Pittsburg Tools Review: Are Their Tools Any Good?

It’s often said that a craftsman can only be as good as his tools, which is why so many people get a little crazy about tool brands. Pittsburgh Tools is one of the newer hardware store-specific tool brands to hit the market. (It’s for Harbor Freight, by the way!) While they’re still new, people are starting to gain a love of this brand. So, what’s the deal with Pittsburgh Tools?

Pittsburgh Tools are generally seen as one of the more affordable store-specific brands, but it’s not a cheaply made brand. People agree that the quality of the tools is fairly decent, to the point where you can rely on them for typical projects. However, the Pittsburgh line struggles with selection and minor details in tool design.

If you’re looking for a new toolkit or just want to get the scoop on this up-and-coming brand, then you’ll enjoy this article. We did all the research you’ll ever need about this tool brand.

Pittsburgh Tools is meant to be a professional-grade brand that focuses on hand tools rather than power tools. As far as the products go, you can expect to find standard hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers. Once in a while, you might also get a nice hand truck or lifter, but aside from that, it’s fairly basic.

This is a good brand for generic, basic tools that you need for most home projects. Sometimes, you might also get tools that are meant for automotive uses, such as a motorcycle lift. If you’re looking for specialized items like a beveling saw or motorized tools, think again.

The cool thing about Pittsburgh Tools is that they say their tools are made in the same factories as competitors like Husky, but that they cut out the middle man. This is done to pass the savings onto the consumer, and honestly, it’s a good bargain price. Pittsburgh is noticeably more affordable than most competitors of a similar quality level.

Though Pittsburgh isn’t the cheapest tool brand out there, one can say it’s moderately priced. That alone is not too bad, especially considering how much tools cost.

Here’s where many people tend to be shocked when they learn about Pittsburgh: their warranties rule. Well, at least on paper they do. Almost all tools under this brand umbrella will have a lifetime warranty, so if you have a part that breaks, you can get an immediate replacement, no questions asked.

The one thing that I will point out is that there have been some problems actually getting their warranties redeemed in stores. So while it’s good on paper, there is a slim chance you might have a harder time in person. Usually calling customer service can help, but it’s still a snag worth noting.

Since Pittsburgh is Harbor Freight’s store brand, the answer should be obvious. The best place to go for them is at your local Harbor Freight store, since they will literally have them in stock all the time. However, there are other ways you can get your hands on Pittsburgh if you do not want to go in-store.

Harbor Freight’s website has a good selection, and Pittsburgh also can be found on major retailing sites like Amazon. If you are searching for a particular tool, you can usually find it by searching it up by name online.

Overall, my verdict is that Pittsburgh is a great example of a brand that is going to be on the up and up. The brand has a good warranty, a nice selection of hand tools, and also keeps prices low by way of their business model. Since Pittsburgh is associated with a trusted name like Harbor Freight, it’s going to be a name that most craftsmen will feel comfortable with.

If you’re looking for an affordable brand that will give you a good start on a beginner toolset, then Pittsburgh will be a great match. However, it still is a beginner brand that is still making its break in the industry. This is not going to be the ultra-reliable work of Snap-On, nor is it going to have the type of craftsmanship that people expect from DeWalt.

The bottom line is that you need to temper your expectations with Pittsburgh Tools if you want to be happy with the brand. It’s not the best, but it’s still pretty darn good—much like a favorite chain restaurant. Whether you’re a fan of this level of quality is up to you to determine.

Related Questions

Where is Pittsburgh Tools made?

If you were hoping that the answer was going to be in Pittsburgh, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Pittsburgh Tools are all made in China, though the name may be a bit misleading. The truth is that most hand tools are not going to be made in the United States anymore, and it actually takes a lot of research to find brands that even make a small portion of their tools in the United States.

Is Snap-On owned by Harbor Freight?

Though Snap-On tools have long been a major “solo player” in the world of tools, the truth is that things have changed. Harbor Freight now owns the majority share of Snap-On tools as a company. With that said, it doesn’t appear that Harbor Freight is going to change much about how Snap-On tools are made or the quality of their designs.

Why are Snap-On tools so expensive?

There are several reasons why Snap-On tools come at such a high price. The most common issue is that they have to be made with specialized materials and high-precision machinery. Next up, there is also a heavy amount of research and design that goes into each iteration of a Snap-On tool. R+D costs a lot of money to do right, but it’s worth it since it means that you will be able to enjoy your tools more, for longer.