Who Makes Your Tools

[Chasnracin]

I wasn’t sure where to post this as a general tool topic so I’ll just leave it here. Ever wonder who makes your tools? You might be surprised. Hope everyone has a great day. 😷

https://toolguyd.com/tool-brands-corporate-affiliations/

[Dave W]

I've seen this in the past. Looks like there are fewer individually made tools/companies every year with Stanley - Black&Decker still leading the pack. As much as I try, I avoid that conglomerate but it's getting harder and harder. My old standbys., like Porter Cable and Dewalt have been turned into low end tho not their pricing

[Elevguy]

Milwaukee for electric ones. Snap on for hand tools

[CADman_KS]

Originally Posted by Dave W

... My old standbys., like Porter Cable and Dewalt have been turned into low end tho not their pricing

I have some older PC tools, and they are nice for sure, but don't have any newer ones, so I can't speak to their quality.

The DeWalt tools have been turned into what I would call more of a "full range" type of tool. While they do have some lower quality stuff, they also have some upper end stuff too. It is all about price. If a DeWalt drill costs $120, it's going to be a $120 drill. If it costs $300, it's going to be a formidable tool. So, you have to know what you're getting and where you want to be on the spectrum when you buy them.

Generally speaking, most of the brushless motor stuff that comes in the black hard side cases is the higher end DeWalt stuff. I own several of the these tools that fit the higher end of the specturm, and they have absolutely been beasts of tools, but they do cost a lot...

[Charlie 3931fb]

You don't know who's who of who's who anymore. 99.9% of the tool's I buy today I get at Harbor Freight (Automotive type) and then Home Depot for wood working tool's. Makess my llife easier.

[mhs4771]

Most of us are not Professionals and don't need top quality tools that will last forever in everyday use. So for our once or twice a year use Harbor Freight tools work just fine.

[CADman_KS]

Originally Posted by Charlie 3931fb

You don't know who's who of who's who anymore. 99.9% of the tool's I buy today I get at Harbor Freight (Automotive type) and then Home Depot for wood working tool's. Makess my llife easier.

HF has really stepped up it's game over the last few years. They have a lot of tools that are respectable for the average home user. Not professional quality, but good enough for everyday use. At a 1/3 the cost, if it breaks, you get another one.

[BB_TX]

Originally Posted by mhs4771

Most of us are not Professionals and don't need top quality tools that will last forever in everyday use. So for our once or twice a year use Harbor Freight tools work just fine.

I fully agree. If I was using my tools for my livelyhood, I might buy the expensive ones. But for the occasional use I have used mine for for so many years, the less expensive ones work fine. I have a real mixed bag of brands, some of which I have never heard of, that I have accumulated over the years. And as far as hand tools, I have never had one fail. And only 2-3 power tools have ever failed. And that covers 50+ years. Yeah, I got some old ones.

[Chasnracin]

Originally Posted by Elevguy

Milwaukee for electric ones. Snap on for hand tools

I also am slowly transitioning my electric tools for all Milwaukee. I have been having the best luck with them. As for my hand tools, I have started using Kobalt from Lowe's. Being just a shadetree mechanic and handyman, they seem to do the job I need.

[mlh]

I’ve saw some independent testing if Harbor Freight Ican tools. They performed as great as the tool truck, read Snapon, tools. I saw one test of torque wrenches the Icon beat the Snapon in every test and cost 1/3. Of course this is one tool the next test with two different tools might be reversed but HF has come a long way.
We use DeWalt battery operated tools in the shop and have a half dozen drills. The reason we use them is we have many batteries. We use them very light duty so they almost never wear out. If I had to replace them all I’d get HF Hercules. I have one of them. It came with a 2.5 AH battery where the DeWalts have a 1.5 AH battery. That is a two edged sword the bigger battery makes it heavy and if you pick it up a few hundred times a day it makes a BIG difference at quitting tire.
Lynwood

[richfaa]

I am not a tool guy or doing things yourself guy. We have a bunch of tools gathered over the years and really have little idea who makes them.

[Dave W]

I've had several 1/2 drive battery powered drills. The first one was waaaay back when these were not much more then a toy. The next was s P-C that was s work horse until the clutch blew. A couple low enders that went to the dump after premature battery failures then I went wild and bought a Bosch. Fantastic drill but the batteries are no longer available except as $15 Chinese 'compatibles'. While these batteries areOK, not great but for a year keeps this tool going. I also have a new DeWalt that I bought while waiting a couple 'compatible' batteries for the Bosch. A $200+ buck ho hum drill. Yes. it has power but the variable speed control 'sucks', it's rough running and the 2.0 AH batteries are way too much money and really don't last as long as the clunk NiCD's on the ancient Bosch.


