Made in England Wolf Power Tools

Mark Garrett · Jun 29, 2017

I have been collecting Wolf power tools for nostalgia and to use around the house and just thought I would share what I believe to have been one of the highest quality power tools of the 1970s.
The collection was inspired by memories of my father who had one of the large 'gut buster' drills (hope to post a photo of one soon)

The drill in the foreground below was what started my collection.
It was £10 from a dealer of ex-army equipment and works perfectly but doesn't have the original blue handle.
The corded screwdriver (again with the wrong handle) was about £25 by the time I got it sent from England - but a nice eBay find just the same.

[/url]Wolf Sapphire drill & Screwdriver by K Garrett, on Flickr[/IMG]

I would love to know if anyone else is collecting these or has photos of the same or the later Kango tools which are similar.

lilredex · Jun 29, 2017

Those show up regularly around here. I don't have any but do have a bench grinder. Do you know anything about the Toronto connection?

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6581563#post6581563

Mark Garrett · Jun 30, 2017

lilredex said:
Those show up regularly around here. I don't have any but do have a bench grinder. Do you know anything about the Toronto connection?

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6581563#post6581563

I'm not sure what the connection is?
The grinder looks as if it could possibly be from the 1960s. When I see these on eBay they are often advertised as being very smooth running. So obviously they have lasted well.

winchman · Jun 30, 2017

The were excellent well made tools, occasionally new stuff crops up bearing the wolf name but made in China and not bad quality but not good. I have mainly seen generators on often in magazines bearing the wolf name.
I too have one of the old Wolf grinders it is superb but missing an end guard should any one have a spare?

Mark Garrett · Jun 30, 2017

winchman said:
The were excellent well made tools, occasionally new stuff crops up bearing the wolf name but made in China and not bad quality but not good. I have mainly seen generators on often in magazines bearing the wolf name.
I too have one of the old Wolf grinders it is superb but missing an end guard should any one have a spare?

Yes, I can't imagine the tools that have the Wolf name today are anything close to the old ones in terms of quality. How many will be around 40+ years after they were built??
Sorry, I don't have a spare end guard (at least not yet).
I'm trying to get some members of the family who are interested in tools to recognise quality when they see it - so I bought my nephew a drill vice the same as my own last Christmas. Just to help him get started - see below.

[/url]Wolf vice/vise x 2 by K Garrett, on Flickr[/IMG]

dutchgray · Jun 30, 2017

I have always wanted on of those big old Wolf 3/4 arm breaking drils with the portable stand, not seen one about for sale though, the few I know of are definitely not for sale.

winchman · Jun 30, 2017

Very nice it should last for ever.
I have done the same with my son.
I was lucky I found an old guy who was retiring, he sold us his massive snap on box, no Snap on in it but a good assortment of quality stuff, he was pleased it was going to be used again.
I have two different sizes of the record versions of the drill vices, quality stuff lasts forever and is often nicer to work with.

Mark Garrett · Jun 30, 2017

dutchgray said:
I have always wanted on of those big old Wolf 3/4 arm breaking drils with the portable stand, not seen one about for sale though, the few I know of are definitely not for sale.

The big 3/4 drills were what introduced me to the brand.
I have seen them on eBay for very little money along with the stand but they are always pick up only!
If the seller only knew it - if he was willing to post the drill alone it would probably get him 4 times the money! I think the last one I saw on eBay went for £25 and it looked to be in very nice order.
They are way better than most small drill presses - true quality!

1982fxr · Jun 30, 2017

Those dp vises look super beefy. What's the jaw width?

Mark Garrett · Jun 30, 2017

winchman said:
Very nice it should last for ever.
I have done the same with my son.
I was lucky I found an old guy who was retiring, he sold us his massive snap on box, no Snap on in it but a good assortment of quality stuff, he was pleased it was going to be used again.
I have two different sizes of the record versions of the drill vices, quality stuff lasts forever and is often nicer to work with.

It is great to find someone who is a 'kindred spirit' when it comes to tools. I would rather give something to someone who loved it than sell it to someone who wouldn't appreciate it. I'm sure you son will thank you more as time goes on - a snap-on box is something I would love to get my hands on.

