Many people, myself included, have been waiting for Milwaukeeโs Master Mechanics Hand Tool Set with great anticipation. Now that itโs here, Iโm taking a deeper dive into what Milwaukee has to offer for mechanics and investigating whether Pros should take them as a serious contender in the mechanics hand tool space.
To gain better insight into what goes on behind the scenes, I connected with Milwaukee Product Manager Leigh Balto, who oversees Milwaukeeโs mechanics hand tool development, including the Master Mechanics Set.
Looking for Something Specific? Jump to These Sections
- A Short History of Milwaukee Mechanics Hand Tools
- Developing Hand Tools for Professional Mechanics
- Managing Production and Quality
- Helpful Features or Marketing Buzz?
- Pitching Pros on the Milwaukee Master Mechanics Hand Tool Set
- Milwaukee Hand Tools vs Tool Truck Brands
- Itโs About More Than Just Hand Tools
- Milwaukee Master Mechanics Hand Tool Set Details
A Short History of Milwaukee Mechanics Hand Tools
Letโs start with a little history. When I first started at Pro Tool Reviews back in 2013, Milwaukee was only three years into its hand tool journey, launching with just eight SKUs in 2010.
It wasnโt until 2018 that Milwaukee launched its first mechanics hand tools. Of course, professional mechanics have a wide range of needs between tool sizes and shapes, along with all the specialty tools that donโt crossover as easily into other trades. So, sticking with the basics isnโt an option if youโre going to make a real push into the market. By the end of 2025, Milwaukee will have nearly 550 SKUs specifically targeting the needs of mechanics, and thereโs no chance theyโre slowing down.
Developing Hand Tools for Professional Mechanics
Every new tool starts its life in the concept phase. So, how does Milwaukee decide what to make and bring it to the finish line as a final product?
Itโs a process of understanding context, listening to feedback, and continuing to iterate until itโs right.
โWe start by talking to whoโs doing the work, understanding what they need, not only just talking to them about their tools and what they like and donโt like and what their pain points are, but also observing. Thereโs a lot of insight that you can glean from just watching someone work. They might be doing workarounds on things that are just second nature to them at this point, they donโt even realize theyโre doing it, so theyโre not going to necessarily explicitly tell you those things.โ
โย Leigh Balto, Milwaukee Tool Product Manager
Thatโs not the final step, though. Once those initial designs are drawn up, Milwaukee has the ability to create physical modeling super-fast, sometimes as quickly as 24 hours. From there, they need working samples to send out and see if the design meets its goals.
โWhen we have first samples off the tooling, weโll leave them in the field for field testing to really use and abuse them, and then weโll continue with additional production runs.โ
โย Leigh Balto
Once Pros in the field give their feedback and the design team makes its final tweaks, the tool can go into full production.
Managing Production and Quality
Milwaukee has manufacturing in different areas around the world. Having visited high-end manufacturing in Asia personally, I can attest that some of these facilities are capable of producing extremely high-quality products. Still, thereโs a misconception that tools made overseas are inferior quality. Thatโs certainly true of some products, but not all of them.
โA big misconception is that a lot of brands will go to an overseas supplier. Theyโll kind of go to their factory showroom, look at the products that they offer, pick out the products they want, send over their logo PDF file, and then the supplier puts the logo on. Youโre in the hand tool business in a matter of months.โ
โWe [Milwaukee] take a different approach. All of our designs are our designs from the ground up. We start with nothing; make the initial drawings, create the CADs, set the critical dimensions, set the performance requirements. We spell out every little thing, every little radius, dimension, angle, material, process testing to make sure that we are getting a quality product thatโs going to meet the needs of the Pro.โ
โWe spell out exactly how the tool needs to function and be built. Thatโs a big, big difference from our approach compared to our competitors.โ
โย Leigh Balto
Helpful Features or Marketing Buzz?
Milwaukee has some of the best marketing people in the tool industry, and theyโve certainly come up with some clever branding over the years. I have friends who only know a reciprocating saw as a Sawzall, no matter which brand makes it.
But that brings up a questionโฆ is Milwaukee still innovating at a meaningful, disruptive level, or is it more about hyping up their products?
