Tools quality by brand

[Hasher]

Hi guys

I have started an apprenticeship as a Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and have just started buying tools. Basically I want to know peoples opinion on the quality of tools by there brand. I have been buying mainly Snap-on as the van rep visits regularly. Recently I have been buying off Ebay as once in a while you can get a bargin.

There are some brands I have not heard of, mainly because I live in Australia. One thing about buying Snap-on is that I can claim warranty from the van guy. But what about the quality of these brands and how do they compare to Snap-on.

Matco tools
Mac tools
Craftmans
Stahlwille

Also any other brands that are good quality and I have missed.

Cheers Paul

[rustamd]

Here are some of the hand tools i have used(mainly others tools, just trying out) during my short time at dealership:

Cornwell
Facom
SK
Stahlwille
Beta tools (very expencive and hard to find to buy used and possibly new too)

All were very comfortable, main differences where price, where it is made, colors Beta tools probably being the most "ergonomic"(used my race teams mainly, BMW and Ferrari come to mind and few others)


Also here is very good list of tool manufactures(got it form garagejournal.com)


A&E
Agatech - construction grade laser levels
Ajax
Allen (Danaher)
Allied -somewhere in asia (typically junky)
Baldor - top notch grinders - USA
Baltimore - USA
Beta - (used by team ferarri) Italy
Black and Decker - All over the place, China, Mexico, one or two USA Own DeWalt
Blackhawk - "Blackhawk by Proto" (stanley)USA
Blue Line - USA
Blue Point - USA, Taiwan
Bondus - (Balldriver, ProGaurd,Gorilla Gripuses "protanium" steel) USA (top notch)
Bosch- China, USA, Switzerland
Bostitch - (Stanley) Country of origin under review
C.K.
Cen-Tech
Central Pneumatic - China
Champion - Compressor, USA
Channellock (Channellock)- USA
Chesco (American Tool)
Chicago Electric - China
CIP- Insulated(electrical) sockets + wrenches- USA
Cooper - Makes Cresent, Campbell, USA, as Well as all over asia
Cornwell - USA (ohio I believe)
Chicago Pneumatic (tools)- Mainly Japan, USA, Possibly China.
Craftsman - Handtools USA, One or two from Germany
Crescent (Cooper)
CSPS - Tool boxes for Costco, Sams Club, Taiwan
Dewalt - China, Mexico, USA(owned by black and Decker)
Dotco (Cooper)- Air tools
Dremel - USA
Drill Master
Easco* - Formerly Moore Drop Forge, then Bough By Danaher -> allen USA
Eaton - compressor, USA, China
Eklind - allen wrenches & torx- USA
Emerson - Western forge, Rigid
Enderes - USA
Enkay-small precision style hand tools and accessories- mainly made in China
Facom - France
Fiskars - USA/Finland
Florida Pneumatic - Air tools - Japan
Foygelb
Fuji Pneumatic - Air tools - Japan
Gaurdian (Baltimore)
Gear Wrench- By KD(Danaher) Taiwan
Gedore - Germany
Grey pneumatic - Impact sockets - Taiwan
Gripper (Baltimore)
Hanson (American Tool) -USA
Herbrand (*) Canada, USA
Hezel - Mechanics tools - Germany
Hitachi
Hi-Tech (A&E)
Husky- Mostly Taiwan, Formerly by New Britain In NB, Conecticut
Ideal
