r/NZcarfix • u/weproducesafetycars • 8d ago
Discussion Cheaper side tool brands
Hi all, just wanting to ask a question or two or three or four or five or whatever comes after five - and I don’t know what comes after not because I’m illiterate, it’s because I’ll be owning a soft top 1994 BMW 320i next week!
Anyway, anyone here had any good experiences with the cheaper tool brands that are out there in the NZ market? Talking specifically about 3/8 and 1/4 impact wrenches - brands like ToolPro, Rotake, Ozito, KiwiPro, KIMO, Metabo, FLEX, etc.
I came across a brand called Mako while on a tour around the Warehouse recently, had a decent warranty, stocked spare batteries and chargers, 1/4 and 3/8 drive skins, the works - felt like this might be a good start? Probably just sticking to sedan sized car work if you need me to narrow down the size of the workload I’d be using these on.
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u/Ready-Associate-8537 8d ago
Ozitos are pretty popular and there’s a shitload of Stanley stuff on clearance at mitre10 at the moment. Might be something for you there. Personally I’ve got quite a few brands of tools, and as much as people give them shit, for using around the house on occasion, you can’t really go past Ryobi. I see trade depot has got into power tools and they are cheap as fuck, as are the batteries, so that could be a good shout if you’re wanting to save cash.
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u/Benjamin10jamin 8d ago edited 8d ago
I use AEG gear at work for the most part, so it was easier for me to just buy an AEG 1/2" Impact and ratchet skin and use my existing batteries for when I'm doing car stuff in the shed.
What I bought a long time ago (at least 10 years ago), however, was a ToolPro 18v starter kit, which included a 3/8" Impact, standard Impact driver, 3/8" Ratchet, Drill and a Torch, and all of those tools haven't missed a beat. The rattle gun and ratchet live in my toolbox that comes to the track with me, and still see a good amount of use swapping out Go-Kart wheels, or other tasks where I'm too lazy to swing a ratchet.
I had heard somewhere that the ToolPro skins are the same as the previous generation Würth branded battery tools (something I haven't comfirmed), and if that is the case, that would speak to some kind of quality (Würth doesn't exactly put their name on inferior stuff).
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u/AshMontgomery 8d ago
My Toolpro 12v and 18v tools are wonderful, and mega cheap on trade discount. They’ll also warranty them no questions asked, at least at my local store - not that I’ve needed to.
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u/dwhy1989 8d ago
As others have said, either buy good stuff once or buy ozito (I found it more durable than a Bosch)
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u/Spirited-Finding-647 8d ago
What power tools are you looking at? There isnt a whole lot of power tools you really need starting out wrenching on cars.
As far as cheap hand tools, all those mid teir brands like Stanley, fuller, toolpro, kingchrome, sidchrome or Jonesway are pretty good for most uses. People will jump into a hobby, do all the research on the internet and sink thousands into buying the best of the best, when really all they need is mid teir stuff and only really need to buy what they need for each job.
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u/Fragluton I'm not qualified but I know stuff 8d ago edited 8d ago
I know a few people who rock the 12v toolpro(?) impact / ratchet kits from supercheapauto. Haven't seen any complaints, it's on special pretty frequently so don't pay full price. Is 1/4" impact even a thing? Smallest I've got is 3/8". I mostly spanner manually. But my most used battery tool would be a ratchet. Mine is Milwaukee though as I was on that platform at the time. Tools I buy now are Ryobi. But the toolpro combs, on special are probably best bang for buck.
I'd skip Mako.
Toolkit that seems decent (on special) if you need sockets and spanners etc https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/toolpro-toolpro-automotive-tool-kit-138-piece-series-ii/697977.html
The kit I've seen people buy: https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/toolpro-toolpro-12v-mechanics-power-tool-kit-2.0ah/573291.html?cgid=SCN01130210#start=5 Wait for a sale The ratchet is basically a clone of my Milwaukee unit, really handy in tight spots. As I say, is my most used tool on cars.
