Downwindtracker 2
Well-known member
While I've been impressed by the quality of Taiwanese made Gearwrench, Jet or K-Tool sockets, they are not Stahwille or even Snap-On. What is their top brand?
Top Line Taiwanese Tool Brand ?
- Thread starter Downwindtracker 2
- Start date
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
You could argue that Toptul, King Tony, or some of the Taiwanese brands are their top brands, but none of them are well known enough to compete with the likes of Snap on. They don't really have a top brand. They just produce tools in large quantities to keep their costs down and let others rebrand their tools for the most part. They do have some impressive suppliers that have the market cornered. There's a good chance that all those made in Taiwan stubby air impacts from the Harbor Freight to the IR are from the same supplier.
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ICON. They’re just as good if not better than Snap On.
Please stop.
Parrothead
Well-known member
If you want to get Taiwanese tools, pick your spots as they’re almost all rebrands. Some will say Toptul, but even the guy on GJ quit selling them because they were difficult to deal with.
Infar makes the Carlyle combination wrenches most people on here like, but you can buy the exact same wrenches labeled Channellock for half the price.
Infar makes the Carlyle combination wrenches most people on here like, but you can buy the exact same wrenches labeled Channellock for half the price.
rijndael
Well-known member
You have to be careful with CL. I tried to get that Carlyle duplicate set and it turned out to be made in India, and had peeling chrome.
You really beating a dead horse lately
Ouch. Any of the other known brands peddling stuff made in India?
rijndael
Well-known member
Some of HF combination wrenches are made in India.
rijndael
Well-known member
Agreed. I have 4 of them now, and they're a great bang for the buck. There's a few UK based ebay sellers that offer much better pricing than traditional NAPA pricing.
Lots of slight variations of the same tools it seems. It would be hard to put a "best" label on any of them.
The complete sets of impacts that Sunex offers stands out.
I'm also liking the 90t ratchet options that are currently available, but I don't know if any of them are actually internally different brand to brand. Different configurations for the most part.
Buy what suits your needs, whatever the brand.
The complete sets of impacts that Sunex offers stands out.
I'm also liking the 90t ratchet options that are currently available, but I don't know if any of them are actually internally different brand to brand. Different configurations for the most part.
Buy what suits your needs, whatever the brand.
What I do best.
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In all seriousness, I’ll give another nod to Carlyle. I have their Power 90 ratchets in standard and flex head.. they are excellent tools! Their wrenches and pliers are also top notch. I do not own any of their sockets but I’d imagine they are good as well.
I’ve beat my 3/8” Carlyle Power 90 like it owes me money and that thing is dirty, scratched and worn out but works like a champ! Highly recommend!
I’ve beat my 3/8” Carlyle Power 90 like it owes me money and that thing is dirty, scratched and worn out but works like a champ! Highly recommend!
Parrothead
Well-known member
I’m pretty certain that was really old stock. Pep Boys had some sets, and there were a bunch on eBay. The stuff they’re selling now is made by Infar and indeed a Carlyle clone. The fact that you can buy individual wrenches is nice too.
WittHay
Well-known member
I dont think there is a top brand, Each brand or rebrand has some unique top of the line Taiwan tools. HF Icon with their extra long ratcheting wrenches, Mac/Facom with their European style Precision Torque combination wrenches, Carlyle sockets are different, lot fancier than our Canadian brands which are fairly plain or industrial like. Westward had some good CRV impact sockets different than the usual Sunex or GP. Proto/Mac Anti-Vibe hammers
Those new flex head ratchets from Capri look good. Kinda too many Taiwan brands to sort through and pick out good items
Those new flex head ratchets from Capri look good. Kinda too many Taiwan brands to sort through and pick out good items
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rustbucket5
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- Apr 22, 2015
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- 252
tekton is my vote. but even then all these brands have hit and miss items
plinker
Well-known member
Kabo, Infar, Rotar and a couple others probably make 99% of the tools labeled made in Taiwan. Given everything is rebranded it boils down to features and details more so then quality as most all are pretty good these days.
Parts availability, service and ease of warranty are really the points to look at as they vary by what brand(s) you buy from what retailer.
I really dont think you can label any one particular brand as having the best of every tool they offer, regardless of COO.
Parts availability, service and ease of warranty are really the points to look at as they vary by what brand(s) you buy from what retailer.
I really dont think you can label any one particular brand as having the best of every tool they offer, regardless of COO.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I don't think there is a top shelf Taiwan brand per se. 
The key to buying a quality Taiwan made tool is to know who makes what,which isn't as easy as you think it would be.
Carlyle has some real nice tools but, Carlyle is just NAPA's house brand that gets its tools from many different suppliers. It's not a Taiwan brand.
Let's take the Carlyle anti slip long pattern combination wrenches for example. Many people say Infar makes them along with the cheaper version of the same wrench branded Channellock. Or a very close to Carlyle Icon version.
There are excellent tools being made in Taiwan today but, you kind of have to judge the tools on their own merits instead of looking for a particular brand.
