Tekton sent out an email to newsletter subscribers today, to discuss their USA-based tool production.
8 years ago, I spoke with a Tekton manager, and they discussing efforts they were taking to turn the brand around.
I purchased a large sampling of Tekton tools at the time, and while decent value-priced offerings, I was not terribly impressed. The quality was about the same as I had previously experienced with the brand.
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Their standards were low, and nobody really cared.
But, that was 8 years ago, and the company was changing.
A short time later, they came out with USA-made pliers. And then USA-made punches. USA-made screwdrivers. USA-made hard-handle screwdrivers.
I bought more Tekton tools over the years, mainly for evaluation purposes, but some for personal use, and they have indeed turned things around. Tekton is now well-known, well-liked, and their tools and customer service have a very different reputation than before.
Following is Tekton’s full announcement, with added line breaks for easier readability.
Hello,
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I’m John Amash, the CEO of Tekton, and I wanted to share exciting developments about our US manufacturing efforts.
More and more of our tools are now made in the US, through a combination of our in-house manufacturing operations and partnerships with some of the best contract manufacturers in the country.
The percentage of USA-made products in Tekton’s lineup is now over 20 percent, including angle wrenches, crowfoot wrenches, dead blow hammers, groove joint pliers, hard-handle screwdrivers, high-torque screwdrivers and nut drivers, pick and hook sets, and several tool storage products. Our next USA-made category will be flare nut crowfoot wrenches.
Our in-house manufacturing capabilities include CNC machining, broaching, laser engraving, vibratory polishing, and pressing. Although we maintain strict control over the materials, processes, and specifications everywhere we make our tools, we believe there’s no substitute for working in our own plant with our own equipment. So we’re working hard to expand our in-house manufacturing capacity.
To encourage you to try our USA-made tools, I’m providing the promotional code below. It gives you up to $10 off the highest-priced item in any order of $100 or more placed with a new or existing account on Tekton.com.
While I hope you’ll use this code to try a USA-made product from Tekton, it will work on any Tekton.com order of $100 or more.
Promo Code: GIFT10
Enter the promo code at checkout on Tekton.com to receive the discount. Expires Tuesday, March 15, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
A quick related note on country of origin: I take seriously the importance of transparency about where we make our tools. The country of origin (or countries of origin for some products with parts from multiple places) is clearly stated under the “Specs” section on each product’s page on Tekton.com.
When we say the country of origin is “United States,” we mean that the whole tool is made here, including its components.
All of this is great to hear.
Over 20% of Tekton’s lineup is now made in the USA. While this number could be higher, it’s still substantial.
I particularly like this part – “we’re working hard to expand our in-house manufacturing capacity.”
Tekton, and every decision-maker or manager involved in helping to make this happen, should be applauded.
Keep it up!
Tim
People online talk like they’re 120% made in US.
Mike
I know they say made in America but every time you get something on the box that says made in China so how is it American made
Jared
Tekton has a surprisingly positive reputation from what I read online. I had a couple bad experiences that put me off the brand for a bit a few years ago, but I recently purchases a hex screwdriver set that seems pretty nice.
I still think your experience depends on which Tekton products you buy. It would be nice if they continue improving the lineup to the point that you could rely on a certain quality level across all products.
Just FYI my early tool purchases were mini bolt cutters, a screwdriver and a manual impact driver.
– The screwdriver was ok, but no better than something cheap from Stanley (I trust this is one category that has changed).
– The mini bolt cutters were terrible. My 6″ Channellock diagonals were FAR superior, which just seems embarrassing for something labelled “bolt cutter”. Bad handles, misaligned jaws, soft cutters… After testing, I never found a reason to use them.
– The impact driver just didn’t work. Right out of the package it didn’t have any “spin” action. It just slowly mushroomed the brake rotor screws I was trying to use it on. I replaced it with a unit from Williams that works perfectly.
On the other hand, I hear near universal praise for Tekton’s socketry. They’ve got some innovative ratchets too.
In many ways I think Tekton is what SBD’s Craftsman should be.
N. Berg
I believe that both the mini bolt cutters and the impact driver are tools from the earlier “era” of Tekton when they were happy to just put their name on a lot of existing Chinese made products and didn’t care as much about quality. A good rule of thumb that I have found is that if it is currently available through Tekton’s official website directly: it’s probably at least decent. If it is only on Amazon or another reseller: there’s a good chance it’s no better than the other identical rebrands you’ll find there.
