holy shit a tier list for tools from someone that actually knows what they are talking about. Priceless content

So... my theory on tool buying... I started out 30 years ago as a Craftsman guy and I still have some USA stuff that works to this day. Today... I buy and suggest this to others... Knipex pliers, gearwrench ratchets and ratchet wrenches, vessel screwdrivers, astro pneumatic impacts, and Icon for everything else. If/when I break something I then decide whether to warranty it or go out and buy Snap-On. The one thing about Icon --- I race cars and just there is comfort in knowing that I can get to a Harbor Freight near enough to just about any race track in the US on a Saturday or Sunday to warranty an Icon tool if need be. That said... Not having Snap-on in the A tier -- even with the value is a bit nutty to me.

My argument to put Snap on in an A tier level would be considering the resale value. Most of my Snap on purchases have been on the secondary market, such as eBay, marketplace, pawnshops and estate sales. Once a snap on tool is re-sold it’s typically about 50% of its retail value but at that point it’s pretty much stuck there. It will never drop below that. My .02

@NotMe-rt4hk

3 ай бұрын

Exactly. Only a crackhead would buy used Icon tools. Ain't no way Icon's Taiwan crap is more valuable than Snap On.

You had a logo for Wright Tool on the lhs but you didn’t mention it. They make imo terrific tools, they are a good value, and the warranty is top-notch. Finding a local dealer might be the only issue (depends on where you are.)

@doctordiesel5467

3 ай бұрын

Good couldnt agree more

Where's Lisle??? A tier for sure

@theperry4134

3 ай бұрын

real

Been wrenching for over 40 years, have bought and used most brands. I agree with most of your S tier, but Snap-on, on quality alone, should be a least A tier. There is no way Snap-on and Capri belong on the same tier. I don't know about anyone else, but for my go to combination and ratchet wrenches, I certainly don't reach for Capri. Maybe for weekend warriors, but not pros.

@russellpottenger8584

3 ай бұрын

X-2

@Ethan-ky2qz

3 ай бұрын

i never understood the "Not pro tools" weekend warrior toosl, I've used I use a harbor freight icon more often then not I've got Sk and snap on and I use them all in a "professional setting" non of which have broke aside from one brutal test I did knowing damn good and well I was using the tool wrong outside of normal circumstances, and shocker. it broke.

@SMOKEY-JAYS-DIESEL

3 ай бұрын

Lmfao 🤣🤣 I can make the same amount of money per hour using a snap-on ratchet or a hyper tough from Walmart. So what's your point?

@sethallison5682

3 ай бұрын

I agree, I don’t buy a lot of snap on stuff because it’s overpriced- but it IS often the best stuff around. Some tools like flare nut wrenches they’re the only ones you should buy, leagues above the other brands.

@russellpottenger8584

3 ай бұрын

We clearly need to separate quality of tool and service from the price of the tool. Next time, if and when I was sitting in my dentist chair, going through root canal, I’d expect he was utilizing Snap on quality equipment versus harbor freight. A good automotive technician is paid a good salary. He should be willing to invest in his livelihood. My .02

Stanley makes craftsman

Mac prices have come up a lot lately and more and more of their stuff is not made in the US anymore. While Snap-on is expensive the vast majority of their stuff is made in the US, and for me that puts them in a tier above Mac.

@stanhowe6410

3 ай бұрын

Yes, Mac tools today is not what they were yrs ago. Snap on was & still is the best tools available. All the rest are just pretenders to the throne.

Matco sockets that were once USA made are no longer stamped USA. Kinda sucks when you go to warranty one and get Taiwan made

@potatoboy792

3 ай бұрын

Yeah every time I gone on the truck I'll look and almost nothing USA anymore, not even pliers or screwdrivers. Think the only USA stuff left for matco is their ratchets and mayhew rebrands.

@doctordiesel5467

3 ай бұрын

Matco usa line of sockets are not finished with all usa materials usa not stamped on it their made by national machine in ohio

@hancockautomotive1522

3 ай бұрын

@@doctordiesel5467 so they are still USA made? Just finished with something else? My Matco guy said they were Taiwan made but finished in USA. Too much controversy for me lol. I’ll just buy the ones I know are made in USA

I would love to see more brands. Or a breakdown of warranty-only, quality-only, value-only. I will watch literally every tier list video you make. I think the ratings you gave were fair and balanced for overall brand rating.