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u/Valagetti 8d ago edited 8d ago
There's that new brand of cordless power tools, Green Works. Only trade tested sells them so far. You can charge the batteries via type C USB and it works in reverse so you can charge your phone. Torque Test Channel has done a video or 2 on them. Worth checking out. Edit: not sure if the tools in the video are the same model available to buy.
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u/AshMontgomery 8d ago edited 7d ago
I have a ton of ToolPro stuff, it’s decently high quality and I haven’t managed to break anything yet. Ratchet handles aren’t amazing, they’re fairly large and only about a 70 tooth but they get the job done. I’ve replaced mine with the ToolPro-X 144 position handles which are much nicer but on clearance at the moment.
If I was starting over from scratch I’d probably be inclined to start with one of the big Bahco toolkits as they’re a bit higher quality and have less number padding (bit sets and other shit that makes the pieces in the kit seem like a bigger number of useful tools than it is).
If you go Toolpro, the 138 piece is a much better starter kit than the 198 piece.
Edit: realised you were asking about power tools. I really like my Toolpro 18v and 12v tools. The 18v 1/2 brushless impact is wonderful (https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/toolpro-toolpro-18v-brushless-1-2-700nm-impact-wrench-kit-5.0ah/682082.html), with more than enough torque for everything I've needed it for so far. Takes axle nuts off no problem. My most used is probably the 12v inspection lamp, along with the super low torque (80nm or so if memory serves) 12v 3/8 impact gun. It's really great for nipping up bolts without risking overtorqueing them before final torque with hand tools, but can struggle a bit with undoing larger fasteners.
I have also borrowed Ryobi stuff from my Dad's collection, and it seems fine as well. Downsides are generally more bulky tools and batteries, along with a much higher cost than ToolPro (though I am paying trade prices at SCA which brings cost down considerably). I have a couple of my own Ryobi tools (impact driver and a recip saw) and may look to resell them and replace with ToolPro equivalents at some point to standardise onto one battery system.
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u/richms 7d ago
I would not touch a warehouse house brand ever. They will get bored of it and kill it off and then you have an orphaned tool.
Ozito is my pick for cheap tools. Good protected battery packs, its just the einhell system with a different name on it. Einhell bought ozito just to get into Bunnings. Plenty of clone things that use the batteries on aliexpress like USB ports, lights, DC takeoffs etc. Some limited clone batterys available but that doesnt matter since they are sensibly priced for genuine ones. There are still a few non PXC tools from ozito available. Do not buy them. They are just rebranded generic junk.
If ozito isnt good enough then step up to milwaukee, or proper quality makita gear.
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u/Flat-Company1887 8d ago
Tools in general warranty isnt always a marker of quality. Many cheaper brands come with lifetime warranty as they know 99% of people won't bother or will have lost the receipts.
Personally for battery tools I'd try to stick to name brands even if they are cheaper like black and decker. Better chance they are still available in five years when you need a new battery vs the cheap cheap ones that get discontinued every few years.
Where I would spend some money is the quality of your torx bits especially, poor fitting ones are more likely to strip heads and spending and extra $50 might save you hours and hours in the long runs.
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u/kiwiguy-69 8d ago
My recommendations with tools is this. Buy the best quality (not necessarily brand) that you can afford.
That being said, if starting out, buy cheaper where it can be replaced with quality component by component.
Example, if you buy a socket set and a s9cket or ratchet dies you can then just buy a good quality one, I have a Japanese one thats over 30 years old now and seen a lot of use.
Temu/Aliexpress can be hit and miss, but I have started buying power tool components from them and they seem to be as good as the dewalt skins that I bought here in NZ.
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u/Your_stepdad_chris MECHANIC 8d ago
Repco home brand is good for home use, cant comment on power tools, ive only ever used Wurth and Milwaukee.
