Best hand tools on Reddit
153 reviews from r/HVAC, r/woodworking, r/handtools and 6 more subreddits
153 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Klein
3.8
(26)
"My only spendy hand tools are: 11-in-1 HVAC screwdriver by Klein."
"Klein also makes fantastic precision tools."
"Klein strippers."
"I have a mix of klein, milwaukee, cresent, and gearwrench"
"Klien for my main hand tools."
"Klein - Wire strippers."
"Klein 11-in-1 and wire strippers."
"Klein/knipex."
"Klein screw-drivers."
"Found a Klein grounded flat, perfect for control wiring work."
#2
Knipex
4.8
(14)
"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."
"I’ve got knipex for pinchy things."
"Knipex for pliers, pliers wrench, cutting, etc."
"Knipex for pliers and wire strippers."
"Most will say Knipex is the best for pliers."
"Knipex is highly regarded for their quality."
"Love my knipex to death."
#3
Midwest
4.8
(9)
"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."
"Special hardness aviation snips, HRC 60 or higher, Midwest, Bessey, Stubai and Freund are good brands."
"Snips- I like Midwest."
"Midwest offset snips can cut through 18 gauge for sure."
#4
Milwaukee
3.4
(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 use Milwaukee drills, impacts."
"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."
#5
Wera
5.0
(6)
"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."
"Wera hand tools are indispensable."
#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
Stanley
4.0
(6)
"I started with a vintage Stanley Bailey #5."
"I bought a Stanley No 5, which is kind of a do it all plane."
"Stanley is a great cost/quality compromise for general household use."
"Stanley or Ryobi for general household kits."
"Stanley is kind of the default, as they are both high quality and ubiquitous."
"Stanley, craftsman, and others moved production over seas in the 2000s to cut costs."
#8
Irwin
4.0
(5)
"Set of Irwin Maples wood chisels. Very good chisels at an excellent price."
"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."
#9
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."
#10
Channel Lock
4.0
(4)
"ChannelLock - ChannelLocks."
"I use Channel Lock pliers."
"Channel-lock well… channel locks."
"Channel locks for the big stuff."
#11
Wiha
5.0
(3)
"Wera and wiha."
"I like the expensive ones lol. Wera, wiha, pbswiss."
"Wiha for Allen keys."
#12
PB Swiss
5.0
(3)
"PB Swiss screwdrivers are incredible if you got the money."
"PB Swiss screwdrivers are incredible if you got the money."
"I like the expensive ones lol. Wera, wiha, pbswiss."
#13
Starrett
4.7
(3)
"Like someone said above, the Starrett 12" is a must have."
"The 12” Starrett is key."
"Starrett squares."
#14
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."
#15
Crescent
4.0
(3)
"Crescent - Wrenches."
"Crescent for wrenches."
"Crescent for wrenches."
#16
Narex
4.0
(3)
"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."
#17
Fluke
5.0
(2)
"Fluke for multimeters."
"Fluke for multimeters."
#18
DMT
4.5
(2)
"DMT diamond stones. Suizan Japanese saws."
"DMT diamond stones."
#19
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."
#20
Suizan
4.5
(2)
"+1 for suizan if you like Japanese style saws."
"Suizan makes some pretty nice pull saws."
#21
Fat Max
4.0
(2)
"Fat max for tape measure."
"Fat max for tape measure."
#22
Wright
4.0
(2)
"And a Wright crescent wrench."
"Wright makes good hand tools."
#23
Trojan
3.0
(2)
"Trojan is fine for cheap one off use tools, they don't really hold up to any serious use."
"Trojan"
#24
Lenox
5.0
(1)
"Lenox 6 in 1 screw driver LXHT68005..."
#25
WERA
5.0
(1)
"WERA for screwdrivers, Allen keys, sockets, and ratchets."
#26
Occidental
5.0
(1)
"Occidental oxy framer tool belt. Tajima CR503Sa chalk line. Both have lasted me years now."
#27
Lie Nielsen
5.0
(1)
"Get one of the Lie Nielsen dovetail saws. The cost/value ratio is great."
#28
Tajima
5.0
(1)
"Tajima chalk line, Tajima 25mm snap knife (but the Olfa ones are cheaper and also good)."
#29
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."
#30
Lee Nielsen, Lee Valley
5.0
(1)
"Lee Nielsen and Lee Valley tools are heirloom quality if you have the bucks."
#31
Lie-Nielsen, Veritas, Narex
5.0
(1)
"If you are looking for bench planes, I’d probably recommend Lie-Nielsen Toolworks."
#32
Wiss
5.0
(1)
"Wiss snips reds and greens have been my favourite."
#33
Knipex, Klein, Milwaukee, Midwest
5.0
(1)
"Knipex pliers, sidecutters, etc."
#34
Veritas
5.0
(1)
"Get the Veritas honing guides for sharpening chisels and planer blades."
#35
Lisle
4.0
(1)
"Lisle allen head sockets are cheaper than import, made in USA, and helpful."
#36
Shinwa
4.0
(1)
"Shinwa measuring tools."
#37
Trow & Holden
4.0
(1)
"In my opinion it's worth buying something like this: https://trowandholden.com/carbide-hammer-sets.html"
#38
UEI
4.0
(1)
"Uei psychrometer"
#39
Shark
4.0
(1)
"Also shark brand pry bar with a catspaw on one end."
#40
Testo
4.0
(1)
"Testo probes"
#41
Elkind
4.0
(1)
"Elkind hex keys"
#42
Utica
4.0
(1)
"Utica double head wrenches"
#43
Fieldpiece
4.0
(1)
"Fieldpiece digital gages"
#44
Proto
4.0
(1)
"Proto adjustable wrenches"
#45
Greenlee
4.0
(1)
"I’ve heard people talk good about greenlee."
#46
Vessel
4.0
(1)
"Vessel screwdrivers are underrated."
#47
Dewalt
4.0
(1)
"Dewalt battery tools, klein screwdrivers and nut drivers."
#48
Estwing
4.0
(1)
"I got inexpensive but reliable tools, a 28 oz. Estwing, with an Estwing nail puller."
#49
Ryobi
4.0
(1)
"Stanley or Ryobi for general household kits."
#50
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."
#51
Kobalt
3.0
(1)
"Kobalt for rachety things."
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