Tool Brands you cannot stand . . .

[Kuma601]

If it allows one to get the job done without an F-up it is a good tool. Refining that, wrenches or such that are weak and mess up the fastener is a hard lesson. Screwdrivers with poor heat treat tips another. All this comes from being in there. I don't use the hand tools at the 80%+ levels so well within the range they should function. For pro guys I can appreciate that having a well spec'd and built tool is critical.

I use the tongue groove Channelllocks with some regularity and have no complaints. May have to try the Knipex Cobras.

Long ago a shop had a S. Korean plier set that was wallet friendly. I grab the tongue groove and linesman pliers with regularity over the Channellock versions. The teeth on those Korean pliers are sharp, hard and they've served me well for over 20 years. Have cut plenty or wire and small nails with the linemans pliers. The cutters barely have any wear and at least they meet evenly across the whole cutting area. The diagonal cutters also very good though I grab the 8" Channelllock ones because of the high leverage pivot point. Only the needle nose sucked but I find that similar for the Channellock version too.

 

[JeepYJ]

Are you trying to tell me you could loosen a 3-3/8 piece of hardware with your grip strength?

Depends on how tight the fastener is. A Plierswrench doesn’t use or need grip strength. It doesn’t seem like you’ve actually used one before.

 

[F-22]

I don’t like them because they are only as strong as you are. The Jaws of an adjustable wrench are in theory immovable (I get that they can bend, but if they are bending out you probably need a bigger adjustable wrench anyway). I can’t see a way where a plier wrench could do the job of a 24” adjustable for example.

They don't make a 24" plier wrench. I'd argue that size is so big it becomes quite niche.


Try both of similar size on the same screw. The plier wrench will not round it off as easily. The geometry is such that it gives you a ridiculous amount of mechanical advantage - you're squeezing the nut/screw to the point that the handles will bend before the turning force could spread the plier head. You're not really squeezing the pliers, just pushing them achieves the same. On a regular adjustable wrench you do not have that squeezing force - meaning there is always way more play between the jaws and the nut/screw head, and that makes it strip out easier.

 

[Robinson1]

Are you trying to tell me you could loosen a 3-3/8 piece of hardware with your grip strength?

Well I guess it would depend on the faster we but I’m going to say the short answer to that is absolutely not. I’ve had 4 foot pipe wrenches on fasteners smaller than that and needed a cheater pipe.

 

[Robinson1]

Depends on how tight the fastener is. A Plierswrench doesn’t use or need grip strength. It doesn’t seem like you’ve actually used one before.

I haven’t used one before either. I’m not trying to argue. I’m just posting real world experience and my opinions on the tools. My personal opinion is the pliers wrench was an answer to a problem that didn’t exist. I’m going to pick one up and give it an honest chance.

 

[JeepYJ]

I haven’t used one before either. I’m not trying to argue. I’m just posting real world experience and my opinions on the tools. My personal opinion is the pliers wrench was an answer to a problem that didn’t exist. I’m going to pick one up and give it an honest chance.

It’s difficult to explain how they work in writing. They are not like a normal adjustable pliers but just with flat jaws. They have some actual engineering and design that makes them work like an actual wrench when on fastener.

 

[Steve_P]

I haven’t used one before either. I’m not trying to argue. I’m just posting real world experience and my opinions on the tools. My personal opinion is the pliers wrench was an answer to a problem that didn’t exist. I’m going to pick one up and give it an honest chance.

It's obvious that you haven't used one. It's not going to be used in steam piping in a factory, but that's not the purpose; the PW is the ultimate tool for home plumbing. I haven't used an adjustable wrench around the house since I got some PWs.

 

[AldeanFan]

I’ll preface this by saying I haven’t read all 5 pages of responses.

Snap on.
Yea they make good tools, but not for me.
For my use they are way over priced, poor warranty and I don’t need the attitude.

I restore cars and build racecars in my garage on the weekends. I paid my way through university working in an Autobody shop.

In high school I bought a used snap on ratchet and it broke through normal use, no cheater bar or anything like that, the mechanism fell out. After waiting a week for the truck to come by the shop the Snap on guy told me it was too old for me to have purchased new and the warranty was only to the original purchaser.
I later found out that had I spent thousands on the truck like other guys in the shop had that the driver would have likely warranted it for me.

