Explain Hazet Ratchets to me...
- Thread starter Ralf11
- Start date
General Geoff
Well-known member
Hazet is the Snap-On of Deutschland
Are you saying Snap-On is justified $$$ because they are "something special"?
Lookin4'67Galaxieconv
Well-known member
Dave455
Well-known member
Well, I think you pretty much said it when you used the word “seem”. On the face of it, Hazet ratchets are nothing special. The finish isn’t flashy, and up till recently they didn’t have a high tooth count as standard.
However, when you start to use them, you start to appreciate them a lot more. While the finish isn’t flashy, it is incredibly durable, and doesn’t pick up scratches and scuffs as easily as some. Ratchets, sockets, and extensions all fit together very nicely, and while the tooth count is traditionally low, they are still very nice to use, and very smooth.
One reason for owning a Hazet ratchet of course, is if you have a lot of other Hazet parts and want the matching ratchet. Where other parts are concerned, some Hazet items, such as hex bit sockets, are far more durable than Snap On.
Also bear in mind that you are comparing U.S. prices. For me in the U.K. the newest Hazet Hiper ratchet in 3/8, is less than half the cost of an equivalent Snap On.
However, when you start to use them, you start to appreciate them a lot more. While the finish isn’t flashy, it is incredibly durable, and doesn’t pick up scratches and scuffs as easily as some. Ratchets, sockets, and extensions all fit together very nicely, and while the tooth count is traditionally low, they are still very nice to use, and very smooth.
One reason for owning a Hazet ratchet of course, is if you have a lot of other Hazet parts and want the matching ratchet. Where other parts are concerned, some Hazet items, such as hex bit sockets, are far more durable than Snap On.
Also bear in mind that you are comparing U.S. prices. For me in the U.K. the newest Hazet Hiper ratchet in 3/8, is less than half the cost of an equivalent Snap On.
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dnschmidt
Well-known member
As a German let me help explain this to you:
American reacts to Snap-On Ratchet: It's so pretty. Look at the chrome and the full polish. I hope it also turns a bolt.
German to Hazet: My, what a functional tool. Should do the job for which it is intended.
It's a cultural thing.
American reacts to Snap-On Ratchet: It's so pretty. Look at the chrome and the full polish. I hope it also turns a bolt.
German to Hazet: My, what a functional tool. Should do the job for which it is intended.
It's a cultural thing.
javyLSU
Well-known member
This is even more awesome if you read it in a terrible fake German accent...
jgromada
Well-known member
I would have thought going to a European amazon site would have resulted in a savings but in this single case it is not true.
I priced a Hazet 8816p on US Amazon ($75.75) w free intl delivery vs 67 pounds or $90 converted from Amazon uk .
This was just a random pick and granted not a very desirable ratchet (32 tooth) but the satin finish is fine by me.
I will try this on Amazon.de site and see what i find. But as a comparison i priced a similar Proto ratchet and was coming in around $50 (no satin finish)
I priced a Hazet 8816p on US Amazon ($75.75) w free intl delivery vs 67 pounds or $90 converted from Amazon uk .
This was just a random pick and granted not a very desirable ratchet (32 tooth) but the satin finish is fine by me.
I will try this on Amazon.de site and see what i find. But as a comparison i priced a similar Proto ratchet and was coming in around $50 (no satin finish)
This is even more awesome if you read it in a terrible fake German accent...
I'm hearing Sgt. Schultz here.
In my own magpie way, I've gone down the German ratchet route (Stahlwille, Felo, Hazet) and then back out via eBay. Didn't lose any money, but didn't like them.
Ended up with Snap-on and Wera, although I doubt that Wera ratchets are Hecho in Germany.
RoundedNut
Well-known member
Hazet is 1/2 the price of Snap-on. This is inline with the usual 200-300% overcharge that Snap-on has over equivalent tools.
Nepros is better than both and fairly priced:
Snap-on 1/4 ratchet is $124CDN:
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Dua...ual-80-Technology-Standard-Handle-Ratchet/T72
Hazet is $64CDN:
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07X4GGD4W/
Nepros is $75CDN:
https://www.nepros.net/?cat=2&grp=8
Nepros is better than both and fairly priced:
Snap-on 1/4 ratchet is $124CDN:
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Dua...ual-80-Technology-Standard-Handle-Ratchet/T72
Hazet is $64CDN:
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07X4GGD4W/
Nepros is $75CDN:
https://www.nepros.net/?cat=2&grp=8
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
From what I hear they are pretty good like Snap-on. I’m not sure though I’ve never used any of their tools but know tons of people who like them.
