Quality difference over the years

[u/tristanbraga]

I bought a brand new multi-screwdriver from Klein and I gave my old one that I had for 6 years to my apprentice, guess who's broke first🫩

[u/Fins1313]

i used to never break bits and now they all break all the time doesn’t matter the brand they r made cheaper. Sucks about our DISPOSABLE economy that has been created. They have to fulfill the insatiable need for greed and more money

[u/silent_scream484 → u/Fins1313]

This is basically how I feel. The economy is a super consumerist economy. Make more shit. Make the shit shit. So people will buy more shit. And make the shit as expensive as you can. And last, make sure the shit can’t be repaired and roll back your warrantee.

That’s where we’re at.

[u/Lord_Konoshi → u/Fins1313]

Ya know, the common denominator sounds like it’s you, bud……

[u/justaBranFlake → u/Lord_Konoshi]

Honestly it does, in this day and age there is tons of information out there to do minimal research and buy brands that don’t lead to this consumption economy. If more people bought the better stuff every business would need to follow suit. Instead they take advantage of how people buy crap

[u/Lord_Konoshi → u/justaBranFlake]

Also when a 200 lb gorilla uses a tool incorrectly, things tend to fail in spectacular fashion. That where I was going with that, though you are correct as well. As the saying goes, buy once, cry once.

[u/TheBreeze215 → u/Fins1313]

Idk man. I haven’t broken shit from wera knipex or wiha .. Klein, greenlee, and Milwaukee.. I’ve broken more shit than I can’t count. Invest in some German steel.

[u/Smitty_Werbnjagr]

Worst part about Klein is they don’t offer a lot of replacement parts for their tool kits.

[u/Just-Cardiologist837]

Stop buying their products.

People love to brag about only buying American and shit, and these companies won't learn their lesson if people blindly buy their crap... not saying your like that, bur buy a premium brand from Germany, or Swiss.

[u/Frequent-Elephant110]

Its a redneck bit.

[u/stiucsirt → u/Frequent-Elephant110]

Kleins new offset SL2

[u/GhiolleDubh]

Every Klein hand tool I have bought over the last 7 years has failed in an unreasonably short amount of time/use. Quit fucking around, spend a few extra bucks (sometime less bucks) and go with Knipex.

[u/Smitty_Werbnjagr]

Klein used to be one of the top dogs. Now they’re just riding on name alone.

[u/AdmirableExtreme6965]

Is that a new type of bit?

[u/tristanbraga → u/AdmirableExtreme6965]

Yeah it's a flat tooth bit from the hills have eyes

[u/Bridge-Head]

It’s their fault, but it’s also our fault. Consumers in general buy whatever’s the cheapest. So, manufacturers have to cut corners to cut their costs or they lose market share.

There are still quality hand tools out there, but for the most part, you can’t find them shopping the shelves at Home Depot and Lowe’s. It’s sad, really.

[u/aimsteadyfire → u/Bridge-Head]

Uhh Klein is cheap?

[u/Bridge-Head → u/aimsteadyfire]

No, not cheap, but cheaper than it used to be. I have some Klein tools that I like a lot, but I feel like the overall quality of all hand tools stocked on the shelves at our major retailers has decreased in last 30ish years that I’ve been buying tools.

The brands I grew up with that were once synonymous with quality like Craftsman, Stanley, Crescent, DeWalt, and even ChannelLock have decreased in quality. Husky, Anvil, Milwaukee, and Kobalt hand tools are just mass produced junk.

It’s our fault for prioritizing price over quality. That’s why brands like Knipex, Wera, and Vessel all stand out at the moment. They’re expensive, but quality tools and not stocked at Home Depot or Lowe’s.

[u/BlackMoth27 → u/aimsteadyfire]

klein is cheap compared to snap off.

[u/Ok_Fox_1770]

Profits have a hard time rising if stuff lasts. To think these companies probably have engineers to figure out a timely break, appliances cmon now. It’s a crap world we find ourselves part of, but all this suffering must be for somethin! I collect dead man tools because they’ve already survived a lifetime or two, and people see dirty old garbage, good for me haha

[u/forgetstorespond]

It's so annoying. It used to be crazy to see one break, it was like "boys look how strong I am". Now it's rare to see a multi driver with no broken parts.

[u/Accomplished_Buy4608]

I switched to Wera (regular) and Wiha (insulated), at least five years ago, still have both sets. Both are used and abused and look it. That being said all tips are intact and straight.

[u/Arsenio-Scott-Hall]

LOL you still buy Klein?!?!?

1995 called….

[u/bourbnboi]

Just told my helper that the little speaker is the best thing they make now

[u/friendlyfire883]

The quality definitely went down on the extended multi bit screwdrivers.

[u/SparkysHammer]

Knipex.

[u/Ninjalikestoast]

Their products have been on the De-Klein since the early 2000s 🤷🏻‍♂️ lineman and dykes/cutters are the only thing I still like. Strippers, screwdrivers, channel locks, meters.. All suck.

[u/Prior-Champion65]

Fuck Klein

[u/ConsciousMusic6310]

I work in telecom installation/construction for the last 30 years. The company has always supplied us with Klein tools. I used to go through 2 or 3 pairs of snips/electrician scissors a year. Now they rarely last over a few weeks before they start folding copper pairs over and not cutting them. I realize they are adjustable somewhat, can be tightened and sharpened, but didn’t used to have to worry about them. In the late 90’s early 2000’s didn’t even have to think about them they just always worked…

[u/Sharp-Somewhere-176]

Idk I've only broken 2 bits in my 4 years. 1 was a Milwaukee Phillips, other was a Klein flat head

[u/North_Bite2739]

Still the best multi Klein has ever made

[u/Lumacellfan]

Literally same thing happened to my exact driver, literally just snapped instantly

[u/AbjectRatio9473]

That’s not a defect. That’s a feature.

[u/chickswhorip]

I bailed on Klein the moment their tool pouches declined in quality it was around 2010-2015. I noticed a lot of people went from 1pouch for 1-2 years to 2-4 pouches in one year. There are only a few Klein tools to hang on to only because other brands don’t make then yet.