[0xbadcafebee]

I think most pros agree that Klein tools have fallen off. And conspicuously missing on the list is Wiha and Wera.

Wiha is a family-owned private company in Germany. Relies on self-funding and conservative growth using long-standing relationships with German banks rather than private equity. They manufacture in Germany, Vietnam, Switzerland, and a tiny plant in the US. Well known by electricians. Much better warranty.

Wera is also privately owned, by Bitburger Holding. They avoid debt financing and focus on high-volume production and advertising. Almost all of their manufacturing has left Germany, and is now Czech Republic and Thailand. Well known by auto mechanics. Limited warranty.

[m463]

I love love love wera tools

This is my favorite computer stuff screwdriver:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001552GH4

(just buy it)

[FuriouslyAdrift]

For power tools, there's also Festool

[tstrimple]

Festool is on the expensive side and designed for professional use to justify the investment. I had disposable income and hate sanding, so I splurged on the festool sander and dust extractor. Night and day difference from my dewalt sander and trying to follow it with a dust vac. I don't use it often. But I'm more likely to start a project that needs it knowing it's not going to make my hand numb and clog the air with tons of particles.

The other Festool product I picked up is their track saw. Couldn't be happier with the results and the products are really well designed from an ergo/UX standpoint. Though I wouldn't be surprised if you could get just as good of results from a track saw at half the price as long as you use a great blade on it. I like them because they make working much more pleasant than my experience with some other tool brands.

Most of the rest of my tools are Dewalt. I settled on them as they have some of the best "prosumer" power tools in woodworking. Their job site table saw and their planer are some of the best available at their price point. Though I'm regretting buying into the battery system. I've seen times where my Dewalt impact couldn't deal with car bolts that a similar Milwaukee zipped right off. Works fine for woodworking though. I've largely replaced my Dewalt battery operated lawn tools with Ego.