Category: Hand Tools

Bolt extractors are essential tools for every handyperson, mechanic, and DIY enthusiast. These ingenious devices make it easy to remove stripped, rusted, or damaged bolts and screws without causing further damage to the surrounding material. With numerous brands and types of extractors available on the market, it may be challenging to determine which one best…

If you are a DIY enthusiast or a professional mechanic, you have undoubtedly encountered the frustration of dealing with a rounded nut or stud. A rounded nut has lost its original shape due to wear and tear, rust, or over-tightening, making it difficult to remove with conventional tools. In these situations, a specialized tool called…

Ratcheting Stubby Screwdrivers: LTT, PB Swiss, Snap On, Wera, GearWrench, Williams, Irwin, MichaelPro, Milwaukee, Klein Tools, Husky, Lenox, SATA and Black+Decker. Ratcheting screwdrivers are compared for efficiency and precision. Tests include working arc swing, ratchet back drag, magnet strength, bit retention strength, build quality (shaft wobble), shaft rotation in the locked position, bit failure load,…

Matt’s Off-Road Recovery Kinetic Recovery Rope (Yankum Ropes), Bubba Rope, Smittybilt, Rhino USA, FieryRed, Inclake, and Sgt Knots. Ropes tested for elasticity under load. Ropes then experienced 25 pulls to test durability. Following the 25 pulls, the ropes were tested again for the loss of elasticity and “permanent rope stretch.” I derive immense pleasure from…

15 BRANDS: Milwaukee, Craftsman (made in China), Craftsman (USA), Channellock, Hazet, Bahco, Tekton, Gedore, Reed Tool, Kobalt, Crescent, Klein Tools, Irwin, Pittsburgh, Wera Joker, and Navegando. Wrenches tested for resistance to self-adjusting during movement or vibration, wrench max torque before rounding ¾ inch nut, tool build quality both no load and under load and failure…

Lansky, Wicked Edge Gen 3 Pro, Spyderco, Fiskars, Rada, Chef’s Choice Trizor Edge Model 15XV, Edge Pro Apex, and a Whetstone. Knives used for testing: Mercer Culinary Millennia 8-Inch Chef’s Knife was dulled, then sharpened using each knife sharpener. Stropping leather is used on knives sharpened with Lansky, Wicked Edge, Spyderco, Edge Pro Apex, and…

Craftsman, GearWrench, Blue Point, Proto, Wera, DeWalt, SK, Williams, Olsa, Jetech, Jaeger, Tekton, Capri Tools and Greenly Ratcheting combination wrenches tested for working arc swing, open end and box end performance gripping a rusty bolt, and failure load for both ends of the wrench. I bought all of the ratcheting combination wrenches to ensure an…

US vs. German Pliers (WIRE CUTTERS)? Knipex vs. Snap-On, Irwin, Milwaukee, DeWalt, Craftsman, Wiha Are German-made pliers (WIRE CUTTERS) better than US-made ones? Knipex, Snap-On, Mac Tools, Irwin, Milwaukee, DeWalt, Craftsman, Wiha, Klein Tools, C.S. Osborne, Channel Locks, Illinois Industrial Tool, Kobalt, Doyle, Southwire. Diagonal cutting pliers are used for cutting through nails, screws, a…

Best SCISSORS? 14 Brands Brands: KAI, Gingher, Heritage, Klein Tools, Henckels, Fiskars, Bianco, Ultima Classic, Westscott, Livingo, KitchenAid, Singer, Scotch, Stanley. Scissors tested for sharpness and durability after cutting through 1,000 feet of paper, 20 passes through cardboard, ten passes through aluminum sheeting, and ten passes through cardboard. Short Story   Long Story Lots of…

Best Multitool (TOOL KNIVES)? Leatherman vs Gerber, SOG, Victorinox, DeWalt, Mossy Oak, Ozark Trail BRANDS TESTED: Leatherman Skeletool, SOG PowerAccess, Leatherman Charge+, Gerber Suspension, Gerber Gear, Ganzo, Victorinox Swiss Army Knife, DeWalt, Hart, Mossy Oak, RoverTac, Stanley, Ozark Trail, Havalon. Tested for initial knife sharpness and quality of knife steel by testing sharpness after coming…

Best Bolt Cutters? Knipex, Klein Tools, Kobalt, Tekton, Gedore, NWS, Porter, Workpro, Capri Tools 14 Bolt Cutters: Knipex, NWS, Gedore, Klein Tools, Porter, Capri Tools, ARES, Kobalt, Workpro, KC Professional, Great Neck, Tekton, Performance Tool and Jendfert. Bolt cutters tested for efficiency cutting through 16 penny nail, deck screw, drill bit, and hex allen key.…

Best “Tape Measure” Brand?BRANDS TESTED: Milwaukee, DeWalt, Stanley, Craftsman, Klein, Kobalt, Lufkin, Bauer, Komelon, Kutir, and Ming Hao Tape measures tested for standout (reach), abrasion resistance, impact, retraction speed after exposure to sawdust and sand, magnet strength, and blade lock strength. I always purchase all of the products I test and the supplies used for…