Menard’s Masterforce tools?

[Elkins45]

I was in a Menards store recently to pick up a gun safe and I saw that they have their own line of tools. I didn't pay too much attention at the time but I’m curious because I’m shopping for tools again. Are they decent quality? Any reason to choose them over the basic Harbor Freight offerings?

 

[Lubener]

From what I seen, Masterforce is a step up from Harbor Freight.

 

[Rand]

AFAIK: Masterforce is pretty standard fare import tools, below premium HF above the bottom barrel HF.

 

[researcher]

I was in a Menards store recently to pick up a gun safe and I saw that they have their own line of tools. I didn't pay too much attention at the time but I’m curious because I’m shopping for tools again. Are they decent quality? Any reason to choose them over the basic Harbor Freight offerings?

if you compare the masterforce brand of hand tools to the "basic" harbor freight stuff.. yes the masterforce is definitely a step up. I have many of the masterforce hand tools, they're like a B+ or A if I were to give them a grade. I've had some for about 20 years still working fine.

Wait.. you're talking hand tools under the Masterforce brand, right? Because they also brand power tools under that name.

 

[Tdbo]

Masterforce is good stuff. Every bit as good as Craftsman.
Never had an issue with any of the pieces I have,
Tool Shop is their line that compares to HF. It is decent.

 

[Elkins45]

How do they compare to the Kobalt brand Lowe’s sells?

 

[Tdbo]

How do they compare to the Kobalt brand Lowe’s sells?

I'd say they are comparable.
I can't speak to the ratchets, but the few sockets, extensions, and the 1/4" handle I have are very well finished and every bit as sturdy as those in the 1/4" Kobalt set I have.
They kind have become my go to because the store is convenient to me, has good sales, and I like that they have an assortment of individual sockets, extensions, etc. that I can purchase as needed to augment the several sets that I have.
They have a much more comprehensive offering of separate pieces than Lowes offers with separate Kobalt pieces, at least in my area.
I'm not going to say that they are God's gift to tools, but they offer solid pieces that are a very good value.

 

[researcher]

I'd say they are comparable.
I can't speak to the ratchets, but the few sockets, extensions, and the 1/4" handle I have are very well finished and every bit as sturdy as those in the 1/4" Kobalt set I have.
They kind have become my go to because the store is convenient to me, has good sales, and I like that they have an assortment of individual sockets, extensions, etc. that I can purchase as needed to augment the several sets that I have.
They have a much more comprehensive offering of separate pieces than Lowes offers with separate Kobalt pieces, at least in my area.
I'm not going to say that they are God's gift to tools, but they offer solid pieces that are a very good value.

I completely agree with your take on the Masterforce hand tools. I haven't had one break on me in all the years I've had them. And you're right, if I need only one socket or box wrench I end up at Menards getting one. I liked their 1/4" socket set they had for sale a couple years ago, black friday sale. nice!

 

[Schurkey]

Menards "Masterforce" hand tools USED to be made by the Armstrong/Danaher conglomerate. They were, for all practical purposes, exactly the same products, and the same quality as the Made-In-USA Craftsman, (and, I think, Kobalt and early MATCO, all of which were contract-supplied by Danaher or whoever bought them that week) but with different handle designs on the ratchets and screwdrivers.

Armstrong got shut-down, Danaher has been bought and sold like the Town Trollop, and everything got offshored. For a short time, Menards was selling-off the last of the Allen products--another brand name in that conglomerate. The "Allen" brand did not last long at 'Nards.

I have no idea where they're sourcing the Masterforce tools from now, except they're all imports, and not half-bad.

 

[Tdbo]

Masterforce is good stuff. Every bit as good as Craftsman.
Never had an issue with any of the pieces I have,
Tool Shop is their line that compares to HF. It is decent.

I forgot to mention, they have a third tier: Performax.
It seems that this is their mid grade line, between Masterforce and Tool Shop.
The Performax items that I have have been fine.
This tends to be the line that is most featured in their fliers.

 

[dlundblad]

HF sockets are made in Taiwan. I can’t seeing the Nards’s Chinese offerings being better, but what do I know. What tools specifically are you shopping for?

 

[researcher]

I forgot to mention, they have a third tier: Performax.
It seems that this is their mid grade line, between Masterforce and Tool Shop.
The Performax items that I have have been fine.
This tends to be the line that is most featured in their fliers.

oh ya I completely forgot about Performax. Bought a Performax tool set (sockets, ratchet, screwdriver and bits type) for emergencies in my friend's car. I've used it a couple times (replacing their battery), it's mid-tier stuff but worked well. Give that a B grade rating. Came in a clear lid case and yup it was in their flier when I got it, good price.

 

[facility1]

Found Master force hand tools, have a lifetime warranty, if a problem, go to the counter and they exchange it, no questions asked, and their power tools are real good from my experience with a three-year warranty, again they exchange with no problem, the pricing is very completive also, highly recommend Master force stuff.

 

[Elkins45]

HF sockets are made in Taiwan. I can’t seeing the Nards’s Chinese offerings being better, but what do I know. What tools specifically are you shopping for?

Extended length and/or swivel head ratchets.

 

[dlundblad]

Extended length and/or swivel head ratchets.

I am sure they’re fine, but I wouldn’t say they are above HF.

 

[RyanY]

If you are looking for value ratchets it is hard to beat HF.

Their Pittsburgh swivel heads are 72 tooth and therefore have more back drag than some premium brands, but they perform well and won't break the bank ($15-20 depending on size). If you prefer less back drag their Icon line is available for $40+.

I have no idea how Pittsburgh prices compare to Menards, but they are definitely lower than most and will last forever with DIY use.

One more thing. HF also has a mid level Quinn line with most pieces identical to Gearwrench. But from what I've seen the Quinn selection is more limited than Pittsburgh and Icon.