just weird.

SK- Same as above, only they are much more prevalent online, I just never see any great deals. I just can't get comfortable with SK, as there have been quite a few things I had in my hand that just weren't that nice.

Cornwell- I'll give you that one. There was a Cornwell truck around here for about 2 months last year. I've seen maybe 4 Cornwell tools in person around here in the last 15 years.

 

[plumber84]

https://www.kmstools.com/search/results?inc_subcat=1&search_in_description=&keyword=bynford

I stand corrected!! Serves my right for being a smart-***

 

[tarbellb]

Mafell

 

[hautpot]

Green knipex.

Just so you guys know Toptul is very hard to get in Taiwan as well. Most Tool shops I went to never even heard of Toptul.

 

[mmason7764]

Made in USA screwdriver bits, the 1/4" hex drive types. The 3 main brands are very difficult to find for the avg Joe:

Apex
Zephyr
Qualtool

All 3 are high quality.

Thank goodness Klein has come out with USA bits.

Mark

 

[Skin]

Made in USA screwdriver bits, the 1/4" hex drive types. The 3 main brands are very difficult to find for the avg Joe:

Apex
Zephyr
Qualtool

All 3 are high quality.

Thank goodness Klein has come out with USA bits.

Mark

Mcmastercarr

 

[CR888]

Before I used the internet to purchase tools, my tool choices were limited to what the 3 or 4 tool shops I'd go to had on their shelves/catalogues. It was expensive, time consuming and many brands were unaccessible. Now days my toolbox has pieces sourced from the far reaches of the globe and its better for it. I now decide what I want and what I am prepared to pay. I believe the innernet gives power back to the little guy & the choice he makes. Years ago having to pay shop msrp for brands like Stahlwille, Hazet, Koken & Belzer made their products much harder to obtain. Now I have many tools from those brands which I like.

 

[Tonyuk]

Most american brands of tools are hard to get here, unless you order from US amazon and pay delivery & import tax.

I would like to get a hold of some of the harbour freight stuff, they're new roll cart looks excellent.

 

[jensputzier]

Green knipex.

You can order green Knipex from me now.

 

[Kasal]

Most american brands of tools are hard to get here, unless you order from US amazon and pay delivery & import tax.

I would like to get a hold of some of the harbour freight stuff, they're new roll cart looks excellent.

same for me the Us General tool box 5 drawer, it is impossible to find it in my country, and if one day I found it the price would be triple the real price.

 

[mfewtrail]

Binford tools are are like rocking horse , unless your Tim Allen

I have some Tim Allen signature tools. It was a small set a relative purchased for me maybe 20 years ago. Had a wood hammer, two screwdrivers, a flashlight, a pair of needle nose pliers, pair of slip joint pliers, an adjustable wrench, a tape measure w/ built-in level, scissors, and maybe something else in the kit.


https://www.icollector.com/Home-Improvement-Tim-Allen-Signature-Tool-Kit_i26377625


"real serious tools."

 

[BillMoney]

You can order green Knipex from me now.

what type of pricing? I didn't see them listed on your site

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

As retailers move through brands, they get orphaned. Our major local tool store, KMS, sold Wright and ITC, both got clearanced out. Now it's Gearwrench and Proto. Even Proto is more of a special order.

Hazet
Stahlwille
Gray

Those are the ones I miss most.Even Westward is a online brand.

 

[rick carpenter]

Williams