In the mean time I had been using a $10 mastercraft ratchet that is still working 25 years later, and putting up with the snap on fanboys raging on my diy level tools.

I took the snap on ratchet to homedepot and they exchanged it for a husky, no questions asked. That husky is still working today.

 

[Steve_P]

Any once powerhouse US brand that has sold out and sells overseas low quality with their name on it for the bulk of their lineup. Crescent, SK, Vicegrip, Craftsman, Irwin , etc,etc.

I partly hate Williams for that, but mostly because they are just a knockoff of old snapon designs but with "global sourcing"

Williams still sells their vintage design USA made round head ratchets that go back decades before they were bought by SO. They have an imported line of tools and a USA line of tools. The Williams USA sockets and combination wrenches are excellent.

The imported Vise Grips are quite good for the $. Most here would never admit that, but the test results don't lie. Irwin taps and dies are also quite good for the $ for home use and readily available. Same thing with most of the Craftsman stuff that has been tested on Project Farm- it's pretty good stuff for the $. But since it's imported, it's automatically garbage. But not the M18 power tools LOL.

 

[dallastide]

Hate is too strong of a word, but I avoid Matco. I know all tool companies are engaged in some level of rebranding but the fact that they literally don't produce a single tool just really rubs me the wrong way.

 

[KnurledNut]

The plier wrenches will never be replacing my crescent wrenches.

You are absolutely spot on.
They complement each other.
Having both can be very beneficial.

 

[Rickster]

I hate New Britain sockets because when I'm buying at an estate sale those New Britain look just like Snap-on sockets......

 

[Mb4]

Are you trying to tell me you could loosen a 3-3/8 piece of hardware with your grip strength?

I’ve used a cheater bar on the pliers wrench, but I get your point.

 

[Etchase]

Rocking a fastener back and forth sure is easier with a crescent wrench. Adjusting the size with one hand is easier too. Handle is narrower. Easier to tether. Doesn’t flop around. Doesn’t mean I don’t use plier wrenches, but not Knipex anymore. I do really like their cutters though. So many great choices.

 

[M6erfan]

I’m not the poster you quoted but…

You can’t put a cheater pipe on a pliers wrench

Crescent wrench can be used to bend and shape metal

Crescent wrench makes a better hammer

Crescent wrench is what you take when you can’t bring the whole shop.

Crescent wrench is found in every tractor tool box and in the floor board of every farm truck. It’s on every service vehicle in the world. Next to a hammer and screwdriver is probably the most common hand tool in existence. It’s a problem solver and despite the burning hatred for them exhibited in this forum it’s literally the tool that keeps the world moving.

You can do all that with plierswrench. I will grant that in some very rare circumstances the slimmer handle on a crescent wrench my be beneficial.

Also, plierswrench is awesome as a mini press.

 

[threewood]

SK. Besides Craftsman they were my first big Made in USA wrench and socket set. The wrenches were loose fitting and the open ends are knuckle breakers. The sockets were not terrible but the fit could be better. I've never liked the round head ratchets either

 

[F-22]

I haven’t used one before either. I’m not trying to argue. I’m just posting real world experience and my opinions

With all due respect, if you never used one - you do not have any valid real world experience on this matter.

 

[JohnDeere]

You are absolutely spot on.
They complement each other.
Having both can be very beneficial.

I have used them before, they are nice, and could see how they would be great for some things especially plumbing, but it cannot replace an adjustable wrench on every job.

 

[Robinson1]

With all due respect, if you never used one - you do not have any valid real world experience on this

Fair enough

 

[M635_Guy]

I haven’t used one before either. I’m not trying to argue. I’m just posting real world experience and my opinions on the tools. My personal opinion is the pliers wrench was an answer to a problem that didn’t exist. I’m going to pick one up and give it an honest chance.

Good idea...

It's obvious that you haven't used one. It's not going to be used in steam piping in a factory, but that's not the purpose; the PW is the ultimate tool for home plumbing. I haven't used an adjustable wrench around the house since I got some PWs.

Exactly. I donated of mine. I think I have one pair in the 'family' kit (the stuff the rest of the household can use), but otherwise I was so glad to see them go.

 

[Freeborn John]

I’ll preface this by saying I haven’t read all 5 pages of responses.

Snap on.
Yea they make good tools, but not for me.
For my use they are way over priced, poor warranty and I don’t need the attitude.