Sometimes there can be confusing in-between situations like their locking pliers; some of the listings on Amazon are an older Chinese made version, but the website has resigned and improved Taiwanese ones.
I’ve asked their customer service in the past about why some products aren’t on their website and I was basically told that any item not on their website is discontinued. I’m not sure this is entirely accurate because I’ve seen stuff continue to be available exclusively through Amazon for a very long time, so they may still be producing more of them, but they don’t seem to stand behind those products quite as much. They still have the same warranty and support though.
Obviously this is no excuse for them to sell bad tools like the bolt cutters or impact driver, but I think it helps make it clearer how the same company simultaneously sells very highly regarded mechanics tools and a bunch of cheap junk.
MM
Between last year and this year I’ve purchased quite a few 3/8 drive crowfoots from Tekton, filling in holes and expanding my set, which was originally Craftsman.
All of them have been marked USA.
I would not say they are top-tier quality (i.e. Snap-On). Sometime the edges of the square hole where the wrench drive fits is rather sharp, suggesting it wasn’t deburred all that carefully. And on one of them the engraving of the size in mm was a bit strange looking, like the tool shifted in the fixture while the machine was engraving. It is still legible, it just looks a little strange. Now all those things having been said, the chrome looks very nice and their fit has been spot-on. I appreciate the fact that while their company logo and the part number are laser engraved, they do still mechanically engrave the size, which is my preference. I think that it survives long term wear a lot better than laser engraving does.
I’m happy with them, and I fully intend to pick up the complete 1/2″ drive set at some point in the future.
Ken
I got that email this morning. I think they have really done well moving on from the hardware store discount bin tools they made in the past. I’ve been happy with the US made Tekton tools I’ve purchased and will likely buy some more in the future.
Jules Rosen
Never heard of the brand and I normally buy cheap Chinese stuff because I am a guy who buys and uses it one time and throws it away afterwards so I don’t want something for $30 that I can buy for 5 or 10
Dominic S
Nowadays I usually consider Tekton before any of the big-box store tools. I have had great experiences with their impact sockets and kits for value and performance. I could be mistaken but I believe a lot of their tools are made in Taiwan, which in a general sense of things a cut above typical manufacturing in China.
skfarmer
tekton or should i say mit………michigan industrial tools is not on my buy list and i doubt they ever will be.
they could have and would have had me as one of their biggest supporters. mit was a notoriously junky brand with a poor reputation. somehow, just by switching to tekton they somehow became this great company. a few years back when they started making angled wrenches i thought long and hard about supporting them. all i wanted to know is who or even where they were getting them from. not only did i get crickets from them, every tekton junkie in the world pounced on me.
afaik, tekton makes nothing. almost anything you can get from tekton you can get from someone else. especially the us made stuff.
i am sure many people will argue this with me but if they really make stuff here do this. show me some pics of a factory or mfg facility with the name tekton on the front other than an office building or warehouse.
if you want us made items, cut out the middle man and buy from the oem rather than tekton.
Mike (the other one)
ALL tool brands use contract manufacturing. Do you really think Snap-On makes all of their tools?
Tekton is making an effort, which is more than I can say for a lot of other companies. Hell of a lot more than I can say for Apex Tool Group.
bob zee
not all. Milwaukee is ramping up in-house machining of several different hand tools.
i have been part of it for several years now.
JML
Looks like some of their well-reviewed ratchets are now gone from the website. The swivel head ratchets were Taiwan-sourced, just like many others sold under different names. Excellent versions of that great design, still available from Amazon; I have the 1/2″ drive version and bought the set for my son.
TEKTON 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 Inch Drive Swivel Head Ratchet Set (3-Piece) | 91804 https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-91804-Quick-Release-Ratchet-3-Piece/dp/B00BRL5AK6/
fred
I believe that Tekton is owned by the Amash family – who seem to have found their niche in moving the company up-market from some of the other brands that they once represented. I’m thinking here about tools that were branded GRIP (aka Grand Rapids Industrial Products) and MIT (aka Michigan Industrial Tools) – or others under the Mechanics 2000 or Pit Bull banners. Their direct-to-customer sales – with prices that include shipping cost (regardless of order size) and loyalty dollars (10% for each dollar spent) added to your account for future orders – probably help their sales.
Mark Lamse
GRIP is one of the brothers companies.
Dave P
Good for them.
There are good tools made other places, you know. And probably there’s some junk made in America but I don’t think that’s common.
