old tools were not cheap and build to last forever; I got some garden tool cutters, B&D drill pretty small cord 50's and my mother still use the singer sawing machine which is heavy AF XD.
I have these, for most I have multiples. I've got good quality stuff some of it's maybe 50 years old. Yard sales. Moving sales. Estate sales. $2 pipe wrenches, 25 cent tubing cutters, $4 channel locks, two for $5 hammers, $12 Craftsman socket sets (which dozens of sockets and three sizes of ratchets), tool pouches, squares, pitchforks, shovels, rakes, drills, bits, blades, etc. My drywall texture gun was $4. You don't have to pay retail. You can find good quality stuff for not a lot of money. And you can get old stuff that's not half plastic. And you can use your crap tools, until you can find good quality tools and backups. Heck I bought a vise, it's got a civil war era patent date on it, and probably weighs 80 lb. That was around $25. That's probably less than the shipping if I go to try to find something that large of that quality And then there are sales and clearance for the cordless power tools and batteries. My smaller compressor was 75% off. A few days ago I bought an 18 volt Bosch rapid charger, the expensive one with the fan in it - not the one that comes with normal Bosch tools now. Clearance cart at Lowe's. $20. But I can't wait till I need it. If I need it now I'm going to have to go to Home Depot. And I can't wait until the one I have now walks off, gets misplaced, or breaks. If there's no backup, I still have to go to Home Depot. And pay full retail unless I get lucky with the sale. I've dropped a drill on the job and had to go to the backup. I have also had a tool battery charger burn out on the job. I didn't have a backup. Took all the Bosch tools out of commission until I could get a charger. Had a drill back up in another brand, but no backup on the saws. That caused a delay. Got lucky, there was a sale, I paid the extra $40 more than the charger would have cost me, I got the charger I needed. And the stuff I didn't need at the time: two extra batteries, another impact driver, and the drill became the backup I needed later. If I bought it 2 years ago I have it. And there's a decent chance I only spent a dollar or two, for the hand tools anyway. If you're wondering why Bosch? My original Bosch (brute tough hammer drill, impact, reciprocating, circular, with batteries, fast charger, spotlight, blades, bag) set was I think around $600, on clearance for $225. I only needed a drill immediately. That was about 10 years ago. The circular saw, reciprocating saw, and impact driver are still in use. The hammer drill I burnt out drilling concrete. They fixed it under warranty and then I set it on fire again. It's in the pile of things I might fix someday. They also sent me new batteries because they were getting weaker and I was still in the three-year Pro Vantage thing. I've since picked up a Bosch rotary hammer that was $100 off. I've still got the lighter duty Bosch, and Makita ($75 clearance) hammer drills for the small stuff. And I picked up a Makita impact driver as well, on clearance. One battery type would be ideal but, I did get an extra battery and an extra charger for the Makita. And they charge quickly. And if I'm doing a job with more than one fastener type I can have two drill/drivers and up to 3 impact drivers all with different bits laying right there. With multiple batteries for each tool and 4 chargers. That definitely beats switching drill and drive bits every 30 seconds. I don't have a backup circular saw, a cordless one anyway. Been kind of waiting and hoping on Rigid to come out with a brushless set with a circular saw that actually has the blade on the correct (left) side. I'm holding the wood in my left hand I want to be able to see the blade. That helps with accuracy and also not disemboweling myself. (Otherwise it's setting up saw horses, and all that safe stuff.) I'll pick up a set of Rigid. On sale of course. Lifetime service agreement, including the batteries that come with the tool. If the Bosch goes down before then, I may have to do retail. But there is the yard sale hand saw if I need it now. So basically after all this rambling: If you buy good stuff before you need it, you can get it at a good price.
I do very similar work for a living and use almost the exact same tools and brands. Just about the only difference is I prefer the Turbo Torch that is air/acetylene, allows me to solder and braze without changing anything.
oh, i forgot to to say: i use tools til this day that my great granddad, granddad and dad mad during their apprenticeships. my gt granddad was an engineer on the construction of the titanic and he made his own tools. my granddad was a chief designer for tanks at vickers-armstrong in the 1930's and he made his own tools. my dad was the designer for the "coupler expansion rings" for the "Iraqi super gun" and he made all his own tools. my dad passed away in 2016 aged 81 and left me all of these tools. i could not think of a better legacy. yes, it's true - buy cheap - buy twice. there should never be a need to compromise on quality. buy british! buy american! buy spanish (irega is a top quality spanish brand!) i sold their adjustable spanners for years.
My uncle made his own tools serving below decks on Canadian navy escort ships (Corvettes) criss crossing the North Atlantic during WWII. There is no Home Depot when a tool needs replacing. Engine room artificer was his trade. He had a profitable career later on as a master tool and die maker. $$$ Yet every high school kid today wants to go into IT for some reason
Cheap tools are great! You can lend them out ! Your friends / neighbors never ask to borrow anything from you again . If you lend them a quality tool , you will never see that tool again !
When starting out you should buy cheap tools so you have options, but if a tool breaks buy a quality tool to replace it. Still, the points about the 5 most commonly used tools above are good
@Jesus Gonzalez And a skilled plumber knows you work far faster, with better quality, and MORE SAFETY than if you use fragile cheap crap that breaks and slices your hand open the first time you try to use it. Electrician, retired. I have cheap tools. They live in the Kitchen Gadget drawer. My good tools are in the workshop.
a very good saying indeed, buying cheap (and low quality) tools that will fail sooner will cost you more in the long run than high quality/well made tools
Been plumbing for over 30 years. First word of advice to all my grasshoppers: buy high guality tools- Save yourself so much grief throughout your career.
I walked into Sears with a cracked Craftsman 6-pt socket. I showed it to the clerk and he just threw it in the trash and gave me a new one from the shelf.
I'm an HVAC service tech and while I don't disagree it is important to remember cheap and low quality are not the same thing. I have plenty of tools from harbor freight that have lasted me years and given me no problems (my pipe wrenches for example) but I have bought name brand stuff that a broke after only a few uses
I agree 100%!! Quality does not always correlate with price. If you know what constitutes "a quality tool" then there are definitely good finds out there!
