Hand Tools - Your favourite brands?

[Tom Orrow L]

Anyone got any experience with Teng Tools at all?

 

[Maker]

Knipex and Wera are easily available elsewhere already, it might be more worth your while to stock brands that are harder to come by, some decent files would be good, Vallorbe or Pferd. Ullman picks would be good too, it's surprisingly hard to find decent picks.

I like Lindström for small pliers too, dare I say even better than Knipex, but they're hard to find, especially at reasonable prices, the only problem is they're probably not very relevant to a welding supplier, they're really more in the realm of electronics or jewellery making.

PB Swiss would be cool, potentially better than Wera but I've never used them myself so I can't say for sure. I think Northwest has some?

 

[Blobber]

Ive boxes of Teng stuff and dont rate it at all, only bought as its was very cheap! cutters and stuff like that Bahco/Knipex
Trouble is I think its very difficult to find one manufacturer thats has all good tools, I find about 75% of one manufacturers stuff is good the other 25% is rubbish

 

[MetalMonkey]

Anyone got any experience with Teng Tools at all?

Popular amongst the car part places, some of its ok, but the quality often doesn't much the pricetag. IMO I don't think it would offer you any USP over draper/sealey.

If you already stock draper, you could do worse than push the Elora line - they don't seem to get the exposure they deserve, decent stuff for reasonable prices.

As already mentioned, Wera, Wiha, Knipex all very well respected if you can stock them competitively.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, but I'd take irega over bahco for adjustables.

Might be quite hard to compete on Facom, but perhaps you could look at usag as an alternative?

Beta is ok, but probably less appealing to the industrial sector than the automotive.

 

[bricol]

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?

If they keep the same manufacturing places, then NO!

USA made Craftsman stuff is pretty good - I've not broken anything in the last 20 plus years. But the more recent stuff, that lost the "Made in USA" tag is pants . . . stuff with the exact same part number, off the same peg in a nearly closed Sears - one with "Made in USA" stamped in it, one without . . . you can tell blindfolded which is which.

You can buy Craftsman in Lowes - I'd rather buy Husky stuff from Home Depot these days, but luckily rarely need a new tool.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Knipex and Wera are easily available elsewhere already, it might be more worth your while to stock brands that are harder to come by, some decent files would be good, Vallorbe or Pferd. Ullman picks would be good too, it's surprisingly hard to find decent picks.

I like Lindström for small pliers too, dare I say even better than Knipex, but they're hard to find, especially at reasonable prices, the only problem is they're probably not very relevant to a welding supplier, they're really more in the realm of electronics or jewellery making.

PB Swiss would be cool too, potentially better than Wera but I've never used them myself so I can't say for sure. I think Northwest has some?

I've got plenty - PB Swiss are a league above Wera. And I do like Wera. Not sure they would be big sellers though as they are fairly niche.

Files are a good shout though, hard to find a decent stockiest for files. Tome might work out quite reasonably priced. Second on the ullman, another difficult one to find over here.

If you like Lindstrom have you checked out Schmitz? Not really relevant to welding though.

VBW and NWS are also good for pliers, but if he is already stocking Knipex I'd say stick with those.

Also might be worth checking out Grip-on for locking pliers, OEM for snap-on, better than modern vice-grips. Spanish company, quite easy to deal with, I've imported from them before.

 

[premmington]

Not bought many hand tools of late - aged 55 - I got tools everywhere - far too many shiney things of all makes.

When Dad gave up his workshop - I got all his. Plus my Dads mate died (real good lorry fitter) and his widow gave me his lifetimes collection as well - they had no kids!

 

[Rannsachair]

Anyone got any experience with Teng Tools at all?

I quite like Teng socket sets and spanners, have used them for years, prefer the ratchets to Halfords professional, though not as good as my old Facom and Britool.

 

[Maker]

If you like Lindstrom have you checked out Schmitz? Not really relevant to welding though.

Never heard of them but just found the website and they look really good, I'll have to get myself a pair. Carbide tipped side cutters, yes please!


Does anyone have any experience of Maun pliers? I've got a really old pair which are very nice with solid steel handles, but the new ones appear to have tubular handles stamped from flat sheet and they don't look nearly as high quality. Made in England too, I really want to like them.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Facom

 

[mike os]

Beta is good kit if you can get sensible prices

 

[Craig-SM]

Bahco for socket sets, adjustables, saws
Wera for screwdrivers, ratchet spanner’s, hex keys
Halfords Advance for spanner’s, screwdrivers, torque wrenches.