โWe [Milwaukee] are really intentional about the features that we offer. Weโre not going to add things just because it looks cool or sounds cool. Each and every one of them has a purpose, to solve a pain point, to solve a frustration. And that really comes out of that first-hand primary research that weโre doing with the Pro end user.โ
โ Leah Balto
Mechanic-Specific Innovations
Iโve seen how Milwaukeeโs innovation has changed the way Pros across all trades get their jobs done, including mechanics. So, letโs look at a brief sampling of specific ways Milwaukee has innovated hand tools in the automotive space.
4-Flat Sockets
Innovation isnโt always complicated. If something rolls and you donโt want it to, make it square so it doesnโt roll away. Milwaukeeโs 4-flat sockets were created specifically to solve that problem without sacrificing fit or performance.
Wrenchable Sockets
Space is tight in an engine bay, and itโs getting tighter. You might not have room for your socket and ratchet. But if you can fit the socket on the bolt, Milwaukeeโs 4-flat socket design lets you reach in and use your combination wrench to get leverage on the fastener to break it loose or finish tightening it.
144-Tooth Ratchets
Speaking of tight spaces, itโs not just head length you have to worry about. Arc swing is another issue. Milwaukeeโs ratcheting wrenches use a 144-tooth design, requiring just 2.5ยฐ of arc swing to make progress. Compare that to a standard 72-tooth design that needs 5ยฐ. When youโre having to turn to your tool of last resort, space is usually the reason, and that super-tight arc makes a difference.
Packout Integration
Milwaukeeโs Packout system disrupted the tool storage space when it launched, and mechanics can benefit. From bulk storage to more recent pre-configured tool sets, the adaptable modular system is a game-changer for mobile mechanics. Even in a shop setting, using the wall mount system to organize can be a big upgrade over tons of traditional metal storage.
Pitching Pros on the Master Mechanics Hand Tool Set
When I first caught wind of Milwaukeeโs Master Mechanics Set, I knew it was going to be solid, but I wondered whether there was going to be anything special baked into the recipe to help set it apart from other tool sets you might be considering.
โThe two big key pain points that we address with this set are organization and versatility. We know time is money. Especially if youโre a flat rate mechanic, you need to get that job done as quickly and efficiently as possible.โ
โย Leigh Balto
A closer look at some of the design elements shows us how Milwaukee targeted those pain points.
Organization
While Milwaukee isnโt the first to include EVA foam trays in their set, they improved them. If you donโt know what size socket or wrench you need, you usually pull the whole set over. With typical foam inserts, they canโt support the weight of the tools, so theyโre floppy. Milwaukee added a rigid plastic base layer with handles cut in to make them easier to carry around the shop.
The EVA foam is two colors with high contrastโblack on top, red in the pocket. When you look at the tray, if you see red, youโre missing something. Itโs useful for any mechanic, but especially in the aviation industry where you have to account for every tool and accessory before closing up the engine cowling.
Versatility
The versatility aspect comes from Packout integration. It opens up hundreds of different possibilities to mix, match, and add to it. You can start with the master set, and then customize from there to meet your unique needs.
There are even exterior attachments. If you have something like a 42-inch pry bar that wonโt fit inside the boxes, you can add an attachment that lets you keep it with your other tools. That kind of versatility helps Packout grow with you.
Additional Master Mechanic Set Highlights
- Better access with combination ratcheting wrenches
- Bold, long-lasting markings on impact sockets
- Higher torque potential on combination wrenches
- Faster setup with Torque Lock on locking pliers
- High-leverage handles on screwdrivers
- Improved access and gripping force on long reach pliers
Milwaukee Mechanics Hand Tools vs Tool Truck Brands
All that sounds great, but how does Milwaukee compare to the tool truck brands? There are three key areas weโll consider: price, distribution, and warranty.
Price
When you talk to new mechanics, they can be pretty starry-eyed about certain tool brands. Taking a moment to objectively look at the long-term consequences of your choices can be eye-opening, though.
โHey, you donโt have to take a second mortgage out on your house for our tools. Joking aside, the main point is you need to think about the the cost over your career. Itโs really easy to just hand someone $25 a week. When you look at the cost over time, thatโs thousands, and [some] people are paying that off even after they retire. I talked to end users, who are $10,000 in debt because theyโre still paying their tool truck.โ
โ Leigh Balto
It only takes a little searching to see that Milwaukeeโs mechanics hand tools are far less expensive than the tool truck brands. Taking the hit and paying for them outright not only avoids the weekly paycheck hit but also avoids the interest that adds to your total cost over time.