Harbor freight pipe wrenches are complete and utter trash. A coworker has them and it was my first time using them and I could not get a good grip on a 3/4 inch adaptor. It was not fine enough of an adjustment and was either too big or too tight. I didn't have my rigid pipe wrenches on me but I know that the rigids would grip on that adaptor no problem. I've never had a problem from my rigids like I did with that harbor freight special. The harbor freight just had too much slop in the jaws.
@@jtoker9758 mine can get a bit without issue but they don't slip in the other direction well, I have a small ridgid that does 90% of my work I rarely use big pipe wrenches so for me they are good enough if I used them more I would have trashed them awhile ago but I do very little plumbing with larger pipes so it hasn't been enough of a problem for me to bother
I'll 'Cheap Out' if I've forgotten a tool and it's not time effective to go back to my shop. I'll buy some shitty HDX model (or whatever the store closest by sells) and then usually toss it if it's a hand tool.
Cheap tools for throw aways or emergency one time use, inexpensive tools for occasional use, best quality tools you can afford for daily use and to reduce frustration and lost time. A story about "Cheap throw away tools". In the early 70's my father, who was a steel fabricator, and his crew were on a job 100+ miles from the shop when they realized they had no small drill motor for the many pilot holes they needed in preparation for drilling bigger holes. One of the guys ran to a hardware store and picked up a cheap Black and Decker 1/4" drill motor to get the job done. After the job Dad took it home and use it around the house until his death in 2003. I continued to use it occasionally even though it smelled like it was burning up until August of 2020 when I gave it to a young man who was in a bind and needed to drill some 1/4" holes.
I think if you're a home owner and will only use the tool every blue moon the cheap tools are fine. I'm a landlord who do a lot of my own repairs so I've learned over the years that it's definitely better to spend the extra money for better tools. Unfortunately whenever I have other people working on my properties with me a lot of my expensive tools disappear leaving only the cheap tools. I wonder if it's because I'm a woman and they think I won't notice. Now if I give a worker keys to the property I have to take my tools with me every time I leave unless it's something big like a table saw.
It has nothing to do with you being a woman... Many people are very sloppy and they just leave the tools everywhere... But if you make them responsible for the tools and make them paid for whatever desapear things will change.
Sounds like you're letting dishonest people use your tools. I let my handyman use my tools and he has never stolen anything. Good handymen are hard to find though.
"Chineseium" is also something to consider. If you buy a tool made of cr@p steel, chances are you'll be buying a replacement again, & again, until you break down and buy a quality tool.
Cheap tools have their place in the shop. When there is a high chance of loss cheap is better. If only used once every 10 years or a one off job cheap is good enough if they can do the job. If you use it every day for work then get quality that is easy to work with.
Chinese manufacturers are open-minded ppl, they won't ask you why you want a pen that doesn't write if you ask them to make it for you, the same way if you ask for pen that can write on every possible surface and underwater too :) your money will make the difference.
Not everything made in china is crap; if it's made with quality materials, tight specs and attention to detail it will be fine. The problem is all the manufacturers that are solely interested in profits and cost cutting go to china so a lot of tools from there are crap.
You can't assume that a made in USA tool is good quality, even if you do pay more for it. The reverse also holds true for Chinese manufacturers. By and large, I'd say Chinese products are getting much better in the last few years. At one time Germany and Japan made crap, today many products made in those countries set the standard for quality.
I got some great advice starting out--buy medium quality tools at first. If you use it enough to break it, replace with high quality. It’s worked for me as I’ve tried a larger variety of tools and discovered there are lots I don’t need. Also, I appreciate a high quality tool after I’ve used a cheap one.
That’s really neat. I found a tool box that belonged to my step brother’s dad. He had been a carpenter back in the day and had passed away years ago in a car accident. It had some of his old hand tools. My brother thought it was pretty special when I gave it to him.
I’ve used knipex pliers professionally for 15 years and must say you most certainly can adjust it one handed. I’ve got to the point that it’s hard to adjust channellocks one handed. I’d say that it beats channellocks in every single aspect. Those of you that use channellocks are bias because that’s what your use too.
@@Got2Learn pliers wrench too which replaced my crescent wrench and that’s the one you had in the video so it was assumed to be cobras. Good video. I suppose I’m a fanboy but I miss those sooo much if I don’t have them.
Thanks for making a video for me to show to my wife. I believe in only paying for quality tools, and only getting tools when you actually need them. I hate when people just buy shitloads of tools that never see the light of day. Thanks for level checking tip, so simple but effective!
If a person has the money to buy shitloads of tools that never see the light of day, if that makes them happy, more power to them! It is their fucking money, they earned it, who the fuck are we to tell them what they can and can't spend it on?
i buy high end tools some of which never see the light of day because ill leave them at home and use the company crap, its not the worst spending habit i can think of
With the adjustable plyers, go to the Knipex brand. Once you use them, you'll never use another brand again. Leaps and bounds ahead of the game... And made in Germany.
Fiskars makes great pruning shears, when my stopped cutting I emailed them a picture of the anvil cutter that was too worn and they sent me a new one. I didn't know they had a warranty until I saw someone talk about it online. If you're worried about the jaw coming off that wrench because it has a pin in it then pull out the handy dandy blow torch and use some acid core solder to hold it permanently in place. Some cheap tools can be modified to work better, and they are all I need being a jack of all trades at the house. If I were trying to make a living with the tools then most would be German or American.
