Hand Tool Reviews & Buying Guides

Hand tools make up a large portion of the equipment we carry every day. Pro Tool reviews pays close attention to recent innovations. Our hand tool reviews include knives & cutting tools, wrenches, chisels, fastening tools, hammers, and more. These hand tools covers the gamut from one end of the industry to another. Possibly our favorite series is our best framing hammer review. In that head-to-head review we compared nine popular models. This type of comparison isn’t always possible, but we do test out these tools on the jobsite. Hand Tool Reviews for the Pro Tradesman This is also where you’ll find popular lighting products and even folding knives from Kershaw, CRKT, and Zero Tolerance. We try to review as many of these types of tools as possible. This helps us remain a leader in reporting industry trends. This is particularly important when manufacturers add new features or make tweaks to their products. Sometimes they revamp an entire line. Other times they include something that only slightly improves a hand tool over a previous model. It all adds up.

Craftsman 1/4", 3/8" & 1/2" Drive Thin Profile Ratchets Review

Craftsman Low Profile Ratchets Review

Craftsman 1/4″, 3/8″ & 1/2″ Drive Thin Profile Ratchets give you the ability to reach in tight spaces. These ratchets have super comfortable handles and are covered entirely in high polished chrome. With a 60 tooth ratchet gear inside, you only have to move the ratchet 6 degrees to get it to index to the next “click.” This is significant because the regular Craftsman ratchets only have 36 tooth ratchet gears which means you have to move it 10 degrees.

Zircon MetalliScanner MT6 Review

Zircon MT6 MetalliScanner Review

Ever wonder if they put all the hurricane strapping in your house or if your concrete slab is reinforced with steel? Well you don’t have to wonder any more if you use a Zircon MT6 MetalliScanner. This tool will locate and indicate the approximate depth of both magnetic and non-magnetic metals up to 6″ deep in most all nonmetallic construction materials. With this tool, you can figure out where the metal is before your expensive drill bit or saw blade does.

Swanson TS149 9” Sliding T-Bevel Review

Swanson Sliding Bevel TS149 Review

The Swanson TS149 9″ Sliding T-Bevel is a classic yet modern tool that the craftsman can use everyday for all types of woodworking projects, either as an angle finder or as a square. The T-Bevel is especially handy when trying to duplicate an odd angle of an existing condition.

Kershaw Zing 1735 Folding Knife Review

Kershaw Zing 1735 Knife Review

If you are a pocket knife kind of guy who is always on the lookout for innovative knives, then you need to check out Kershaw’s new folder knife. It’s called the Zing 1735 and it has a unique 3D machined blade. This folding pocket knife is made with special stainless steel and was designed by the famous knife designer RJ Martin.

Black and Decker Lids Off Jar Opener

Black and Decker Lids Off Jar Opener Preview

I’m almost apologetic about posting this first look on what is essentially a can opener, but sometimes a tool is so unbelievably bizarre that it warrants some attention. This is such a tool. Now, while opening jars is hardly exciting, how many times have you seen someone struggle with this common task that most of us take for granted. The Black & Decker Lids Off Jar Opener is designed, not for those who reach for the nearest hammer, knife, or screwdriver to ease stubborn lids, but those that simply can’t perform this simple, everyday task. And it does it for less than $20!

Kobalt 10-Piece SAE Combination Wrench Set Review

Kobalt 10-Piece SAE Combination Wrench Set Review

Kobalt’s 10-Piece SAE Combination Wrench Set is made in USA and includes 10 different SAE sized wrenches from 1/4-inch to 7/8-inch. The wrenches are drop forged and have a nice textured grip so that they won’t easily slip out of hand during use. We found that even when our hands were oily, the wrenches stayed put. They also worked very well with gloves, which is important if you’re used to working with hand protection.

Kobalt 11-Piece Pliers & Wrench Tool Set Review

Kobalt 11 Piece Wrench Set Review

I love comfortable hand tools. Whether its a nicely designed hammer, or a great handle on a screwdriver, a well-designed tool that fits your hand perfectly is all the more easier to use. The 11-piece Pliers & Wrench Tool Set from Kobalt Tools is beautiful to look at and easy to handle. Though these tools are made in China, they seem to have a decent heft and quality about them that lets you know they will be around for years to come.

Kobalt 154-Piece Socket Set Review

Kobalt 154 Piece Socket Set Review

Tools. Everybody needs a good set, and Kobalt Tools is aiming squarely at the consumer market with their new line of sockets. This 154-Piece Socket Set includes all of the basic and extended sockets you could want for basic automotive and household uses. One of the things that is a constant annoyance is not having deep sockets for use with carriage bolts or other situations that require a deeper socket to clear the end of a bolt. With the Kobalt Socket Kit you have a solid 2 inches of depth past the ratchet.