International - Toolboxes for SK, Sears Canada, High End Canada, Low end China
IR, Ingersoll Rand (air tools) - High End, USA,others Japan, Regular line China
Irwin (American Tool)- Mostly USA
Ivy Classic- Powertool accessories (bits & blades) made in US, Hand tools in China
Jack (American Tool)
Jet
Joran (American Tool)
Kalamazoo - Metal sanders and chop saws- USA
Kastar (A&E) - USA (ratcheting box wrenches for Snap on, Craftsman, SK,others)
KD - (Danaher) USA, Taiwan
Kennedy - Toolboxes - USA
Klein- USA, one or Two from Japan
Knipex - Germany
Kobalt - USA, China
Lindstrom (Bahco)
Lista - USA
Lufkin (Cooper) - General purpose measuring - USA
Mac (Stanley) - Mostly USA (exceptions: micro tought ratchets, Taiwan)
Makita - "USA"(id like to know what though) Japan, China
Marathon (American Tool)
Marples (American Tool)
Martin Tool and Forge - USA, Others? Specialty tools (servo wrenches, Body tools)
Matco - (Danaher) USA, China, Taiwan
Mayhew - Punches, Chisels (possibly for craftsman) USA, Taiwan?
Meritool
Metabo - China, Germany
Milbar- Snap ring, saftey wire pliers - USA
Milwaukee - Corded Mostly USA, Cordless... all over
Moore Drop Forge* - Originally making Craftsman, Changed to Easco (see easco)
Oldeforge Tools
OTC - USA for Heavy duty Equipment, Most other stuff is Taiwan
Panasonic - Japan, China
Paslode
Pittsburgh - Asia
Plomb*- Name changed to proto in early 50s
PLS - Contstruction grade laser levels
Plumb (Cooper)
Powerpress (American Tool)
Pratt Read - USA
Pro-Craft (Baltimore)
ProSnip (American Tool)
Proto (Stanley) - USA, Formerly Plomb, over years name owned by IR and others.
Quick Grip (American Tool)
Record (American Tool)
Red Devil
Reed
Ridge- see ridgid
Ridgid- (emerson) USA, Elsewhere
Robert Schroder- German Made Woodworking hand tools, screwdrivers
Robotoolz- construction grade laser levels
Ryobi - Formerly USA Made* (back in the Day) Now Asia
SE
SK- USA, one or two from France
Skil - USA and China
Skyo
Sioux (Snap On)
Snap-It (Baltimore)
Snap-On - USA
Speedbor (American Tool) (irwin?)- USA
Stahlwille (Germany)
Stanley (Stanley) - USA for woodworking/construction - Asia For hand tools
Straitline (American Tool)
Stride
Surtek
Tajima - Made in China. Construction tools, tape measures, utility knives
Turbomax (American Tool)
Unibit (American Tool) (irwin?) USA
Urrea- Mexican Proto (no kidding, many tools share designs, formerly affiliated)
USAG - Italy
US General - Asia (probably china with a name like that)
Utica* - Pliers, torque wrenches, adjustables - Utica New York, USA
Utica (Cooper) - Currently Makes torque wrenches- Cant find out where from
Viking- Mostly USA, a Few from South america, Drill presses from Europe+ Taiwan
Vise Grip - Currently Irwin, TraditionalVisegrip USA, New line of Cutters- Taiwan
Waterloo - (makes boxes for Kobalt, Craftsman, possibly Armstrong+matco) USA
Weller (Cooper)- Soldering Irons & such
Wera - Germany
Western Forge (Emerson)- Screwdrivers, pliers, + other stuff for Craftsman, Rigid
Wiha - Germany
Wilde - USA
Wiss (Cooper)
Witco - USA
Witte - Germany
Wright - USA 100%
X-acto
Xcelite (Cooper)
Xuron
Yorkcraft
Zephyr