Great and very helpful video! Spending a bit extra for tools and knowing what features you need will always save headaches down the line. I do have some comments: 1. I worked with a carpenter who needed to get his Ridgid driver repaired at an authorized Ridgid service center (it was an independent shop) under warranty. He brought in his tool, and they basically didn't do anything with it for a few weeks (I forgot if they needed to wait for parts or not, but the carpenter noted they didn't even open the driver to diagnose problems). So the ease of having Ridgid to honor their warranty will depend on what needs to be done. - If it's a tool replacement, then it's relatively easy, although you might want a cheap backup tool to use until you get the replacement in-hand. - But if it's a tool service repair, hope that your local authorized service center can turn around the repair job in a reasonable amount of time. 2. Home Depot's HDX brand is mostly garbage. - Their painter's tape doesn't stick at all - spend the extra money on 3M, even though it's almost double the price. - The head on their dollar spray bottles often breaks off. Meanwhile, I've bought dollar spray bottles from Walmart's ironing section that have lasted years. - I needed a crescent wrench for a bath faucet replacement, and Home Depot only had HDX in stock. I checked it out and felt how smooth and short the teeth were. I went online and ordered a more expensive brand that was $10 more. Its teeth were sharply cut and rough enough to actually grip plumbing nuts. It was $10 well spent. - The only thing I would trust HDX for is tools with non-moving parts. Their squeegees are probably fine for people who only use them for occasional small jobs. Their 5 gallon buckets are fine too.
i can vouch for all these tools except for the autocutters, their cutting wheels rust badly and i only had em for a year. I upgraded to the milkuakee close quarters tubing cutters which have chrome rollers. Hopefully will last better
Not only a plumbing tools. It is not overstatement your life depends on your tools being used every day. I always get best I could afford which will be passed on to my kids.
I'm a huge fan of Knipex tools. But as a homeowner not a pro. They are painfully expensive but the quality is top notch German. The pliers wrench 86 03 300 made me never want to pick up a crescent wrench ever again. I suggest everyone buy one Knipex tool just to indulge yourself in pure quality, and then you will certainly start buying more!
I definitely agree with buying quality tools and do it in practice, but I just want to point out it’s not China’s fault for making crappy tools, it’s economics. China makes at least two version, an expensive one with a reputable brand on it, and a cheap one with a small time brand on it. Both could very well be owned by the same parent company. If it weren’t for buyers who want to save a buck, the small time brand would cease to exist. For instance, Stanley Black & Decker makes Dewalt and Black and Decker, and TTI makes Milwaukee and Hart tools. If you really want to get a kick, you should check out who makes Ridgid tools and what nationality is the parent company…
You get what you pay for. The thing is, there is a lot of tools from brand name are made in China. I remember at Walmart store, a few years ago, you saw the sign every where ‘Buy American’ but almost everything was made in China!!!
My dad used to say "buy cheap, buy twice." I've rarely ever had a premium tool fail on me, and even if they did, they always had a good warranty. Also, I love my knipex cobras, the locking feature is actually helpful when using 2 at once, they won't open accidently while switching grips. Keep em clean and add a little oil from time to time and you can easily adjust them with one hand. I always feel kinda badass when closing them with a flick of the wrist 😉
@@Got2Learn you do too! I like to see your content, as a plumber from germany I like to see the similarities and differences in how we work and i'm always looking for some practical tips and tricks. Keep up the good work 😉
The good quality tools always going missing on work sites. I was only just borrowing it mate they will say. That's the last time I will see that I think to my self. How much does an honest tradesman spend on tools a year............
I`m using a cinese wrench .... but hey .... I also have cinese pipes ... ... on time I broke a cinese level and the air bubble escaped ... I contaminated the air in surroundings with cinese air .... sorry ....
T torch is good, most scheap tools i don't mind rebuying or buying multiple because lets face it, I not going all the way back under that house and mud for a 5/16 socket or ratchet or pvc cutter lol... shit I deserve a raise as it is!
I'm 70 years old and have a Rigid 1/2 to 2" pipe threader that is over 85 years old and was my grandfather's. Replaced tbe cutting dies in them. Still cut great threads on black pipe.
If you cant open and close Knipex pliers one handed then you just haven't tried. Hold button and whip down to open them and then hold the button with your index finger on the top to close.
As an electrician, (and this goes for any trade) there is a time to spend money on tools and a time and a time you can cheap out for instance, being an electrician we need great screw drivers and Pliers like Dikes, Linesman and Wire Strippers....But, we don't need the top of the line metal file, beater screw driver or hammer...
Keep in mind also that almost all levels' bubbles have left and right-of-center lines that accommodate "builder's tolerances." This is another phrase for "not quite perfect." Always center the bubble exactly between these two lines if you want true precision.
I check a level by placing it on a horizontal surface and comparing the bubble position with it when flipped 180 degrees. They should match if the level is accurate.
FYI I'm a machinist and my job one day was to machine a bunch of channel locks. I had all the different kinds from the big box stores and channel lock brand by far had harder jaws and teeth than the other brands.
Ya, but have you ever had a cheap tool absolutely destroy a screw or fitting to the point now even a good tool will had a difficult time turning the item... all to often you start kicking yourself for buying the piece of junk. Now you have to replace the item or have to stop and get the proper tool anyway and waste 2 hours getting it.... no thanks. I use to buy the craftsman Phillips and they would stop out the heads or part of the tool, now I buy German tools more often, the will twist the head off before breaking more often. As far as levels go, you should mention Miller Falls too.
That's a good point. There are certain tools I have that I know we're going to get lost or walk away and there's no reason to spend Top Dollar on those but there are tools that I need to be good and I'm making good. The point is there's not an absolute in anything.
Total B.S. I have dozens of Ridgid tools, they are all made in China, and they have lifetime warranty. Nowadays, even Harbor Freight offers lifetime warranty on their tools, and it is so much easier to get a Harbor Freight tool replaced than any American made tools. ie. Craftsman, Ridgid, Mac-Tools ... etc.
My problem with cheap tools I'm more careless with them tending to misuse and break them or more prone to misplacing them. I still have all my American made sockets, allen keys that I purchased 17 years ago. Adding the functionality considerations finding a cost effective solution for your work is key. Premium, name brand tools are expensive to completely kit out and I've seen plenty of electricians and millwrights running around with more budget friendly but effective options Harbour freight impact socket they also tend to have more premium tools than your average DIY guy. There was some tribal knowledge among the craftspeople about cost effective options the older guys knew where to spend money and where they could go with a more budget friendly option.
