Stanley Black Hand Tools & Decker; DeWalt. Irwin Industrial Tools is one of several hand tool brands on the market today that have gone unnoticed by the public. However, as early as the 20th century, this brand was known for the quality of its emblematic tool lines. This includes the iconic “Vise-Grip”, which was invented by one of the company's first blacksmiths as the first locking pliers in history.
Since its inception, Irwin manufactured all of its tools in the U.S. UU. To be specific, Stanley is known for manufacturing just about every type of hand tool imaginable. Levels, wrecking bars, hammers, screwdrivers, cutting tools: you name it and Stanley is very likely to succeed.
In fact, when it comes to certain fundamental tools in today's toolboxes, Stanley was the first to introduce them to the market. This was certainly true in the case of the locking tape measure, which is still one of the brand's most popular products. Stanley, as a brand, hasn't rested on its laurels either. Craftsman may be one of the best-known hand tool brands in the U.S.
In the US, mainly because it spent decades dominating the market through its main sales channel. Specifically, Craftsman began as an in-house brand of Sears, which made it exceptionally accessible and competitive during the mega-retailer's heyday. As a result, they were sometimes functionally identical to hand tools manufactured for New Britain, Stanley and Western Forge. Despite all these variations, the Craftsman brand remains a mainstay in the modern hand tool market.
In particular, Craftsman's many tool sets are popular for their affordability, size, and versatility. These sets include everything from wrenches and screwdrivers to drill bits and ratchets. In recent years, DeWalt has become better known for its versatile lines of power tools. Even so, they are still a visible part of the hand tool market thanks to the wide availability and affordability of their tools.
Within its wide catalog of available hand tools, DeWalt ratchets, hexagonal wrenches and tool kits for mechanics are among its highest-rated products. The DeWalt brand dates back nearly 100 years ago, when Raymond E. DeWalt, who invented the first radial-arm saw. The brand grew its name thanks to the fame of these saws over the decades, until in the 1990s they opted for hand and electric tools.
Today, the DeWalt brand is a subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker. Many of their hand tools are labeled as “made in the USA. USA”, although these tools use parts manufactured abroad. DeWalt also enjoys exceptional brand recognition, thanks in large part to its availability in both retail and online stores.
Klein Tools is another long-standing American tool brand, with roots in 1857, when its founder and namesake Mathias Klein began creating tools for linemen. Today, Klein Tools is one of the only brands that can proudly (and accurately) refer to their tools as “made in the USA”. That's because many of their tools are manufactured at company-owned plants in Texas and Kansas. The company has also made long-term investments in U.S.-based manufacturing.
Department of State, including the expansion of some of its plants over the past 10 years. Snap-On Tools has a long history among automotive and industrial professionals due to its dedication to manufacturing high-end professional tools. Many mechanical and industrial professionals also appreciate the brand's attention to detail and respect both for its sales team and for the employees in the manufacturing plant. Of course, Snap-On's core products are still the main reason why they are highly respected in the hand tool market.
When it comes to tools, Milwaukee is best known for its power tools. When it comes to hand tool brands, Harbor Freight is technically a new kid on the block. Founded in 1977 as a family business, the brand has grown in popularity because of its commitment to offering affordable prices without sacrificing quality. When it comes to tools, Harbor Freight sells most of the general types of hand tools that general contractors can count on.
This includes lines of durable socket wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, hammers and more. While some brands like Craftsman, DeWalt and Stanley have a reputation for standing behind their quality, their best attribute is their wide selection. Meanwhile, affordable brands like Harbor Fright also offer great sets of tools through a variety of accessible outlets. In the past, this made a lot of sense given the accessibility of brands like Snap-On or the guarantees offered by brands like Craftsman.
But many of those unique traits have faded over time. Now, the only thing you need to focus on is the performance of each individual tool in the field. Channellock is known to manufacture a variety of tools, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, automotive, first aid, metal fabrication, and agricultural tools. However, the brand is popular for making the best hand tools, especially its pliers.
The name DeWalt mostly evokes associations with power tools, but this American manufacturer also makes rock-solid hand tools. DeWalt hammers and chisels, in particular, are highly valued by construction professionals. There is also the Kobalt Tools brand, which manufactures a series of electric and hand tools in its combined kits, including a hammer drill, a circular saw and a reciprocating saw with a blade. The company also manufactures screwdrivers, wrenches, tool sets and other special tools, in addition to pliers.
At the end of the day, you should select each type of tool from your toolbox based on the brand's performance with that tool. That's because the company prides itself on manufacturing some of the best quality hand tools you could ever need. That's when the forest service hired the company to manufacture high-quality tools to combat wildfires and other emergencies. Channellock also manufactures other lines of useful hand tools, including a variety of special screwdrivers and Torx.
But there are, so you have to be able to differentiate between them when you buy new hand tools. This is because it has adopted new manufacturing methods that improve the speed and quality of the tools produced. For those who would like to get some of their hand tools, options include pliers, hammers, general hand tools, service tool sets, levers and more. Until now, the brand remains a popular choice among professionals looking for high-quality, durable tools.
Since its creation in 1923, the brand has focused on designing and manufacturing durable tools you might need in a workplace. The company soon expanded its production of hand tools and now also offers power tools, garden equipment, workwear and footwear. One thing you'll get with this brand is that the quality remains the same regardless of the tool you choose. .
