Finding the right tool for you

When investing in tooling, there is always the temptation to look for the least expensive option. A bargain is a great thing; however, not all bargains end up being cost-effective. Deciding on how much to spend on hand tools should depend on need rather than price. Getting a great deal on a tool that will meet or exceed expectations is one thing, but getting a low-cost tool for the sake of a discount is another.

Power hand tools should neatly fall into the first category. However, too often the “100 drills and driver bits for $50” lures purchasers in the wrong direction. It’s a great bargain, no doubt, but the big question is: does it suit your business needs?

Finding the proper hand tool can be a challenge, here are some things to think about when planning and purchasing.

The old cliché, ‘you get what you pay for’ holds true for Tony Mirisola, product manager, power tools at TRUMPF. “While a low end tool might be able to complete a task, higher quality tools will last longer, work better, are made of superior materials, and designed for increased ergonomics,” says Mirisola. “All of these factors may dictate the applications where the tools can or should be used. If you need to open a paint can, for example, an inexpensive screwdriver will do the trick, but a professional, who will use a certain tool every day, will find that investing in a higher quality tool will make a big difference.”

A question you should be asking yourself is how long a tool will be in use for. “If you are a professional, it is all about durability, accuracy and performance,” says Keith Potts, national trainer for Milwaukee Tool Canada.

“You want a tool that will stay together under all conditions. You want a tool that will stay up to spec for a long time.”

When investing in tooling, this is an important question to remember because not all hand tools are designed for prolonged use. On the whole, high-quality means a higher price, but investing in a high-quality hand tools could mean the difference between buying one, or buying many to finish the same job.

“The professional…knows the benefits of using high quality tools over a low cost/price point tool,” says Greg Londrigan, marketing coordinator for Hougen Manufacturing Inc.

“The quality tools will turn on when needed, take the abuse of repeated use, help…complete the job faster and offer long term reliability.

“Paying a little extra for tools that work right is well worth it when you consider the cost of down time, repairs, stress and frustration that a discount tool brings.”

The focus of any professional working with hand tools is completing a job with efficiency and accuracy which is essential to making a profit. According to Jason Felder, brand manager at Bosch Tools, “Their profitability begins and ends with the fact that they have a quality tool in their hand that they know they can depend on.”

The inexpensive tools, like the drill/driver bit deal are for hobbyists, not for manufacturing or heavy duty use. When searching for a tool that will maintain usage over a prolonged period of time, it’s important to read the fine print. Don’t just assume that because it says “professional” on the packaging that the tool is indeed meant for this type of use. Oftentimes, tools will have a disclaimer in their manuals that they are just for intermittent use, so this is definitely something to look for.

“When you get into the DIY brands those tools are more or less plastic and nylon.There is not a lot of steel inside of them. That is because it is weekend warrior stuff. It is designed to work for two or three hours a couple of days a week,” says Potts. “When it comes to power tools you want to have a tool that will withstand dropping. You want a tool that is designed in such a way that it expels heat, because heat is the enemy in a power tool.”

High quality hand tools are built for endurance and reliable performance. Chris Rezny, sales manager, industrial division for NSK America, explains, “Our products are meant to withstand industrial usage and give the end user a product they can utilize for years with great results.”

Material and design are the main differences between high-end tool and the DIY tools. “In general, when stronger, lighter, or best-suited materials are used, a better and more flexible power tool will result,” says Mirisola. “Another difference can also be seen in the design itself.

Additional comforts like a soft grip handle will enable the user to work with minimal fatigue over an extended period of time. Manufactures usually devote extra time, money and thought to developing these features on high-end tools, compared to low-end varieties.”

A lot of thought goes in to making the design work best in an intensive environment. An angle grinder is just one tool that is used heavily in a welding shop. For Felder at Bosch Tools, the environment in which a tool will be exposed to is important to the overall design.

“Instead of pulling in dirty air from where the grinding happens, pulling all the metal chips through the tool and past the motor, we pull in clean air from the back and flush it out the front,” he says. “There is also a dust sealed switch so it does not get contaminated and lasts a long time. Our grinder is thin and lightweight. The balance is good in the hand.

When you are using the tools for hours on end you want that comfort and feel in it.”

A comfortable tool leads to a more productive worker. “When a worker has a tool that feels good and does the job safely and efficiently he works more effectively,” adds Randy McDonald, national product manager for Fein. “High-end tools lead to more satisfied workers.”

Although a sturdy and robust design will allow the tool to work the whole day, if the ergonomics aren’t there, then a worker can become fatigued and will not be able to sustain prolonged, productive usage. Not all tools are created equally, just as not all workers use hand tools exactly the same. This is why it’s important to explore all ergonomic and design options that will best fit the job.

If a hand tool is too heavy or not well suited, this can lead to worker injury and compensation claims. Vibration is one of the key issues.

A condition known as white finger/muscle disease (carpal tunnel syndrome) can occur from working with tools that have high vibrations levels over an extended period of time, such as hammer drills or angle grinders.

“This has been reported as the biggest cause of compensation claims in the workplace,” says McDonald. “If a tool is designed with bad ergonomics it can also be a safety hazard…A poor handling tool can cause the operator to lose control of the tool or possibly slip out of their hands, which can be very dangerous.”

The fatigue that operators face can be a challenge, which is why ergonomics are so important.

“A happy worker is a good worker, especially when it comes to metalworking,” says Felder. “A grinder is a perfect example. It is an extension of the users arm. The work they do is an art form and it needs a delicate touch.”

Aside from weight and ergonomic grips, according to Mirasola, manufacturers tend to take time on other little things that will impact the user when designing high end tools. For example, the sound a tool makes is often overlooked because of the general noisy environments in which they are used, but loud environments can also produce worker fatigue.

“Using quality, high-end hand tools equip the operator with a very ergonomic and balanced equipment,” says Rezny. For NSK America, its high-quality tools offer a low audible decibel rating designed with the end user in mind.

While high price does not always mean that a tool is of a high quality, for Londrigan, better tools usually do run higher in price, but it’s because the tools are going to be constructed with better materials and components, assembled cleaner, have tighter tolerances, are better engineered and will last longer.

“All that adds to the cost of the tool,” he says.

To compromise on a lower quality product based on price alone can impact productivity and profit. According to Felder, “At the end of the day... when you are getting three to nine times as much life out of a tool, you are saving not only dollars in buying units over the long run, but you are also saving time by having the unit working and not having to repair it or substitute it for another.”