Best hand tools on Reddit
157 reviews from r/HVAC, r/woodworking, r/handtools and 8 more subreddits
157 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Knipex
4.8
(18)
"Knipex are top notch pliers and cutters."
"Knipex, Wera and Wiha."
"Knipex channel locks are definitely the best I've ever used."
"Klein/knipex."
"Knipex channel locks are definitely the best I've ever used."
"Knipex wire cutter 74 22 200..."
"Knipex long nose w/comfort grip 25 02 160..."
"Knipex ero grip channel lock 9K 00 80 05..."
"I’ve got knipex for pinchy things."
"Knipex for pliers, pliers wrench, cutting, etc."
#2
Klein
3.7
(23)
"Klein strippers."
"I have a mix of klein, milwaukee, cresent, and gearwrench"
"Klien for my main hand tools."
"Klein 11-in-1 and wire strippers."
"Klein/knipex."
"Found a Klein grounded flat, perfect for control wiring work."
"Klein for multi bit nutdrivers and screw drivers."
"Klien 11in1"
"Klien and harbor freight strippers"
"Klien meter"
#3
Milwaukee
3.5
(12)
"Milwaukee adjustable wrenches, 6" and 10"."
"Milwaukee 48-22-3079 wire strippers, Knipex ero grip channel lock 9K 00 80 05, Knipex wire cutter 74 22 200..."
"I really like Milwaukee’s Packout totes and backpacks because you can lock a small organizer on the bottom of them."
"Now I've upgraded to milwuakee and I couldn't be happier."
"Milwaukee adjustable wrenches (they have the least amount of play in the mechanism that I have found)."
"Mikita is yuck. Milwaukee and DeWalt are win."
"Milwaukee USA tools impressed me."
"Milwaukee hand tools just cost more than say, a Husky version."
"I have Milwaukee wire strippers."
"I started with all Milwaukee but as I lose stuff or it breaks I’ve been switching to Klein."
#4
Midwest
4.8
(8)
"Midwest and malco only!"
"Midwest - Snips."
"Mid west is best."
"Midwest is the only brand of snips you should ever or will ever need to buy."
"But I will say when it comes to snips just go Midwest and nothing else."
"Just some good ol’ offset Midwest snips."
"Snips- I like Midwest."
"Midwest offset snips can cut through 18 gauge for sure."
#5
Wera
5.0
(5)
"I use Wera drivers and such."
"Wera and wiha."
"Wera screwdrivers are the best imo."
"Wera."
"I like the expensive ones lol. Wera, wiha, pbswiss, stahlwille."
#6
Harbor Freight
3.6
(7)
"Even Harbor Freight chisels can become amazing tools with effective sharpening."
"Start out with a bag full of harbor freight tools."
"My best wire stripper I think is from Harbor Freight."
"Harbor Freight hand tools like their bearing pullers."
"Harbor freight Doyle water pump pliers"
"The harbor freight ones are decent for about 4-6 months"
"Harbor freight for twisty things."
#7
Ridgid
4.5
(4)
"Only ridgid for pipe wrenches."
"Ridgid makes good pipe wrenches."
"Rigid for pipe wrenches."
"Ridgid pipe wrenches - check out antique malls for a deal."
#8
Narex
4.3
(4)
"I just grabbed a full round narex rasp and I'm delighted with how aggressive of a cut it makes."
"I also bought a set of Narex chisels."
"Narex chisels need to hone the back with a fine India and arkansas."
"A quality chisels. Would be my first buy."
#9
Stanley
4.0
(4)
"I started with a vintage Stanley Bailey #5."
"Stanley is a great cost/quality compromise for general household use."
"Stanley or Ryobi for general household kits."
"Stanley, craftsman, and others moved production over seas in the 2000s to cut costs."
#10
Irwin
3.8
(4)
"I like my Irwin hand tools."
"Irwin crescent wrenches are very good for their price."
"Irwin crescent wrenches are very good for their price."
"I have large Irwin channel locks."
#11
Starrett
4.7
(3)
"Like someone said above, the Starrett 12" is a must have."
"The 12” Starrett is key."
"Starrett squares."
#12
Masterforce
4.3
(3)
"The warranty on anything masterforce. It's awesome."
"The Masterforce ones are solid. Equal to a modern Craftsman tool."
"Masterforce, Knipex, Irwin, Channellock and probably some others I’m forgetting would be decent to great quality."
#13
Malco
4.3
(3)
"Malco con-next nut drivers. They detach from their handles and can be used on an impact or fitted with any impact bit."
"Malco and knipex are pretty much my go-to."
"Malco for impact bits."
#14
Crescent
4.0
(3)
"Crescent - Wrenches."
"Crescent for wrenches."
"Crescent for wrenches."
#15
Wiha
5.0
(2)
"Wera and wiha."
"I like the expensive ones lol. Wera, wiha, pbswiss."
#16
Fluke
5.0
(2)
"Fluke for multimeters."
"Fluke for multimeters."
#17
PB Swiss
5.0
(2)
"PB Swiss screwdrivers are incredible if you got the money."
"PB Swiss screwdrivers are incredible if you got the money."