Have you tried the Princess Auto pipe wrenches? I have a couple of 18" aluminum ones that I use for HVACR (gasfitting plumbing etc.) and they've been really great.
cheap tools only for DIY persons. Trade persons need excellent tools for sure. You don't wanna spend 200 dollars for a spanner which only use once a year for car oil changing. Economical considerations are already good.
Nope. I am DIY and I don't like working with cheap shit inferior tools that do more damage than they do good. I buy quality tools out of the money I save doing the job myself. And I am way ahead of the game at this point. It is nice to have tools that actually fit the fasteners you are trying to take off and don't strip them to shit.
Price sometimes nothing to do with how good tools are bought dear broke it bought cheap still got them 30yrs later. Never buy on name alone look at what your buying
once i worked for an company that gave me new tools if they got slightly damaged. All tools were of high quality and the tools that were broken i could use at home. right now i have 3 bags full of tools
I def agree when it comes to Adj pliers, you need to find the ones that work for your trade and daily work needs. CL work great for plumbers bc of the one-handed adjustment feature, for electricians...We are often tightening the same size connector or coupling all day so having the locking pliers from Knipex are excellent as they don't move from their adjustment in your tool pouch or pocket!
So glad you mentioned you would, and did, suggest brands. Because it seems a lot of “cheaper” brands caught on that people were willing to spend a little more (As you suggested they do. Like myself for years) for better tools. Only to have those brands put higher prices on their cheap tools. You ended up paying more but got the same poor quality anyway… So thank you! You do great honest videos and reviews. Wish more people would learn about your channel/site. One of the few to offer both desired qualities.
I used my harbor frieght $7 pipe wrench just once in past two years. It worked great for replacing the water main valve. Do you seriously think it's necessary for me to buy a $100 pipe wrench? Cheap chinese tools deliver 90% of value for 10% of price - that is until dollar becomes toilet paper. LOL
@@Got2Learn Cheap tools are great. Until they fail on you and you use a quality tool to get the job done. There is no going back to cheap tools after that.
Stuff I showed in this video (amazon affiliate links)
Pipe wrenches
- amzn.to/2VZYMbW (14" RIDGID ALUMINIUM)
Level (Torpedo levels)
- amzn.to/38Lgl4D (EMPIRE 12")
Pipe cutter (copper)
- amzn.to/3faJxEw (RIDGID)
- amzn.to/38GAd8R (LENNOX)
Adjustable pliers
- amzn.to/31WxCq3 (10" CHANNELLOCK)
- amzn.to/3gC7wgc (10" KNIPEX)
Torch
- amzn.to/2Z9z9aw (TURBOTORCH ST-33)
- amzn.to/2AFC41d (BERNZOMATIC TS8000)
Amazon supports ICE kidnapping children, and you support ICE....
I would really like to hear your thoughts on the TurboTorch STK-99 (with ST-33 tip) vs the TX500 (TX-503 tip)?
@@larryseibold4287 only had the ST99, served me very well!!
my buddy still uses the 3 feet ridgid pipe wrench his grandfather used in the 1940s..
Crazyyyy
I still use 2 that are older than me
old tools were not cheap and build to last forever; I got some garden tool cutters, B&D drill pretty small cord 50's and my mother still use the singer sawing machine which is heavy AF XD.
I have two Ridgid pipe wrenches inherited from my dad, date unknown but sometime from 60's or even older. They work perfectly.
I have these, for most I have multiples. I've got good quality stuff some of it's maybe 50 years old. Yard sales. Moving sales. Estate sales. $2 pipe wrenches, 25 cent tubing cutters, $4 channel locks, two for $5 hammers, $12 Craftsman socket sets (which dozens of sockets and three sizes of ratchets), tool pouches, squares, pitchforks, shovels, rakes, drills, bits, blades, etc. My drywall texture gun was $4.
You don't have to pay retail. You can find good quality stuff for not a lot of money. And you can get old stuff that's not half plastic. And you can use your crap tools, until you can find good quality tools and backups.
Heck I bought a vise, it's got a civil war era patent date on it, and probably weighs 80 lb. That was around $25. That's probably less than the shipping if I go to try to find something that large of that quality
And then there are sales and clearance for the cordless power tools and batteries. My smaller compressor was 75% off. A few days ago I bought an 18 volt Bosch rapid charger, the expensive one with the fan in it - not the one that comes with normal Bosch tools now. Clearance cart at Lowe's. $20.
But I can't wait till I need it. If I need it now I'm going to have to go to Home Depot. And I can't wait until the one I have now walks off, gets misplaced, or breaks. If there's no backup, I still have to go to Home Depot. And pay full retail unless I get lucky with the sale.
I've dropped a drill on the job and had to go to the backup.
I have also had a tool battery charger burn out on the job. I didn't have a backup. Took all the Bosch tools out of commission until I could get a charger. Had a drill back up in another brand, but no backup on the saws. That caused a delay.
Got lucky, there was a sale, I paid the extra $40 more than the charger would have cost me, I got the charger I needed. And the stuff I didn't need at the time: two extra batteries, another impact driver, and the drill became the backup I needed later.
If I bought it 2 years ago I have it. And there's a decent chance I only spent a dollar or two, for the hand tools anyway.
If you're wondering why Bosch? My original Bosch (brute tough hammer drill, impact, reciprocating, circular, with batteries, fast charger, spotlight, blades, bag) set was I think around $600, on clearance for $225. I only needed a drill immediately. That was about 10 years ago. The circular saw, reciprocating saw, and impact driver are still in use. The hammer drill I burnt out drilling concrete. They fixed it under warranty and then I set it on fire again. It's in the pile of things I might fix someday. They also sent me new batteries because they were getting weaker and I was still in the three-year Pro Vantage thing.
I've since picked up a Bosch rotary hammer that was $100 off. I've still got the lighter duty Bosch, and Makita ($75 clearance) hammer drills for the small stuff.
And I picked up a Makita impact driver as well, on clearance. One battery type would be ideal but, I did get an extra battery and an extra charger for the Makita. And they charge quickly.