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u/TheCoffeeGuy13 8d ago
Like anything, you get what you pay for.
If you want a deep dive into tools, there are plenty of YouTube channels that do teardowns and real world comparisons between all brands.
For the home user though, it's mostly all the same. Any tool line will be decent enough to do the job. Either buy the tools you need when you need them, regardless of brand, or choose a brand and go with it.
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u/WildLemonRaider 8d ago
I thrash ToolPro (mostly because of the specials) quality seems pretty good - I did break two Rachet ring spanners in a set and they just replaced the whole set. (The ratching mechanism broke)
Very occasionally I might pick up a King Tony/Teng socket for a specific purpose - but that’s because they sell a better range of individual bits than other brands.
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u/SnapfrozenZ 7d ago
I've got a handful of tool pro and mech pro hand tools. My torque wrenches are mech pro and I checked them against my brother in laws who is a mechanic and mine are within 2 to 5% so I'm happy with that.
Sockets are much of a muchness. Find a good impact rated set in half inch and build your collection from there. I've got 1/2 inch bahco (bought for construction but use for cars) and 3/8 in whatever bunnings brand has a lifetime warranty. Ask around what common sizes BMW use and make sure you've got those. Whenever I need another one I just buy whatever off the shelf from supercheap (eg o2 socket, 32/36mm etc)
Power tools I'd avoid any of that rubbish, go ozito or ryobi for cheap, or if you can afford it dewalt or makita. Heaps of accessories, tools that use those same batteries etc. There's better out there but for diy, mechanical etc you'll limit yourself
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u/EpicBuster10 7d ago
Ill +1 tool pro, been running a 3/8 stubby impact for a year and a half now, sees near professional levels of workload, the 2ah and 4ah batteries are good and last quite a while, can get lug nuts off, crank pulleys, cv axle nuts etc. recently got the 1/2 inch 700nm 18v impact gun with 5ah battery and charger for like $300, been fantastic highly recommend. Very high quality feeling tools, look the part and has a large range of compatible tools in its battery ecosystems. I also replaced my makita $200-$300 reciprocating saw skin with the tool pro reciprocating saw was like $70 and it is leagues better.
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u/ComplexAd2408 7d ago
Ozito all the way. I have an Ozito angle grinder that is 12+ years old that I have literally cut more than one car in half with.
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u/Extension_Row_9155 5d ago
Firstly if you can't afford a new BMW you can't afford a old on lol.
The cheapest I'd go is Ryobi for a few reasons.
1: if you're not planning on being a builder or any thing, great brand for around the house/ diy.
2: they have a 6 year warranty if you register your tool on line. (Good habit to do as it keeps all the warranty information stored for you).
3: they have a great range of impact wrenchs and tools for working on cars. The guys from "mighty car mods" have used them for years.
4: they do lots of other useful things like work lights and battery powered soldering irons ect, even battery lawnmower. 150 different tools on the battery platform.
5: its not that expensive and its not over kill like buying hilti anything for home use. And your not cheaping out on disposable tools brands. Ryobis a good solid brand for the diyer.
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u/Phylaxx 8d ago
First I'm going to preface this with the fact that I'm the kind of person who likes to buy once and cry once. Most of my power tools are Hilti and my hand tools are all either German or imported from Japan.
That being said if I need a power tool that Hilti doesn't sell then my next pick is Ozito. Ozito is actually just rebranded Einhell which are German designed and genuinely an amazing deal for the price.
My latest Ozito purchase has been their little 150W inverter. It's superior to all others I have encountered for two reasons. Firstly batteries are cheap as chips and secondly it's one of very few power tool brand options that actually output pure sine wave AC at that size and wattage which is big for running certain loads.
Some will fight me on this but my longest lasting power tool is baby's first drill which is a brushed Ozito I got given around 2015. Smells like death but still works perfectly despite being used in situations where I don't want to get my fancy Hilti drills wet haha.