Tools - Brands.. whats good whats not

[Bird]

Its hard these days to know what is good, as sometimes what used to be "THE" brand is no longer the quality it used to be or that the name it was built on

I'm up for a new screwdriver set, the Stanley one bought 5 odd years ago was disappointing to say the least.

What brands do you consider 'quality' these days and how do you keep up with it.

Was looking at a Toledo set, $$$$ but if it is quality and I only have to buy once, I'll be happy.

Your thoughts?

[paceman]

in the same boat as you, mate... both for a screwdriver set and a set of ring & open-ended spanners...

i was checking out these screwdriver sets:

https://www.totaltools.com.au/hand-tools/screwdrivers/screwdriver-sets/69810-sidchrome-8-piece-tang-thru-screwdriver-set-scmt29110

https://www.totaltools.com.au/hand-tools/screwdrivers/screwdriver-sets/87915-crescent-10pc-industrial-screwdriver-set-tang-thru-csdind10

[weeds]

For screw drivers I tend to purchase from electrical wholesalers......electricians don’t like messing up the head of screws in electrical equipment.




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[Pottsy]

Its hard these days to know what is good, as sometimes what used to be "THE" brand is no longer the quality it used to be or that the name it was built on

I'm up for a new screwdriver set, the Stanley one bought 5 odd years ago was disappointing to say the least.

What brands do you consider 'quality' these days and how do you keep up with it.

Was looking at a Toledo set, $$$$ but if it is quality and I only have to buy once, I'll be happy.

This is a bit of a ford Holden argument, having worked in the tool game for over 35 years the one thing I know for sure is tradies tend to have a preference for a particular brand and are usually very loyal.
The issue you have is you have nowadays is things were the same quality as 25 or even 50 years ago the pricing would be over the top. Stick with the reputable brands and you should be covered by reasonable warranties and guarantees.
I know I haven't answered your question as to which brand, maybe rather than buying a new set pick up individuals to rebuild your set, more expensive option though.

I know Sutton Tools are now bringing in Bondhus Screwdrivers if you can locate some give them a crack, if they are as good as their hex keys they will be bloody good. Bondhus are very strict with t,he grade of steels they use, US made and lifetime warranties, no questions asked.
How do I know, I sold Bondhus for twenty plus years.

[Bigfish]

I use Milwaukee battery drills/torch/reciprocating saw. Absolutely great dependable tools. Contemplating buying the chainsaw(battery) as well but at $850 its a big ask. Plus I have a good petrol husky.  Had lots of Bosche/Makita/DeWalt...Milwaukee every time  for me.

[Merts]

I bought a Kincrome socket set a while back. Seems to be good quality and was reasonably priced.
Haven't looked closely at their screwdrivers but based on the build of the socket set I'd expect they'd be good too.

[achjimmy]

Hard today  because the cheap stuff from aldi , supercheap etc is reasonable . Where as once upon a time it was crap and unreliable . I regularly use a set of aldi spanners and have spanners from all the majors and old school brands.

I agree with weeds re sparkies  they know good drivers .
Wiha is good, so is vessel. I have a great snap on driver also. With Stanley there was the cheap and dearer range which looked similar. I love the big square drive Stanley , can do anything .

Spanners if money was no object I’d buy stahlwille every time. Besides what you see I also know that they keep a tighter hex tolerance than the others in there manufacturing.

Good luck

[Steffo1]

I've got American "Crescent" brand open enders, sockets and screw drivers and have had no issues.

[McGirr]

Bought 2 socket sets when I worked at Norman Ross. A brand called Daniel Forge. They were bought back in 1979. Still going great with all the pieces. 40 years old.

Mark

[Barrabart]

I bought an SP Brand 5 drawer tool chest, with assorted tools, disappointingly all the sockets, ratchets, extensions etc now have surface rust all over them, this happened a couple of years after purchase. must be sh1t quality chrome on them........ and no, I never took it up with Repco where I purchased them from, should have but couldn't have been stuffed as they still work, just look a bit ugly. Also the 3/8 ratchet only engages in one direction, I'll have to get around to sorting that one day.
The spanners however have remained surface rust free.

[nab]

Repco tools are pretty decent. If you are an RAC/V/Q/whichever state I think you get 25% off. Lifetime/25yr warranty too, bring in the broken tool and they will replace it no questions.