And if I'm doing a job with more than one fastener type I can have two drill/drivers and up to 3 impact drivers all with different bits laying right there. With multiple batteries for each tool and 4 chargers. That definitely beats switching drill and drive bits every 30 seconds.
I don't have a backup circular saw, a cordless one anyway. Been kind of waiting and hoping on Rigid to come out with a brushless set with a circular saw that actually has the blade on the correct (left) side. I'm holding the wood in my left hand I want to be able to see the blade. That helps with accuracy and also not disemboweling myself. (Otherwise it's setting up saw horses, and all that safe stuff.) I'll pick up a set of Rigid. On sale of course. Lifetime service agreement, including the batteries that come with the tool.
If the Bosch goes down before then, I may have to do retail. But there is the yard sale hand saw if I need it now.
So basically after all this rambling: If you buy good stuff before you need it, you can get it at a good price.
I do very similar work for a living and use almost the exact same tools and brands. Just about the only difference is I prefer the Turbo Torch that is air/acetylene, allows me to solder and braze without changing anything.
oh, i forgot to to say: i use tools til this day that my great granddad, granddad and dad mad during their apprenticeships. my gt granddad was an engineer on the construction of the titanic and he made his own tools. my granddad was a chief designer for tanks at vickers-armstrong in the 1930's and he made his own tools. my dad was the designer for the "coupler expansion rings" for the "Iraqi super gun" and he made all his own tools. my dad passed away in 2016 aged 81 and left me all of these tools. i could not think of a better legacy. yes, it's true - buy cheap - buy twice. there should never be a need to compromise on quality. buy british! buy american! buy spanish (irega is a top quality spanish brand!) i sold their adjustable spanners for years.
My uncle made his own tools serving below decks on Canadian navy escort ships (Corvettes) criss crossing the North Atlantic during WWII. There is no Home Depot when a tool needs replacing. Engine room artificer was his trade. He had a profitable career later on as a master tool and die maker. $$$ Yet every high school kid today wants to go into IT for some reason
@@62Cristoforo That's bc no master tool and die maker ever got Zuckerberg rich, ever.
I love my turbotorch. Great tool.
Oh yess!
Cheap tools are great! You can lend them out ! Your friends / neighbors never ask to borrow anything from you again .
If you lend them a quality tool , you will never see that tool again !
Very true, sadly.
Yeah, it won't hurt if I left tools in the job site.
When starting out you should buy cheap tools so you have options, but if a tool breaks buy a quality tool to replace it. Still, the points about the 5 most commonly used tools above are good
@Jesus Gonzalez And a skilled plumber knows you work far faster, with better quality, and MORE SAFETY than if you use fragile cheap crap that breaks and slices your hand open the first time you try to use it.
Electrician, retired. I have cheap tools. They live in the Kitchen Gadget drawer. My good tools are in the workshop.
u r smart...:)
In Germany, a popular statement of craftsmen is: "I cannot afford cheap tools". (Billiges Werkzeug kann ich mir nicht leisten.)
In Finland we say: "The poor cannot afford to buy cheap."
In Lithuania we say: "I am not so rich to buy cheapest tools/things".
a very good saying indeed, buying cheap (and low quality) tools that will fail sooner will cost you more in the long run than high quality/well made tools
My grandpa said "bad workers have bad tools". Very philosophical indeed when you think about it
Been plumbing for over 30 years. First word of advice to all my grasshoppers: buy high guality tools- Save yourself so much grief throughout your career.
Quality tools not only work better prevents shinned knuckles.
Oh you mean the lifetime warranty that nobody ever claims.....
Heheee
I walked into Sears with a cracked Craftsman 6-pt socket. I showed it to the clerk and he just threw it in the trash and gave me a new one from the shelf.
"Chinesium" made me laugh.
;)
Lol I was just thinking that.
Okay that was pretty awesome! I'm going to use that
Chinesium: 95% toxic heavy metal and 5% child labor.
I’m not a pro but when it comes to plumbing, I stick to Ridgid, channel lock, knipex, etc.
Husky pipe wrenches have busted rusted thread galvanized pipe at 3/4-1" fine
I’m a pipe fitter. I’ve wore out many wrenches. I only use rigid wrench’s I hang fire sprinklers and it’s all threaded steal pipe most the time.
I'm an HVAC service tech and while I don't disagree it is important to remember cheap and low quality are not the same thing. I have plenty of tools from harbor freight that have lasted me years and given me no problems (my pipe wrenches for example) but I have bought name brand stuff that a broke after only a few uses
I agree harbor freight is awesome for a lot of tools
I agree 100%!! Quality does not always correlate with price. If you know what constitutes "a quality tool" then there are definitely good finds out there!
Hvac 🤝
Harbor freight pipe wrenches are complete and utter trash. A coworker has them and it was my first time using them and I could not get a good grip on a 3/4 inch adaptor. It was not fine enough of an adjustment and was either too big or too tight. I didn't have my rigid pipe wrenches on me but I know that the rigids would grip on that adaptor no problem. I've never had a problem from my rigids like I did with that harbor freight special. The harbor freight just had too much slop in the jaws.
@@jtoker9758 mine can get a bit without issue but they don't slip in the other direction well, I have a small ridgid that does 90% of my work I rarely use big pipe wrenches so for me they are good enough if I used them more I would have trashed them awhile ago but I do very little plumbing with larger pipes so it hasn't been enough of a problem for me to bother
Only cheap out on tools you know you will lose or forget.
I'll 'Cheap Out' if I've forgotten a tool and it's not time effective to go back to my shop. I'll buy some shitty HDX model (or whatever the store closest by sells) and then usually toss it if it's a hand tool.
6:02
Cheap tools for throw aways or emergency one time use, inexpensive tools for occasional use, best quality tools you can afford for daily use and to reduce frustration and lost time.
A story about "Cheap throw away tools". In the early 70's my father, who was a steel fabricator, and his crew were on a job 100+ miles from the shop when they realized they had no small drill motor for the many pilot holes they needed in preparation for drilling bigger holes. One of the guys ran to a hardware store and picked up a cheap Black and Decker 1/4" drill motor to get the job done. After the job Dad took it home and use it around the house until his death in 2003. I continued to use it occasionally even though it smelled like it was burning up until August of 2020 when I gave it to a young man who was in a bind and needed to drill some 1/4" holes.