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
This is not a religious topic for me (despite my German car thing).
I just want to know why Hazet is so pricey. SnapOff is also pricey but has xlnt truck support, warranty and repair, etc.
Hazet also seems to have few models or types. I rarely see a flex handle for one thing.
They seem strong but a bit clunky. Snappy has Dual-80 - it is pretty durn strong, and smooth - not Japanese smooth but still.
And BTW, I prefer a satin finish and am not trying to dump on Hazet. I have a bunch of their wrenches, along with Stahlwille.
toolchaser
Well-known member
Hazet tools are very nice to use. High quality throughout. Every developed country probably has a higher end line of hand tools that " outsiders" don`t jive with. Kowa, King **** , Facom etc. In the end it comes down to functionality, my tools are Heinz 57 because I have collected the brands that have the best individual product for my use. Snap-on for ratcheting screwdrivers, flare nut wrenches & the round handle double box end wrenches. SK ratchets, mostly SK sockets ,Wera screwdrivers, Garland hammers, MAC angle wrenches etc. My body hammers are a mix of Fairmount, Martin, Streamline & Proto. Others just go with one brand for almost everything. Different strokes,
richfinn
Well-known member
Hazet like Snap-On have been around a long time, they both must be doing something right, in Europe buying new Snap-On tools is getting ridiculously expensive!!
Hazet and Stahlwille although not cheap are more affordable, no real experience with Hazet besides the Assistent tool trolley and the odd socket, but I like my Stahlwille stuff as much as my USA tools.
Germans are pretty good at making solid hand tools without the bells and whistles, which is OK by me
Hazet and Stahlwille although not cheap are more affordable, no real experience with Hazet besides the Assistent tool trolley and the odd socket, but I like my Stahlwille stuff as much as my USA tools.
Germans are pretty good at making solid hand tools without the bells and whistles, which is OK by me
Dave455
Well-known member
The prices on Amazon U.K. go up and down more often than a whores drawers on a Saturday night!
Sometimes you can get a good deal, sometimes not.
I tend to buy from one or two German dealers who give pretty good service and the prices are generally consistent.
TBS Aachen offer that ratchet for €55 right now. Less than £50. The export price would be less as that includes German tax.
Often the Amazon price dips below the TBS price, you just have to monitor it, and never buy without comparing!
Yeh, was there over the holidays last year, bought a nice 1/4 ratchet that has a flex head and a locking feature, (something I did'nt have) it was made in Germany and cost me 28.00 US dollars. It was bought with some other stuff like an xacto knife kit. I almost passed up the ratchet and was thinking about it and knew it would be right up there with a flea market regret if I did'nt buy the darn thing. Glad I did, they like using a non polished finish on their tools. It was'nt a Hazet but made in Germany by Matador.
1. Because just like other luxury brands that are made in a 1st world country by skilled, well paid workers.
2. Because their history runs deep; a half decade older then even snap on.
Things you describe are preferences; and certainly shouldnt have impact on cost.
You say dual-80 someone else says 90 tooth 1000nm 916hp.
Lets remember that truck support and warranty mean less than nothing in the majority in the world.
From a purely objective preservative, both are luxury items and the a-to-b functionality that they provide can be had for much much less.
Yet they over engineer all over the place.
Realistically the appeal is that Made In Germany is generally indicative of good quality and thats pretty much it. Snap-on is fairly popular in Germany too considering its the home Stahwille, Hazet, Gedore, yet they thrive and havent been pushed out.
Snap-on is overpriced for sure, in some instances massively so. You cant knock the depth of their catalog or their innovations though which Hazet, Nepros etc.., cant touch.
There is no eco-system benefit to hand tools and therefore wouldn't classify catalog depth as relevant.
Kukko, PB Swiss, Koken, etc are all specialty shops, and I think it would be a shame to have it any other way
.Although far from a perfect indicator, many (most?) private companies innovate and maintain higher quality on average.
richfinn
Well-known member
Definitely wondering the same thing....
It's the shipping and import tax from continental Europe to the USA most probably, they are more reasonable in the EU!!!
