Hand Tools - Your favourite brands?

[Tom Orrow L]

Doing some research into expanding our hand tool offering. We already sell your typical stuff from the likes of Draper, Sealey etc... but we want to be able to offer something of a higher quality to our customers. So, I'm reaching out to all you guys and girls so I can see what your favourite brands are based on their quality & value for money.

Any help is appreciated, and of course... a discount code for hand tools when the range goes live, for anyone who wants one anyway

 

[8ob]

I was in the electrical wholsalers the other day and they have put up a Wera demo display stand, 600mm square by 2mt tall thing with all the Wera stuff on chains so you can play with them. Very nice gear and not too spendy, didnt realise quite how nice their stuff was. I wouldnt normally have looked at their gear hanging up but when you are in a queue its hard not to pick up this sort of thing to see what its about .

Bob

 

[Endeleus]

My toolboxes tend to be full of Bahco, Knipex, Facom, Wiha, Wera

 

[Rannsachair]

Another vote for Wera, I have quite a few Knipex snips and circlip pliers, all good too.

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Wera is a brand I’m coming across more and more. Quite a few of the welding supplies companies have taken them on recently. That might be one to add to the list then.

Knipex we already sell, but I’ll be honest we haven’t put much as much effort in with the brand as we should.

 

[mike os]

Wera Bahco Knipex mainly

 

[Brad93]

Knipex
Gedore

 

[James1979]

Local place to me has just got a big wera stand. I am tempted by some of it.

What is good stuff is Milwaukee. Ok, there’s the usual crap which you’re paying to just have Milwaukee written on but some of their hand tools are really good and largely unknown. The power tool people don’t always stock the hand tools. The welding clamps are the best I’ve used in that price bracket.

 

[SierraV6]

I would really recommend Unior for their range of tools, quality and value for money - I have lots of their stuff! The only (potential) issue you may have is that there are already UK distributors selling it at very competitive prices.

I like both Knipex and NWS for pliers, and Wera, Felo and Vessell for screwdrivers (Vessell may be worth looking into?).

Most of my other hand tools (spanners, sockets etc.) are from Facom, Gedore, Elora and Beta.

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Thanks lads, all good stuff.

Our FD was the original importer of Beta Tools, back in the day. He rates them highly and they’re still based in Telford, about 5 miles away from our place. Might be worth a look.

 

[RWD3M]

I've mentioned on here a couple of times, my tool boxes are full of Craftsman stuff (like Snap-On but without the price tag).

I know they're not available over here yet, but they have just been acquired by Stanley Black and Decker so perhaps one day?

Oh, and Bahco for adjustables, there are no better, I just wish they were a little cheaper. But of course if they were they'd probably be carp!

 

[8ob]

If you are going to the bother of supplying hand tools I think its important to pick on a range that covers everything, nothing worse than picking up a spanner set to find a few sizes missing or that they only go up to a certain size. Same with sockets etc., I have a Bacho socket/maintenance set here that's worse than useless, so much missing its actually a waste of space.

Bob

 

[Arclikeharrypotter]

Stahlwille, gedore, facom if you’re looking for something quality. Bahco socket sets and adjustables are still reasonable. Irega adjustables are superb. Knipex for pliers, cutters etc.

 

[dobbslc]

Knipex for cutters, pliers, grips etc, I have some cutters that are 35 years old and still cut ok.
Bahco stuff is pretty good and like the Knipex gear it looks good on display so will get the heart rate up just looking at it. Do I need it? No. Do I want it? YES!

 

[dobbslc]

Wera screwdrivers too! Very hard wearing.

 

[Hitch]

Piher clamps could be a well worthy addition to your range Tom.

 

[GarageGrouch]

Thumbs up for Wera from me. The chiseldrivers are spot on

 

[jenki]

+1 on Vessell; most impressed with their JIS screwdrivers.

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Piher clamps could be a well worthy addition to your range Tom.

Aye! I’m not sure whether they have an exclusive agreement with another supplier in the UK. Could be worth looking at though.

 

[JEZGUZ]

Another vote for Wera, also Thor for hitting stuff, Stahlwille and Beta.