I think if you're a home owner and will only use the tool every blue moon the cheap tools are fine. I'm a landlord who do a lot of my own repairs so I've learned over the years that it's definitely better to spend the extra money for better tools. Unfortunately whenever I have other people working on my properties with me a lot of my expensive tools disappear leaving only the cheap tools. I wonder if it's because I'm a woman and they think I won't notice. Now if I give a worker keys to the property I have to take my tools with me every time I leave unless it's something big like a table saw.
It has nothing to do with you being a woman... Many people are very sloppy and they just leave the tools everywhere... But if you make them responsible for the tools and make them paid for whatever desapear things will change.
Sounds like you're letting dishonest people use your tools. I let my handyman use my tools and he has never stolen anything. Good handymen are hard to find though.
He said made of Chinesium lol 😂
The tools I want are made of unobtainium so obviously I haven't been able to obtain any of them so chineseium is in my price range
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@@Got2Learn the tool probably has more tolerance than yourself. JS
"Chineseium" is also something to consider. If you buy a tool made of cr@p steel, chances are you'll be buying a replacement again, & again, until you break down and buy a quality tool.
@@a10bam420 95% of products are that come out of China are garbage. It's not intolerance, just facts.
Cheap tools have their place in the shop. When there is a high chance of loss cheap is better. If only used once every 10 years or a one off job cheap is good enough if they can do the job. If you use it every day for work then get quality that is easy to work with.
I’m a union HVAC technician and have lots of expensive tools, like Milwaukee, Makita, etc. They’re all made in China.
Chinese manufacturers are open-minded ppl, they won't ask you why you want a pen that doesn't write if you ask them to make it for you, the same way if you ask for pen that can write on every possible surface and underwater too :) your money will make the difference.
Not everything made in china is crap; if it's made with quality materials, tight specs and attention to detail it will be fine. The problem is all the manufacturers that are solely interested in profits and cost cutting go to china so a lot of tools from there are crap.
@@ptester1 partially true. That is more true with electronics then tools. The problem is they use very weak metals.
@@ptester1 NO Everything made in China is SHIT!!!!!
You can't assume that a made in USA tool is good quality, even if you do pay more for it. The reverse also holds true for Chinese manufacturers. By and large, I'd say Chinese products are getting much better in the last few years.
At one time Germany and Japan made crap, today many products made in those countries set the standard for quality.
I got some great advice starting out--buy medium quality tools at first. If you use it enough to break it, replace with high quality. It’s worked for me as I’ve tried a larger variety of tools and discovered there are lots I don’t need. Also, I appreciate a high quality tool after I’ve used a cheap one.
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My grandfather was a fitter on steamships in the 1940's. I still have his tools.
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That’s really neat. I found a tool box that belonged to my step brother’s dad. He had been a carpenter back in the day and had passed away years ago in a car accident. It had some of his old hand tools. My brother thought it was pretty special when I gave it to him.
I’ve used knipex pliers professionally for 15 years and must say you most certainly can adjust it one handed. I’ve got to the point that it’s hard to adjust channellocks one handed. I’d say that it beats channellocks in every single aspect. Those of you that use channellocks are bias because that’s what your use too.
Only the cobras can be adjusted one hand.
@@Got2Learn pliers wrench too which replaced my crescent wrench and that’s the one you had in the video so it was assumed to be cobras. Good video. I suppose I’m a fanboy but I miss those sooo much if I don’t have them.
Thanks for making a video for me to show to my wife. I believe in only paying for quality tools, and only getting tools when you actually need them. I hate when people just buy shitloads of tools that never see the light of day.
Thanks for level checking tip, so simple but effective!
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If a person has the money to buy shitloads of tools that never see the light of day, if that makes them happy, more power to them! It is their fucking money, they earned it, who the fuck are we to tell them what they can and can't spend it on?
i buy high end tools some of which never see the light of day because ill leave them at home and use the company crap, its not the worst spending habit i can think of
With the adjustable plyers, go to the Knipex brand. Once you use them, you'll never use another brand again. Leaps and bounds ahead of the game... And made in Germany.
Knipex pliers with the button are the best on market. Change my mind
Fiskars makes great pruning shears, when my stopped cutting I emailed them a picture of the anvil cutter that was too worn and they sent me a new one.
I didn't know they had a warranty until I saw someone talk about it online.
If you're worried about the jaw coming off that wrench because it has a pin in it then pull out the handy dandy blow torch and use some acid core solder to hold it permanently in place. Some cheap tools can be modified to work better, and they are all I need being a jack of all trades at the house. If I were trying to make a living with the tools then most would be German or American.
Great and very helpful video! Spending a bit extra for tools and knowing what features you need will always save headaches down the line. I do have some comments:
1. I worked with a carpenter who needed to get his Ridgid driver repaired at an authorized Ridgid service center (it was an independent shop) under warranty. He brought in his tool, and they basically didn't do anything with it for a few weeks (I forgot if they needed to wait for parts or not, but the carpenter noted they didn't even open the driver to diagnose problems). So the ease of having Ridgid to honor their warranty will depend on what needs to be done.
- If it's a tool replacement, then it's relatively easy, although you might want a cheap backup tool to use until you get the replacement in-hand.
- But if it's a tool service repair, hope that your local authorized service center can turn around the repair job in a reasonable amount of time.
2. Home Depot's HDX brand is mostly garbage.
- Their painter's tape doesn't stick at all - spend the extra money on 3M, even though it's almost double the price.
- The head on their dollar spray bottles often breaks off. Meanwhile, I've bought dollar spray bottles from Walmart's ironing section that have lasted years.
- I needed a crescent wrench for a bath faucet replacement, and Home Depot only had HDX in stock. I checked it out and felt how smooth and short the teeth were. I went online and ordered a more expensive brand that was $10 more. Its teeth were sharply cut and rough enough to actually grip plumbing nuts. It was $10 well spent.