I'm always amazed annually at the AAPEX show when walking by the large Kabo booth to see all of the different tools they make for various brands.
The key to buying a quality Taiwan made tool is to know who makes what,which isn't as easy as you think it would be.
Carlyle has some real nice tools but, Carlyle is just NAPA's house brand that gets its tools from many different suppliers. It's not a Taiwan brand.
Let's take the Carlyle anti slip long pattern combination wrenches for example. Many people say Infar makes them along with the cheaper version of the same wrench branded Channellock. Or a very close to Carlyle Icon version.
There are excellent tools being made in Taiwan today but, you kind of have to judge the tools on their own merits instead of looking for a particular brand.
I'm always amazed annually at the AAPEX show when walking by the large Kabo booth to see all of the different tools they make for various brands.
superautobacs
Well-known member
There's a lot of tool manufacturers in Taiwan. Some are bigger than others, but I don't think any of them are big enough on their own to offer a full product lineup without re-branding. The ones that appear to offer a full range of products actually only manufacturer a fraction of their total offering. The rest is all sourced from other Taiwanese manufacturers that specialize in their respective areas and re-branded (screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, hammers, punches/chisels, impact socketry, pneumatic tools, SST, etc).
Matco and MAC got b up there lol??? Seriously tho ??? I wonder what professional Taiwanese mechanics prefer. That would be interesting to know. Also I’d love to know what professional mechanics in mainland China are using.
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CGarage
Well-known member
I think in China they are using SATA Tools. But the domestic market equivalent from that manufacturer.
CGarage
Well-known member
Look up Autocheckers in Taipei and you can see their workshop in Taiwan.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
i investigated this pretty well when I went into the tool business and my selections would be KABO in first place and TOPTUL in second. TOPTUL was willing to sell to me and KABO wasn't so I went with TOPTUL. The difference between the two is that KABO is extremely innovative and TOPTUL isn't. KABO is constantly coming out with unique stuff and TOPTUL has very little to none. The plane Jane stuff that TOPTUL makes is top of the line with respect to quality but they have very little in house innovation. Anything new that TOPTUL introduces comes from some other Taiwanese supplier.
chris142
Well-known member
Whoever made the 3/8 impact socket set I bought @ picapart 32 years ago. I broke my craftsman socket so I paid $5 for a set off the tool truck in the parking lot. I have used those sockets daily in a professional environment and they don't even have a scratch.
Dakkyz
Well-known member
I think BluePoint from Snap On is rather good as well, it's extremely overpriced but can find new sets on ebay a lot cheaper, but those master socket sets are really good.
Even the Taiwan Williams and Bahco is pretty decent as well.
Even the Taiwan Williams and Bahco is pretty decent as well.
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CGarage
Well-known member
Facom Expert is made in Taiwan and it is excellent. Britool and MAC once sold it, too.
roofdweller49
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- Jan 22, 2023
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Are there any stand out tools from Kabo? I know the flex head long ratchet wrenches are really popular.
The TOPTUL sockets look like a good alternative to the ICON sockets - I like that style taper vs. the straight wall Tekton type
dnschmidt
Well-known member
The ICON digital torque wrench with angle is a KABO product and it's very good. KABO has lots of great stuff that they show at AAPEX every year but very little of it makes it to the American market for reasons that perplex me.
When in doubt, I always check Garage Journal, especially when I'm about to buy some tools. Recently King Tony came across my mind after having a few discussions with my friends. But still, my mind got itchy and thanks to this thread I will not buy King Tony combination spanner set, I will buy KTC instead
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I can't answer your question as asked but I can tell you that TOPTUL does run tool trucks in Taiwan. They show these in their catalog.
In Europe I think Proxxon is selling pretty good stuff. Also, I heard Gedore RED is decent but I have little experience with them (only have one 13mm wrench which seems nice).
As far as I know, tool trucks outside north america (and maybe UK?) aren't very common, stuff is usually delivered in some other way (typically by generic delivery services...).
As far as I know, tool trucks outside north america (and maybe UK?) aren't very common, stuff is usually delivered in some other way (typically by generic delivery services...).
dnschmidt
Well-known member
That's because the Postal Services in Europe actually work well unlike the USPS.
neophyte
Well-known member
USPS may not be perfect, but they mostly work fine.
Fedex in my experience are the f@ck ups who can’t deliver an overnight package within 20 or 30 miles, and then give the excuse of “inclement weather” even when the “weather” was just rain.
Persimmons1123
Active member
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Icon are good one time use for the most part they do have nice u joints swivels laser welded like S/O but after I got the deep e torx icon sets 1/4 and 3/8 they **** *** didn't even bother returning they make for really good extractors xD icon is Pittsburgh with an extra coat of chrome lol there wrenches are super soft too also there icon ratchets all skip gears the tolerances inside the ratchet are like wallered out from factory
My 92-year-old mom got a delivery of cat food by Fedex and it was icy at her house, so the driver brought it up the steps and right into the house for her. He didn't want her to take a chance and fall on the ice. Just to let you know that some good ones are out there.