I'm starting school for HVACR and I've heard mixed reviews about hand tools. Specifically, I want to know how hand tools from brands like Klein, Knipex, and Wera hold up. I already love my Milwaukee M18 hammer drill set, but I'm curious if anyone has had good experiences with hand tools from these brands. Any advice would be appreciated!
3 Answers
As an HVAC installer, I strongly recommend avoiding Milwaukee hand tools. For your pliers and wire strippers, Knipex is the way to go. Klein screwdrivers and specialty tools are solid too. And for tool bags, if you can swing it, consider Veto—they're really worth the investment! Milwaukee does great power tools, though.
In my experience, Klein tools are pretty reliable. I use their hand drivers, and for pliers, Knipex is my go-to. Wera is also excellent for screwdrivers. Just a heads up, the newer Klein screwdrivers don't seem to hold up as well as the older ones! I switched to Wera and haven't looked back.
I've found that hand tools can vary a lot. Personally, my go-to is the Fastback utility knife—hands down my favorite! But when it comes to Milwaukee hand tools, I'd be careful; their tape measures aren't the best in my opinion.