Redcastle brought up a great idea, asking for a Hall of Fame type of post that discusses the best of the best tools that we – and you guys also – can recommend.
Such a list, he proposed, could focus on tools that carry out their function well and will do so over a long period of time with function always outranking form.
It has been a long-term goal of mine to create a “Tool Guide” that discusses the best options of each tool category, but it keeps getting away from me. I do test different formats every now and then – for instance: Best Precision Screwdrivers, Let’s Talk About Long Nose Pliers, Best Multi-Bit Screwdrivers?, but it’s still hard to break up the “big picture” plan into workable chunks.
I had attempted a quick and condensed guide back in 2014, and there have been a couple of requests for that list to be updated.
Rather than delay things further, let’s get the conversation started. I’ll follow the same approach as before, putting down my recommendations as fast as they come to mind. Do your recommendations differ? Let’s talk about it!
(See Also: If I Lost All My Tools, Which Brands Would I Pick for Replacements?)
If I were building a fully featured tool kit today, these are the tools and brands I’d fill my box with.
Hand Tools
Hammers
Ball Pein: Vaughan
Claw or Framing: Estwing
Dead Blow: Nupla
Mallet: Estwing
Screwdrivers
General Purpose: Tekton (Good), Wera (Better), Proto (Best)
Torx: PB Swiss
Ball Hex: Bondhus, Bahco (formerly Irazola, and unfortunately metric-only)
T-Handle: Bondhus
Hex Keys: Bondhus (Good), PB Swiss (Best)
Precision: Wiha, PB Swiss
Insert Bits: Apex, PB Swiss
Pliers
General Purpose: Channellock (Good), NWS (Better)
Diagonal Cutters: NWS
Wire Strippers: Stride, Klein
Precision Pliers and Cutters: Xuron (Good), Lindstrom (Better), Tronex (Best)
Locking Pliers: Milwaukee (Good), Grip-on (Better)
Adjustable Pliers: Irwin (Good), Knipex (Best)
Adjustable Wrench
Channellock/Irega
Specialty: Knipex (Pliers Wrench)
Electrical Tools
Test Equipment: Fluke
Soldering Irons: Hakko
Wrenches
Combination: Facom
Ratcheting: Proto
More Budget-Friendly: Gearwrench
Ratchets
Gearwrench (Good), Wera (Better), Proto (Best)
Sockets
Gearwrench (Good), Tekton (Good), Wera (Better, but Shallow)
Mechanics Tool Set
Wera
Best bang for the buck: ??? TBD (Update: Maybe Husky)
LED Flashlights
General Purpose: Husky
Multi-Tools
Leatherman
Folding Knives
Spyderco (if I had to pick just one, it’d be a Para 3)
Utility Knives
Retractable: Milwaukee
Folding: Milwaukee
Blades: Dewalt carbide
Measuring Tools
Tape Measure: Milwaukee
Calipers: Mitutoyo
Micrometers: Mitutoyo
Dial Indicator: Interapid
Rulers: Mitutoyo (precision), Woodpeckers (woodworking)
Squares: Empire, Woodpeckers
Power Tools
Drill: Dewalt (18V class), Bosch (12V class)
Impact Driver: Hitachi
Circular Saw: Festool
Reciprocating Saw: TBD
Portable Table Saw: Dewalt
Dust Extractor Vacuum: Festool
Tool Storage
Ball Bearing Drawer Unit: Husky (Good), Proto (Best)
Modular Tool Box System: Dewalt
Parts Organizers: Akro Mils
Parts Drawers: Sortimo
Tool Bags: Husky, Milwaukee, Veto Pro Pac (Readers’ Choice)
Power Tool Accessories
Impact Bits: Bosch, Milwaukee
Drill Bits: Precision Twist, Triumph
Brad Drill Bits: Lee Valley Veritas
Spade Bits: Bosch Daredevil
Forstner Drill Bits: Freud
Nut Driver Bits: Milwaukee
Circular Saw Blades: Diablo, Freud
Reciprocating Saw Blades: Milwaukee
Air Tools and Nailers
Compressor: Rolair, (I’ve been meaning to try California Air Tool’s quiet compressors)
Air Nailers: Hitachi
Air Hose: Hitachi, Coilhose, Flexzilla
Fittings: Legacy
Cordless Compressor: Dewalt
Personal Safety
Goggles: Uvex
Hearing: 3M
Respirators: 3M
Disposable Gloves: Kimberly Clark, Microflex
Work Gloves: TBD
Missing Categories?
There are specialty categories to get into, such as woodworking and metalworking, but did I leave out any general categories?
Painter’s Tool: Hyde?
Demo Screwdriver: Milwaukee? (My favorites are a Made in England FatMax 2pc set, but you can’t buy them anymore.)
Aviation Snips: Midwest Tool
Levels: Empire
Scissors: Milwaukee, Wiss
Clamps: Bessey (parallel for woodworking), others TBD
Punches: PB Swiss (limited selection), Tekton, Dasco, Mayhew (smaller sizes might need to be inspected first based on observations at 2 local stores)
Cold Chisels: Dasco
Nail Puller: Vaughan, Shark
