BAHCO Made in USA tools

davestlouis · Feb 17, 2009

What is Snap On trying to accomplish with the BAHCO ratchets and wrenches that are turning up at retail locations? They are US-made, so they have no real connection to the Swedish BAHCO except the name and parent company. Where does Williams fit into this scenario?

My local Worldwide Liquidators store has both BAHCO and Williams sets, the BAHCO are full polish, the Williams have a matte industrial finish.

I have been unimpressed with the BAHCO ratchets, but the wrenches seem OK.

https://goo.io/KKQVMl

wrenchr · Feb 17, 2009

The wrenches have a weird design by the open end.

Paladin · Feb 17, 2009

wrenchr said:
The wrenches have a weird design by the open end.

If your talking about the beam tapering down right before the open-end, they are the same as the newer Williams USA Supercombo's. What purpose it serves, I don't know, but the Williams Supercombo's have the anti-slip open-end. The Bahco's probably do as well. I really like mine! :thumbup:

davestlouis · Feb 17, 2009

They have a thin spot by the open end, not sure why it's there. The sockets are fine, nothing special, but not junk either.

davestlouis · Feb 17, 2009

I just don't understand the purpose in selling a foreign-sounding product, with no obvious tie-in to SO that would give the name some brand equity, when they have JH Williams sitting there. The marketing escapes me.

Paladin · Feb 17, 2009

davestlouis said:
I just don't understand the purpose in selling a foreign-sounding product, with no obvious tie-in to SO that would give the name some brand equity, when they have JH Williams sitting there. The marketing escapes me.

I agree. If I didn't know anything about Bahco or Williams, I'd buy Williams. Bahco sounds like something I'd find at HF. :shocking:

davestlouis · Feb 17, 2009

And I think my BAHCO's have smooth open ends, but I'm too lazy to look right now...I'll wake up the dogs and there'll be hell to pay. If they pushed the whole "Swedish Snap On" tie in there would be some Euro-panache there, but they don't even bother to do that.

They could sell the stuff for big money like Beta or Hazet, if they marketed it properly.

Paladin · Feb 17, 2009

Yeah, but I don't know if marketing would help because I don't know that the average American associates Swedish with quality like products made in Germany. On a personal level, I think VERY highly of Swedish steel because I am a fan of Gustav and Husqvarna rifles, so the marketing would work on me! :thumbup:

davestlouis · Feb 17, 2009

I have owned several SAAB cars and a Volvo ( and a couple of Swedish Mausers), so I'm a fan of Swedish engineering.

Paladin · Feb 17, 2009

davestlouis said:
I have owned several SAAB cars and a Volvo ( and a couple of Swedish Mausers), so I'm a fan of Swedish engineering.

Unfortunately, over the last few years, more folks seem to be appreciating the Swede Mausers. They ain't cheap any more!!! Yeah, I definately appreciate Swedish engineering! :thumbup:

Monte · Feb 18, 2009

The Bahco sockets/ratchets/wrenches which are sold here in germany are made in argentinia, the sets which are sold in these boxes *(click)* are made in Taiwan. So i guess no swedish steel here...

amishman · Feb 18, 2009

Anyone have a good source to buy Bahco in the USA. And I mean the slick looking sets like Monte just posted, not the snap on stuff you find at overstock.

tj

eschoendorff · Feb 18, 2009

davestlouis said:
I just don't understand the purpose in selling a foreign-sounding product, with no obvious tie-in to SO that would give the name some brand equity, when they have JH Williams sitting there. The marketing escapes me.

I dunno... but the only place I ever see Bahco stuff is at places like Big Lots and the like.

Then again I have a few Bahco saws that I REALLY like, but they were made in Europe.

jerk_chicken · Feb 18, 2009

Looks like basic quality stuff with a high price range due to it being perceived and marketed as a brand name.

plinker · Feb 18, 2009

The open end on the wrenches, at least with the Williams is a "flankdrive plus" style feature. It works pretty much the same as the Snap-on.

I have a williams 1/2 combo wrench with it and it will really chew up fasteners with enough torque.

Theo · Feb 18, 2009

BAHCO tools are intended to be marketed towards Plumbers, Electricians and HVAC Techs.

Williams tools are intended to be marketed towards Industrial Millwrights and Mechanics.

Have a look at BAHCO Linesman Pliers, Adj Joint Pliers or Side Cutters. They have different features (and price points) than tools typically used by Industrial guys.

The differences between the brands isn't as apparent with combination wrenches and ratchets but they exist to round out the product lines. The other difference is the channels the tools are intended to be sold through.

You're more likely to see BAHCO Tools sold at Electrical Distributors like Graybar and Williams Tools sold at places like Hagemeyer. This detail is a little more relevant to the marketing, merchandising and promotion of the tools.

Rigmaster · Feb 18, 2009

Paladin said:
Unfortunately, over the last few years, more folks seem to be appreciating the Swede Mausers. They ain't cheap any more!!! Yeah, I definately appreciate Swedish engineering!

Oh yeah, I appreciate it too!!!!

bchee · Feb 18, 2009

Paladin said:
the Williams Supercombo's have the anti-slip open-end. The Bahco's probably do as well. I really like mine!

plinker said:
The open end on the wrenches, at least with the Williams is a "flankdrive plus" style feature. It works pretty much the same as the Snap-on.

davestlouis said:
And I think my BAHCO's have smooth open ends, but I'm too lazy to look right now...

just fyi the BAHCO open ends do NOT have any kind of flank drive grooves like the Williams Supercombos. The beam shape is otherwise the same

Paladin · Feb 18, 2009

Rigmaster said:
Oh yeah, I appreciate it too!!!!