I restore cars and build racecars in my garage on the weekends. I paid my way through university working in an Autobody shop.

In high school I bought a used snap on ratchet and it broke through normal use, no cheater bar or anything like that, the mechanism fell out. After waiting a week for the truck to come by the shop the Snap on guy told me it was too old for me to have purchased new and the warranty was only to the original purchaser.
I later found out that had I spent thousands on the truck like other guys in the shop had that the driver would have likely warranted it for me.

In the mean time I had been using a $10 mastercraft ratchet that is still working 25 years later, and putting up with the snap on fanboys raging on my diy level tools.

I took the snap on ratchet to homedepot and they exchanged it for a husky, no questions asked. That husky is still working today.

The words 'Snap-On' and 'warranty' don't normally appear together in the UK, a country where the length of a mechanics time in the trade can be measured by how full his buckets of broken Snap-On tools are...

 

[reader2580]

Agreed. Really wish they would have gone with someone like Tekton.

I suspect Menards would just go direct to whoever makes the tools for Tekton since Tekton is really not a manufacturer.

 

[M635_Guy]

I suspect Menards would just go direct to whoever makes the tools for Tekton since Tekton is really not a manufacturer.

If you're a retailer, there's some value in having someone else manage the suppliers, demand planning, warranty, etc., along with the name recognition of a 'brand'. House-brands are hard to keep up over time...

 

[Steve_P]

I suspect Menards would just go direct to whoever makes the tools for Tekton since Tekton is really not a manufacturer.

Most of their tools are made in Taiwan; but they are a manufacturer and do make stuff themselves in-house in MI- look on their website.

 

[PelicanPines]

Brands don't matter... Only if it's a pretty tool that you enjoy using. A rusty wrench from your late uncle is just as good as some Snupout massively expensive chunk of chrome. The completed Job is supposed to impress others... not your 72 drawer 3rd mortgage toolbox.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

SK and Proto.

I said it.

Those are two of my favorites…

Currently, I’d say Craftsman. I’m leaning towards SK as well, but that’s still up for debate. Frankly, if a company was once an American tool manufacturer, or at least primarily so, but has now off shored their manufacturing to China, India, or generally Taiwan, then I have no interest in that company. In fact, on a personal level, I hope that the company fails. I have some respect for companies that were always overseas, but zero for those that moved off shore.

I don’t believe that they have moved manufacturing offshore, I think they are made in the shop-vac factory in Pa. And even if they did it’s not going to stop me from by the old stuff I find, and I’m too cheap to buy new stuff anyway.

Completely agree!!

Apex used to be a great brand but since they 'went corporate', and bought and closed down more than a few really good brands, I simply refuse to buy anything from any company they own.

Armstrong comes to mind. I considered it to be one of the very best tool companies but Apex bought it and closed it down. Not forgivable........

Didn’t they also kill off K-D? If they did that’s unforgivable, I love my old K-D specialty stuff.

 

[micromind]

Those are two of my favorites…

I don’t believe that they have moved manufacturing offshore, I think they are made in the shop-vac factory in Pa. And even if they did it’s not going to stop me from by the old stuff I find, and I’m too cheap to buy new stuff anyway.

Didn’t they also kill off K-D? If they did that’s unforgivable, I love my old K-D specialty stuff.

I don't know if they killed K-D or not. I also have a bunch of their older stuff, it's about as good as it gets.

 

[Bubba Fett]

Lowe's is going to be carrying SK tools soon. In fact some stores apparently already have it. Not sure if this includes USA-made tools, or if they are just rebranded Duratech.

 

[CGarage]

They're just typically clunky and outdated tools.

The Proto ratchets are.
I do not feel that way about the Proto sockets.

The SK ratchets **** and I am not convinced the Protos are much better.

I’d rather have GW ratchets (84T or 90T) compared to any SK or Proto ratchet.

 

[CGarage]

Back in the 70s we had some projects overseas and shipped our standard tool set, which didn’t last long so we purchased replacements on the local market. All the tools performed exceptionally well. I still have a Bosch hammer that just keeps on ticking.

Overseas where?