[Jeepers Creepers]

Most of what I use is either Snap-on or Sidchrome, but were purchased, well over 30 or 40 years ago.
Screw drivers are either Snap-on or Stanley... mostly... but there is the odd cheapie "ring-in" in there as well.

These days, if I need a specific tool for the shed, I get Kinchrome.

Just like the quality of the cars, the tools have suffered as well.
Its not something I can change, so I deal with it and move on.

[Swannie]

Been very happy with repco branded tools, lifetime warranty had an issue with a damaged screwdriver that if had about 10 years, walked in to repco store they looked at it and just gave me a brand new set
No receipt needed
Swannie

[Jeepers Creepers]

Repco are normally pretty dear.

it stands for Rip Every Poor C... Off.

[kylarama]

Best screwdriver set under $100 IMO.

Sunflag.  Made in Japan, thru tang and an awesome grip.

https://www.endeavourtools.com.au/slotted-phillips

Powertool Specialists in Carlton also stock them.

As others said, Repco is pretty good too.  Don't know if it still is, but used to be made by Sidchrome.
They're currently clearing out superseded lines.  I posted in the have you found a bargain thread.  I picked up a 47 piece 3/8" deep drive Socket set for under $60.  Reduced from $175.






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[Bigfish]

Repco are rebranded Sidchrome tools..

[Bad Scott]

Metabo gear. Love their slogan. Work. don't play.
I have the old school kinchrome 1/2" socket set. I still have the 10mm socket too . Hilti gear, top stuff the abuse I give it, but boy they charge for it.

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[Rumpig]

I use Milwaukee battery drills/torch/reciprocating saw. Absolutely great dependable tools. Contemplating buying the chainsaw(battery) as well but at $850 its a big ask. Plus I have a good petrol husky.  Had lots of Bosche/Makita/DeWalt...Milwaukee every time  for me.

a few weeks ago I bought a Milwaukee 6 piece cordless kit, gotta say that the drill is the most gutless cordless drill I have used in a long time. I got 5 X 5AH batteries in my kit...they seem to go flat way quicker then my old Hilti 5AH batteries do. In saying that, I do rate the reciprocal saw, it’s a lot heavier to hold then the other gear and performs pretty good. My neighbour has several of thier chainsaws at his work (Energex) and says they seem to go ok.

[Pete79]

My misses got talked in a Hitachi brushless kit by the guys at Get Tools Dirrect when she was shopping for my B'Day a few years ago.

I don't rate the kit at all.
2 of the 3 batteries died a couple of months out of warrantee, and there is nowhere near the rage of skins that other brands have. I'm kind of stuck with them now...

As for hand tools.... Well....

As you found out it's not about the brand name anymore, it's the range that each brand does.
Your Stanley screwdriver set is the perfect example.
I've still got half a Stanley screwdriver kit that I bought 25 years ago and recently went and bought another kit to replace the missing bits.
I didn't look in the box before I walked to the counter, I got home to find I'd bought a set of soft handled junk with tips made out of the softest compound metal know to man....

The 25 year old stanley drivers are still in my tool bag, the brand new set are all in the bin....
I see you can still buy the good ones, but they package the junk ones in similar boxes for sucker like me that just assume it's all the same quality product that we know and trust.


Oh, and for sockets and spanners I have a mix of JBS (almost 30 year old sockets), Repco, Kingcrome and Sidchrome.
I'm not running a professional precission workshop and I don't get sucked into the hype. I say as long as you stick to the mid-range or better items then you won't really get let down.

[Bird]

a set of soft handled junk with tips made out of the softest compound metal know to man....

you went to the same pile as I did... never seen anything like it.

1 - But how can you tell the good from bad? What makes one better than other apart from tips made of bluetack or made of un-obtainium
2 - Is Sidchrome still as good as it used to be?


As for cordless stuff, Gave up long ago. Sadly if like me - you only use your gear <6 times a year so rarely get charged the batteries no matter how much you spend on gear are Shit... I've gone back to corded gear and few extension leads.

Every single person I know (both of them) have 3-5 cordless sets with dead batteries from years gone by... as been said before, cheaper to buy a new setup than a new battery...

Looking at Repco, they have 2 kits on special, one of theirs and one of Lucky-Ye's brands... might go look this weekend.