The record vise is very well made - I have seen a few and not bought them because I always wanted the Wolf for some reason.
I think the Wolf is a Nippy with a different name? That's just my guess they are very similar if not exactly the same design and dimensions.

Mark Garrett · Jul 1, 2017

1982fxr said:
Those dp vises look super beefy. What's the jaw width?

They are indeed sturdy vises.
The jaws are 3 1/4" wide and open up to 2".

Mark Garrett · Jul 4, 2017

Some more Wolf Sapphire tools from the collection.
This time it is grinders!
The 9" and 4"

[/url]Wolf Grinder & Grinderette by K Garrett, on Flickr[/IMG]

Later I got a 7"

Wolf Sapphire Grinders by K Garrett, on Flickr

Unfortunately they don't have safety triggers - so not something I would let someone else use. Best for grinding not cutting.

Wolf Sapphire Grinders by K Garrett, on Flickr

Wolf 4" Grinderette by K Garrett, on Flickr

Wolf Grinder by K Garrett, on Flickr

Mark Garrett · Jul 10, 2017

Some more Wolf (this time branded Kango) tools!
Tim the toolman Taylor would probably describe this as a 'mandrill' the second handle has been removed in this photo but hopefully I will get another photo of the drill apart from the stand to show it a little better.

Kango/Wolf vintage magnetic drill by K Garrett, on Flickr
This little drill doesn't belong to me but I was asked to look after it for a while so thought I would take a photo to post.

Kango Drill by K Garrett, on Flickr

Ozwelder · Jul 10, 2017

My neighbor owned a Wolf drill similar to as pictured above and fitted hundreds of Solar hot hot water units to customers houses using the tool and it never missed a beat.

I purchased a Wolf Grinderette, a 4", being impressed with the Wolf Drill reliability.

I was not very impressed with it as the built in clutch slipped under minimal load. It was an under powered piece of ****.From memory I think it pre dated the Makita 4" angle grinder here in Australia.

This was mid seventies.

Ozwelder

Mark Garrett · Jul 10, 2017

Ozwelder said:
My neighbor owned a Wolf drill similar to as pictured above and fitted hundreds of Solar hot hot water units to customers houses using the tool and it never missed a beat.

I purchased a Wolf Grinderette, a 4", being impressed with the Wolf Drill reliability.

I was not very impressed with it as the built in clutch slipped under minimal load. It was an under powered piece of ****.From memory I think it pre dated the Makita 4" angle grinder here in Australia.

This was mid seventies.

Ozwelder

The drill was very reliable and the big grinders were like the big drill - a little dangerous!

I bought a grinderette about 2 years ago from eBay and discovered exactly what you said. The clutch makes it practically useless and the on off switch awkward and unsafe. I only bought it for the collection so it doesn't matter. I've since found a Makita 4" the same as the one I had 80s which is far superior.
There seems to have been a bit of crossover between wolf and Makita.
The earliest 4" Makita grinders look like Wolf and the wolf planers were made in Japan!
Thanks for the comment

lilredex · Jul 10, 2017

This is the Toronto connection I noticed, Wolf had a facility here at one time.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-power-tool/m...ll/1278023054?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

My grinder has the same tag.

Mark Garrett · Jul 10, 2017

lilredex said:
This is the Toronto connection I noticed, Wolf had a facility here at one time.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-power-tool/m...ll/1278023054?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

My grinder has the same tag.

Very interesting.
Wolf must have been big back in the day!
Quite a few of the big metal case ones seem to be still in use - on farms etc.

dutchgray · Jul 10, 2017

Makita still makes the same planer, its old fashioned and very heavy, but a very good tool.
Most of the older guys I know in the building trades still refer to rotary hammers as Kangos, even though they have been gone for years.
I think Wolf made the same mistakes all our tool makers did, couldn't resist making cheaper diy tools at the expense of the pro level stuff and then were totally out competed by the cheaper foreign imports.