German Satin
Well-known member
very high quality but understated. An oddity with some models is the plastic direction switch ... probably just as tough as the soft metal ones imo. I really like Hazet ratchets for their quality alone and because they are very strong and reliable. The traditional low tooth gearing isn't suited for confined areas but I guess you use another ratchet for that. Probably my favorite of the German ratchets available. I'd pick a Hazet over a Snap-on all day long.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
And I would pick a facom era sk or snap on any day over a stahlwille or hazet ratchet. While hazet's sockets and wrenches are excellent, i find their ratchets very underwhelming. Hazet ratchets are definitely not more durable than snap ons dual 80.
I would rather take a current tekton ratchet than a hazet.
I prefer a satin finish over polished chrome on any Hand tool.
My #1 Go-To for over 20 years. Never skipped a beat. Head still stands up on its own.
Bought a rebuild kit along with it that I still haven't needed.
I bought most of my tools long ago at Good deals. Most are Hazet. But I have many other brands too. My #1 Go-To 1/4in drive ratchet is a Pittsburgh.
My #1 Go-To for over 20 years. Never skipped a beat. Head still stands up on its own.
Bought a rebuild kit along with it that I still haven't needed.
I bought most of my tools long ago at Good deals. Most are Hazet. But I have many other brands too. My #1 Go-To 1/4in drive ratchet is a Pittsburgh.
remagenman
Well-known member
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- Oct 30, 2011
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I have a ton of ratchets, they all do the same thing pretty much but the one German ratchet I use/reach for most often is the Wera Zylop 3/8 ratchet. It's adjustable head works great and its handle is comfy to hold and it has the center spinning handle which works great also. People will justify the Hazet price are the same ones that buy the $1,000 Hazet tool cart and think its the best thing since sliced bread. I got a generic version in Germany for 25 Euros used and it gets used to hold my spray cans/chemicals and sits in a corner of the garage. The $60 tool cart from Harbor Freight would be more functional than the über expensive Hazet cart, in my opinion.
Orangina
Well-known member
Spare parts, exchange guarantee, service, (mostly) high quality, large matching assortment, production with environmental management and sustainability...
Quite reliable tool manufacturer for over 150 years.
It's not the only good toolmaker in Germany or in the world... and it will also be a choice of taste between some.
For my private old 1955 tool cart I have ordered some parts, that still available - and got some answers by HAZET members.
I guess this is not usual at a lot of other brands...
HAZET 1/2" ratchets since the 1920s - all still working...
@remagenman:
the Wera Zyklops as the small 3/8" have a quite cool design - it is at my wish list as 1/2"
but I could not find how much power it could handle, do you?!?
A HAZET 8816 HP work with up to 400 Nm (and therefore DIN 3122, ISO 3315 with only 202 Nm, as a standard HAZET 8816).
Comparing a $1000 HAZET tool cart with a 25€ one - hmmm... the cheap might fit for your case with some cans -
but not for me with the weight of tools and car parts as a HAZET cart might carry in typical use (up to 2200 lbs or 1000 kg)
e.g. also with secure drawers (not all could be opened at once, to avoid tipping over) etc, etc.
I just compared cheap carts at hardware stores some months ago - and decided for a big robust HAZET 179 NW - it's from another class. A lot of old HAZET carts still alive and sold today to the next users in classifieds.
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Really? Why isn't Toyota a German brand?
haveissues
Well-known member
I'm going to disagree with you there. Snap-On tools are expected to be very high quality. Nobody buys Snap-on and hopes it also turns a bolt.
remagenman
Well-known member
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- Oct 30, 2011
- Messages
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For something that I need to bust a nut on (pun intended) I reach for a breaker bar with cheater pipe that I probably got cheap at the Goodwill, etc. My cart is a Einhell brand, they probably sold it at Aldi or Lidl at one point, it does everything a $1000 cart does (why would you put 100's of lbs of weight in a cart that is not really accessible got really heavy stuff?)Spare parts, exchange guarantee, service, (mostly) high quality, large matching assortment, production with environmental management and sustainability...
Quite reliable tool manufacturer for over 150 years.
It's not the only good toolmaker in Germany or in the world... and it will also be a choice of taste between some.
For my private old 1955 tool cart I have ordered some parts, that still available - and got some answers by HAZET members.
I guess this is not usual at a lot of other brands...
HAZET 1/2" ratchets since the 1920s - all still working...