[tryagain]

With hand tools, It seems like the more you read on it the more that cheaper brand XYZ is apparently made by reputable brand ABC, or that they used to be but someone now says apparently made by DEF . But then reputable brands ABC and DEF  are apparently no where near as good as it used to be anyway. Stuffed if I know.

With battery powertools, I have found the Ozito Power X change to be good value, 5yr swap it over at the desk warranty with no inquisition. It's best to get them when ALDI are selling their equivalent as Bunnings normally drop their prices to match. i.e. they semi regularly drop their 4ah batteries down to $39, the equivalent Milwaukee battery is 3 times the price. If you are using as part of earning your income then it might be worth the extra,  For the occasional diy use I don't see the value in it. I have bought more expensive brands in the past only to be disappointed.

[kylarama]

1 - But how can you tell the good from bad? What makes one better than other apart from tips made of bluetack or made of un-obtainium

Unfortunately these days you've got to suck it and see for yourself.  Otherwise, do what you've done and ask.

I've got a few Stanley screwdrivers that are 20 plus years old.  The old coloured plastic handles stamped with Australia.  Shafts have gone a bit discolored/rusty, but the tips are still great.  The current Stanley's still look the same, the Australia stamp is missing, have a nice shiny chrome shaft and strip out on any screw over 5nm of torque....

Stanley stuff is hit and miss these days.  Their traditional style handtools are still pretty good (except chisels!), I just bought 2 new blades for a 45 year old sureform rasp last month.  Socket sets and spanners in the yellow metal tins are still pretty good quality.
Anything with 'Fatmax' or other catchy Stanley line names is a bit junky with fancy packaging.

Irwin have completely destroyed brands like Record Marples and Vicegrips.  Once quality brands purchased by Irwin and now made in China for the lowest price.
Stanley bought out Irwin a few years ago.  Apparently it's going to become a Bunnings exclusive brand.

As for cordless stuff, Gave up long ago. Sadly if like me - you only use your gear <6 times a year so rarely get charged the batteries no matter how much you spend on gear are Shit... I've gone back to corded gear and few extension leads.

The lithium stuff has a pretty good shelf life, unlike the old nicad and Nickle metal batteries.  I've been off the tools now for 9 years and some of my original Makita lithium batteries have only died in the last 2 years.

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[Pottsy]

Just to put the record straight, Irwin didn't purchase Vise grip, Vise grip was part of the American Tool portfolio from the beginning, it was originally called Peterson Tool Co, product was produced in De Witt Nebraska as were many other of the ATC Tools portfolio. Irwin, originally known for auger bits was purchased by ATC Tools as were many other international brands including Record Marples in 1998.
The whole business changed its name to Irwin Tools for marketing purposes as it was becoming increasingly difficult to advertise the 26 major brands we owned.
Irwin did in fact move some manufacturing to China, but it was not to the lowest bidder, they did in fact build some of their own manufacturing plants in conjunction with other Newell Rubbermaid divisions. I know 1st hand the difficulties we had during the transition and the pain it caused the business with ensuring the quality matched that of previous UK and US supply.
Irwin was purchased by Stanley Tools in March 2017 globally, at this time I retired from the business (Irwin) and the decision to supply Bunnings exclusively with Irwin branded product was in 2018.

I worked for Record, ATC Tools and Irwin in their various guises for over 28 years and visited many of our global manufacturing plants.

I can assure you there are very few manufacturers who have not looked to Asian countries for supply over the last 40 years. India, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan and China have all been manufacturing Brand named products for over 50 plus years.

[Pete79]

And I have 3 Irwin branded auger drill bits in my kit.
All packaging and branding is the same. 2 have no place of manufacturing (assuming China) and 1 is made in Brasil. Go figure....

[kylarama]

Just to put the record straight, Irwin didn't purchase Vise grip,


. I know 1st hand the difficulties we had during the transition and the pain it caused the business with ensuring the quality matched that of previous UK and US supply.

Thanks for clarifying.  When everything got rebranded, I assumed it was a buyout.

Sadly quality of the Irwin branded vice grips, quick grips and Marples is massive.  The stuff I've bought in the last 15 years is not a patch on the stuff I got during my apprenticeship in the 90's.  Worst were the Irwin blue chip chisels.  They loose their edge or chip in seconds flat, compared to the Sheffield made Record Marples blue chips.



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