Are Stahlwille Tools Worth it?

A question to always ask before you buy something is “is this worth it?” It’s a good question to ask because it helps you consider whether or not what you’re buying is actually worth the price, and when it comes to tools this is a very important question to ask, and the answer to that question depends greatly on what you’re going to use that tool for. The answer to “is it worth it?” will be very different for everyone depending on what kind of tool user they are. Asking yourself “are Stahlwille tools worth it?” will of course be “yes, but…” because if you’re just using tools to fix things around the house or do basic handyman stuff as a hobby or occasional side job, you should probably buy something a little thriftier. If, however, you are one of those who LOVE tools or if you use them in a professional setting and need specialized, reliable tools, then it’s an emphatic YES, because Stahlwille tools are made to perform. Although they do have tools that would be good and affordable investments for the average Joe, they’re a cut above many other toolmakers in that they’re especially well-suited to industrial applications and use by professional mechanics.

Stahlwille tools are a big investment, however, they offer incredible value in longevity, specialization and reliability. Despite their obvious quality and dedication, overall, brand preference for tools in the United States has been largely for Craftsman, sometimes Klein and Ideal...depending on taste and line of work. These brands have likely been favored here, especially Craftsman because were known for being made in the USA. Unfortunately, Craftsman Tools, for the most part, haven’t been made in the USA since the 90s. That is changing, but the damage has largely been done and Craftsman will have to work hard to regain that lost ground because that jump overseas in the 90s lead to almost 30 years of worsening quality. It’s too little too late, especially in the face of brands like Stahlwille who have ALWAYS been made in their home country of Germany, never outsourcing to cut costs and corners.

Stahlwille Tools started in 1862 and they started by making pokers and fire tongs in Wuppertal, Germany, a location they’ve never left, and over the years they have not only maintained their quality, but have improved it. Brand power should ALWAYS get better, not worse. The name Stahlwille came from founder Eduard Wille and the German word “Stahl” for steel. After 1900, with the advent of the automobile, Stahlwille began to shift to making tools tailored to working on cars and later aircraft. You can see some of those early tools and Stahlwille’s milestones in their visitor’s center in Germany. If you can’t make it to Germany, you can take the online tour here. It’s a little tricky to navigate, but it looks really cool.

When it comes to automotive tools, Stahlwille goes all out. Stahlwille has worked with “leading automotive manufacturers” (Volkswagen, BMW, and Audi to name a couple) to not only develop standard tools, but special purpose and brand-specific tools for each manufacturer. Toolsets like the 285 piece No.2500 set for BMW vehicles and the No.1120 set for VW and Audi. They also make special pliers to reach parts that may be lodged in hard to reach places (including heater plug sockets), they make sockets that prevent damage to wheel bolts, Stahlwille’s Kabelex helps remove cables safely and quickly, and literally dozens of other specialized tools. They also make a number of workshop sets stocked with all the important tools and you can even get sets that take advantage of Stahlwille’s Tool Control System (TCS) to minimize tools getting lost in the car you’re working on. If a tool is missing, you’ll see the brightly colored foam where the tools should go. All of these sets come stocked with tools that are carefully selected to contain all of the most useful tools for various automotive tasks and make work more streamlined.

With these timesaving and work-focused features, Stahlwille stands apart from other toolmakers. In addition to saving time and preventing tool loss, Stahlwille’s tools have undergone 150 years of quality improvement. If you’re going to get tools to work on cars, especially if you’re going to use them for work, Stahlwille is going to be a great investment saving you time and providing tools that you can rely on to not break. Even if you work on cars in your spare time, there are likely more affordable Stahlwille toolsets you can get that will perform better than anything else out there.

Stahlwille Tools also bring this same quality, and benefits to the world of aircraft maintenance. Flying is, to some people, one of the most terrifying things to do, and if something goes wrong, the consequences are pretty conclusive. That said, flying is actually the safest way to travel. Superman even said so. The main reason for this would have to be that there are rigorous standards to become a mechanic and those standards are likely even higher with commercial aircraft. Another factor is that those mechanics have to work within very tight tolerances and specifications and they need tools that can do operate within those extremely stringent requirements. Stahlwille has built a reputation, especially over the past 30 years or so, as a trusted advisor and toolmaker for manufacturing and maintaining aircraft and aircraft parts. The tolerances of Stahlwille Tools are so exact they even comply with the quality standards for space travel.

You can imagine how good those tools have to be.

Stahlwille’s CEO, Winfried Czilwa (also an amateur pilot), had this to say about Stahlwille’s connection to aerospace and ensuring safety.

“Through our tools and tool storage systems we support the aircraft industry in its efforts to work safely and efficiently. Wherever possible, we help to preclude human error. One key issue is foreign object damage, known as FOD. It is absolutely essential to prevent small components being left behind in turbines, for example, during production and maintenance jobs. A second large area of activity is in torque technology, because logging results is becoming increasingly important in aerospace. Thirdly, our tool solutions support work processes and help to make them more efficient. This is a decisive aspect of the success of our aerospace manufacturing and airline customers because of the immense pressure on them to cut costs.”

While Stahlwille makes more than 250,000 tools tailored to aerospace, there are just a few things to highlight that begin to show you the contributions they make to aerospace. Add to that, all of these tools are designed to work within strict tolerances and are engineered to have a long service life, reducing costs associated with constant replacement.

Stahlwille’s Manoskop 730N is a torque wrench that features a wear-free triggering cam when torque is reached and this tool doesn’t need to be reset to 0. It’s a very fast tool that provides reliable results. Sockets have also been improved with Stahlwille’s spline-drive technology which transmits the forces on the fastener in the most even way possible. Spline-drive is made from special steel alloys which extend their service life over other tools. Spline-drive would be a great tool even for non-aircraft use if you want something that will last long and not damage your fasteners. Spline-drives are made exclusively in Germany and within the closest tolerances possible. One last unique tool is Stahlwille’s QuickRelease. QuickRelease is a finetooth ratchet with a 4.5° angle allowing great precision in small spaces. The best part of the QuickRelease, and what makes it especially suited to aircraft work, is that the green button needs to be pressed before any part of the tool detaches. This is of course a great way to prevent foreign object damage (FOD) by ensuring tools don’t fall off in use.

Like with automotive tools, you can also get streamlined, pre-chosen sets in trays to stock in one of Stahlwille’s tool trolleys. One such setup is the Stahlwille 13221 in trolley 13217 which is a specially assembled kit for airplanes. You can see this and other tray sets in this catalog. If we don’t have them in stock, we can get them for you!

Stahlwille Tools brings excellent value to the table for any shop or individual who needs tools for aerospace, automotive and industrial applications. They make their tools to have a long service life, making the initial investment worthwhile by reducing replacement of tools. They also reduce the need to replace tools due to losing them with their Tool Control System which also prevents damage and lost tools in whatever you’re working on. Stahlwille also makes specialized tools and sets for specific jobs reducing labor costs and ensuring quality repairs. In short, Stahlwille goes above and beyond what standard tools do by adding value and specializing for their niche. Stahlwille Tools is an investment in quality and an investment that enables reliable work within tight tolerances.

Stahlwille Tools are worth it.