I have a set of Tekton long-pattern, highly-polished combination end wrenches that go from around 10 mm to around 28 mm (kind of guessing but they go from somewhat small to quite large) purchased maybe a decade ago and they’re my favorite set, and I am sure I have 15 sets of metric end wrenches. I’ve tried to buy more sets but the last time I checked they didn’t offer a set that went anywhere near that large. Here, they compete with old USA craftsman, newish Milwaukee end wrenches, Gearwrench sets and some realy nice old Proto and S-K sets. I prefer the Tekton mainly because they are long pattern and have a really nice finish. The others are good, maybe better but I like the extra leverage of the Tektons.
I have no idea where they’re made, I doubt in the US, but they’re really decent wrenches…
Dave P
EDIT_ They go from 10-32 with no country of origin on them.
John
FYI – Tekton lists COO on every tool on their website. Their wrenches are made in Taiwain.
Mike (the other one)
Their angle-head open end wrenches and crow’s feet are made in USA.
fred
Most of the Tekton wrenches that I’ve seen lately were made in Taiwan.
Tim
Item #WCB90301
SEA set 1/4 to 1-1/4 and METRIC set 6mm to 32mm
John
Quality tools can be made anywhere in the world with someone caring about it. Being made in USA does not always mean quality. I prefer supporting the small boutique one man fab shops here in America than large companies where I simply don’t care about country of origin but instead just quality.
For the most part people who are hell bent on made in USA products are driving Ram, Chevy and other American trucks which are not made in the US. Irony isn’t something people understand very well. Most American made truck now is the new Toyota Tundra, but it’s ugly so that sucks.
N. Berg
There’s a YouTube knife reviewer (Nick Shabazz) who I think has a great saying about this:
“Quality is about effort, not geography.”
It goes both ways, overseas companies can make amazing stuff, and US companies can make crap. It’s all about who actually cares.
Jeremiah
Exactly. Case in point, look at the Craftsman tool chests that are made in USA. They are made with low quality steel and low quality build techniques.
Compare that to oh, say Tekton tool chest, made in Canada with better materials and techniques.
Or even Husky tool chests made in Taiwan or China that are better than the Craftsman.
Dmac
Every pickup truck in America except for some that may have been specially imported which is a minuscule amount are made in the USA due to something called the chicken tax that palaces is a 25% tax on all imported light trucks. no auto manufacturer is going to pay an extra 25% to bring a truck into the US so they don’t that’s why Toyota trucks are made in the US as well as RAM and Chevy and Ford and Nissan and all the rest of them.
Franck B.
I guess Canada and Mexico are now “America” since they’re exempt from the chickent tax… since a lot of those RAM, Ford and Chevy trucks aren’t built in the USA, or have significant portions not built in the USA.
Basically, it’s getting increasingly difficult to just throw a “Made in USA” label on things and be 100% honest.
DG
Canada and Mexico have always been part of “America”.
They are on the same continent as the US.
“North America”.
Nathan
Glad to hear they are expanding would like to see what they come up with. I think they are what SBD owned Craftsman should be.
Of the tekton stuff I have used of late they have been quality solid devices. They make no bones aobut being made in Taiwan vs the few things Made in US. I happen to like their high torque screw drivers as I up and bought a hex set a while ago
The ratchets and sockets I’ve used a few times all seem pretty high quality. In fact I would consider them to be basically gearwrench. I’m curious what the flarenut crow feet will look like as I might need a few.
Joe E.
100% agree. Tekton is what the new Craftsman should be. It’s mind boggling to think Tekton has USA made screwdrivers, but SB&D can’t make something as simple as the beloved clear handle Craftsman screwdriver here at home, like they used to be.
Tekton cares. Craftsman doesn’t. That’s why Tekton is loved as much as they are. They put forth effort into their quality and service.
Mike (the other one)
Craftsman never made screwdrivers. It was Western Forge and Pratt-Read that made them. Almost every Craftsman tool was a rebrand, or contract-manufactured for them.
Craftsman was the Sears store brand. SBD bought the brand, not the tools. The days of getting a USA-made screwdriver for less than $4 are long gone.
Besides, the Taiwan-made acetate screwdrivers actually FIT their intended screws, unlike the Western Forge ones.
