The Gadget Guys's Hazet Assistent 166N Germany vs Japan

[Gregthegadgetguy]

I feel like I have been holding out on not sharing more details with the community of my Hazet Assistent 166N. I could not decide if I should share in Tools of the Old World or Tools of Japan. Feel free to comment, make suggestions and talk about the Hazet Assistant. Is there anything you think I should add?


The Hazet 166N Assistant was introduced around 1954 and updated only a few times as it continues to be in production today. I purchased mine direct from Germany about 2 years ago and it has sparked a tool crazy obsession.

Although extremely compact and made to work in tight spaces its no lightweight at 50lbs empty. So once loaded with tools, it will fit in the trunk of a car but you might need help getting it in there.

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

Starting off with the upper far right pick, file and pry section.

I have tried to carry a theme of using different brands to identify different tools.

Stahlwille straight pick, PB Swiss Blue Right angle, PB Swiss red for hook...

 

[ChefRex]

I have seen these before but never so close, so they collapse? I don't have the need but cool, could you show it in the closed position?

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

Here is it in the folded position, it is a very easy process.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

Although extremely compact and made to work in tight spaces its no lightweight at 50lbs empty

50lbs empty?! Wow. There is something special about solid German steel but wow.

How much did you end up paying for it?

I've seen them running around $1700-2000 from resellers in North America, which seems insane. I see them pop up used on eBay for quite a bit less occasionally.

By the way do you find the trays get in the way of accessing stuff below them?

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

How much did you end up paying for it?

I've seen them running around $1700-2000 from resellers in North America, which seems insane. I see them pop up used on eBay for quite a bit less occasionally.

I paid $850 after shipping and none seemed available in the US at the time. I called and tried a few US distributors but it was cheaper buying direct. Mine did arrive with a little bit of damage.

toolid has the 166N for $958.59 and the newer slightly bigger 166C for $989.51. Decent price because I was getting quotes in the $1,200 range years ago.

HAZET® 166N - Assistent™ 26.5" x 16" x 38" Blue Plastic Original Collapsible 4-Shelf Tool Trolley

Assistent™ 26.5" x 16" x 38" Blue Plastic Original Collapsible 4-Shelf Tool Trolley - Part Number 166N by HAZET. Available in Garage Department at www.toolsid.com

www.toolsid.com

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

Do you find the trays get in the way of accessing stuff below them?

The bottom two trays have individual plastic Gedore modules that I take out and search for things on the top work space. I think the inability to pull them out like drawers has lead me to the obsessive coloring and brand/tool identification.




German Tool Reviews gets credit for finding out Gedore foam and plastic modules fit perfectly into the 166N. Funny because Hazet released the 166C as the replacement for the 166N so that Hazet modules would fit. Rip GTR, for those who knew and watched his channel.

Gedore Torx drivers and Beta 3-way Torx T-Handles


The original idea was to keep things as lightweight as possible. To do that I purchased lots of Asahi Lightools. I keep a motion pro T-handle and Nepros 1/4 breaker in there also.

 

[superautobacs]

lots of eye candy in there, and I like your methodology.
I had a co-worker who used his trolley for 30 years. It clearly showed age with all its battlescars, but served its duty throughout the decades.

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

I first saw an Assistent over 10 years ago at my local independent Mercedes-Benz mechanic. He uses one as his daily companion to a macsimizer tool box. Because I have never owned a car with under 100k miles, we have become good friends over the years.


Pictured on the left is the one he purchased new and has been using since the mid 1980's, on the right is his "backup" a much older model that has "Assistent" and made in West Germany stamped in the lower tub. Also check out the older continental casters. I ended up purchasing the new one after he would not sell me his "backup."

 

[mr.lemons]

Starting off with the upper far right pick, file and pry section.

I have tried to carry a theme of using different brands to identify different tools.

Stahlwille straight pick, PB Swiss Blue Right angle, PB Swiss red for hook...

Didn't know picks were available with Swissgrip handles. I find the handles on the blue ones to be a bit small. The Swissgrip look much better sized.

Nice tools.

 

[superautobacs]

They were available in black for their 140th Anniversary edition and the standard red. I think they might be Japan limited edition?