Honourable mention to Wurth. I bought a through socket set from someone on here and very impressed with it. Milwaukee grips are great but not impressed with their adjustables.

 

[James1979]

Not read page 2 as I’m doing, and just stopped for a brew, but all morning I’ve been using Teng. Should have mentioned it earlier.

It’s what I was kinda forced to buy when I moved here and I actually really rate it.

The sets are well thought out and you can buy all the bits individually so you can build the set you need. The warranty is the best I’ve come across. Seriously no quibble. Even when it’s been blatant stupidity on my part just to get the job done. Eg - 14mm mounted socket -> 10” extension-> adaptor -> 1” M18 Milwaukee impact + “send it” results in fastener undone and bits of socket everywhere they didn’t even blink. Just gave me a new un. I was well impressed.

I really rate them. Made in Taiwan but Swedish designed I think.

 

[Craig-SM]

Nice thing about Teng like Bahco is they’re shot peened instead of chromed so much better grip with oily hands and less chance of the 10mm flying off never to be seen again.

 

[Migmac]

Wera, good bit of kit.

 

[Migmac]

Not read page 2 as I’m doing, and just stopped for a brew, but all morning I’ve been using Teng. Should have mentioned it earlier.

It’s what I was kinda forced to buy when I moved here and I actually really rate it.

The sets are well thought out and you can buy all the bits individually so you can build the set you need. The warranty is the best I’ve come across. Seriously no quibble. Even when it’s been blatant stupidity on my part just to get the job done. Eg - 14mm mounted socket -> 10” extension-> adaptor -> 1” M18 Milwaukee impact + “send it” results in fastener undone and bits of socket everywhere they didn’t even blink. Just gave me a new un. I was well impressed.

I really rate them. Made in Taiwan but Swedish designed I think.

Youngest son is looking at buying a Teng tool box, one that comes already full of tools. I don’t think it’s the best way to go, there will be tools in it that he’ll never need or use. I’d rather he bought things that he needs as and when. I’ll let him buy Teng spanner’s, as you’ve recommended them

 

[Ruffian]

Always thought beta was overpriced compaired to facom or teng.

Like bahco or koken for sockets.
Teng spanners
Wera for screwdrivers
Klein for pliers and snips.

Started to go off sealey and draper as never had any decent tools without them failing quickly.
(Rate them as much as silverline)

 

[8ob]

Youngest son is looking at buying a Teng tool box, one that comes already full of tools. I don’t think it’s the best way to go, there will be tools in it that he’ll never need or use. I’d rather he bought things that he needs as and when. I’ll let him buy Teng spanner’s, as you’ve recommended them

He wouldn’t be disappointed, the great unwashed stole all of a mates snap on gear and in desperation he bought a Teng mechanics starter package. I spoke to him a while after and he reckoned he hadn’t actually come across a job it didn’t cover, they are well thought out sets that don’t double up on the unnecessary.

Bob

 

[Munkul]

Anyone got any experience with Teng Tools at all?

it's not the fanciest stuff, but it's mostly all solid quality, far better than draper/sealey!

I've never seen chrome sockets take a beating like Teng. Got a cousin who uses his to take locking alloy wheel bolts off cars when the key is missing, as they have very slim walls. Hammer them on over the slip sleeves, and put the big impact on. Then wind it up in reverse for 10 minutes solid. Eventually the sleeve friction welds to the centre and it all unwinds. It's rough as **** on the tools, but works... every time.
He's tried the proper tools, but these work over and over and over... and still aren't knackered.

Gedore. Blue is pro quality/price, Red is almost as good (socket sets are rebranded Carolus) and very good value for money.

King Dick, if you can deal with the factory sales/stock nonsense. They make the best ratchet podgers bar none, but latterly I struggled to get hold of them, even trying different resellers. I think they must be running their business into the ground.

Beta, if you can get a good deal on pricing. RRP is just stupid. Some beta tools are great, others are poor (their ratchets are shocking for the price)

 

[dobbslc]

I was given a Teng 1/2" ratchet for my 21st birthday, it's still going strong and I'm now in the codgers club! The plastics handle has come loose though so maybe I should try out this warranty to see if they can sort it.