[307startup]

Facom purchased SK. Both brands are excellent. Facom is the official handtool supplier for Ferrari F1. That's a fact

Husky is part of the family of Mac Tools. Stanley also falls under this umbrella. A lot of hand tools of decent quality (not crappy cheap) are "umbrella" tools...several brands under one roof. The tooling for forging dies, the forges themselves, the induction heaters, etc. necessary for quality production is not cheap. So just like GM owns Chevy, GMC, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Hummer, Cadillac...and uses the ubiquitous LS-series engine across the line...whenever a tool company has the opportunity to grab more market share through a "lesser" brand, they will do so. They aren't made any differently. In fact, depending on availability, if you need to replace a Husky tool or a Mac tool, you may receive a Stanley tool. They are one in the same, the only difference is which line the forging travels down to receive its "brand" stamping. I have a hard time listening to people say that Snap-On are better than Blue-Point...when they are made in the SAME factory using the SAME materials...but the Blue-Point is less expensive by 35%. Don't be fooled by rhetoric, that tool-guy makes his living selling tools. If he can convince you to buy an expensive tool from his van versus buying one from a store you can visit after work or on the weekends, he will do so.

[lbgradwell]

Much of this info is dated or wrong...

Facom purchased SK. Both brands are excellent. Facom is the official handtool supplier for Ferrari F1. That's a fact

While it's true that Facom DID own SK since 1985, that is no longer the case. SK's management bought the company back from Facom in 2005. And, in fact, Facom were themselves acquired the same year when Stanley bought Facom from Fimalac, S.A.

edit: Almost forgot... Facom was the handtool supplier to Ferrari F1, but it is now Beta as mentioned below...

Husky is part of the family of Mac Tools. Stanley also falls under this umbrella.

Not really. Stanley is actually the parent company here. In addition to Mac, they also own Proto, Blackhawk, and now, Facom.

Stanley had owned the Husky brand since they acquired it with their purchase of National Hand Tools in 1986. They "re-introduced" Husky as the Home Depot house brand under a 1992 licensing agreement. (As an aside, you may remember Stanley got in a LOT of trouble with the FTC for intentionally mislabelling these Husky tools (and many other of their brands) as "Made in USA", when they were actually made overseas in Taiwan.) And now, I believe that Stanley has transferred the rights to the Husky name to Home Depot earlier this year...

A lot of hand tools of decent quality (not crappy cheap) are "umbrella" tools...several brands under one roof. The tooling for forging dies, the forges themselves, the induction heaters, etc. necessary for quality production is not cheap. So just like GM owns Chevy, GMC, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Hummer, Cadillac...and uses the ubiquitous LS-series engine across the line...whenever a tool company has the opportunity to grab more market share through a "lesser" brand, they will do so.

True!

They aren't made any differently. In fact, depending on availability, if you need to replace a Husky tool or a Mac tool, you may receive a Stanley tool. They are one in the same, the only difference is which line the forging travels down to receive its "brand" stamping.

Absolutely FALSE!!!!!

I have a hard time listening to people say that Snap-On are better than Blue-Point...when they are made in the SAME factory using the SAME materials...but the Blue-Point is less expensive by 35%.

Again, absolutely false! I won't comment on whether Snap-on is better than Blue-Point as that is largely subjective, but they certainly aren't made in the same factory. Snap-on is US-made, while Blue-Points are often made offshore...

[thkoutsidthebox]

I prefer DeWalt and Bosch. I won't buy a different type unless I have to. Although I'm not in the USA, so maybe there are different brands there which are not available here....I have some Makita aswell, but only like the grinder.

It comes down to three things for me, the first is repair and replacement -

I've bought tools in general stores which seemed like good deals at the time, until they broke! I have a hardly used laminate trim router right now sitting in my attic. It cost €90. It still works, but the collet nut made of crappy asian metal split after about a month. I can't get a replacement for the stupid tiny collet nut because the company seems to not exist! Some of the accessories I got with it hadn't even been used yet.
On the other hand, I also have a DeWalt laminate trim router in my attic which stopped working after about 6 months. The motor burned out. It cost €230. I'm bringing it back next week and will get it repaired/replaced for free.

The second is ease of use -
I prefer these brands because it seems to me that the designers put more thought into the actual design of the tools. They are more balanced and comfortable, and also the DeWalt's have a lot of 'quick release' and 'snap on' facilities for accessories and such.
I dislike my Hitachi circular saw, because I have to go looking for a spanner any time I want to put on an attachment, and I have to take off the attachements, again with the spanner, before putting it back in the box. This all eats time and is irritating because cutting lots of MDF without the dust extraction attachment is quite unpleasant!

Thirdly is build quality -
Because two different brands of tools are made by the same parent company does NOT mean they are the same. There is a reason that companies brand their tools into 'Hobby/DIY' and 'Industrial'. The Industrial tools have heavier better motors, a better build quality, and better after sales support. Of course you pay for all this, thats why Bosche Blue tools are more expensive than Green. The companies gain market share, and profits, by selling the 'cheaper to produce' tools to Hobby/DIY markets, and selling the more expensive, better built tools to the Industrial market. The Industrial tools cost more to manufacture, and cost more after the sale by way of customer support.

[kuzao]

hmm i agree much of the list is just plain wrong. i even feel a little bit offended by: "Bosch- China, USA, Switzerland" wtf? bosch is a german company... also working in china but in germany, usa, brazil and india are working more people than in china....

as for the quality for steel tools as far as i know stahl wille i quite good. as for tools in general in my experience bosch is realy nice but hard on the budget. beeing a student its not easy to buy from them.. my father has a full collection and as far as i remember in 25 years nothing broke ever.

regards alex