Monte · Jul 10, 2017

dutchgray said:
Makita still makes the same planer, its old fashioned and very heavy, but a very good tool.
Most of the older guys I know in the building trades still refer to rotary hammers as Kangos, even though they have been gone for years.
I think Wolf made the same mistakes all our tool makers did, couldn't resist making cheaper diy tools at the expense of the pro level stuff and then were totally out competed by the cheaper foreign imports.

the modern Kangos:
https://www.milwaukeetool.eu/corded/drilling-and-chipping/sds-max/#!/1/

dutchgray · Jul 10, 2017

Monte said:
the modern Kangos:
https://www.milwaukeetool.eu/corded/drilling-and-chipping/sds-max/#!/1/

Except the actual Kangos were not all red. Did Milwaukee / TTI buy the name or are they just using it?
Bosch seems to be the best regarded by the people I know followed by Makita for value for money, Hilti is too expensive for most here.

Monte · Jul 11, 2017

dutchgray said:
Except the actual Kangos were not all red. Did Milwaukee / TTI buy the name or are they just using it?
Bosch seems to be the best regarded by the people I know followed by Makita for value for money, Hilti is too expensive for most here.

Atlas Copco bought the Kango company/factories iirc in 1993. Together with AEG and Milwaukee Kango was sold to TTI in 2005 iirc. Afaik they still produce parts for the Kangos here in Germany (British factories had to be closed i was told) but the final assembly happens in czech republic nowadays. (At the time of writing it could be all from China though...)
There is also Duss who produces higest quality rotary hammers, breakers and core drills.

Nigelhirst · Jul 16, 2017

Monte said:
Atlas Copco bought the Kango company/factories iirc in 1993. Together with AEG and Milwaukee Kango was sold to TTI in 2005 iirc. Afaik they still produce parts for the Kangos here in Germany (British factories had to be closed i was told) but the final assembly happens in czech republic nowadays. (At the time of writing it could be all from China though...)
There is also Duss who produces higest quality rotary hammers, breakers and core drills.

Monte, will you PLEASE stop doing this! Now I have to have a Duss rotary hammer, and they don't even have an agent in the UK

Monte · Jul 17, 2017

Nigelhirst said:
Monte, will you PLEASE stop doing this! Now I have to have a Duss rotary hammer, and they don't even have an agent in the UK &#55357;&#56898;

nope

You can order direct from the factory. They produce the tools in different voltages.

Nigelhirst · Jul 18, 2017

Monte said:
nope
You can order direct from the factory. They produce the tools in different voltages.

....and they are even making a special version with a UK plug. Just for me :thumbup:

Monte · Jul 18, 2017

Nigelhirst said:
....and they are even making a special version with a UK plug. Just for me

i guess

Mark Garrett · Jul 21, 2017

dutchgray said:
Makita still makes the same planer, its old fashioned and very heavy, but a very good tool.
Most of the older guys I know in the building trades still refer to rotary hammers as Kangos, even though they have been gone for years.
I think Wolf made the same mistakes all our tool makers did, couldn't resist making cheaper diy tools at the expense of the pro level stuff and then were totally out competed by the cheaper foreign imports.

Yes the planer seems to have been a real big hit!
Wolf did make a mistake they should have kept up the quality and they could possibly still be around!
We shouldn't be buying drills that don't last and that can't be repaired. It's not good for the environment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I guess it is good for business!

Mark Garrett · Jul 21, 2017

Monte said:
Atlas Copco bought the Kango company/factories iirc in 1993. Together with AEG and Milwaukee Kango was sold to TTI in 2005 iirc. Afaik they still produce parts for the Kangos here in Germany (British factories had to be closed i was told) but the final assembly happens in czech republic nowadays. (At the time of writing it could be all from China though...)
There is also Duss who produces higest quality rotary hammers, breakers and core drills.

That's a lot of detective work!
Interesting even if a little sad the way things have changed and jobs have gone but for most of the above there is a good reputation for quality/proper industrial tools!

Nigelhirst · Jul 21, 2017

Ironically, I seem to remember from the '60s that Makita started by making Wolf tools under license.
If I can ever work out how to post pictures properly on this site I will post my Wolf collection and some 1970's catalogues...

l

Nigelhirst · Jul 21, 2017

...and there is a little history here:

https://vads.ac.uk/diad/article.php?title=203&article=d.203.33

Mark Garrett · Jul 22, 2017

Nigelhirst said:
Ironically, I seem to remember from the '60s that Makita started by making Wolf tools under license.
If I can ever work out how to post pictures properly on this site I will post my Wolf collection and some 1970's catalogues...l

Ironic indeed!!!

