I have been testing out some of TEKTON’s new tools, and it might surprise you that they’re actually pretty decent. Past experiences have made me wary of inexpensive tools, but TEKTON seems intent to make good on their promise of quality tools at affordable prices.
But I digress. What I wanted to share with you is a current promo over at Amazon: spend $30+ on select TEKTON tools, get $5 off immediately at checkout.
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There are over 1200 tools and sets currently eligible for the $5 off $30+ deal, and while there is no explicit expiration date, the page says this is a limited time offer.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Promo Details
There are lots of tools included in the promo – wrench sets, utility knives, clicky torque wrenches, impact sockets, tap and die sets, worklights, and so forth.
Honestly, a year or two ago I wouldn’t have given TEKTON on their parent company MIT tools a second thought. I had been burned by cheap tools and was reluctant to believe that TEKTON was any different. Luckily, I’m open minded, and have seen enough to convince me that TEKTON tools are reasonably decent.
fred
From what you say – it sounds like their product line may some acceptable items in it.
I can’t say anything about their sockets – but their C-Clamps are absolute junk even for light duty hobby work. The swivel pads on these are dished washers that deform when pressure is applied.
Stuart
Reviews of in-hand items will go up as soon as I can finish testing and snap some photos. Tekton sent over a few tools they are particularly proud of for review.
But I also ordered $156 in general purpose hand tools just now, to get a better sense of the brand. The orders are for things like screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, impact accessories, and things like that.
I didn’t add any C-clamps to the mix, and from what you say I’m glad I didn’t. It’s hard to screw up C-clamps, even cheap ones.
Brennen
Hi Fred,
The swivel pads on the C-Clamps you mentioned are from a different series than our individual C-Clamps. Our individual TEKTON C-Clamps have solid swivel pads. Check out our C-Clamp photos on our website to see the differences:
Set: http://www.tektontools.com/All_Products/3982
Individual: http://www.tektontools.com/All_Products/4017
Brennen
Stuart
That makes a lot of sense. Mini C-clamps for light clamping tasks, heavy duty ones for those that require greater strength.
fred
Thanks for the reply and clarification
John S
I read this site a lot and do not comment (ever?)… I really appreciate that a TEKTON rep was willing to comment and engage with customers. That is impressive
Stuart
Thanks for the first comment! I agree that it’s an appreciated action, one that more brands and manufacturers should get in the habit of doing. Not all brands are structured to allow for this, though.
John S
Totally unrelated… I recently read your articles from a ways back on your favorite screwdrivers and have ever since been hooked on Wera, Wiha, and PB Swiss. First – thanks for those articles! Second – no thanks for giving me an itch for these pricey german tools 🙂 haha. Third – there were times in the past when you noticed they went on steep sales at amazon (and posted it here, I think 2009 or 2010)… Have you seen them go on sale this year, and/or should I keep watching daily to see if such a thing happens again? (ha!) Should I just keep an eye out around holidays? I know one of the sales (PB Swiss) was related to Black Friday…
Stuart
Based on what I have been told and pieced together, PB Swiss’s USA distributors complained about Amazon’s pricing, prompting PB Swiss to work in a pricing agreement, but Amazon refused to sign it. Because of that, PB Swiss stopped selling to Amazon.
Amazon and Small Parts’ initial low pricing seems to have been an attempt to popularize the brand, but eventually the non-advertised sales seemed to have been closeout prices.
Now the only time it makes sense to buy PB Swiss tools is on or around Black Friday when distributors have decent discounts. Otherwise a lot of the tools are a bit too expensive, at least in my opinion.
PB Swiss tools remain top-quality, but there are less expensive and more widely available options that are easier to recommend.
My hope is that Amazon and PB Swiss eventually come to some kind of agreement, but that probably won’t happen.
I have been culling my tools to save space and reduce excessive duplication. It will take some time, but I plan to review a lot of the tools that will remain in my tool chests, and a lot of those that are headed for storage.
Here are a couple more European brands to look into: Grip-On for locking pliers, Irega for adjustable wrenches (also available as Channellock rebrands), and NWS for pliers and cutters.
fred
I’ve noticed that my local Lowes seems to be closing out their Knipex plier offerings (displayed with their Electrician’s tools.) I’m not sure if the closeout prices are a bargain or not – but I do think Knipex quality is also up there with NWS, Wiha and Wera
John S
Thanks Stuart – good to know. I am definitely eyeing a couple of NWS pliers right now
Simon
Hi Stuart,
It’s always a pleasure to read your reviews.
I wished that you test and review Tekton’s pipe threaders. From the price standpoint, it’s seems to make a lot of sense but I was so disappointed in the past with cheap tools that I tend to avoid them altogether. On the other hand, I won’t use a pipe threader as often as pliers and screwdrivers.
From all reviews that I read, I am unable to make myself a decent opinion on which pipe threader kit should I buy.
Keep on your good work.
Jerry
Never used a Tekton, but I have a Super-Ego brand threader, and it is top notch. I have heads for 1/2 to 1 1/4 inch, all cut Thad’s that seal well.
fred
If the Super-Ego threaders come from Rothenberger – as I think they do – then they should be very good. I’m familiar with and used (more in the past) manual ratcheting threaders from Ridgid, Reed, Wheeler-Rex and Rothenberger. I’ve also used powered threaders from Ridgid and Reed – and threading machines from Ridgid, Rothenberger and Oster. I’d give my best in class award to Oster – but the brands I’ve mentioned are in the pro-plumber or industrial category – and come with price tags to match. I see that the Tekton seems to have pretty decent comments from reviewers at Amazon – while a similar-looking set from Harbor Freight gets mixed reviews.
Stuart
I really don’t plan to use a pipe threader for any project in the forseeable future, and so even if I did get my hands on one to review, I wouldn’t be able to test it enough to yield a recommendation I could be certain about.
If I came across a one-time project that called for pipe threading, I might give the TEKTON a try. And if it didn’t perform well, Amazon has an exceptional return policy.
If I needed something potentially more reliable and long-lasting for occasional use, I would possibly skip TEKTON and go with Ridgid. Taps, dies, and other cutting tools are some of the tools that I try to avoid less expensive brands for.
It’s a slight gamble, but the TEKTON set is at least 1/4th the price of a near-comparable Ridgid set.
As Fred recommended, Rothenberger is another great plumbing tools brand, but the quality doesn’t come cheap.
Jordan
I’m going to have to take advantage of this deal at some point soon.
Does anybody have any experience with the pullers?
Stuart, have you had any contact with the Tekton rep on garagejournal?