We never talk tools, what do you guys like?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

We don't recognize how nice we have it

My dad has two Wiha screwdrivers (red/black ones, with ergo grip and flip-out bit tray) they are the most brilliant things he has in his tool chest.

Do you know about KC Tools in the USA ? They sell a lot of nice German tool brands.

https://www.youtube.com/user/KCToolCompany



This is my new, favorite Wiha screw driver... I also subscribe to this YT channel... "German Tool Reviews" Most of my Wiha tools are side cutters and needle nose pliers. Although, I do have quite a few of their screw drivers too.

GTR... does these KC Tool Haul videos... He's made me aware of some cool tools and Amazon.de (for me) always has some great prices with next day delivery for me, in Germany.

I'm a little spoiled, living here in Germany where I can pop over to my local hardware store(Bauhaus, Hornbach or Obi) and pick up some great German made tools. What I can't find in stores, I often just order thru Amazon.de (you can even toggle their website for the English language!) or Ebay.de

[Matticus91]

Dackelone you're like that super-knowledgeable uncle we all go to for advice on life, except in this case you're our all-knowing BMW guru LOL

[desertman123]

Y'all got some money in here.

I use whatever Harbor Freight and Amazon have on sale. Really only the breaker bars have broken. 3/8" Drive Horror Freight impact works fine (not terribly strong though)

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by desertman123

Y'all got some money in here.

I use whatever Harbor Freight and Amazon have on sale. Really only the breaker bars have broken. 3/8" Drive Horror Freight impact works fine (not terribly strong though)

Horror freight, I lol'd

Also, it's great being in a good job married/dual income with no kids or major responsibilities* LOL

(*except Apollo)

[Ewcmr2]

Craftsman = sockets, ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers.
Dewalt = chopsaw, cordless- impact, drill, recip saw, jigsaw.
Lincoln = Stick, Tig, Mig
Milwaukee = Hole Hawg, Sawsall, selfeed bit, blades.
Channellock = pliers
Coats = tire equipment
HF = deep impact sockets, 4” grinders x 5 - never change wheels/discs, separate $10-20 tool for grinder, cutoff, flapwheel, wire wheel, concrete.

[rowsdower]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Horror freight, I lol'd

Also, it's great being in a good job married/dual income with no kids or major responsibilities* LOL

(*except Apollo)

Also Harbor Fright!

I second your dual income no kids comment. Being in college sucks, but once you’re in a good job and don’t have to worry as much about bills, it’s worth the hard work.

Tools - I have a few Ryobi things and love them. I don’t use my tools in a professional setting so having “the best” isn’t as important to me. The Ryobi stuff gets the job done for a decent price and it is convenient how many tools they sell that use the same batteries.

Non-power tools, I have all sorts of stuff. Mostly inherited higher quality Snap-On and Mac stuff. For things I buy, I tend to go with middle of the road quality off Amazon or HD/Lowes. I do buy certain things at Harbor Fright but generally it’s tools I’m expecting to use one time, as they break often and even when they don’t, they are usually not great to use.

[JimVonBaden]

Most of my hand tools are a mix of Craftsman and Harbor Freight. Even my tool boxes. My battery tools are all Ryobi.

[UnsatisfactoryResult]

Sockets/ratchets/torque wrenches: proto, Blackhawk, Craftsman, Armstrong
Wrenches/ratcheting wrenches: proto, Armstrong, sk
Pliers: nws
Screwdrivers: vessel
Bits and bit drivers: zephyr, a few with
Air tools: Chicago pneumatic
Tool boxes: harbor freight
Power tools: metabo, Milwaukee, Hitachi, DeWalt, Ryobi

I really like German and Japanese hand tools. Some of the Japanese brands create artwork, unfortunately with matching prices.

[Dackelone]

UnsatisfactoryResult JimVonBaden rowsdower Ewcmr2 Matticus91 desertman123 chris_flies Converted1 Mr Gasser bagekko Gangplank captain slowly MightyMouseTech 02Pilot blue135 tock172 Esteban JimD TridenTBoy


Since it's obvious we are all tool fanatics as well as BMW fanatics... I thought I'd share some pics of what kinds of tools my local hardware stores carry. All prices are in Euros($1 buys about 0.86 euros cents, so multiple these prices by 1.15 to get the USdollar price).