I think Proto is underrated. Not sure about warranty, but in the 5+ years I spent using their wrenches cranking on hydraulics, ag & construction equipment, never had an issue

I'm just a diy'er not a pro but I have bought sunex impact sockets in the past. I bought another set of sunex impacts just this week but the newest ones are made in china not Taiwan. So my question is does sunex have two different lines or are they now being made in china?

Some auto parts stores sell Grey Pnuematic too and warranties them.Gearwrench,their warranty is terrible now.We had this with an 8mm deep socket in 1/4 drive,wanted to see a proof of purchase to warranty it.

Not related to this video. But as someone who’s entering into a dealership setting for the first time, would you recommend having a laptop computer on hand while working? Alongside a scan tool? The shop I worked for previously had a centralized computer station for us to use when necessary but my new shop does not. Thanks for any feedback

Say what you want about Snapon but my snapon guy is there every week same day same time and that means a lot to me

@Wolfcone

3 ай бұрын

Same, and he actually works with me and always finds me the "cheapest" option. He's honest and dependable, I'll pay a bit more for that any day.

@stanhowe6410

3 ай бұрын

@@Wolfcone yes ours is great aswell! Plus your getting the best tool available.

@chrisevenson9454

3 ай бұрын

Yes but if you loose your snap on dealer good luck trying to get tools warranted. I've had a snap on dealer refuse to warranty tools because I didn't buy from him.

@mrmurdx8956

3 ай бұрын

The reason he's there every day or week is because he's after your money and when you need him he's too busy to come bye.

@epaequalsgay5777

3 ай бұрын

@@mrmurdx8956not true, I was working on a truck on a Saturday, broke a socket and the snap on dude drove to my house and warrantied my socket even stayed and helped out for an hour

Tekton for the win

I wrench every day with Snap-On and Icon. Icon wrenches and sockets feel and work 95% as good as SO at a small fraction of the price. Koken however from the limited tools I have... They're S all day long!

@precesionnoreaster1507

3 ай бұрын

You should find out who makes the icon ones cause the icon line is just too expensive for rebrands so I find the og ones

@mechanknuckle

3 ай бұрын

@@precesionnoreaster1507I believe the NAPA Carlyle wrenches are the same as ICON. The ICONS are a slimmer design then all the others other than SO. Mayb GearWrench is close, but more pricey.

I use cappi impact socket love them no skips and have held up great

Do you have a suggestion on a general car tool set for under 100$? I recently bought an older car to fix up and I keep having to go to the store to get a new tool lol. I was looking at a craftsman one but idk now

I'm curious about your opinions on brands like Blue Point/Expert

Interesting rankings. I like it for the most part. Sunex in S tier is strange because S tier should be the absolute best and you even said their quality is not S tier. I get that value is important but man, that seems awfully generous. Seems like they should be A tier MAX based on what you said. I would have liked to see more tool brands included. Brands that many people will recognize like Husky, Kobalt, Duralast, Carlyle, etc. But also some more of the Harbor Freight brands like Quinn, Pittsburgh. I think that might have been interesting for us Home DIYers and people just getting started and have a tight budget.

What about Wright tools? They are very good tools, not overly expensive and have a to notch warranty.

Thanks for the video! Would you consider doing a tier list again but strictly on tool quality and not taking value or warranty into consideration? Thank you!

I would have to say I would put snap on in A tier and Icon in B or C

Without going into detail, I couldn’t agree with you less. You get what you pay for.

thank you mike

love snap -on tools

could you do more gp tools sockets

Bro gearwrench warranty is hot dog water

Putting Sanp On below the level Harbor Freight (Icon) might indicate you're incorrectly using that crack pipe. While I've since reduced the hours working on vehicles. One of the things I put a premium on was the tool making it to the finish. Great warranties are nice but if you need to have multiple of the same tool just to complete a job it's a big minus. Taking time to warranty, slowing your work, damaging that hard to get fastener, or worse making a blood donation because a tool failed is a major distraction. When I start leaning on a tool I'm counting on it to complete the job and doing it safely. While I agree Snap On is stupid expensive there are also other levels of stupidity to include, as you bandage your wound. That doesn't mean your entire tool kit should be Snap On it should be a well thought out mix. A magnetic tray is a magnetic tray no matter who's name is on it. I would also say the same with DVOM's. If your 40 dollar meter works as well as the 1000 dollar one that's money well spent. And we've all seen your opinion on scanners where you get no argument from me on that topic either. But your video's do get a great frank discussion going, keep up the great work.

