Hand tool product attributes

Hand tools cover hundreds of tool types, but most records fail on a few shared facts. Size is the obvious one: a 19 mm wrench and a 3/4 in wrench are close but not interchangeable, and supplier files often drop the unit or mix metric and SAE in one column. Drive size, point count and overall length are frequently packed into the product title, where they cannot be filtered.

Several attributes look similar but mean different things. A black finish does not make a socket impact rated. A tool with a rubber grip is not an insulated tool unless it is tested and marked to an insulation standard for live work. Non-sparking tools are made from specific alloys, and the alloy matters to a safety manager even when the catalog title just says "spark resistant".

Sets add another layer. A set is its own orderable item with a piece count, a size range and a list of components, and the individual pieces may also be sold separately under their own part numbers. A buyer needs to know which sizes are included, the drive size, the measurement system, and whether each tool carries the ratings the job requires.

The hand tools attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 6 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	HT-CRW-19M
Sold As / Pieces per Set sold_as_pieces_per_set	Controlled list	Core	Set, 12 pc
GTIN-12 (UPC-A) gtin_12_upc_a	Identifier	Channel / evidence	614141000524

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Nominal Size (Head / Opening / Blade) nominal_size_head_opening_blade	Controlled list	Core	19 mm
Overall Length overall_length	Number · in	Core	9-3/4 in (248 mm)
Torque Range and Accuracy torque_range_and_accuracy	Text · ft-lb	Buyer decision	30-250 ft-lb, ±4% clockwise
Cutting Capacity cutting_capacity	Text	Buyer decision	8 AWG solid / 10 AWG stranded copper

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Tool Type tool_type	Controlled list	Core	Combination wrench, ratcheting
Measurement System measurement_system	Controlled list	Core	Metric
Number of Points number_of_points	Controlled list	Buyer decision	12-point
Material material	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Chrome molybdenum steel (Cr-Mo)
Finish finish	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Black phosphate
Impact Rated impact_rated	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Yes
Handle / Grip Type handle_grip_type	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Dual-material cushion grip
Non-Sparking Alloy non_sparking_alloy	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Aluminum bronze

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Drive Size drive_size	Controlled list · in	Buyer decision	1/2 in

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Insulation Rating insulation_rating	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	1000 V AC / 1500 V DC, IEC 60900
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Taiwan

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Impact rated
• Insulation rating (voltage plus standard)
• Non-sparking alloy
• Tether-ready (ANSI/ISEA 121)
• Set contents list with individual part numbers

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing hand tools ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Is this socket impact rated, or only for hand ratchets?
• Which sizes are in this set, and are they metric or SAE?
• Is this screwdriver rated for live electrical work, and to what voltage?
• Can I buy the 19 mm piece from this set on its own?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