I went shopping for a heater for my garage, when I am working in it. I took some pics from my cell phone for your enjoyment!

enjoy,
"uncle" Dack...




Bauhaus in Nurnberg...
































Screw-It! One of my favorite tools to get you out of those trouble spots! It's made by "Matador"








Hex-Plus L-keys or Allen keys. The Hex-Plus from Wera gives you more torque to the hex fastener. These keys tend not to strip out your fastener like traditional hex or allen keys.


Hazet tools...


3er alloy lug nut bolt sockets 38 euros, flat box of screw drivers were 28 euros(I think?)... but generally Hazet tools are the cheapest in Amazon.de


air pressure gauge, 27 euros...


Euro "big" tool boxes... what I would give for a nice big American style tool box from Harbor Freight and the like.
















LED lighting...






Hazet 1/2" alloy lug bolt sockets...








[/B]i

Globus in Forchheim near Nurnberg...










Hornbach in Furth... one of my favorite hardware stores. It's kind of like a German HomeDepot.


Wiha electrical insulated hand tools...


Wiha needle nose and cutters...














WGB rachets, sockets and hand tools. I own a few of these...




These are the strangest looking open/closed box wrenches I have seen. Anyone seen these before?


Very German... open pipe box wrench. You insert a solid pipe bar to torque down the fastener. These pipe tools always remind of the old VW Beetle tool kits.


















Car battery trickle charger...

[chris_flies]

Dackelone

Holy moly! That is amazing, and so stereotypically German; everything organized, in its place, all in good shape. Mad props for uploading all of those pictures...I would never have the patience or commitment to do that lol

[captain slowly]

Dackelone, nice pics! Prices seem almost Snap On expensive, and based on the pics don't look to be all that great. At least you have much more variety that is readily available.

[02Pilot]

Dackelone, the only thing tempering my burning hatred for you (in the nicest possible way, mind you) it that the magic of the interweb has made it possible for me to easily purchase at least some of those lovely things. I could post pictures of Harbor Freight, but it wouldn't be the same.

I have the Wera hex and torx keys, which are indeed very nice. I've got a few of those pipe/box wrenches too - from old BMW tool kits (2002 and E28).

[MightyMouseTech]

Very cool!

Thanks Dack for sharing.

Wish we had options like that.

People must have been looking at you funny taking all this pics.

[JimVonBaden]

Those prices are not out of line at all for the quality tools. I am particularly fond of Wera tools. I use them as my carry kit on my motorcycle.

[captain slowly]

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

Those prices are not out of line at all for the quality tools. I am particularly fond of Wera tools. I use them as my carry kit on my motorcycle.

Let me clarify. The tools posted look to be about a step above craftsman, which is good, but seem to be nowhere near SnapOn/Mac or even SK, while costing nearly as much. Its not a knock, I do understand that everything costs more in Europe, and at least they have a much wider variety to choose from than me chasing the SnapOn truck every time I need something.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Since it's obvious we are all tool fanatics as well as BMW fanatics... I thought I'd share some pics of what kinds of tools my local hardware stores carry. All prices are in Euros($1 buys about 0.86 euros cents, so multiple these prices by 1.15 to get the USdollar price).

I went shopping for a heater for my garage, when I am working in it. I took some pics from my cell phone for your enjoyment!

enjoy,
"uncle" Dack...

That a place where I'd go in for a screwdriver and ring up 200E at the register.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by captain slowly

Let me clarify. The tools posted look to be about a step above craftsman, which is good, but seem to be nowhere near SnapOn/Mac or even SK, while costing nearly as much. Its not a knock, I do understand that everything costs more in Europe, and at least they have a much wider variety to choose from than me chasing the SnapOn truck every time I need something.

Yes, I would agree with that statement.


In Germany its hard to find good tools. Everything is very expensive or really cheaply made.

Also... it's against the law to have "sales" here... only twice a year can the German stores offer a sale... first week in January and the first week in July - for about ten days(I think?). This law goes back to Adolf's days in power. It was the same laws that forbid German stores to stay open late. It used to be that stores would close by 12 noon on Saturdays, CLOSED on Sundays. And during the week... they could only be open until 6pm. On Fridays they could stay open one hour later. This all changed about eleven years ago! Now stores are open until 8pm on Thursdays and Fridays and Saturdays. Some stores like grocery stores stay open Monday thru Saturday 8am until 8pm(in Bayern). It is a weird system.