@doctordiesel5467

3 ай бұрын

I agree on the matter icon is very debatable on ease of warranty and so is gearwrench

GP impact sockets are good. But after a year in the service truck you can’t read their laser size etching. As for ratchets I switched from snap on dual 80s to macs. They just break way less. The non locking flex 1/2”dr broke on me once. But I had an 1 1/2” socket on it and pushed on the end with a skid steer. Broke the gear but flex joint and handle took it no problem.

Husky and wright weren’t mentioned

Love cornwell rachets ! ❤

I would go higher on the proto. All the stuff I have is made in the usa and I have had experience with their warranty and process. Made a few videos on it

Right on. This is about where I would have placed them. Apparently I've been sleeping on VIM Tools. I'm going to check them out.

I would change only 2 things Icon B and Tekton A almost S there price for Quality and Warranty is so well balanced and the fact they are moving more of there tool manufacturing to Canada and the USA this year thanks to Get tools Canada and Can-Am tools USA I own lots of there tools and a couple of there Boxes and damn I am impressed I have not been impressed by any new company nor Snap on or mac in years

@ericksosa1010

3 ай бұрын

I would agree as well I like this format now can you do auto parts brand for example autozone orrileys and Napa and you forgot leisle Corp

@SaerTurner-wn2qh

3 ай бұрын

Who's you fave part shop brand I love jet and Ingersoll hand tools ITC is okay but not recommended you all likely have more house brands than we do up here.... it's a shame you don't get Grey tools and Grey dynamic down there..Grey tools ar, snapon quality and price is same as snapon but there dynamic line is pricy but good for the dollar

What wrong with Milwaukee impact sockets I have them and love them

You must not been on a Mac truck lately. Their prices are almost snap on and they are hot garbage water

@Jakxx-mp3bj

3 ай бұрын

Yep, the only tool truck we have is Mac and i want to support him to keep him coming around but he won't budge on their insane prices and I just can't bring myself to keep doing it. $70 for a test light and $75 for a set of wire crimpers is just nuts. I did get a $40 40 oz. Antivibe hammer that wasn't too bad.

@foodskewed9197

3 ай бұрын

@@Jakxx-mp3bj yes. They wanted $125 for a single indexing prybar!!!! I can get the whole set for $75

@doctordiesel5467

3 ай бұрын

​@foodskewed9197 what's it a usa indexing prybar as they have them and their way better than the import ones but their not cheap their made by aj manufacturering

Japanese brands? Yes, I would like your opinion of Koken; thanks. Although I only have there wheel nut socket set, I believe they are amazing.

The right tool for the job! Curious to know more about what Vim does to poorly treat YTube creators?

Why didn't you rate Lisle? They are leaders in specialty tools for many of the other tool companies!!

@Jakxx-mp3bj

3 ай бұрын

Lisle and Lang... probably the two brands rebranded the most and given the insane tool truck price hike for changing the color of the box and logo.

Long awaited!!!!😎👍

Hey I haven't seen that box in a while!

Wright tools got left out :( I love my wrench set and am sure they have amazing sockets I wish to own one day

@TheMustangs05

3 ай бұрын

They gotta be either A or high b for value

@AK-vu7vk

3 ай бұрын

I love my wright wrenches and sockets, but they are a pain to warranty. But I think their wrenches and sockets are a solid contender for the best quality you can buy.

As a journeyman electrician knipex is the best steel I have ever burn a hole trough 😅

He forgot about husky

I prob would put Tekton up with Icon

Flip a with b, then list is accurate. I can't say icon or gw is better than snap on or mac

I have to agree with your S-Tier for sure!

