Gedore tools from South Africa

[housey]

Anyone have any experience with Gedore tools made under license in South Africa? I have the opportunity to buy some and they are very cheap, even compared to the mediocre Taiwanese stuff that is available at the shops here in Australia, is it worth it for me to buy them?

 

[american lockpicker]

From what I read on here its pretty decent.

 

[Monte]

try them

 

[spv]

I have an imperial set of Gedore RSA. I can't say I was too impressed when I saw RSA on them. I think you are better off getting Hazet or Stahlwille. I have both. Hazet are reasonably priced though Jens Pulizer (I may have his name wrong). He is on EBay and I highly recommend both his prices and service.

 

[housey]

I have an imperial set of Gedore RSA. I can't say I was too impressed when I saw RSA on them. I think you are better off getting Hazet or Stahlwille. I have both. Hazet are reasonably priced though Jens Pulizer (I may have his name wrong). He is on EBay and I highly recommend both his prices and service.

I have a german stahlwille combination spanner/ 1/2" drive socket set but I kinda regret buying it. Alot of my current work is at a filthy old medical disposal plant and in the future I will also be working underground, most likely in a Nickel mine. After 3.5 months my stahlwilles are already rusting, the ratchet is feeling loose and sloppy (perhaps a dud ratchet?) and I am missing 2 spanners and a socket. I can't really justify spending top dollar for top end tools when they just get exposed to corrosive environments, used and abused.

If I buy these Gedore tools I can basically get a small toolbox incl spanners/sockets, assorted pliers, insulated screwdrivers, and a fair few other bits and pieces for under $1000AU, and then I won't feel so bad about using them.

 

[ToolShed]

I think you'd make a mistake not getting Gedore if they go at a good price.

Their socket sets and combination wrenches are right up there. Don't let the rough finish fool you because they are as hard as nails even if they don't look like like a well finished tool. Too many people judge tools by the way they look and not by the way they perform but that is just my humble opinion..

 

[littletoes]

I think you'd make a mistake not getting Gedore if they go at a good price.

Their socket sets and combination wrenches are right up there. Don't let the rough finish fool you because they are as hard as nails even if they don't look like like a well finished tool. Too many people judge tools by the way they look and not by the way they perform but that is just my humble opinion..

I don't fully agree. I say, if the manufacture can't take the time to put THEIR name on it straight, or the same stamping depth, then how can they possibly care about what is overall put into the design, development, or function of the tool?

 

[ToolShed]

Well I guess you have a point but in defence I've used their socket sets and combination wrenches for nearly 20years and I've only had one number 17 combination wrench broken. The point I was trying to make is that I don't judge a book by the cover...

So I'd be happy for them to have varying stamp depths and names not straight on the tools I owe

Glad I said it is only my humble opinion

I don't fully agree. I say, if the manufacture can't take the time to put THEIR name on it straight, or the same stamping depth, then how can they possibly care about what is overall put into the design, development, or function of the tool?

 

[billybudge]

Anyone have any experience with Gedore tools made under license in South Africa? I have the opportunity to buy some and they are very cheap, even compared to the mediocre Taiwanese stuff that is available at the shops here in Australia, is it worth it for me to buy them?

Hi.
Gedore tools, are becoming very big here in the UK, but they do have different quality ranges ie, a budget range as well as a professional range.
There pricing here for the pro range of gedore are very similer to snap on, also Gedore do offer a lifetime guarentee,
I have a full set of gedore ring spanners and 1/2 inch sockets. all metric, for car work, had them about 3 years, no problem,
only one complaint and that is they are not polished just flat silver finish,
But to be honest there metal punch sets are fantastic, the strongest I have ever had, better than snap on,
if you can get them cheap, then I would not hesitate,
cheers

 

[Krokodil]

There is nothing wrong with the Gedore tools produced in South Africa. They have been serving our countries mining, petrochemical, automotive and other industries for many decades. In fact, it is some of the only tools (wrenches and sockets) you see on job sites.

I have lots of them and could not be happier.

 

[Impi]

Hi not to beat a dead horse
I also use Gedore and have been my entire life Only bent one through stupidity.
There is a reason for the matt finish though (at least in South Africa)
My dad told me once that if metal is soft enough to take a mirror finish it is not tough enough to last. We were flooded with cheap shiny tools in RSA for a long time and grew to mistrust them on the whole. Remember US made tools were never available on a large scale anyway.
I like the matt finish for another reason as well The tool is less likely to slip from oily hands
regards
Armand

 

[littletoes]

Don't mind a matte finish at all, its a new look for some of us, or an old look coming back. The Gedore tools I've seen pictures of on another thread are good, strong looking tools.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

Hi not to beat a dead horse
I also use Gedore and have been my entire life Only bent one through stupidity.
There is a reason for the matt finish though (at least in South Africa)
My dad told me once that if metal is soft enough to take a mirror finish it is not tough enough to last. We were flooded with cheap shiny tools in RSA for a long time and grew to mistrust them on the whole. Remember US made tools were never available on a large scale anyway.
I like the matt finish for another reason as well The tool is less likely to slip from oily hands
regards
Armand

Hard chrome can be some extremely durable stuff...but it all depends on prep and application, as there's plenty of chrome that's horrid. You also have to remember that the chrome finish is just that - a finish - and not indicative of the strength of the metal it was applied to.

I agree on the matte finish being easier to work with in dirty conditions, but they also seem to be harder to clean, since the dirt and gunk works its way down into the little holes and cavities, whereas full polish tools usually clean up with a bit of brake cleaner and a rag.

 

[BobsYourUncle69]

There is nothing wrong with the Gedore tools produced in South Africa. They have been serving our countries mining, petrochemical, automotive and other industries for many decades. In fact, it is some of the only tools (wrenches and sockets) you see on job sites.

I have lots of them and could not be happier.

My regret is leaving my gedore 1B set behind in SA as well as a few other tools I left behind. Replacing them here in the US is proving to be expensive and difficult.

Anyone have any experience with Gedore tools made under license in South Africa? I have the opportunity to buy some and they are very cheap, even compared to the mediocre Taiwanese stuff that is available at the shops here in Australia, is it worth it for me to buy them?

Not made under license but made by Gedore South Africa. Not quite the same as their red stuff for example that it is probbaly made under license in Taiwan etc.