Joe
I’m already aware of these facts. I’ve been a hardcore Craftsman collector for more than two decades. I was around during the USA days, the China switch and SB&D’s purchase of the brand and deal with Sears. I know who Western Forge, Pratt Reed, Danaher, etc… are. I can list off date codes and tell you the exact year the tool was manufactured and by whom. You’re not telling me anything don’t already know. I was trying to find where I misspoke to warrant a history lesson? But thank you.
Anyway, the point I was trying to make is that Craftsman screwdrivers were made in the USA not that long ago. They are probably not a difficult item to manufacture. If Tekton can have screwdrivers made in the USA, why can’t SB&D have the iconic clear handle Craftsman screwdrivers made in the USA?
Crash
Remember Easco?
JoeM
Honestly, Tekton has always been my “Oh for crying out loud! I just need one of these and I can’t be bothered about quality!” brand.
Third Hand with magnifier… Check and Check. Just needed a couple of them… couldn’t be bothered looking up options because the work area was so tiny (my jewellery workstation.) and I didn’t need it for huge numbers of versatile operations… so… Tekton… $7… Not crying over COO or Price/Quality/Whatever Else. Do I have plans to build much more advanced third-hand style workstations for myself? Of course… But those are going to be Built, not Bought, out of components I know the workstation will need.
Extendable Lighted Inspection Mirror… It was $3 on clearance… It lets me grab a glimpse at things way in the back, without hurting my back crawling around. Mirror. Light. Check. Oooh! Extendable! Handy!
See what I’m getting at? I’m already invested in significantly higher end tools, for significantly more mission-critical jobs. I don’t need Tekton for those. It’s okay if Tekton is a foreign brand, because when I’m actually making or building something, I care more about the fact that I have the tools and materials I need to finish the product Myself, here in Canada, way more than I ever think “Was this tool made in the USA or Canada? I’m suspicious that way…”
ken
JoeM,
I do not agree with your overall assessment that most of these jobs will be completed by immigrants or students. I think in tool manufacturing this would not be the case. More importantly, what happens if we are at war with Asia? I suppose we will just order the tools we need to maintain our war equipment from Asia and they will gladly send us our orders! You are missing the most important part of the equation- National Security. If we make very little of what we need to survive or fight a war how likely do you think we would be able to defend ourselves or our interests?? I am not saying we are going to be at war soon but it could happen and our countries should always be prepared. That has to include a robust manufacturing environment already built and operating. You may think running a factory is all automated and easy but I doubt you would find many of the employers or employees at these facilities in agreement! It is not simple or easy or fully automated!!
skfarmer
amen ken.
the last few weeks have been a great example of what can happen in a worst case scenario. does everything need to be made here? hell no. but we sure as hell better be able to make some of everything and a t a variety of price and quality ranges.
Badger 12345
+1 to Ken’s comment.
Much of the talk about supply chain constraints is fancy language for the imports from China haven’t arrived. Not enough people are thinking about the long-term strategic implications of outsourcing so much of the basics to other countries.
Bravo to Tekton for making an effort to manufacture here in the US.
When I shop for tools or pretty much anything else I consider quality and where it is made. I pay more (sometimes much more) for USA made products. I am not a rich person, so that means I have fewer, but quality USA made products in my home. I can live with that.
Badger 12345
Updating my post: I haven’t purchased any Tekton tools, so I can’t say anything about quality. However, I have purchased many Channellock tools over several decades. Good quality and made here in the USA.
Dmac
The fact that you don’t think that the US has the manufacturing capacity to manufacture absolutely everything we need to be totally self-sufficient tells me that you need to go and do a lot of self-educating before you can continue with this conversation. It’s not that we can’t make everything it’s that these days the common man demands a minimum level of functional quality and a low price point. There are 100 times more people in this country today that will only ever need a set of cheap Taiwan sockets than there are people that need a set of well manufactured sockets made out of a high-quality Steel.
Stuart
Admin note: JoeM’s comment was truncated, with off-topic and political passages removed. Ken’s comment references some of the removed arguments.
Carcollector4072
There is no way that we would be at war with all of Asia. The following is the list of countries that comprise Asia.
