Milwaukee hand tools

Is anyone using any of these Milwaukee hand tools? They look nice and appear to be good quality, but then again, so did the Titanic. I bought the folding knife that uses a Sawzall blade and the fastback utility knife and they’re both great tools. Is anyone using these tools to make a living? If so, how do they measure up?

funny you should ask. We are posting a review of the folding jab saw today. I have been using it and it very nice. I am using it all next week for drywall. I’ll let you know how it hold up. Milwaukee has some very nice hand tools. The piers are awesome and have multiple uses like reaming on the handles. The fastback is awesome. i use it all the time.

It’s very apparent that the Milwaukee line of hand tools is geared toward Plumbing/HVAC and Electrical workers where as the Dewalt line is geared more toward framers and general contractors. That kinda seems to be the marketing direction the companies are going as well without actually coming out and saying it. The Dewalt 30′ tape measure with the 13′ standout is awesome.

Is Dewalt owned by Stanley or the other way round? Because we get some stuff branded as Dewalt yet that tape measure is branded as Stanley over in the U.K

Dewalt was bought by Black & Decker in the very early 1960’s. A lot of people will tell you it was in the 1990’s but that’s just not true. Most people weren’t familiar with Dewalt until B&D launched the Dewalt line of power tools, so that may be why. A couple years ago Stanley and B&D merged and is now called Stanley Black & Decker though technically B&D is listed as a wholly owned subsidy. So I guess the answer would be that Dewalt is owned by Black & Decker which is owned by Stanley. Porter Cable is also owned by them and it appears they’ve chosen to market it at a DIY type price point. I don’t know about all of their stuff, but from what I’m gathering the quality is suffering a bit. Delta was a B&D brand as well, but I believe they sold it off recently.

From what I’ve read it looks like B&D purchased ELU in the early 1990’s and used a lot of their technology in designing the original Dewalt cordless systems. This caught my attention because I remembered you mentioning ELU in an earlier post. 😉

We had a brand available over here called Elu and they were quality tools.

Then overnight they turned yellow and went crap and that was the birth of Dewalt in the U.K.

I had an Elu flip over saw and a workmate of mine bought the Dewalt and it just wasn’t anything like as good.

Elu were a German company and for what seems like an age Dewalt used them as the brains behind the development of new tools because all the Dewalts of the time were identical apart from quality to the Elu.

Dewalt never really did it for me. As I was talking about in previous post, my dad always liked them and I’ve had several Dewalt products over the years, but I never really cared for the feel of them compared to some of the others. I’ve got a Dewalt 4 1/2 grinder that has been a real tough nut. It was used when I got it 10 years ago and it’s still a workhorse. I’ve still got the 11 amp recip saw dad bought me years ago but I don’t use it much and always find myself reaching for the Milwaukee instead. If it wasn’t for the fact that it was a gift I’d have probably given it away a long time ago.

Kinda puzzles me why Stanley didn’t just revamp STANLEY! They made quality stuff for years and years, then went the China route.

More and more Stanley products are now being made in sheffield England.

The old Stanley screwdrivers with the transparent yellow handles and red or blue strips to designate regular or Phillips were tough. They were made in America and had a lot of heft to them.

It is a bit mad that some things are branded under different names but are exactly the same depending on which side of the pond you are.

And it seems the majority have many if not all the components made in China to save money.

The best we seem to be able to hope for is that the better brands will keep an eye on the quality of what comes out of these Chinese factories and have good quality control in place.

I was interested to read that the company that owns Milwaukee is based in Hong Kong and also owns Ryobi and A.E.G, Hoover and many others.

But like I said Stanley bringing some of its manufacturing back to the U.K does mean there is hope for the U.S.A too.

Wayne Burgess wrote:

We had a brand available over here called Elu and they were quality tools.

Then overnight they turned yellow and went crap and that was the birth of Dewalt in the U.K.

We in the United States had a few interim years when they where branded Elu by Black & Decker.

It is a bit mad that some things are branded under different names but are exactly the same depending on which side of the pond you are.

It’s not just across the pond, we have this in the same store, often in fact, particularly in our larger retailers like Home Depot and Walmart.

I wish they would all stick to their parent companies name and just make their tools a different color or something to designate quality.

But like I said Stanley bringing some of its manufacturing back to the U.K does mean there is hope for the U.S.A too

Makita has a plant in the United States, in Buford Georgia. I think Milwaukee is still producing the Sawzall here in the U.S. as well.

