If you are looking to buy some new tools, one of the main things to consider is which brand that you are going to choose. Of course, there are dozens of tool brands out there, and they’re certainly not all the same. Right now, we want to compare two of the most popular tool brands out there, Husky and Milwaukee.
]Let’s figure out which of the two is better for you.
A Brief History of Husky and Milwaukee
Husky is an American manufacturer that focuses on hand tools, tool storage, pneumatic tools, and also has some power tools available. Sigmund Mandl was the man who first started Husky, a Czechoslovakian who moved to the USA in the early 1900s. Mandl created the first Husky wrench in 1924, which is when the company really started. This was a very special and high-quality wrench for mechanics.
Husky then formed a collaboration with the J.H Williams Tool Group in 1928, which sold this Husky wrench within its own tool sets. Mandl left the company in 1929, at which point it was sold to the Olsen Manufacturing Company of Wisconsin, USA. It was then sold to the New Britain Machine Company in 1932, which was purchased by Litton Industries in the early 1970s.
In 1982, New Britain got rid of its line of hand tools, with Husky being sold to the National Hand Tool Company, which itself was purchased by Stanley Works in 1986. Stanley Black and Decker then sold the rights to Husky tools to the Home Depot. At this time, Husky is still owned by The Home Depot, and it is one of the smaller brands of tools out there.
Husky
Milwaukee is also an American tool company. It is based in Brookfield, Wisconsin. The official name of it is the Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, and although it produces many different product types, its main focus is power tools. This company got its start in 1923 when it was started by Albert Siebert and A.H Peterson. Siebert bought the whole company when Peterson left in 1924, shortly following a large fire.
At this time, Milwaukee is owned by a massive corporation, Techtronic Industries, a Chinese multinational company. This company also owns Ryobi, AEG, Dirt Devil, and many others.
The most interesting aspect of Milwaukee tools is that they were first made to meet and exceed the standards of the US Navy. Many tools used in the US Navy to this day come from Milwaukee. Milwaukee is a much larger company than Husky, having somewhere around 4,000 employees with yearly revenues estimated at $4 billion.
Milwaukee
Husky vs Milwaukee: Which Offers Better Quality?
In terms of build quality, Husky tools are fairly average. They are seen as being middle of the line. Most people agree that Husky tools work really well for small jobs, light home repairs, DIY tasks, and crafts. However, they are generally not seen as being durable or tough enough to handle daily heavy-duty work, such as for professional purposes. Yet, most people do agree that Husky tools are very functional, useful, and comfortable.
It is important to note that there is a huge difference between the power tools and the hand and mechanic’s tools produced by Husky. The power tools are seen as being very average, nothing special in the least, but the hand and mechanic’s tools are much higher in quality. Most would agree that Husky mechanic’s and hand tools can compete with the other top brands out there.
There are actually various other companies that produce the tools for Husky. These include the Apex Tool Group, Stanley Black & Decker, Western Forge, and Iron Bridge Tools. There are a select few products made in the USA, mainly hand and mechanic’s tools, although almost everything is made in China.
On the other hand, when it comes to Milwaukee tools, these are generally seen as being above average, not the very best in the world, but definitely not the worst either. People seem to like how Milwaukee tools feature a comparatively high-quality level in terms of the price. They don’t cost a fortune, yet can still handle some fairly heavy-duty work.
Most people would say that these tools are best used for jobs around the house, light repairs, and DIY tasks, and most would agree that they are even ideal for professional use, to a certain degree. Milwaukee tools may not be able to handle huge amounts of punishment, but they’re still pretty tough nonetheless.
Milwaukee does operate some production facilities in Wisconsin and Mississippi, as well as in Europe, although the majority of tools are made in China. That said, people agree that they are some of the best tools to come out of China.
Which Offers a Better Warranty?
Husky offers lifetime warranties on all hand tools and mechanic’s tools. The power tools have either two-year or three-year limited warranties.
Milwaukee has great warranties. All of the tools have one-, two-, three-, or five-year limited warranties. Most also have a 30 day money-back guarantee. Other tools have limited and lifetime warranties.
Husky vs. Milwaukee: Which Has a Better Product Portfolio
When it comes down to it, Milwaukee is the much larger company overall, and yes, it has a much larger product portfolio.
While Husky does produce some power tools, they only produce a small fraction of what Milwaukee produces. In terms of hand tools and mechanic’s tools, it is important to note that both brands have a great selection, although Milwaukee does still have more of these as well.
However, let’s keep in mind that Husky is renowned for its high-quality hand tools and mechanic’s tools, so in this regard, there is definitely a question of quality vs. quantity to consider.
Which of the Two Brands Should You Choose?
It really all comes down to what you need. If you need a great selection of high-quality mechanic’s tools and hand tools, Husky is the brand to go with. They also have great pneumatic tools.
That said, if what you are going for is a massive selection, especially of well-priced and high-quality power tools, then Milwaukee is the brand to choose.
Summary
There you have it folks, everything you need to know about Husky and Milwaukee to make an informed decision between the two. They may excel in different areas, but both are respected brands in their own rights.