Dropped $180 on a fancy stillson wrench and it slipped on the first job. Gutted.

Bought a high end stillson from a tool truck last week cause my old one kept losing grip on pipe clamps. First use on a commercial job in Phoenix and it slipped right off a 3/4 galvanized for a fire sprinkler tie in. The teeth just didn't bite at all. I'm back to my beat up Rigid from Home Depot that costs like 60 bucks. Anyone else get burned by a pricey tool that just didn't perform?

3 comments

3 Comments

brown.gavin1mo ago

Wait, you paid $180 for a Stillson wrench and it slipped on 3/4 galvanized? That's like buying a sports car that stalls at a green light. I had a similar thing happen with a fancy torque wrench once, felt like I was just burning money. What brand was that thing, anyway? I'd want to know so I can avoid it like a bad pipe joint.

kimr101mo ago

Used to swear by premium brands but this changed my mind completely.

shane6554d ago

Yeah, you said "this changed my mind completely" and I get that, but @brown.gavin also made a good point about that torque wrench thing. I think sometimes people mix up "premium brand" with "expensive brand." A real premium tool should hold up better than that Stillson did. I've seen cheap wrenches that grab better than some high end ones because the teeth are cut sharper from the factory. The problem is a lot of these companies slap a big name on something made in the same factory as the budget stuff. So you're paying double for a sticker, not better steel or heat treatment. That's why I always check reviews from guys who actually use tools every day, not just bloggers.