A
Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
B
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
C
Cambodia
China
Cyprus
G
Georgia
I
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
J
Japan
Jordan
K
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
L
Laos
Lebanon
M
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar
N
Nepal
North Korea
O
Oman
P
Pakistan
Palestine
Philippines
Q
Qatar
R
Russia
S
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Syria
T
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Turkey
Turkmenistan
U
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Uzbekistan
V
Vietnam
Y
Yemen
Mr M
I’ve gotten several their tools I’ve had some break and their warranty was unbelievably fast and great no questions sitting in a replacement parts or replacement tools next day I got them a couple days later everything worked fine prices are really fair for what you get and pretty much all the tools I’ve been buying are there tools
JR Ramos
I’m not a huge fan of Tekton for a couple reasons but I have to say that it’s been interesting to watch their growth and success over the years, and they are doing a lot of things right. They have some real gems in their lineup with great or good prices, and then there are some that are just grossly overpriced rebadge items. I do appreciate their dedication and the efforts to source US products – most of those that I’ve bought from them have been great tools.
Standouts worth mentioning, imho, are the 6-in-1 drivers (what a great idea with so many bits available in both hex sizes, and the handles are truly good (I’ve machined them for modifications and it’s a good strong homogenous glass-filled nylon)….and the mini series pliers from Taiwan are actually excellent in steel quality, grind, and finish. Their locking pliers are a notch above all of the cheapie china stuff out there (also all made in Taiwan I think). The little IT/electronics mini hex bit screwdriver kit is also outstanding although these days the popularity of I-Fixit has overshadowed this gem. I can’t recall now who made (still makes?) their punches and chisels but I have a handful of pin and roll pin punches from them and they’re very good although it seems the tempering quality varies on them.
I have not bought their dead blows yet but will likely pick up a couple soon – curious to see if those are actually much better than the decent imports. Suspect that they are not on par with TrustyCook, but maybe so.
I’d like them to consider a decent line of files, if that’s possible without just reselling Italian (fka Swiss brands) or Pferd china files.
Maybe some decent vises…that would be really nice.
PW
Tekton deadblows that look like Trusty Cook ARE Trusty Cook, it’s basically a straight rebadge.
JR Ramos
Fantastic! I didn’t know that. Hard to come by Trusty around here except for high prices on amazon…Tekton will make them a lot more accessible. I hope they expand the selection someday.
Maps Bam
Too bad Tekton tools suck and the employees don’t understand tools. In the FB group somebody complained about the anodizing being damaged on a new torque wrench which is a fair point. The Tekton employee said something like they’re tools and they get used during calibration so some marking is to be expected. Total BS. You don’t bang around torque wrenches and there certainly shouldn’t be any signs of wear from calibration. Crap company with people that don’t understand tools.
Maps Bam
I got a defective set of drivers. They replaced them and the second set had the same defect, but it was even worse.
Everybody says how good Tekton’s warranty is. Yeah that’s because it has to be. Their tools are low quality. They’re just another brand over hyped on the internet.
Nathan
and yet in contrast I’ve gotten their lug socket set and it was perfect when I got it and has worked quite well.
Likewise due to all the internet hype both my neighbor and my brother in law have bought socket sets from them. in both cases there are exactly as advertised. ratchets smooth and wobble free – finish is decent (I don’t look for flawless they are tools and will be flawed in short order). sockets seems to fit tight and clean.
so far so good. If I was an auto mechanic for pay I don’t know I would buy them for everything from them but as I’ve said before they appear to be gear wrench like quality and less price and sometimes better kitting. I would only buy them direct.
JR Ramos
Hmm. I had a lengthy exchange with someone there and it was clear he knew tooling very well, or at least had the verbage.
Where is there ANY anodizing on their torque wrenches? Are there aluminum parts on some models? The butt cap on mine may be but everything else is steel with a finish (not anodizing…). But that said, if someone gripes about finish damage, so be it. These are cheap wrenches anyway (and anyone should assess carefully whether a cheap import torque wrench is really suitable….). I kinda side with Tekton there although I’ll bet that if that person really pushed the issue they’d send him a new one and probably hand pick it for shininess. The only one of theirs I own is the little 1/4″ – nice because it has a lower range on it than most others that aren’t $$$ and they are reasonably accurate – made well, too, compared to most. My normal ones are higher end.
Keep in mind that the finish damage likely happened in the parts bin before assembly, not during assembly or calibration. The nature of mass production and less-demanding standards in the majority of overseas production. I’ve had lots of items from high end $$ tool brands that were far from pristine in that regard.
I wouldn’t throw out the baby with the bathwater here. I don’t think they deserve that as a company (or just as a wide line of products). Plenty of brands to purchase, though, so it’s fine to choose whatever else.