Mac/SK, OTC are about the same quality as Wera, Wiesent and Matador.
Wera does make some cool tools - that no one else seems to make/offer. Especially their bit & 1/4" drive sets.

Snap-On is still the number one tool for me. I own some. But most of my stuff is made by Hazet. Almost the same in quality. But I think SnapOn is better. But Snap-On tools are so much $$$. I remember twenty years ago I bought a 1/4 drive ratchet with 5mm thru 14mm sockets and two extensions for $150. I think today that set would run me $240.

I guess its all what brand we are "into" and "like". For me it's Hazet - mainly bc it's so available over here and not that costly like SnapOn.

Originally Posted by 02Pilot

Dackelone, the only thing tempering my burning hatred for you (in the nicest possible way, mind you) it that the magic of the interweb has made it possible for me to easily purchase at least some of those lovely things. I could post pictures of Harbor Freight, but it wouldn't be the same.

I have the Wera hex and torx keys, which are indeed very nice. I've got a few of those pipe/box wrenches too - from old BMW tool kits (2002 and E28).

Thanks buddy. I love ya too!

The Harbor Freight comment made me chuckle.

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Very cool!

Thanks Dack for sharing.

Wish we had options like that.

People must have been looking at you funny taking all this pics.

Yes, they were some people giving me that German stare-down that they do all too well.


Well... there are a few places in the states that you can buy German tools from. KC tools or even importing them yourself thru Amazon.de

When I worked for a VW dealer in the states... we use to get all out specialty shop tools from Zelenda. Check them out here....

www.zelenda.com

Zelenda is also one of the largest importer of metric fasteners in the US. If you need an odd ball bolt or fastener... give them a call.

They had some amazing deals on those old school DIN open ended wrenches. I bought really BIG wrenches like, 36mm, 46mm, 52mm, etc.... paid like $6 per wrench. I think Heyco or Gedore made them.

http://www.zelenda.com/Heyco/H894.html



Ok guys.... keep your tool porn coming!

Dackel

[tock172]

I keep a set of two Heyco (Wiha) wrenches in the trunk of my 135i for removal and installation of my two hook license plate mount. They weren't cheap, like a good $15-$20 a piece, but I know they'll last longer than me.

[Mr Gasser]

I need a cigarette

[Gray_Panther]

Liftmaster floorjack. For sale on Amazon for $170, I believe.
Fits nicely under my 1er and is effortless to operate. The handle bars on the side are great for just lifting it up and carrying it around. Not to mention it is relatively light!!
[IMG]https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....mL._SX466_.jpg[/IMG]

[JimD]

My main hobby is woodworking. So I know a lot more about those tools than I do car tools. My son's main hobby is cars so I talk to him before any major tool purchase for the car. He really likes his Milwaukee cordless impacts and used them on his job for awhile. Not sure what he uses for hand tools.

For those who tend to stay with one brand, I would say that in woodworking tools that is a bit of a risk. For portable tools, Festool is often looked at as a premium brand and some of their tools are clearly at that level. But their jig saw is no better than a Bosch at about 1/4 the price, the Bosch DEVS1250 sander is clearly equal to a Festool Rotex at 1/2 or less the price and the Festool multi-tool is a rebranded Fein at about twice the price. My personal view is you have to be more careful with some brands than others. You might waste money on a Festool but you won't get a bad tool. You might buy junk from harbor freight or Ryobi, certainly the odds are higher you will, but it may also do what you want for maybe 1/10 the price.

I suspect the same odds argument works for car tools. Not nearly as likely to get junk from Snap on and some others but equivalents are probably available for less money from others.

[TridenTBoy]

That German tool warehouse looks amazing. Expensive but amazing.

I don't think there's any shops in the states that are like that. Finding places that *just* sell tools is basically unheard of outside of Harbor Freight. I really don't know of any places that just sell tools and are a significant chain (besides HF). Tools are usually an aisle or two of a much bigger store. I'd say it's ironic but I don't think many Americans really do their own handywork these days.