#18
eBay
4.5
(2)
"Like many others, my vote goes to getting vintage tools off of eBay or from an estate sale or fb marketplace"
"EBay has a lot of old tools as well."
#19
DMT
4.5
(2)
"DMT diamond stones. Suizan Japanese saws."
"DMT diamond stones."
#20
Channellock
4.5
(2)
"Channellock adj wrench 10WCB..."
"For pliers I like channel lock, though the only pair I care for is th"
#21
Channel Lock
4.0
(2)
"Channel-lock well… channel locks."
"Channel locks for the big stuff."
#22
Icon
4.0
(2)
"If I was making up a kit for someone just starting out, the whole thing would be icon."
"I wouldn’t hesitate to run Icon tools especially since you can literally run to the store and exchange for a replacement if they do fail."
#23
Fat Max
4.0
(2)
"Fat max for tape measure."
"Fat max for tape measure."
#24
Trojan
3.0
(2)
"Trojan is fine for cheap one off use tools, they don't really hold up to any serious use."
"Trojan"
#25
Antique Stores
5.0
(1)
"A lot of us hand tool woodworkers like the antiques, flee markets, antique stores and eBay are your best options."
#26
German Hand Tools
5.0
(1)
"Outside of the US, I think German hand tools are pretty universally seen at 'the best', although there are other countries (Japan) that make great hand tools as well."
#27
Wear Demo
5.0
(1)
"Love the wear demo screwdrivers"
#28
Lenox
5.0
(1)
"Lenox 6 in 1 screw driver LXHT68005..."
#29
WERA
5.0
(1)
"WERA for screwdrivers, Allen keys, sockets, and ratchets."
#30
Occidental
5.0
(1)
"Occidental oxy framer tool belt. Tajima CR503Sa chalk line. Both have lasted me years now."
#31
Lie Nielsen
5.0
(1)
"Get one of the Lie Nielsen dovetail saws. The cost/value ratio is great."
#32
Tajima
5.0
(1)
"Tajima chalk line, Tajima 25mm snap knife (but the Olfa ones are cheaper and also good)."
#33
Marples
5.0
(1)
"I bought a set of 5 Marples Blue Chip chisels 50 years ago for $60, new. They are still in service."
#34
Box Stores
4.0
(1)
"Box stores are actually ok for hand saws and chisels."
#35
Mitutoyo
4.0
(1)
"Measuring and marking tools are pretty reliable. I got Mitutoyo machinist rulers, a 4" double square, wheel marking gauge, dividers, mechanical and wood pencils."
#36
Anarchist's Toolchest
4.0
(1)
"Plug here for the book Anarchist’s Toolchest as a book to introduce you to handtools, what to look for in good ones, and as a guide to what you might need."
#37
Veritas
4.0
(1)
"Before all the supply issues, veritas was available via amazon."
#38
Shinto
4.0
(1)
"Shinto Saw Rasp"
#39
Gearwrench
4.0
(1)
"I am happy supporting Gearwrench."
#40
Bridge City
4.0
(1)
"The best handtools are the ones you can easily afford without having to break the bank."
#41
Midwest, Klein, Knipex, Hilmar
4.0
(1)
"Midwest, klien, knipex, hilmar"
#42
Toolpro
4.0
(1)
"I like Toolpro from Supercheap Auto, I think most of it is made in Taiwan."
#43
Lisle
4.0
(1)
"Lisle allen head sockets are cheaper than import, made in USA, and helpful."
#44
Suizan
4.0
(1)
"Suizan makes some pretty nice pull saws."
#45
Shinwa
4.0
(1)
"Shinwa measuring tools."
#46
Trow & Holden
4.0
(1)
"In my opinion it's worth buying something like this: https://trowandholden.com/carbide-hammer-sets.html"
#47
UEI
4.0
(1)
"Uei psychrometer"
#48
Shark
4.0
(1)
"Also shark brand pry bar with a catspaw on one end."
#49
Testo
4.0
(1)
"Testo probes"
#50
Elkind
4.0
(1)
"Elkind hex keys"
#51
Utica
4.0
(1)
"Utica double head wrenches"
#52
Fieldpiece
4.0
(1)
"Fieldpiece digital gages"
#53
Proto
4.0
(1)
"Proto adjustable wrenches"
#54
Greenlee
4.0
(1)
"I’ve heard people talk good about greenlee."
#55
Vessel
4.0
(1)
"Vessel screwdrivers are underrated."
#56
Dewalt
4.0
(1)
"Dewalt battery tools, klein screwdrivers and nut drivers."
#57
Estwing
4.0
(1)
"I got inexpensive but reliable tools, a 28 oz. Estwing, with an Estwing nail puller."
#58
Ryobi
4.0
(1)
"Stanley or Ryobi for general household kits."
#59
Ryoba
4.0
(1)
"Look into a ryoba (Japanese pull saw), they're not that expensive and it's ended up being one of my most used tools."
#60
Master Craft
3.0
(1)
"As a Canadian apprentice 20 years ago I bought a bunch of master craft... now the only thing left in my bag that’s master craft is my Awl."
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