Lets just hope with forums like this manufacturers realise we can all compare notes on what they do and keep them in line and get them to pull out of China and come home and build quality product that are the same standard wherever you buy them. 🙂

Conductor562 wrote:

Is anyone using any of these Milwaukee hand tools? They look nice and appear to be good quality, but then again, so did the Titanic. I bought the folding knife that uses a Sawzall blade and the fastback utility knife and they’re both great tools. Is anyone using these tools to make a living? If so, how do they measure up?

I bought one of their utility knives (tool addict purchase, like I don’t have enough utility knives) and am not overly impressed with its quality due to blade wobble. I checked out their tools in the store, and could see no compelling reason to purchase any of them. My folding sawzall blade tools sit in a toolbox unused, for what I use a small saw for (drywall) a standard tool makes a lot more sense than a folder. Use a good dedicated saw like the USG Sheetrock saw and see if it doesn’t change your mind as well.

P.S.

Buy 50 Lenox blades get a free folding saw blade holder @ Coastal Tool

I haven’t used the traditional utility knife, but the fastback is awesome. Be nice if they could engineer some onboard blade storage though.

The blade storage would be key. I was cutting insulation all day today and would have been nice to be able to have the spare blades in the tool, so I wasn’t doing an Easter egg hunt every time I needed a blade. I do love these knives. I have one in my truck, I carry one, one in my shop and one in my tool bag. yes I have a problem.

Does anyone have experience with the warranty process for these Milwaukee tools? Will distributors simply exchange them like cman at sears?

metalmeltr wrote:

Does anyone have experience with the warranty process for these Milwaukee tools? Will distributors simply exchange them like cman at sears?

If you can go to an authorized service center they probably should. Depends a lot on where you go, some stores will, some stores won’t.

I’ve been meaning to try these out, but something about pliers without blue handles forces me outside my comfort zone.

Conductor562 wrote:

I’ve been meaning to try these out, but something about pliers without blue handles forces me outside my comfort zone.

Knipex and Klein have lured me away from Channellocks for a few tools, you really need a pair of Knipexs Pliers Wrench and their mini bolt cutters . Klein makes a slightly better linesmen pliers IMHO. I wouldn’t go to far out of my way over them as Channellock are really worthy as well, especially with their new high leverage version and their wire tie pliers as a worthy alternative

Ironically, I spent about 4 hours yesterday using a pair of the new 369’s. Very nice pliers. Don’t know what more you’d ever need.

Conductor562 wrote:

Ironically, I spent about 4 hours yesterday using a pair of the new 369’s. Very nice pliers. Don’t know what more you’d ever need.

IMHO, the Kleins have a very slightly better fit and finish. Their non slip joint pliers always work so smoothly.

Well, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I’m a huge Klein fan but I love Channellock pliers.

Conductor562 wrote:

Well, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I’m a huge Klein fan but I love Channellock pliers.

Don’t get me wrong I have about an equal share of both, they each have their strong points, I more often use my Channellocks when I’m getting down and dirty, as Channellocks slip joints tolerate dirt and grime very well.

I believe they are still making their Klein Lok locking pliers in the USA. Now if we could get Channellock to resurrect their Grip-Lock pliers.

I never noticed that they stopped making them.

I have Bahco they are cool too.

Conductor562 wrote:

I never noticed that they stopped making them.

I don’t think Channellock have made their Grip-Locks (910-C) since the 80s, at least that was when I last remember seeing them in one of my local mom and pop hardware stores in NJ and who knows how long they were there. I believe they first came out in the mid to late 60s. As I recall they were not very good, a real pair of Vice-Grips was a lot nicer tool to work with.

Wayne Burgess wrote:

I have Bahco they are cool too.

The Bahcos that I looked up, look like they are actually relabeled Grip-Ons

The Channellock GripLocks I’m talking GL6,10, and 12. They are a T&G style plier that VERY strongly resemble a Nipex plier.

It appears they retained the name but apply it to a very different type of plier. The current GripLocks aren’t locking pliers at all.

Conductor562 wrote:

It appears they retained the name but apply it to a very different type of plier. The current GripLocks aren’t locking pliers at all.

Grip-Lock ≠ Griplock

How clever of them.

