Rus Bear
Member
I beg to make ranking of American companies producing hand tools 
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Usa hand tools
- Thread starter Rus Bear
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mrholeshot
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I beg to make ranking of American companies producing hand tools
please be a little more detailed in you request
diesel research
Well-known member
Still not a fair question since none of the manufacturers seem to make 100% of their lineup in the USA, and while brand x may make a better widget y, brand T may make a better Z.
Let me rephrase that. One company has better pliers, while another has a better impact, while another has a better screw driver. Another company may make all of a certain type of tool for multiple brands. Many brands may be owned by one bigger brand.
Let me rephrase that. One company has better pliers, while another has a better impact, while another has a better screw driver. Another company may make all of a certain type of tool for multiple brands. Many brands may be owned by one bigger brand.
mrholeshot
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scott37300
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I don't think you can list the brands in much of an order. Like mentioned each usually has their specialty they are good at.
I have been reading this forum almost everyday for probably close to two years now. I learn something new everyday from the knowledge of others on here. I also ask specific questions about a certain tool, like yesterday I asked about snap on screwdrivers. Or a specific question about what tool works best for a certain job. This would be my suggestion to you to do.
I have been reading this forum almost everyday for probably close to two years now. I learn something new everyday from the knowledge of others on here. I also ask specific questions about a certain tool, like yesterday I asked about snap on screwdrivers. Or a specific question about what tool works best for a certain job. This would be my suggestion to you to do.
thesilverone
Well-known member
Search function is always helpful
They are all great tool manufactures. It really depends on the setting that you will be using them in. If your a professional wrencher you will have a Snap on or Mac truck visiting you frequently. I would suggest buying tools that you need from the dealer that you have a better relationship with. If you however, are not a pro wrencher any brand will work, as you are less likely to break tools. I have tons of tools in my box from several different brands and like them all.
Mac, Snap on, SK, Proto, Blackhawk, Craftsman, Matco, Cornwell, hell even Gearwrench.
They all serve a purpose for me and to be honest I cant tell a difference in my Snap on sockets from my SK sockets. As far as resale value Snap on is among the highest and it seems 95% of the members on the forum gets a hard on for snap on.
As mentioned above the more information you give the guys on the forum the better they can answer your original question.
Derek
Mac, Snap on, SK, Proto, Blackhawk, Craftsman, Matco, Cornwell, hell even Gearwrench.
They all serve a purpose for me and to be honest I cant tell a difference in my Snap on sockets from my SK sockets. As far as resale value Snap on is among the highest and it seems 95% of the members on the forum gets a hard on for snap on.
As mentioned above the more information you give the guys on the forum the better they can answer your original question.
Derek
Last edited:
jjarrell4
Well-known member
Can Someone Please rank how good these tools are:
Craftsman
GearWrench
Snap-on
Wright
Cornwell
KD
Armstrong
Napa
Gray
MAC
Harbor Freight
Matco
Stanley
Proto
And most importantly who makes the best ratchet.
Thank you
Craftsman
GearWrench
Snap-on
Wright
Cornwell
KD
Armstrong
Napa
Gray
MAC
Harbor Freight
Matco
Stanley
Proto
And most importantly who makes the best ratchet.
Thank you
canuckian
Well-known member
too broad of a topic to comment on really. You'd have to specify what type of vehicle maintenance you're planning on doing and what tool trucks (if you want truck brand tools) are in your area. Everyone has personal preferences on what brands they prefer. for example I prefer Snap On because they're really good quality and because I have a local truck guy. I also like Matco and Cornwell but I don't have dealer support for them so I don't buy them (I do have an 88 tooth 1/4 Matco ratchet that i love though!).
or maybe specify what type of tools you're looking for(sockets/ratchets, wrenches, pliers, specialty tools, etc) and maybe someone can better address your question. There are many threads in the forum about just about every tool that every known company produces so a good starting point is to use the search tool and read to your heart's delight!
or maybe specify what type of tools you're looking for(sockets/ratchets, wrenches, pliers, specialty tools, etc) and maybe someone can better address your question. There are many threads in the forum about just about every tool that every known company produces so a good starting point is to use the search tool and read to your heart's delight!
therealwormey
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Search function is always helpful
i would say more like sometimes and it took me a long time with a few tips from members to make it a little bit useful,there should be a findable thread in great detail on how to use it,i can use it now but it was worthless for a while.
but this guy wants such a broad buch of answers i dont think it would help,,i still dont know exactly what the question is
There is no way to answer this question in this format.
The only way to answer it is to read a lot about tools, consider the type of work you want to do, consider your budget, try some tools out, and start accumulating first-hand experience.