I'm not sure if you know this or not, but sunex impact sockets are now being made in china. I bought a socket set from them a few weeks ago, and they are now being manufactured in China. The laser etched markings are much much bigger now, the stamped markings are now much much bigger, and the drive end is now chamfered too, which are improvements, but again, they are now being manufactured in China. When I received the set, i thought maybe it was a knock-off, and I immediately reached out to their customer service. They promptly replied, saying that the majority of their impact sockets manufacturing had been moved to China. So, not only are they being manufactured in China now, but im assuming that when you break a socket, your warrantied socket will also be Chinese made. I started a forum about it on garage journal and added photos of the new set, the sockets, and the email correspondence between sunex and myself. Its honestly crazy that they switched after all these years, but hey, look at SK.

You didn't add Wright to the list

I would have switched the a and b

Craftsman is really disappointing. I love my knipex. Some things are Snap on or nothing. But my main wrenches, sockets, & Rachets are Matco. I’ve had the same dealer for like 30 years. I have 1 set of Gear wrench short Rachet wrenches. They work but the chrome is flaking off. & it drives me nuts. I bought some Vim on FRM recommendations no complaints. If you listen to FRM. About tools you won’t go wrong BTW My Matco box is way better than my Snap on. Heck my China made Matco Cart is old over 20 years . Still works great. & I use to take it home every weekend & some nights

I’m interested in tool quality only. Not warranty & service. Warranties are promises for something that might happen in the future. Difficult to calculate. And it’s expensive! Driving up cost to me so some other guy can abuse his tools. Icon’s warranty is already falling apart. Where everything sold as a set is replaced as a set. So if you loose the 10mm you loose warranty on the whole set. And in every stress test I’ve ever seen Icon suffers more damage. 3rd rate tools with a high polish. Some companies are just brands. With variable quality standards. Tekton Icon, Gearwrench etc. who makes the best tools? With consistent quality over time. SnapOn, Mac, Koken, Knipex, Mayhew, Wiha, Vessel, Cornwell, Matco and others make superior tools. Sunex, Capri, Tekton etc. are great brands. But they don’t have proprietary manufacturing processes unavailable other places.

Sunex in s tier is a good call

You left out wright tools

I have no problems with sunex

Snap on makes and rebrands the best tools, no doubt about it. If only they’d stop putting that damn diamond encrusted logo on em. They could rule the world!

I think that you should have had 2 charts quality and value. That being said. I don't have any Snap-On but the price of Snap-On should not have drug them down 2 ranks. Additionally whenever I have seen tool shoot-out videos Craftsman almost always ranks at the top of the list. They are still high-quality tools for a good price. Another tool brand that ranks at the top of the shoot-outs is Gear Wrench which I would rank as a S tier tool brand because of its value and quality. Tekton tools look nice and I have some but I don't think the durability is there with them and in no way would they outlast some of the tools below them.

10+ years ago craftsman would have ranked way higher. I'm upset they screwed up a good brand

Icon over Snap On...LOL

@fyler1

3 ай бұрын

Guess you missed that he's not judging them based on quality alone... He's also considering value. A DIYer is generally going to consider value more than anything, myself included.

@chrisevenson9454

3 ай бұрын

Snap on is not 4 times the quality because it's 4 times the price.

@aaadamt964

3 ай бұрын

Im less than impressed with ixon tools. The better Pittsburg ratchets are amiother than icon. I bought an icon ratchet just to see what the icon hype was. The first one didnt work out of the box. The second one seized just passing it around the guys checking it out. I think i replaced it 3 times before getting one that worked. Id probably give rhem a chance if they were 10-20% more than Pittsburgh but theyre just as if not more expensive than known good brands like gearwrench, knipex, lisle, etc. No thanks.

@fyler1

3 ай бұрын

@@aaadamt964 what

@aaadamt964

3 ай бұрын

@@fyler1 holy hell my phone butchered that whole response but I think it's still pretty obvious what point I was trying to make. Icon is priced as high or higher than known good brands. Gearwrench ratchets are about the same price or cheaper but are a much better tool . I actually prefer my gearwrench ratchets over any of the truck brands I own. Cornwell is the only truck brand I don't own. If the icon stuff was priced 20% higher than Pittsburgh, I'd be willing to give it a shot. There's just too many known quality tools out there for the same price or less than icon. I tried to fix any grammar my phone dicked up in this comment so it's a little clearer but my vision sucks. If you can't understand my point now I don't know what to tell you .