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

Didn't know picks were available with Swissgrip handles. I find the handles on the blue ones to be a bit small. The Swissgrip look much better sized.

The PB swiss picks are new in the recent months. Before, I had Ullman super long set that were hard to see and grab with their skinny black handles. They are good, I still keep them nearby.



Continuing with the top shelf, just next to the pick set are two small areas to store useful easy to access items.

On one side I keep Knipex side cutters, plastic razor blade and Ulfa utility knife.


Other side has various socket adaptors, z series universal joints and a wera 1/4 set of my most used sizes.



I will likely switch the sockets out for Neopros IP gold. The set I purchased includes the same sizes. Should I paint them as well?

 

[WhoWhatNow]

Very nice!
You should add a Rollmaster to your collection.

 

[Fedwrench]

I've never seen so many new & shiny tools in an equally new assistant

The assistant always reminded me of a baby's bathtub with a handle. It also takes me back to simpler times when one only needed a few tools to work on air cooled VWs.

Amazing set up, thanks for sharing.

I wonder how the newer Beta units with sliding shelves compare to the Assistant?

Beta 15 in. 2-Drawers Folding Tool Utility Cart for Portable Use, Orange (Tools Not Included) C27S-O - The Home Depot

Get a high-class and functional addition to your jobsite with this Beta Folding Tool Utility Cart for Portable Use Orange.

www.homedepot.com

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

Very nice!
You should add a Rollmaster to your collection.

I have never seen one of those! Very cool, made by Stahlwille so guessing German made as well.

I've never seen so many new & shiny tools in an equally new assistant

I wonder how the newer Beta units with sliding shelves compare to the Assistant?

I started filling it up with my beat up Pittsburgh but it just did not look or seem right. The Assistant deserves better.

I almost went with that Beta cart mainly because they are cheaper. I decided on the Hazet because it is a little bigger and seemed to have more useful work space.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I bought these two HAZET style tool carts in one afternoon, off Craigslist. I cannot say they are Hazet, for sure, because the tags are missing. The red one was $25 and the Blue one was $40. I called a Hazet collector and he offered $750 for the blue unit.
I kept the red unit and it is in daily use. These two units are identical to the original Hazet Assistant 166N. My friend has a Hazet Assistant 166N next to his 993tt.
The red unit was put into a big parts washer, by the seller, and the result was a big mess. I did a two day restoration
I think this was a lucky coincidence to find these two units, on CL in the same day.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

I bought these two HAZET style tool carts in one afternoon, off Craigslist. I cannot say they are Hazet, for sure, because the tags are missing. The red one was $25 and the Blue one was $40.

I'm just going to assume you accidentally forgot a 0 at the end of those prices because $250 and $400 are great deals!

If that isn't a typo then I'm just going to go cry in a corner and wonder how you guys all get so lucky.

 

[FJ 432]

An old thread on my restoration:

Toyota FJ40 Tool Caddy/ Assistent/ Trolley

I purchased this Hazet Assistent back in 2009. I used it as a detailing cart and found that its’ size worked well around my garage. I sold the cart in 2012 because I knew that I bought it for a good price ($250) and could double my money. Sold it to a nice kid who was a VW mechanic and was in...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[isb cornbinder]

I'm just going to assume you accidentally forgot a 0 at the end of those prices because $250 and $400 are great deals!

If that isn't a typo then I'm just going to go cry in a corner and wonder how you guys all get so lucky.

Twenty five dollars for the red unit and forty dollars for the blue unit, are correct.

 

[Fedwrench]

Twenty five dollars for the red unit and forty dollars for the blue unit, are correct.

Well that's a YOU ****!!! for sure then

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

I attached a few magnets that hold some easy to grab items.

Top: Mitutoyo ruler
Middle: Mitutoyo 4" digital caliper and some Alex scissors.

 

[superautobacs]

I'm definitely not brave enough to place those calipers there.
I like how you place LED lights for each level.

 

[vwpieces]

I also have the 166N but it hasn't found a place in the real world use in my shop yet. Not that it couldn't be useful I just can get myself to subject it to the wear and tear. But my 169N is in use, while the tools in it aren't my first go to sets as there are other Hazet tools in the main box for the daily use.

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

I'm definitely not brave enough to place those calipers there.
I like how you place LED lights for each level.