The only way to answer it is to read a lot about tools, consider the type of work you want to do, consider your budget, try some tools out, and start accumulating first-hand experience.
therealwormey
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I beg to make ranking of American companies producing hand tools
could you rephrase your question,,,,do you mean best to worst,expense from high to low, best for the buck to just do a little light service,,,if you want best to worst i can tell you that you will be more confused after you get all the opinions because different people like different tools for different reasons,,maybe shed a little light on what you wanna do with these tools and if this is for a job or just general weekend stuff,that will help
therealwormey
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Ohhh damnnn.......not this **** again....
cmon man,dont you like this ****,dont you wanna read this **** again,,think of it as ,,,,,back to the future,,,,
I can fix anything
Well-known member
#1 snap on
#2 does not matter
#2 does not matter
mrholeshot
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I ranked what you had listed
Curious, why did you rank Gearwrench #1, #999, and #874. Which 3 Gearwrench tools are those? Didn't you post about some ratchets you tested to failure? Was #1 because it failed first?
Struggling to understand.Curious, why did you rank Gearwrench #1, #999, and #874. Which 3 Gearwrench tools are those? Didn't you post about some ratchets you tested to failure? Was #1 because it failed first?
LOL air. Everyone that knows Jim, knows that Gearwrench is #1 on his list due to the outstanding warranty and personable service from the executive team (I mean didnt you read that email from the executive? LOL). He must have accidently hit the 999,874.
mrholeshot
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Curious, why did you rank Gearwrench #1, #999, and #874. Which 3 Gearwrench tools are those? Didn't you post about some ratchets you tested to failure? Was #1 because it failed first?
Ranked #1 in customer disatisfaction maybe. Harbor freight has a better warranty and customer service.
Ranked #999 out of 1000(1000 being the worst) in customer service only beating out Yugo but a hair.
Ranked#874 for Internent responce. They finished somewhere between Enron and Edsel
american lockpicker
Banned
I beg to make ranking of American companies producing hand tools
What about European and Japanese companies that make tools here? Just this week I seen a 18V impact from Bosch and a polisher from Makita that were Asssembled in USA.
Gregg33
Well-known member
Like others have stated that's a near impossible question to answer. I'd say Snap On overall and Gray (in their hardline and tool boxes only) are the best if cost isn't a concern. Craftsman (U.S. only) and Kobalt are the only domestic made tools (sockets and wrenches anyway) that are widely available in a mass retailer and are relatively cheap to boot. Most of the other brands mentioned are either off shore made or are of lesser quality than Snap On but only avaible from trucks or specialty retailers.
diesel research
Well-known member
Besides tool trucks
SK
Armstrong
Proto
Wright
Bondhus
VIM
(some) OTC
Lisle
KenTool
KD
Eklind
Sioux
Channellock
Wiss
Crescent
Western Forge
Mayhew
Quite a few others that you may not have heard of due to limited supply channels. Most all of which sell some **** tools and some offshore tools. Many of which have some affiliation with another brand or tool truck brand.
If you want the best doctor for a brain tumor, you may want to see a specialist. Same goes for tools. When a company specializes in a niche section of tools they can often concentrate more energy on making the best product available within given constraints. Example: Bondhus makes damn fine hex tools, but even if they did make basic hand tools I would be shopping somewhere else. Same with channellock. They make fine pliers in the USA. Their sockets are nothing special and may not even be USA.
If you want the best, you may have to not be brand loyal, and mix it up a bit. Even with Snap on, you would be hard pressed to work with tools ONLY made by them(excluding subsidiaries), and in the USA. Quite a bit easier than some other brands though.
SK
Armstrong
Proto
Wright
Bondhus
VIM
(some) OTC
Lisle
KenTool
KD
Eklind
Sioux
Channellock
Wiss
Crescent
Western Forge
Mayhew
Quite a few others that you may not have heard of due to limited supply channels. Most all of which sell some **** tools and some offshore tools. Many of which have some affiliation with another brand or tool truck brand.
If you want the best doctor for a brain tumor, you may want to see a specialist. Same goes for tools. When a company specializes in a niche section of tools they can often concentrate more energy on making the best product available within given constraints. Example: Bondhus makes damn fine hex tools, but even if they did make basic hand tools I would be shopping somewhere else. Same with channellock. They make fine pliers in the USA. Their sockets are nothing special and may not even be USA.
If you want the best, you may have to not be brand loyal, and mix it up a bit. Even with Snap on, you would be hard pressed to work with tools ONLY made by them(excluding subsidiaries), and in the USA. Quite a bit easier than some other brands though.