Matco probably has a worse dealer network than Cornwell. There is probably one matco dealer within 500 miles of me. I also think matco offers an awful value. Their tools are probably the most overpriced when you look at how much they upcharge their rebrands it's sickening.

@junkyardgenius

3 ай бұрын

To be honest with you man it seems like it's getting hard to find anyone but a snap-on dealer these days Matt Cornwell and Matt Cole are all getting pretty hard to find

Lol can’t wait for the triggered snap on fan boys to comment (because icon was above them )about how snap on is worth it …buy once cry once blah blah blah anything to justify spending 550-600.00 for a SINGLE set of 1/2 drive impact lol or anything over priced by them

@beilno2890

3 ай бұрын

I love my snap on tools, as he said they are S tier quality, but they ARE way over priced. I would have put them in A for the one reason of ease of warranty, having a truck just come to me to replace and even for purchase is handy. I don't have a harbor freight where I live so I have never used icon tools, but I have a bunch of cheaper tools that have their place.

@user-rr4hr7bz7n

3 ай бұрын

@@beilno2890 I would probably have more American made stuff if it wasn’t so damned expensive. I UNDERSTAND that the metal is better and it’s paying American wages and benefits and all of that so I understand why but that same time 650 ish for a single wrench set (I’d want a bigger one because where I work) and needing both SAE and metric that’s expensive as hell. Not to mention ONE 1/2 impact socket set is 550… dude just no lol Do I have snap on stuff?? Yes but it’s not like most of the die hard guys who have 80% or more because again truck account or not that’s just out right expensive People say Milwaukee hand tools are junk and people are allowed to have opinions but because of snap on being stupidly priced I was forced to try other “mid level brands out” and I gave Milwaukee wrenches a try and for two years I’ve used them daily and they haven’t let me down once and the only thing I hear is “oh the open end destroys fasteners” Haven’t had that happen and I have brass fitting for a lot of my air lines

@beilno2890

3 ай бұрын

@@user-rr4hr7bz7n Yea I want to say about 50-60% of my stuff is snap on. I built it up over time, a lot of student discounts, found a few near new tools at swap meets and putting things on just the no interest truck account. I had some cheaper wrenches that worked well for a long time, but once I noticed the open end starting to spread on harder fasteners I decided to upgrade to snap on.

@Jakxx-mp3bj

3 ай бұрын

@@beilno2890 That ease of warranty is only as good as your dealer is and much of the country have crappy dealers or lost dealers and no one replaced them. Those tools are sold based on the warranty justifying the price and it is unacceptable to sell them to people and have the warranty system break down. You have to judge their warranty program as a whole for the company and not just your area.

@beilno2890

3 ай бұрын

@@Jakxx-mp3bj That's a reasonable point, I have had a number of different dealers over the years as I moved around and they all have been great, but I can totally see others having bad dealers that makes the situation suck for them.

10/10

Your rating full line tool companies low against companies that only manufacture pliers or companies that manufacture "knockoff tools" seems flawed.

I would not place ICON above Capri or Tekton

You forgot to rank Wright

Diehard at advanced is comparable to icon and capri. Lisle is solid. I also feel tekton has a better QC then GW. Snap on ratchets are about the only thing I like they will slap their name on anything to make money and the fanboys chew it up.