Dmac
Did you miss the entire point of this article? Did you seriously read it and not have any idea what it was about? It’s about the fact that they acknowledge that they have been considered low quality tools and that they are making serious efforts to put out high quality tools and turn the brand reputation around.
Joe W.
I’ve bought a few Tekton tools in the past, and seeing the direction the company is moving in and the transparency, I will happily spend some money to support them. Seems like there’s a niche that was left by Craftsman for domestically produced tools at a relatively reasonable price that they may be able to fill.
JDubNC
Although Taiwanese, I really like their impact sockets, combo wrenches, screwdrivers, & swivel ratchets. In cold weather, can’t beat the insulated ratchets. I prefer Carlyle (same as the new GW 90T) extended non-quick release ratchets & Wright impact sockets. I also own chrome full sets of 70’s snap-on, Matco, new Milwaukee, early 80’s Craftsman USA, & some Gearwrench.
Rx9
Gonna be a higher % when Taiwan gets “unified” in 1Q 2023.
Terri
“Made in the USA” is just a marketing gimmick. It doesn’t even make sense. They should make the tools wherever they can get the highest quality at the lowest cost.
Dmac
If you’re going to comment at least know what you’re talking about first. Tools made in the USA are subject to US quality standards. you can’t really take action against a manufacturer in China the US government can’t even take action against a manufacturer in China they can just shut down that importer if it gets bad enough and then they’ll reimport them under a different name but it’ll be the same people. If a tool was made in the United States and they put out low quality shit then they’ll have to answer to it which is why made in the USA means quality.
Bartman
Does the US have an official quality standard? If so, it doesn’t stop car manufacturers from making crap. What action is the government going to take about crap tools?
MM
There are probably thousands of quality rules in the USA, yet at the same time most of them are very specific and just don’t apply to general “quality” of tools. For example a pressure vessel such as the tank on an air compressor legally must meet ASTM standards. Likewise there are legal standards for the insulation on electrical wiring, like the cord on a power tool. Those kinds of things directly affect the tools we buy. There are also tons of standards published by SAE, IEEE, and other groups. But there is often no legal requirement that a product meet those standards. For example SAE publishes standards for combination wrenches, but that doesn’t mean that every combination wrench for sale is built to those standards. A set of standard jobber-length drill bits meets SAE dimensional standards, but a modern self-feed boring bit for roughing in plumbing doesn’t meet any standard at all.
I think what Dmac might mean is that, generally speaking as opposed to legally, made-in-the-USA products tend to have a high standard of quality. I largely agree but we’re not perfect, I have certainly bought my share of crappy tools that happened to be made here. I honestly see “made in Japan” as a higher standard of quality than “made in the USA”. I’ve bought a variety of cheap items from Japan with low expectations ranging from garden tools to kitchen gizmos to misc electronics and I’ve never received what I consider to be junk, yet I cannot say the same for my made-in-the USA purchases. There are many USA brands I have a lot of respect for but there are others that I avoid just like I avoid Chinese made goods. And there are also times where a foreign competitor does it better.
Carcollector4072
I have bought many made in the USA products that have been very poor quality. One example was a can opener that was made in St. Louis MO, United States of America that would not open a can after several uses. It had a large American flag on it, but was useless, except as dumpster fill.
Matt
I did a wrench test about 6 years ago comparing the strength of the open end side of almost every brand available. Tekton stood out for being a decent tool and great price point. I bought wrench sets for myself and work. The work ones have held up flawlessly and they are used everyday by two mechanics. When the shop was stocked about 40 years ago it was all snap on. Unfortunately we don’t buy anything anymore so the snap on guy won’t come around. I had to find an alternative and it wasn’t going to be from a tool truck.
I can’t really comment about their other tools. I have tried a few of their ratchets and they are so so. I think the 120 gear wrenches are the best bang for the buck on ratchets. I love tekton and I hope they continue down the right path.
Ron K.
I’ll give an example where I hope they improve. I purchased a hose reel and couldn’t figure out the banjo fitting thread. Others reported the same problem. Company was less than zero help as they left me frustrated they couldn’t tell me what they were selling. Later the entire thread on Amazon disappeared. So I purchased a hose connection thread gauge set. British pipe. Then learned the British pipe is a common legacy thread in Asia. Still roll my eyes they had so little interest in helping. I will say I’ve been pleased with the hand tools I’ve purchased.