@remagenman:
the Wera Zyklops as the small 3/8" have a quite cool design - it is at my wish list as 1/2"
but I could not find how much power it could handle, do you?!?
A HAZET 8816 HP work with up to 400 Nm (and therefore DIN 3122, ISO 3315 with only 202 Nm, as a standard HAZET 8816).
Comparing a $1000 HAZET tool cart with a 25€ one - hmmm... the cheap might fit for your case with some cans -
but not for me with the weight of tools and car parts as a HAZET cart might carry in typical use (up to 2200 lbs or 1000 kg)
e.g. also with secure drawers (not all could be opened at once, to avoid tipping over) etc, etc.
I just compared cheap carts at hardware stores some months ago - and decided for a big robust HAZET 179 NW - it's from another class. A lot of old HAZET carts still alive and sold today to the next users in classifieds.
I have no need for a collapsible cart because it stays in my garage. Honestly for what the Hazet is/does it is waaayyyyy overpriced.
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Walkers
Well-known member
Funny, I looked at the Hazet and Nepros and both have metrics specs on length, width, diameter, etc, but all have imperial drives, 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2. Are the drives the same worldwide, or do metric continents have their own metric drive sizes?
Same size as far as I am aware. Some websites list the square sizes in metric.
DIN Standard Sockets
Founded in 1978, Infar Industrial Co., Ltd. is a self-integrated manufacturer with 350 people in Taiwan, and is capable of producing 25 million pieces of wrenches per year. In 1993, Kunshan Infar was built with the maximum output of 45 million pieces of traditional wrenches per year. In 2004...
www.infar.com.tw
edit. Hazet website has square size in metric too. Not sure if anyone actually calls a ratchet by its metric size, though. "Pass me the 12.5/12.7mm ratchet please."
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Orangina
Well-known member
Since many, many decades these drive sizes 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 are standards fixed in ISO or German DIN
(I guess it is today ISO 1174 and DIN 3129 - you cannot get these documents for free).
If you go back in history, there were also other drive types as e.g. hex drives
as this HAZET 240-59 from the 1920s with diameter around 9/16" or around 14 mm - slightly larger than 1/2 ":
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Just discovered this thread.
A Hazet ratchet is better than anything else I've laid my hands on, here the best used to be Facom. And generally I prefer to give my money to family owned businesses than evil industrial conglomerates (hello SBD). Warranty has been hassle free so far (email to german support and they sent foc replacements to Athens, Greece)
This combo has absolutely zero play. 1/4" screwdriver, hex bit adaptor, bit. Sockets and ratchets are equally tight fitting.
A Hazet ratchet is better than anything else I've laid my hands on, here the best used to be Facom. And generally I prefer to give my money to family owned businesses than evil industrial conglomerates (hello SBD). Warranty has been hassle free so far (email to german support and they sent foc replacements to Athens, Greece)
This combo has absolutely zero play. 1/4" screwdriver, hex bit adaptor, bit. Sockets and ratchets are equally tight fitting.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
Always wanted to pick up some Hazet for the collection. Where's the best place to buy in the states?
I wouldn't mind trying a Hazet, but like so many other brands they are out of my price range, especially considering the large amount of cheaper ratchets I have accumulated over the years. Since I don't wrench for a living I treat many tools like audio - to me everything sounds/works good and I have a hard time telling the difference in feel between stuff, unless it is glaring like out of spec/poor casting/super rough or gritty, etc.
I have a single Snap on ratchet, 3/8" and honestly it is my least used or liked ratchet - I will always grab others that for me just feel better in the hand.
I do however love my Stahwille double offset wrenches though.
I have a single Snap on ratchet, 3/8" and honestly it is my least used or liked ratchet - I will always grab others that for me just feel better in the hand.
I do however love my Stahwille double offset wrenches though.
CGarage
Well-known member
If you do not understand the difference in design and engineering ethos between Germans, Japanese, and Americans- you are missing quite a lot.
RAS61
Well-known member
I think most items from Germany carry a premium price tag because of perception, but in the end it's just simple supply and demand economics. Same for Snap-On, great tools (and service for pros), but overpriced in my book, but people gladly pay the prices. I buy Williams wrenches to get the quality and save some money, but I'm just a hobbyist that doesn't need the truck, and some will probably say they're still not as good as the SO version. In the end the free market ultimately determines the price of admission