I had a photo of my bag on my phone but it's seemed to have not survived the massive delete I did recently... It's floating around here somewhere. My bag is 90% foreign tools... Wera, Knipex, Bahco. The rest is Klein.

 

I bought a pair of Knipex pliers yesterday and their standard pliers were the same price as the Greenlees next to them. The 1000V Knipex pliers were five bucks more. Pricing might be a little different in the US but I can still guarantee you Knipex is worth the money.

 

Yes, after reading all the posts here about people complaining about certain tools it makes me realize that I've never had any problems (other than caused by myself) with my tools, they just keep doing what they're supposed to do. Pretty much all wera's, knipex, wiha, although I do have Klein nutdrivers and Robbie's but even those have been great so far.

 

Love my knipex pump pliers!

 

Good to hear. I feel a lot more confident now.

Have you guys checked out KC Tool?

 

They are not bad, I find the prices at chadstoolbox to be much lower and they carry a broader selection - including the only german screwdrivers I buy ( Witte - specifically their control screwdrivers...they fit my hands perfectly ).

 

My experience with German tools is limited to the couple of packs of Wera screwdrivers I bought, but I have pretty much gone back to using Klein. The sizing on the straight blade Weras just doesn't mesh with any screws like my Klein 600-4 1/4" does. Maybe other companies do better?

 

Check your local Lowes, they are blowing out any good tools they sell for some reason. Shelves have been barren but I saw 2 sets of these at one store. I paid $79 about 2 months ago, another price drop.

 

Check your local Lowes, they are blowing out any good tools they sell for some reason. Shelves have been barren but I saw 2 sets of these at one store. I paid $79 about 2 months ago, another price drop.

I got a second pair of 7" cobras today for 13 bucks. Still caught hell about tool shopping though :laughing:

 

The Wiha catalog is my idea of a good time. Yeah....

 

My Knipex linesman pliers are lighter than the Klein equivalent. Most people I work with say the same thing about my Wiha screwdrivers.

 

I might be the only naysayer here but for the most part, no.

For what we do with our tools for the most part, differences in quality are lost.

Find tools that fit your hands, if they are of decent quality and you treat them well they will last. Most tool losses are lost or abused tools. Cutting tools dull, gripping tools lose their teeth, screwdrivers lose their fine edges.

A fine pair of linesman pliers will still end up in a trench getting dirty...:thumbsup:

 

I've seen fine electricians use crappy tools and put out good work.

There are some very handy german tools, though.

 

The Wiha catalog is my idea of a good time. Yeah....

Schadenfruede anyone?

 

Ill go German 60% of the time everytime.

 

For hand tools I stay with klien. Bought a pair of knipex and the tip broke two weeks later from a four foot drop.
Power tools and vehicles.....Id say yes to....
I have two metabo hammer drills that are half the price of comparable hilti and hold up just as well.

 

I've got a few of the Weras, I like them but I find myself going back to the trusty old Klein's for everything. They feel sturdier. Just what I was brought up on I guess.

 

Ditto.

 

Certain things I'll stick to Klein (PVC cutter and rebar pliers) but the rest I buy German.

 

I have a set of wiha screwdrivers. All the driver tips fit the screws nicer I think. To me they feel lighter then other guys kleins, probably because they don't have that big ugly 1/4 inch of that 'soft grip' handle that the kleins are famous for. They feel just as sturdy and are holding up well for me so far. I also love never mixing up my screwdrivers with the other guys since everyone else has to have kleins lol.

 

Ill go German 60% of the time everytime.

60% of the time it works 100% of the time.

 

That doesn't make sense.

 

Yes and no,

German for the high use tools, knipex, wiha, wera...

Less use tools, channellock, ideal, klein...

Harbor freight, for high risk falling into oblivien

 

I just got my first pair of knipex linesman and they feel amazing. Granted my nicest pair of pliers before this was channelocks but I'm sold.

 

I've been using those wiha screwdrivers for a few days. So far they seem durable enough but the #2 phillips does not grab screws as well as my Klein 11 in 1. Its sort of a pain when trying to work live since you really have to put some pressure onto the screw to get a good grip.

I may have to give a wera screwdriver a shot to see if its any better in that area.

I also may have chipped some concrete with the cabinet tip today and it didn't make a mark.

 

I may have to give a wera screwdriver a shot to see if its any better in that area.

Do it. Get the laser etched tips, they grip like a sonabeech.

 

I picked up this set for 80$. I love em

 

I had a problem trying to exchange a new pair of knipex sidecutters that went dull three weeks after i got them. Lowes offered to give me a box to ship them off in. I will never again buy knipex. BTW the only thing I cut with them was #12 copper.

 

First pair I bought I had the same thing happen. I took them back and they let me exchange them. The second pair is still in my bag. No nicks or chips. That was ~3 years ago. They might have had a bad run or something, but I've never had any problems with any of their stuff since that very first pair.

 

must have been a defective pair. i took special care to not cut anything with copper with them b/c they were new. Anyways wound up getting a pair of craftsman pro linesmans and they were probally the best set ive owned. just replaced them last week and they were 5 years old and very abused. I wish sears still made them.

 

Even if they are the best, the exchange policy is what i didnt like. i was a apprentice then and didnt have the money to be wasting on tools. i thought since knipex was the most expensive they were the best and i wouldnt have to replace them anytime soon.