 

[vwpieces]

I was a Craftsman Kid... every Christmas I wanted tools, I got (wanted) Craftsman.
Never realized how bad the ratchets and sockets were until I used something else.
I wish I had documented every busted knuckle from a skipped tooth ratchet or broken socket I had before I was 25yrs old.
And Craftsman again... broke enough 1/2in dr breaker bars that I would pull every one off the rack to find ONE that was drilled on center and might survive the next use.

This was 40+ years ago and I still have no love for anything Craftsman. I still have most of the tools from when I was young but I will grab a Pittsburg ratchet/socket in a pinch before any Craftsman.

30ish years ago I started to acquire Hazet hand tools and have only broke one 10mm 12pt deep chrome socket. That was truly my fault as it was on an adapter for a 1/2in breaker bar. My #1 go-to ratchet is 3/8in drive flex head Hazet ratchet I have never had it skip and the head still will stay up on it's own after 30yrs. Black handle is worn smooth.

 

[GX460DIYguy]

I was a Craftsman Kid... every Christmas I wanted tools, I got (wanted) Craftsman.
Never realized how bad the ratchets and sockets were until I used something else.
I wish I had documented every busted knuckle from a skipped tooth ratchet or broken socket I had before I was 25yrs old.
And Craftsman again... broke enough 1/2in dr breaker bars that I would pull every one off the rack to find ONE that was drilled on center and might survive the next use.

This was 40+ years ago and I still have no love for anything Craftsman. I still have most of the tools from when I was young but I will grab a Pittsburg ratchet/socket in a pinch before any Craftsman.

30ish years ago I started to acquire Hazet hand tools and have only broke one 10mm 12pt deep chrome socket. That was truly my fault as it was on an adapter for a 1/2in breaker bar. My #1 go-to ratchet is 3/8in drive flex head Hazet ratchet I have never had it skip and the head still will stay up on it's own after 30yrs. Black handle is worn smooth.

I’ve never had issues with their sockets, but I’m with you on the ratchets. Broke too many to count before I knew any better. My dad is still a die hard craftsman guy and I know that when he passes I’ll inherit all of it. I’ll probably keep it just because it was his. Every so often I’ll break out one of his ratchets to ****** my knuckles for old times sake and curse him for it lol.

 

[F-22]

The Proto ratchets are.
I do not feel that way about the Proto sockets.

I have an XL ratchet. It wouldn't say it feels that way. It's very far from the most high tooth count ratchet out there, but it is fine enough to feel very smooth. The head is very compact. I think it's 30-40$ for a US made ratchet and I think it's quite well priced at that. I hear their "classic" low tooth count ratchets are considered very durable, but those heads seem huge and kind of old, but I would not say that for these.

 

[CGarage]

I have an XL ratchet. It wouldn't say it feels that way. It's very far from the most high tooth count ratchet out there, but it is fine enough to feel very smooth. The head is very compact. I think it's 30-40$ for a US made ratchet and I think it's quite well priced at that. I hear their "classic" low tooth count ratchets are considered very durable, but those heads seem huge and kind of old, but I would not say that for these.

Fair. And I keep and use low tooth count ratchets for high torque applications.
My sequence of use is:

Breaker bar
Low tooth count ratchet
High tooth count ratchet

 

[Etchase]

So which ratchet is better than the Proto 90 tooth precision ratchets? Personally I like the Proto 3/8 flex palm control round head in 3/8.

 

[Wamsutta]

I'm just going to come right out and say it:

I hate all tool brands that try to copy Snap-on. You know who you are!

 

[CGarage]

I have never gotten good service from MAC Tools, sadly. They cannot put me on the phone with a local rep and the website is always out of stock on things I would order.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

You guys know what Mac stands for right?
Man
Ain’t
Coming

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I have never gotten good service from MAC Tools, sadly. They cannot put me on the phone with a local rep and the website is always out of stock on things I would order.

I was treated poorly by a rep early in my career, as were coworkers. This coupled with low Mac availability in my area means I'm simply not interested in the brand. Much like Cornwell, I might buy a flier item on a whim, but I'm not buying much. For basically any tool truck tools but snap on, I buy expecting little/no warranty support. Thus I don't buy my daily use stuff off any trucks but snap-on. The internet can supply me with enough good options to do with very little Matco/cornwell/mac.

We've had a Matco dealer show up, I bought a few ratchets. Worst case I can buy a rebuild kit if he moves on.

 

[CGarage]

Totally agree. I would rather buy online than from a branded tool truck, especially these days.