Counterfeit tools

[pauleyman]

We are well aware of counterfeit everything. Brings me to this. I bought some new tools at a flea market knowing they might be counterfeit but I didnt really care as they are extras. One is a set of klein wire strippers. I have a genuine set also and if these are fake they are super close. One set of fonts is a little dim but that's all I could visually spot. Its the second tool that got me. Its the ICON 10" plier wrench which is a Knipex knockoff. So are we seeing knockoffs of knockoffs now?? Or do you think these are genuine? If they're genuine they almost have to be stolen I would guess.

 

[Vladimir]

Depends what genuine is. Snap-on uses IRWiN for their tap and die sets, but they charge 3 times more than IRWiN.

Matco, mac tools and cornwell don't manufacture most of their tools, they are rebrands of good quality tools such as Lisle tools, OTC tools, Lang tools etc... I believe Mac electric impacts are nothing but a DeWalt in wrong color. And Matco uses Launch scanners that they put their name on.... There are so many examples I can tell....

Knipex tools are sold on many tool truck, they are very heavy duty German made tools. The markings on them are not laser printed, they are engraved. Counterfeit Chinesium alloy tools usually just put paint or laser markings on the tolls.

Also so many tool brands are switching manufacturing to overseas, and their quality and warranty goes down drastically. Good example Is SK tools.

Only hand tools I personally feel confident buying from trusted dealers are:Snap-on, Armstrong, Proto, Williams, cornwell, matco, mac, Lisle, SK, grey pneumatic, knipex...probably forgetting a lot...

Some tools that are also really good quality but a lot cheaper and are: Goodwrench, tekton, KD tools, Carlyle, Klein, channellock... There are plenty, just a few from top of my head

Best multimeters are FLUKE in my opinion. Their oscilloscopes are great as well.

Good budget scanners are : Autel scanners and launch scanners.


Here is actually a very good website that exposes all the rebranded tools that big boys use. Hope it's helpful to you all, I give this site to all new techs, so they can save a ton of money buying tools:

Tool Truck Rebrands

Find the same tools sold on board tool trucks like Snap On, Mac, and Matco! Tools sold on Tool Trucks can be made by private label manufacturers or sold under a different name; leverage this information to find the same tool at a much lower cost!

www.tooltruckrebrands.com

I wish I knew this 20 years ago

 

[TerminalTalon]

I’ve gotten to the point with tool trucks it’s bare minimum or something I really don’t have to be better at my profession. There’s a good and bad to tool truck stuff and warranties. Professionally the big names last and work longer I believe but I am biased being they come around every week and whatever I want warrantied gets warrantied. The top of my tool cart with sockets is probably what most people have in tools for a lifetime and I’m not even saying that’s good .
You can find good stuff still but like Vlad if you’re in the industry you realize a lot of stuff is made from the same oven but rebranded for profit or sold to a conglomerate. I’d pay for genuine USA made because that helps everyone(made and spent in this country) but it’s getting hard to justify costs with tools when you know the backend.
They command the same price for a completely different product that was built on one thing annd reputation and now it is not.