Thanks for the link. I'll have a read at it later. I see the bloke who is drilling isn't wearing eye protection. How things have changed!
I would love to see the collection.
I have had success uploading the photos that are on my Flickr photo stream but only after a lot of trial and error.

Tried to explain how i did it on another thread where people were showing photo of their tractors but no one replied so I don't think my computer tips were much use!

I have some more tools in my own collection which I will try to add next week - hopefully!

Mark Garrett · Jul 28, 2017

A few more photos of the Wolf 'Made in England' tools.
This time a saw - very heavy to use but strong and well able to do anything asked of it.

Vintage Wolf Saw (as new) by K Garrett, on Flickr

Nigelhirst · Jul 28, 2017

That looks like new. You clearly haven't used it!
Nigel

Mark Garrett · Jul 28, 2017

Nigelhirst said:
That looks like new. You clearly haven't used it!
Nigel

I am the second careful owner! This was my first time using it. Other blades had been used by the previous owner and one was quite dull. So it had seen some action. This blade was more or less new as you can see from the clear writing on it. The saw was a nice little find!

Nigelhirst · Jul 28, 2017

It will probably last a second lifetime!

Mark Garrett · Jan 6, 2018

Some more Wolf power tools - by this time re-branded Kango - possibly late 1970s? or 1980s.

The 7" was bought in error on eBay. It was advertised as a 9" but when it arrived and was wrong the seller offered it at a reduced rate so it was kept and put on wire brush/wire wheel duties.

The 4" was just got for nostalgia it will probably get fitted with a flap disc at some stage. I like the convenience of the small 4"

Kango/Wolf grinder & grinderette by K Garrett, on Flickr

dutchgray · Mar 3, 2018

I got all this from eBay
View media item 81315For £38
Drill, all its labels have gone so I don't know what it is and the stand, 2 handles and a non working type 70 drill, think its the switch thats gone.

6PTsocket · Mar 3, 2018

Mark Garrett said:
Yes, I can't imagine the tools that have the Wolf name today are anything close to the old ones in terms of quality. How many will be around 40+ years after they were built??
Sorry, I don't have a spare end guard (at least not yet).
I'm trying to get some members of the family who are interested in tools to recognise quality when they see it - so I bought my nephew a drill vice the same as my own last Christmas. Just to help him get started - see below.

[/url]Wolf vice/vise x 2 by K Garrett, on Flickr[/IMG]

A 220 volt 50 hz tool does not translate well to American but that drill press vise is a beauty on either side of the pond.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

dutchgray · Mar 3, 2018

They made plenty of 110 volt drills as well, required by health and safety on construction sites here, the 50 or 60 Hz dosent really matter on a drill with a universal motor.
There is this one, if you want an American spec 3/4 drill, but its pricey at $82

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wolf-Hea...066523?hash=item3f9368ebdb:g:W-4AAOSwI8lZ8oUH

Mark Garrett · Mar 19, 2018

dutchgray said:
I got all this from eBay
View media item 81315For £38
Drill, all its labels have gone so I don't know what it is and the stand, 2 handles and a non working type 70 drill, think its the switch thats gone.

That is a nice drill & stand at a good price! Hope you enjoy it!

When my late father's big wolf drill finally gave up he bought a Sealey bench drill which I have inherited. I have only used it once with slipping belts and cheap sloppy everything. Your drill is better by far and probably has as much torque.
Everything looks very clean and well cared for!

Mark Garrett · Mar 19, 2018

6PTsocket said:
A 220 volt 50 hz tool does not translate well to American but that drill press vise is a beauty on either side of the pond.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Thanks for the comment
The vise on your side of the pond/vice on our side

is a real treasure.

For home use I prefer the 220 volt but I have found that on ebay 110 is usually cheaper so I am heading more and more in that direction probably 4 out of 5 of the last power tools if not 9 our of 10 have all been 110.

I will try to post some more of the Wolf/Kango collection soon.

Made in England Wolf Power Tools

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