Hand tools - dang but I really love my Snap on, S-K, MAC and early Craftsman but my wallet says that Harbor Freight will outlast me now.

[Creeker]

As someone who has made their living with tools in hand every single day for 30+ years, I find the replies here intriguing. I can't even put a number on the tools I've bent, broken, stripped, burned out or simply lost.

I can say this with confidence; Some of you guys don't own cheater pipes.

[CADman_KS]

Originally Posted by mlh

...
We use DeWalt battery operated tools in the shop and have a half dozen drills. The reason we use them is we have many batteries. We use them very light duty so they almost never wear out. If I had to replace them all I’d get HF Hercules. I have one of them. It came with a 2.5 AH battery where the DeWalts have a 1.5 AH battery. That is a two edged sword the bigger battery makes it heavy and if you pick it up a few hundred times a day it makes a BIG difference at quitting tire.
Lynwood

You are right about the trade off power vs. weight, but DeWalt makes all different flavors of batteries too. All if mi Li-ion batteries are 5.0 AH. Heavy, yes, but I never change them. They last forever...

[CADman_KS]

Originally Posted by Creeker

... I can't even put a number on the tools I've bent, broken, stripped, burned out or simply lost.

I can say this with confidence; Some of you guys don't own cheater pipes.

LOL. I have lost so many tools too, it's not funny, and I'm not even a pro!

Cheaters are great until they come off or break!!!

[Dave W]

Why do people lose/wreck tools? I probably have lost - maybe - a dozen and I worked full and part tine in garages from the age of ~16 to ~50 and heavy DIY since. I did have a tray of MAC wrenches stolen and as well as a boxed set of S_K 3/8" drive flex sockets by customers. I've broken a few sockets, mostly 1/2, 9/16 and 13/16" but only recall one broken Snap-on wrench which was then a free replacement.

[432bartman]

I have Milwaukee cordless, Craftsman hand tools that I've had for years, and lately I've been shopping more at Harbor Freight. I'm even thinking of getting the cordless 80V mower and other gardening tools from them, which have great reviews, and great pricing vs. the stuff from Home Depot and Lowes.

[CADman_KS]

Originally Posted by Dave W

Why do people lose/wreck tools? I probably have lost - maybe - a dozen and I worked full and part tine in garages from the age of ~16 to ~50 and heavy DIY since. I did have a tray of MAC wrenches stolen and as well as a boxed set of S_K 3/8" drive flex sockets by customers. I've broken a few sockets, mostly 1/2, 9/16 and 13/16" but only recall one broken Snap-on wrench which was then a free replacement.

I've lost most of mine out of stupidity. Leave them on fender of the car as you close the hood and drive off kind of thing.

All of the broken ones are misuse, plain and simple. Using a cheater on a 1/2" ratchet. At least it was a Craftsman, and has a life time warranty...

[Creeker]

Originally Posted by Dave W

Why do people lose/wreck tools? I probably have lost - maybe - a dozen and I worked full and part tine in garages from the age of ~16 to ~50 and heavy DIY since. I did have a tray of MAC wrenches stolen and as well as a boxed set of S_K 3/8" drive flex sockets by customers. I've broken a few sockets, mostly 1/2, 9/16 and 13/16" but only recall one broken Snap-on wrench which was then a free replacement.

People lose/wreck tools because they use them daily. They are not sitting in a tool box or drawer.

Big difference in going to the same job site day in and day out vs perhaps 3 or 4 different job sites in a single day. Big difference in walking 15 feet from your tool box to the project vs troubleshooting inside an entire plant, a half mile of conveyor belt or climbing a 150' tower. I've spent half my life on a scissor lift, bucket truck or on a ladder. Many tools have dropped to never be seen again. Many others to explode on impact. My tools are used and abused daily. Its expected and simply part of the job.

I wasn't smart enough to land a desk job and my tools are not the only thing that's been abused.

[Charlie 3931fb]

Originally Posted by Creeker

As someone who has made their living with tools in hand every single day for 30+ years, I find the replies here intriguing. I can't even put a number on the tools I've bent, broken, stripped, burned out or simply lost.

I can say this with confidence; Some of you guys don't own cheater pipes.

I have your pipe's , wood, you name it I have used a cheater bar made out of something i had laying round me. One of the reason's for HF. If your break it you don't really care. Go get another one....