Oh yes, I really appreciate those kind of Swedes! Very nice! :thumbup:

Vinko · Feb 19, 2009

I picked up some Bahco gardening tools -- some rose pruners (pretty good) and hedge trimmers (great) in my last order from Harry Epstein.

jerk_chicken · Feb 19, 2009

So is the concensus that if I buy Williams Supercombos, then it's a great and cheaper alternative to SO Flanks?

plinker · Feb 19, 2009

So is the concensus that if I buy Williams Supercombos, then it's a great and cheaper alternative to SO Flanks?

Based on my experiance, I would say so. YMMV

jerk_chicken · Feb 19, 2009

Damn, black finish only in SAE.

paramudduck · Feb 19, 2009

Supercombo's? They are made in chrome, black, yellow and red. Now finding a dealer can be the hard part.

Edit: Here is the address for the online Williams catalog.

http://digimag.rrd.com/JHWilliams317/

lbgradwell · Feb 19, 2009

jerk_chicken said:
Damn, black finish only in SAE.

Keep your eyes on these two eBay Sellers for potential great deals on NOS Williams Supercombos...

I bought a metric set - New Williams 12 pc Combination METRIC Wrench Set 9-23mm - for $36 in May 2007 and I think I've seen SAE sets before too.

http://myworld.ebay.ca/matsuda499a

http://myworld.ebay.ca/matsuda499b

http://myworld.ebay.ca/findyourtools

The first 2 links are for the same guy; I have dealt with him several times and can vouch for Chris. The other fellow is a (former?) partner of his.

jerk_chicken · Feb 19, 2009

Ahhh, he used to sell Toptul. I also saw a listing that showed the A and B accounts are different and shipped from different parts of the country (one from Ak).

I would love a black finish metric in the Flank profiling.

Chris Adams · Feb 19, 2009

lbgradwell said:
Keep your eyes on these two eBay Sellers for potential great deals on NOS Williams Supercombos...

I bought a metric set - New Williams 12 pc Combination METRIC Wrench Set 9-23mm - for $36 in May 2007 and I think I've seen SAE sets before too.

http://myworld.ebay.ca/matsuda499a

http://myworld.ebay.ca/matsuda499b

http://myworld.ebay.ca/findyourtools

The first 2 links are for the same guy; I have dealt with him several times and can vouch for Chris. The other fellow is a (former?) partner of his.

Ditto. I've bought a number of boxes of tool from both vendors (the a and b are the same guy, of course) and everything has been as stated, not one problem.

paramudduck · Feb 19, 2009

Chris is cool, I've bought several items from him. Only problem was when he sent a pair of prybars in an cardboard priority envelope. They punch through the side and disappeared.

Told him and he sent me another set right out.

Paladin · Feb 19, 2009

Yup, another thumbs up for Matsuda. That's where I got my Williams Supercombo's. Fast shipping and the Supercombos are great wrenches, especially for the price you can get them for on ebay!

NugeConstruction · Feb 20, 2009

Funny you should mention SuperCombos, JC, because in following up on all the talk around here about them, I stayed up ridiculously late last night thumbing through the Williams catalog.

But I could not find any listing there of complementary metric sets for:

* WS-8707 7 Piece Double Head 60 degree Offset Box end Wrench Ste, SAE, in Roll Pouch (made in USA if I am correct)

* WS-1142PC 14 Piece Mini Open End Wrench & Plier Set, SAE, in Roll Pouch (made in USA if I am correct)

If I had the choice between (a) a pair of pliers being thrown in on a deal, and (b) being able to buy a metric set to complement an SAE set...

...I would choose being able to buy a complementary metric set over FIFTY tag-along pliers!

Hoping to receive feedback from the powers that be on this concern,

NC

35mastr · Feb 20, 2009

I was at Motion Industries yesterday and they are a Bahco dealer.

Paladin · Feb 20, 2009

NugeConstruction said:
Funny you should mention SuperCombos, JC, because in following up on all the talk around here about them, I stayed up ridiculously late last night thumbing through the Williams catalog.
NC

Nuge- if your looking for Williams, Matsuda on E-Bay is in Dutch Harbor. That would be pretty fast shipping. I hate you, by the way! :lol:

I'm an Alaska resident as well. I'm only in Idaho because I'm stationed here. I miss Anchorage bad. The lower 48 *****...

jerk_chicken · Feb 20, 2009

Matsuda has a set or two now, but missing lots of sizes I'd need, so I'd have to buy the missing ones. However, they look pretty nice. I wonder how the alloys stack up against SO and other high end mechanic's brands.

bimmer630 · Aug 21, 2017

eschoendorff said:
I dunno... but the only place I ever see Bahco stuff is at places like Big Lots and the like.

Then again I have a few Bahco saws that I REALLY like, but they were made in Europe.

Thats "BAYCO" not BAHCO, that you see at big lots

bimmer630 · Aug 21, 2017

By the way the only reason I revived this old thread is because I was looking into US made bahco stuff after seeing this bahco breaker bar for sale https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=368342

BAHCO Made in USA tools

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