Those are my beater pair of calipers, I have had to bend back one side on the ID measure point to straighten them out. I do have a more secure spot for them inside the bottom tub but only really put them down there when folded down. I will get to the bottom tub in detail later on. There is a lot hiding down there.

For now, I am going to keep the updates slow and steady. Here is the pliers section. I discovered Knipex pliers wrench in 2016 and started my quality tool collection shortly after. The 180/7in model was my first purchase and still probably one of my most used sizes. Tsunoda is a more recent discovery and I think their quality is equal to Knipex. I use the small blue plastic jaw ones all the time while working on delicate painted or aluminum surfaces.

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

@WhoWhatNow I just noticed your Assistant has a little vise mounted! I like it and was thinking about doing that, can you provide more details on how you made the mounting plate?

 

[M635_Guy]

I love these things. I can't begin to devote the $$$$ to one, but really dig seeing them well-used.

Are the Made in West Germany Models worth more? (I'd think so, if not, I'd totally opt for the old one w/ W. Germany)

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

@M635_Guy The older ones definitely hold their value and some times it would cost as much to restore one than to buy new.

It is nice that replacement parts are still available.

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

Here is a look in the bottom tub. I keep heavier items like hammers and 1/2 drive sockets and ratchets




One of my favorite hidden tricks is a magnet organizer made for pencils stuffed with rubber glove holding a Hazet foam knee board in place.

 

[1320it]

Very nice! I bought one brand new earlier this year and its incredibly helpful

 

[Orangina]

sweet!
Great ideas for attachments, magnets - and making use of the compact space.

 

[merkyworks]

One of my favorite hidden tricks is a magnet organizer made for pencils stuffed with rubber glove holding a Hazet foam knee board in place.

Trying to visualize this but it’s not making since in my head. Do you have a pic?

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

Trying to visualize this but it’s not making since in my head. Do you have a pic?

No worries, it is all in the last picture I posted.

See the stainless steel container filled with lime green? Those are the nitrate gloves. The foam board does blend in well but Hazet 195-1 is visible in the photo.

 

[merkyworks]

Oh okay I see it all now haha

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

I made a custom mount plate from .5" aluminum and 14mm OD rod for a Heuer compact vice.



I think it matches the Assistent nicely.

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

In making the vice mount I acquired some aluminum 14mm OD rod that fits nicely into the knob hole.

4101 Series Aluminum Tube for Lead Screw Square Nut (10mm ID x 14mm OD, 300mm Length)

goBILDA is a modern build system designed for engineers, artists, students and makers. It's metric, lightweight, and has an ever-growing library of parts

www.gobilda.com

I had some extra length and wanted to make another mount and had a genius idea. Ram mounts. Literally making possibilities endless.

Ram Mount: https://www.rammount.com/part/RAM-B-367U

Here are a few examples of possibilities with Ram mounts.

Top workspace LED light, iPad mount and cup holder. They can be easily swapped out and rearranged.



With no room for a nut to secure the ram mount epoxy glued was used to hold the bolt in place.

 

[Monte]

nice idea !

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

Thanks @Monte I hope others will use the idea and expand on it. I think a lot of Assistent owners search for Hazet accessories only to find the stuff they made has been long discontinued.

Currently, Hazet only produces a window holder. Not very interesting or useful for anything other than its intended purpose.

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

I attached a ram ball to a bookstand, creating a clean and convenient spot for repair manuals. Also pictured is the cell phone mount running KTCs app for the Torqule.




I only realized after digging into my ram mount collection how deeply invested I was. I have been using them for years on ADV bikes and in my daily driver. I think I have close to $100 in mounts, arms and accessories.

The source I found with the best prices for Ram mounts is GPScity.com

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I think the Assistant is pretty cool and I'd get my hands on one for a couple hundred for sure. However, I've never understood how they can go for so much money. Must be a better marketing plan than Snap On. And btw, I'm half German.

 

[Gregthegadgetguy]

I do not think marketing plays a big role in why they costs so much. The casters alone are around $200. Do you really think they could charge a couple hundred more? The only thing comparable is the $500 Beta trolley and the Hazet is a better built all around.

Truth is they were designed and built for a different era and have had to adapt over the years without compromise.