Craftsman made by stanley now the items in lowes sears tools from their own suppliers craftmans v series facom tools from stanley

Icon as A tier is crazy lol

Well to be fully honest i really disagree on your cornwell judgement especially vs the mac tool placement mac makes nothing their usa tools are made in dallas proto plant and their tools are descent but availability has been an issue for them and their dwindling usa product line particularly their usa tools basically same as proto and cornwell usa tools atleast made by cornwell themselves and have dedicated to much more usa made tools from in house and from usa manufacturing and i find their american made tools to be very good in quality id definitely rate them better particularly how their growing and putting more dealers on the road where mac has gone stalling

Snap on anywhere but s tier.....lol

Boen mac Cornwell gear wrench sk proto tekton and even Pittsburgh professional tools, especially sockets are good 👍 Crap-On is over rated and over priced

I like your videos flat rate but most of the ease of warranty you proclaim for the tools barands mentioned is been inaccurate for me gearwrench hit or miss with warranty sunex never did much except tell me contact a dealer for service sunex going china for sockets now so their done anyways vim wanted me to mail them a 6 dollar socket from ny to California for warranty and yes their bits are descent but not godlike as you proclaim as their quality is their spark plug sockets boots cant stay in socket and pull out ratchets have slipped so their ehhhh overall texton been good with warranty but still breaks but warranty i agree their great and making usa tools their angle wrenches are great usa made capri suckzzzzz emphasize on that with warranty make products discontinue them offer no warranty on not even with a new close replacement warranty what is that gp warranty is terrible why matco stopped selling them and got the P.T.P. company to supply adv to replace their products for them wright tools usa made great quality warranty easily done with them alot like texton proto is spotty with warranty cornwell when i had no dealer mailed tools to them no issue with replacement some stuff they just mailed me out icon is terrible at horrible freight go their dont have the item in stock will not order you the product wait for it to come back in stock or if they dont carry the item you need to find another store who has it want receipt if not under phone number no individual items need to pull from set or when you go to store want to exchange whole set for warranty when you have with you the 1 tool that broke a joke

All personal preference I see no realistic notion here as gearwrench has gone downhill and icon over snap on is clickbait as snap on is the only manufacturer across the board that makes the biggest wide variety around and yes no mention of HAZET or stahlwille or koken and Cornwell is actually better than matco atleast they make there own tools

Icon should be in b tier with tekton and capri. Icon stuff is overpriced for what it is. A lot of there "good" tools can be bought made under another label from someone else for cheaper. Since SK is now owned by great star, their Chinese made tools are very meh, and over priced I think that should ding them and get them downgraded. Astro, sunex, and VIM should all be downgraded to A tier. Sunex makes some really mediocre stuff outside of their impact sockets. Astro also makes some products that are very mediocre. Vim is just overpriced for what it is. Koken should be added to the list and put in S tier. Right up there with Knipex for quality and value.

snap-on quality has fallen and prices have risen. Tekton, Capri, Even Gearwrench are just as good.

YMMV

GP won't warranty over the internet, so I hope you have a distributor (like Mac). Lowes fails to carry most of craftsman stuff in store (which was a huge benefit), but their online warranty isn't bad. Tekton's warranty process is amazing, they'll respond minutes after my email and I'll have the new socket 2 days later. SK pisses me off because they changed their warranty process and now they charge you like $8 to warranty a socket. VIM also makes you pay for warranty and that's outrageous. Nah brah. Hope you have a distributor.

Bro, come on, you can’t really classify Snap On under Icon just because of cost, those ratchets are not even close. ICON socket are too soft. Thats crazy. I am no Snap on fan boy. Trust me… but they are way better, made in USA. Great warranty. Yea , stupid expensive, but they are what every tool company tries to be.

@SMOKEY-JAYS-DIESEL

3 ай бұрын

Actually there warranty is not easier. You could go to your local harbor freight and replace any lifetime product within 20 minutes. Snap on sometimes sends their junk off to get it fixed and you have to wait a week or longer

ICON is rated way to high. There wrenched and sockets are crap. Chrome chips off they break easy and so on. GW better than icon. ICON is low end product made to look good. ICON I would put c tier. Capri-Texton -GW- All better than icon Quinn sockets are better than ICON.

Live in Connecticut..never seen a Cornwell dealer anywhere in any of the New England states.

@gertjanh4118

3 ай бұрын

We have one around Boston

@jeremysantos4753

3 ай бұрын

Yea I've seen a cornwell dealer both in the Quincy and Dartmouth, MA areas

@doctordiesel5467

3 ай бұрын

Your not looking hard enough their are plenty around those areas a great dealer around Hartford area a bunch around Boston Worcester area lee pittsfield