Tools

Whether you're a contractor, run a trade business, or simply want top-quality tools on hand at home, the RS range of tools make tasks easier and quicker to complete- resulting in a quality finish.

We pride ourselves on our close relationships with trusted manufacturers. That's why our extensive selection of hand and power tools for the trade, electricians, industrial users and more come from leading names like Apex Tool Group, Klein Tools, and Norton.

There are tens of thousands of hardware tools on offer from our partners, so you're certain to be able to find effective additions to your toolbox or inventory. Use the search filters above to narrow your selection by power or hand tool type, manufacturer, or stock levels, or search within the results for even more rapid results.

To learn more about tools, how they're used, and the various types available, read on or visit our expert hub. For more information on our products, contact our team.

What is a tool?

Tools are used to manipulate items, materials, or the environment in ways that go beyond what a person can do with just their hands. They can run from highly specialized hand tools used for very specific tasks, such as fuse pullers, through to trade tools like drills, which are used across a very wide range of jobs.

Tools can be powered by hand or driven by electricity, fossil fuels, or compressed gas. For industrial and trade users, tools typically fall into the latter category, given the need for increased tool speed and power.

How to find the right hardware tool

With so many hardware tools on offer, getting the right one can be a confusing and time-consuming task. That's why knowing what to look for in a tool can make life much easier:

• Capabilities- Only you know what you need a tool to do. Understand the task or contract at hand inside and out and choose tools accordingly. If flexibility is important to you, consider whether one hardware tool can perform multiple roles.
• Ergonomics- If you're spending most of your day using a particular power or hand tool, make sure it's comfortable to use and not liable to cause an injury.
• Safety- Particularly in the case of powered hardware tools, make sure that the tool has adequate safety features for the task at hand. Look out for properly sized guards and shields, textured and well-formed grips, and features like dead man's switches.
• Integration- Purchasing hand tools from a single manufacturer or of a particular type can make storing or powering them simpler. This is especially important with battery power tools, where chargers and batteries are rarely universal.

What are the different hardware tools and their uses?

There are countless hardware tools in the RS range to choose from. To help you choose, here are some of the most popular types and how they're used.

• Hand tools - Operated by hand, not a battery or other fuel source, hand tools come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, and are best used for lighter, more precise tasks.
• Electric tools - Powered by corded or battery electricity, electric tools include specialist equipment like electricians' voltage detectors, through to impact drivers, electric screwdrivers, and vacuum cleaners.
• Industrial tools - Heavy-duty through and through, industrial tools make conducting industrial-strength jobs easier and faster than if the same job were done by hand. As a result, they're typically powered and designed to be heavy-duty to cope with considerable stresses.

Why choose RS for power and hand tools?

With RS, gain high-quality, low-maintenance tools that help you get the job done in a shorter space of time to a greater level of finish. Our selection of over 20,000 hardware power and hand tools guarantee that whatever task you need to complete, we can help.

Browse through the many different tool categories we offer above, from manufacturers like 3M, Wiha Tools, and Makita. To save money on your tools, choose the RS PRO range, or buy in bulk to reduce costs while filling up your tool inventory.

To learn more about our hardware tool range or for more information on your order, please get in touch- our team will be happy to answer any questions you have. To explore various tool topics, be sure to visit our expert hub of guides, articles, and news.