How do you get a better fit and finish than Channellock pliers? A new pair of Channellocks are almost to pretty to use.

Conductor562 wrote:

How do you get a better fit and finish than Channellock pliers? A new pair of Channellocks are almost to pretty to use.

Klein is only slightly better on some tools, Channellock equals Klein with most of their newer tools, like their high leverage linemans pliers. The finish on the Kleins appears to have a finer brushed finish on a lot of there other tools. I have had a few Channellocks that have had stiff joints, my latest dykes and fencing tool in particular, whereas with Kleins the action is always super easy. Channellock has Klein beat in the water pump pliers department, The only competition they have there is Knippex. Knippex are better for finer work but are at a disadvantage when it gets down to working in the muck and mud, even packed with grunge the Channellocks can be still be adjusted easily while some of the fancier Knippexs can jamb up. I will ad that both Knippex and Klein have far fewer pliers that can end up pinching your fingers.

I’ve had a few Channellock pliers that were a little stiff in the joints. I always attributed to the rust proof coating. Never anything a shot of liquid wrench couldn’t fix though.

Conductor562 wrote:

I’ve had a few Channellock pliers that were a little stiff in the joints. I always attributed to the rust proof coating. Never anything a shot of liquid wrench couldn’t fix though.

The dykes I have have not loosened up, the fence pliers have started to get broken in. Believe me, I have tried all kinds of cleaners and lubricants.

Conductor562 wrote:

It appears they retained the name but apply it to a very different type of plier. The current GripLocks aren’t locking pliers at all.

Have you tried their newer Griplocks? They look like they incorporate some nice features. I don’t have many offset pliers and have to think about remedying this.

I don’t own any of the new griplocks but my cousin does. I tried them out and they were nice. Didn’t use them enough to give a real deep evaluation.

Conductor562 wrote:

I don’t own any of the new griplocks but my cousin does. I tried them out and they were nice. Didn’t use them enough to give a real deep evaluation.

I don’t have any of Channellocks pliers with their new bolt less joint, do you recall how the joint felt, was it an improvement?

A little smoother but not anything you’re going to go nuts over.

Conductor562 wrote:

A little smoother but not anything you’re going to go nuts over.

Sometimes it is the little differences that make all the difference, I have had a couple pliers fail on me by coming apart. You loose a nut in the mud, your going to have a bad time.

I was kinda surprised to see in one of those Channellock video from the recent event that the T&G will still function without pivot bolt and it is non load bearing.

Hi, I just got a list of drywall jab saw in my buddys amazon search engine and I am also curious about Irwin protouch Drywall Jab Saw. Does anyone had try this?

tech07170 wrote:

Hi, I just got a list of drywall jab saw in my buddys amazon search engine and I am also curious about Irwin protouch Drywall Jab Saw. Does anyone had try this?

The Irwin doesn’t stand a chance against a professional tool like one from Marshalltown. Why buy Chinese when you can buy an American tool and keep our people working, especially when we have a better product.

And if you NEED to get a cheap one Harry Epsteins has an American made Great Neck drywall saw for less than $3

Lets be honest Marshalltown products are just top quality. 🙂

Conductor562 wrote:

The Dewalt 30′ tape measure with the 13′ standout is awesome.

Old post, I know. Just doing some reading and thought I would respond.

I agree – it’s a great tape. I bought one and returned it though because I primarily use these types of tapes (Fat Max) for obtaining vertical, overhead measurements outside (signs). My issue with it was the tip is so large, it acts like a sail in the slightest breeze….the tip is so big, it makes the end of the tape twist. The Fat Max has a narrower hook and is a little more stable under those conditions. I wanted to like the DeWalt, but for me it just wasn’t a good fit. If you’re doing primarily horizontal measurements, it’s a great tape.

I’ve got several Irwin tools and they’re descent tools but as Eco said, they’re all China anymore. Marshalltown makes top quality stuff and there’s no debate about it. I have the Milwaukee folding jab saw and am very happy with it, but it’s a product of China as well. Goldblatt makes a nice jab saw that carries a lifetime warranty. Klein also offers a nice one.

I don’t have the tape Yankee but God knows I’ve almost bought it 10 times. They have a lower grade Dewalt tape with a 10 ft. stand out and and a normal sized hook but there’s nothing that really stands out with it.

I use to buy the more expensive jab saws but I have come to realize that the $5 homedepot jab saw works just as well for me!