- The only thing I would trust HDX for is tools with non-moving parts. Their squeegees are probably fine for people who only use them for occasional small jobs. Their 5 gallon buckets are fine too.
I have been doing plumbing repairs for 10 years now, and never had a need for a monkey wrench. I think those are for working with big pipes.
i can vouch for all these tools except for the autocutters, their cutting wheels rust badly and i only had em for a year. I upgraded to the milkuakee close quarters tubing cutters which have chrome rollers. Hopefully will last better
how has it held up?
Knipex pliers rules! They may be a bit fidgety but they last a very long time.
i love knipex cobra so much, very expensive though
"Chineseium"
AvE is the greatest!!!
Wow so you are racist? Hmmmm
Knipex Cobras FTW! 💪
Not only a plumbing tools. It is not overstatement your life depends on your tools being used every day. I always get best I could afford which will be passed on to my kids.
I'm a huge fan of Knipex tools. But as a homeowner not a pro. They are painfully expensive but the quality is top notch German. The pliers wrench 86 03 300 made me never want to pick up a crescent wrench ever again. I suggest everyone buy one Knipex tool just to indulge yourself in pure quality, and then you will certainly start buying more!
I have the Knipex slip-joint Cobras as well as the automotive hose clamp Cobra pliers. Pricey, but when I need them they always deliver.
Knipex alligator 88-250 are the best for me
I definitely agree with buying quality tools and do it in practice, but I just want to point out it’s not China’s fault for making crappy tools, it’s economics.
China makes at least two version, an expensive one with a reputable brand on it, and a cheap one with a small time brand on it. Both could very well be owned by the same parent company.
If it weren’t for buyers who want to save a buck, the small time brand would cease to exist. For instance, Stanley Black & Decker makes Dewalt and Black and Decker, and TTI makes Milwaukee and Hart tools. If you really want to get a kick, you should check out who makes Ridgid tools and what nationality is the parent company…
You get what you pay for.
The thing is, there is a lot of tools from brand name are made in China.
I remember at Walmart store, a few years ago, you saw the sign every where ‘Buy American’ but almost everything was made in China!!!
My dad used to say "buy cheap, buy twice."
I've rarely ever had a premium tool fail on me, and even if they did, they always had a good warranty.
Also, I love my knipex cobras, the locking feature is actually helpful when using 2 at once, they won't open accidently while switching grips. Keep em clean and add a little oil from time to time and you can easily adjust them with one hand.
I always feel kinda badass when closing them with a flick of the wrist 😉
Nice comment, thanks Tony, have a great day!
@@Got2Learn you do too!
I like to see your content, as a plumber from germany I like to see the similarities and differences in how we work and i'm always looking for some practical tips and tricks. Keep up the good work 😉
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Knipex sell pliers without the push button and they are great. a lot better than Channel Lock brand
Yes, the Alligators, those are like the best pliers ever.
The good quality tools always going missing on work sites.
I was only just borrowing it mate they will say.
That's the last time I will see that I think to my self.
How much does an honest tradesman spend on tools a year............
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Knipex got a non-locking one the knipex Aligator its very similar to your favourite.
Yeah the Cobras are awesome!!
Look up a Video from knipex how to use the cobra plyers it is easy one Hand use if you do it rite
Yes, those are good!
I always like turbo torch. My 23 year old one still works. Ho ever in tight spaces I gotta wear a ear plug 😕 very loud.
One things I only know that when i brought i got quality tools. It got LIFETIME WARRANTY.
I`m using a cinese wrench .... but hey .... I also have cinese pipes ...
... on time I broke a cinese level and the air bubble escaped ... I contaminated the air in surroundings with cinese air .... sorry ....
When you buy cheap, you buy thrice.
T torch is good, most scheap tools i don't mind rebuying or buying multiple because lets face it, I not going all the way back under that house and mud for a 5/16 socket or ratchet or pvc cutter lol... shit I deserve a raise as it is!
I'm 70 years old and have a Rigid 1/2 to 2" pipe threader that is over 85 years old and was my grandfather's. Replaced tbe cutting dies in them. Still cut great threads on black pipe.
not NIPEX, actualy KNIPEX cause at German K also reading
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12 years is not much. i have a wrench set from the 1960s still working. and i have one wrench from the 1940s still working.
Some people can only afford the lower priced tools. Also, don't forget, shitty products are made in America, too.
If you cant open and close Knipex pliers one handed then you just haven't tried. Hold button and whip down to open them and then hold the button with your index finger on the top to close.
Knipex offers a slip joined design pliers too called alligators you're gonna love those
Those suck., Stick with channel lock.
Have you ever tried knipex?
Wow, it is good to know why we pay for premium price for made in 🇺🇸, hmmm that is why my toolbox has been filled up with snap on tools.
Great video 😎👍 you definitely get what you pay for
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At 00:20.... that's a nail puller, not a pry bar. #1 tip - use the right tool ! Good vid tho - quality costs.
China has very much caught up in manufacturing of not already exceed us. You pay for what you get!
As an electrician, (and this goes for any trade) there is a time to spend money on tools and a time and a time you can cheap out for instance, being an electrician we need great screw drivers and Pliers like Dikes, Linesman and Wire Strippers....But, we don't need the top of the line metal file, beater screw driver or hammer...
True 👍
Knipex Alligators don't have the push button like the Cobras. 👍
Me less than a minute in: Yup, convinced
Isn't it amazing how they can all be made in the same place, the exact same way & yet end up so diffrent?
Always good content.
Isnt RIGID also made in China?
Negative.
Yes, if u buy Ridgid power tools.lol
40 year old level in my head is pretty accurate ...lolol
Keep in mind also that almost all levels' bubbles have left and right-of-center lines that accommodate "builder's tolerances." This is another phrase for "not quite perfect." Always center the bubble exactly between these two lines if you want true precision.
I check a level by placing it on a horizontal surface and comparing the bubble position with it when flipped 180 degrees. They should match if the level is accurate.