Thomas
I feel like the whole ‘made in USA’ bias is thinly veiled jingoism, but in either case I enjoy my tekton tools. I have chrome 12 points and a few impact sockets from them and all of my standard wrenches are tekton. I’m a fleet mechanic primarily for concrete mixers and we abuse tools in every imaginable way so I often break tools. . I have snap on, Mac, knipex, matco and many other brands of tools in my kit and tekton is HANDS DOWN THE BEST warranty experience I’ve had so far. Most of the time I have a shipping number for my new tool within 24 hours of my warranty request.
Also I’m a big fan of the locking socket holders. Sometimes I’m sent on road calls if our mobile tech is out of the shop for whatever reason and being able to quickly move my socket set into a pickup is an absolute godsend.
I really don’t care where the tools are made, as long as tekton maintains this customer experience, I will keep buying them. Big fan.
Rob
The only thing I have from Tekton is a Phillips #2 screwdriver with a red glass reinforced nylon handle and it’s freaking awesome.
Carcollector4072
I have bought three socket sets and they all been made in Taiwan. The ratchets are a little sloppy, but pretty good. The cases are really nice. But I really like that don’t have any size skips. I will keep on buying Tekton!
Mack
The reason i recommend them to amateurs & tradesmen on a budget is that their customer service is fantastic.
I got some of their US-made 30°/60° wrenches b/c I work on medical gas lines, which can be clustered & inaccessible.
Fantastic wrenches, actually better than anything for tight work. They’re machined, not forged, but I have no concerns about their toughness, (I beat the heck out of my 1 1/8”.) Their fit is great, the chrome is well done.
Early ones had barely legible numbers & I let them know that sucked.
The next batch were much better & I got an upgrade (that I didn’t ask for, or expect) at no charge.
I also got some of their screwdrivers, impact driver, & impact sockets to use as beaters.
Screwdrivers aren’t special, tips fit well, not super hard. Think Kleins w/ almost an old Matco handle. For variety, clean markings & price they’re great.
I did bust the impact driver. I sent them a picture & had a replacement in 2 days at no charge.
I bought my BIL a 3/8” socket & ratchet for his DIY projects, & was impressed by the quality & completeness. Quality is on par w/ the Milwaukee sets, below the truck brands.
If you want the very best stick to the truck brands, German & Swiss tools, even Klein. But their US-stuff is easily on par w/ the old US Craftsman, Channellock & cheaper Armstrong stuff.
The imported stuff ranges from decent to good.
Service is A+.
I just hope they keep expanding domestic production.
Dave
I am a former Snap -On Tools dealer, running a tool route for 8 years before I got back into construction. I have a pretty well rounded Snap-On Tool tools set as well as boxes. My tools and boxes are in a building where I work on my personal toys. I also have some Snap -On Tool boxes at my home with some limited sets of
Snap-On Tools as well.
I found Tekton Tools on Amazon several years ago. I have been buying Tekton tools as I need them to implement into my home tool box and not break the bank. I personally think the appearance of the hand tools remind me of a Snap-On quality tool. I have purchased wrench sets, socket sets, several pliers types and some specialty sockets such as Torx and Hex Head sockets. (I have also purchased screwdriver sets and pry bars but I’m not as convinced with those products, you cant beat the feel of a Snap -On screwdriver handle in my opinion). I have been pleasantly satisfied by the feel and workmanship of these tools. I have been using them more often than I had anticipated and don’t feel that I am giving up any accessibility issues I have seen with other lesser priced tools that bulk there tools up to account for a lessor quality of metal material. To date I have not had any failures in the mechanic tools. I have purchased some bar clamps and did have one failure that Tekton promptly replaced. All I had to do is provide a picture of the defective product.
I am very satisfied with the use I have experienced with them thus far and will continue to buy them as I find needed. I am not one to buy a tool until I go to reach for it in the tool box and don’t have it, when this happens I almost immediately pull my phone out and order it on Amazon. There are a couple occasions I didn’t see it there and I now have an account on the Tekton site for those occasions.
Tim
I am enjoying the many comments. The “expert” opinions seem to range from really good to really bad.
With that said, here is my experience: I own their 1/4”, 3/8” and 1/2” socket sets, all their punches and chisels, their complete sets of open end and ratcheting wrenches, the complete screw driver set, and all their torque wrenches.
I’m doing a full frame off restoration of a 1970s GMC Jimmy and these tools have performed perfectly. I suspect I use my tools in a similar fashion as the automotive professionals and I can’t imagine needing the more “professional quality” tools offered by “better”companies.