Theyโre not the cheapest tools you can buy, though. Since Milwaukee controls not only the design, but also the quality of the components, youโre spending less money without compromising on the quality of your tools. You can be confident theyโre in it for the long haul, unlike cheap brands that are unlikely to stand the test of time.
Distribution
Having the tool trucks come by your shop is super-convenient. However, youโre tied to their schedule. If you need something, you could be stuck waiting a week until they roll back in again. With Milwaukee, you can buy online or from brick-and-mortar stores on your schedule.
But if you prefer the tool truck experience, keep your eyes open. Milwaukee is expanding its presence with independent tool truck retailers. Plus, Milwaukee works with them to ensure theyโre able to make the profit they need as business owners without charging you a premium over MSRP for the tools you need.
Warranty
Like many hand tool manufacturers, Milwaukee has a lifetime warranty for their mechanics hand tools. However, they wanted to make the process less stressful and time-consuming than other brands. If you run into an issue, the process is easy, and you can complete it when itโs most convenient for you.
You donโt have to provide a receipt or pay to ship the broken tool back. Fill out the online form (it takes about two minutes), upload a picture of the broken tool, and provide the address you want the replacement delivered to. Milwaukee will take it from there.
Thereโs no waiting for the tool truck, filling out a complicated form in the back of a hot truck, or listening to extra sales pitches. Itโs all about getting you back in the game as efficiently as possible.
Itโs About More Than Just Hand Tools
Milwaukeeโs hand tools are excellent, but donโt forget their power tools. The M18 platform is the most comprehensive trade-focused battery system available, and the M12 platform has many of the compact tools you need.
As one of the premium brands in the cordless sector, Milwaukee not only covers your basics, but youโll find many of the niche mechanics tools you need, along with cordless options that can replace air tools.
At the end of the day, itโs not about jumping on the bandwagon and becoming a fanboy/fangirl. Itโs about what makes the most sense for the way you work and your bottom line. Milwaukee simply does it better and more comprehensively, and thatโs why so many Pros rely on them to get the job done.
Milwaukee Master Mechanics Hand Tool Set Details
Weโve made the case for why going with Milwaukee hand tools is a great choice and what sets their master mechanics set apart. So, what does it come with?
The set is made up of three pre-configured Packout boxes plus the Packout dolly to roll the stack around your shop. Hereโs what each component includes:
242-Piece Ratchet and Socket Set (48-22-9491)
- Packout 4-Drawer Tool Box
- Custom EVA foam trays
- 77-piece 1/4-in and 3/8 drive metric, SAE, and Torx socket set
- 77-piece 1/4-in, 3/8-in, and 1/2-in drive metric socket set
- 65-piece1/4-in, 3/8-in, and 1/2-in drive SAE socket set
- 23-piece 1/4-in, 3/8-in, and 1/2-in drive ratchet and accessories set
60-Piece Combination Wrench Set (48-22-9492)
- Packout 4-Drawer Tool Box
- Custom EVA foam trays
- 15-piece metric combination wrench set
- 15-piece SAE combination wrench set
- 15-piece metric ratcheting combination wrench set
- 15-piece SAE ratcheting combination wrench set
64-Piece Hand Tool Set (48-22-9493)
- Packout 4-Drawer Tool Box
- Custom EVA foam trays
- 17-piece screwdriver and pry bar set
- 10-piece pliers and pick set
- 9-piece pliers and wrench set
- 28-piece hex key and hammer set
The entire set is $3999. 99. While thatโs certainly not inexpensive, keep in mind that it includes the quality tools, the versatile storage, all the innovation, and an easy-to-use lifetime warranty.
Just for kicks, I looked around to see what other brands have to offer with a similar loadout. Snap-on, Mac Tools, Sonic, and others are much more expensive. Plus, their storage solutions arenโt as versatile as being able to build and grow using the Packout system.
Thereโs certainly nothing wrong with those other brands. They make excellent tools that do the job well. However, if youโre the kind of Pro who wants to keep more of your money and still own high-quality, innovative tools, my advice is to make your investment in Milwaukee mechanics tools.