FYI I'm a machinist and my job one day was to machine a bunch of channel locks. I had all the different kinds from the big box stores and channel lock brand by far had harder jaws and teeth than the other brands.
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Harder than knipex? No way
The problem is I'm absent minded and lose tools way before they ever break
Ya, but have you ever had a cheap tool absolutely destroy a screw or fitting to the point now even a good tool will had a difficult time turning the item... all to often you start kicking yourself for buying the piece of junk. Now you have to replace the item or have to stop and get the proper tool anyway and waste 2 hours getting it.... no thanks. I use to buy the craftsman Phillips and they would stop out the heads or part of the tool, now I buy German tools more often, the will twist the head off before breaking more often. As far as levels go, you should mention Miller Falls too.
That's a good point. There are certain tools I have that I know we're going to get lost or walk away and there's no reason to spend Top Dollar on those but there are tools that I need to be good and I'm making good. The point is there's not an absolute in anything.
Douglas usa pliers, ridgid cutters and wrenches all day
Rothenberger makes some of the best plumbing tools here in Europe.
You forgot about Russian made tools, which are a very good compromise...
knipex pliers are the only pliers youll ever need
They are very good pliers!
Total B.S. I have dozens of Ridgid tools, they are all made in China, and they have lifetime warranty. Nowadays, even Harbor Freight offers lifetime warranty on their tools, and it is so much easier to get a Harbor Freight tool replaced than any American made tools. ie. Craftsman, Ridgid, Mac-Tools ... etc.
Funny, all my Ridgid plumbing tools are made in the USA.........
My problem with cheap tools I'm more careless with them tending to misuse and break them or more prone to misplacing them. I still have all my American made sockets, allen keys that I purchased 17 years ago. Adding the functionality considerations finding a cost effective solution for your work is key. Premium, name brand tools are expensive to completely kit out and I've seen plenty of electricians and millwrights running around with more budget friendly but effective options Harbour freight impact socket they also tend to have more premium tools than your average DIY guy. There was some tribal knowledge among the craftspeople about cost effective options the older guys knew where to spend money and where they could go with a more budget friendly option.
Yeah, common problem heheee
Have you tried the Princess Auto pipe wrenches? I have a couple of 18" aluminum ones that I use for HVACR (gasfitting plumbing etc.) and they've been really great.
Not yet!
Knipex does make a style without the button
Yes
Look at how a tool is worn if it’s not worn on the paint means it doesn’t last
China has got very rich by the buy cheap buy twice business model....
Not a fan of channel locks... the jaws get out of alignment over a short time
Can you say "number 15 burger king foot lettuce"
cheap tools only for DIY persons. Trade persons need excellent tools for sure. You don't wanna spend 200 dollars for a spanner which only use once a year for car oil changing. Economical considerations are already good.
Nope. I am DIY and I don't like working with cheap shit inferior tools that do more damage than they do good. I buy quality tools out of the money I save doing the job myself. And I am way ahead of the game at this point. It is nice to have tools that actually fit the fasteners you are trying to take off and don't strip them to shit.
Price sometimes nothing to do with how good tools are bought dear broke it bought cheap still got them 30yrs later. Never buy on name alone look at what your buying
But do u use them every day
@@lukie4ever aleast couple times a week
once i worked for an company that gave me new tools if they got slightly damaged. All tools were of high quality and the tools that were broken i could use at home. right now i have 3 bags full of tools
Baa Baa Plumber, have you any tools?
I`ve dealt with Snap on "lifetime warranty" - thank you - simple rip off
Yes, get snap on instead of rigid. It is better brand
I def agree when it comes to Adj pliers, you need to find the ones that work for your trade and daily work needs. CL work great for plumbers bc of the one-handed adjustment feature, for electricians...We are often tightening the same size connector or coupling all day so having the locking pliers from Knipex are excellent as they don't move from their adjustment in your tool pouch or pocket!
Seems like husky tools have gotten better over the years, or at least the ones I've been using.
Yes, much better.
Yes, they become mid tier tools choose. Just don't get white label Chinese tools from dollar store. 😂
Yup, I got a lot of Husky because they are inexpensive but not crap and you can change them out at Home Depot if they ever fail.
So glad you mentioned you would, and did, suggest brands. Because it seems a lot of “cheaper” brands caught on that people were willing to spend a little more (As you suggested they do. Like myself for years) for better tools. Only to have those brands put higher prices on their cheap tools. You ended up paying more but got the same poor quality anyway…
So thank you! You do great honest videos and reviews. Wish more people would learn about your channel/site. One of the few to offer both desired qualities.
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If I ever meet a plumber who does professional level work I’ll give him a link to this video. There has to be _one_ somewhere.
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A good plumber who has pride in his craft has become the unicorn of the building trades.
If he was good hed already know this stuff
Good tools make you money,
cheap tools just cost you money.
Great video.
Thanks
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Hi, What do you know about SHICK pipe wrench? I inherited one but cant find any information on it.
Never heard of that brand 🤷♂️
All products in Singapore are made in China. The labels are there saying it is original.
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Two things that I learn about tools, spend the extra buck on quality brands and invest in warranties, they come around when you least expect it
Well said!!!
Or go to watch "project farm" UA-cam channel get to know tools comparison
I already knew about buying cheap pipe wrenches. Cheap ones will always suck.
YUP!
Good tools get stolen - cheap ones don't.
Seems like there’s a need for Project farm video.
Pipe cutter? I really like my lennox.
I wasn't sure, but the "magnets" part convinced me - Rich Piana is alive and working as a plumber.
A craftsman is only as good as his tools!!
I used my harbor frieght $7 pipe wrench just once in past two years. It worked great for replacing the water main valve. Do you seriously think it's necessary for me to buy a $100 pipe wrench? Cheap chinese tools deliver 90% of value for 10% of price - that is until dollar becomes toilet paper. LOL
No it doesn't, if you are only going to use it twice a year 👍
@@Got2Learn Cheap tools are great. Until they fail on you and you use a quality tool to get the job done. There is no going back to cheap tools after that.