New Toptul wrench

The Muffin Man · Jun 19, 2009

Well I received my newest Toptul order a few days ago and Mike Wren included a Toptul catalog in my order which was a pleasant surprise.

On the cover on the catalog (shown below) unveils a new combination wrench which to me was reminiscent of Facom's 440 series (also pictured below.)
According to the catalog Toptul's wrenches (AAEW series) have thicker beams than their standard series (which I'm all for :bounce:

.) However what does disappoint me is the lengths that the wrench is offered. I hope that Toptul is planning in manufacturing a long and extra long pattern as well as include SAE sizes to compensate for this.

Mike, any word if you'll be getting these anytime soon? Any information you could provide about these wrenches would be great since I was unable to find anything on Toptul's site about these.

Art From De Leon · Jun 20, 2009

olds394 said:
I believe the test result I saw about how strong these wrenches are. But they are some of the ugliest wrenches I've ever seen. They just need to smooth them out or something. IMO

I agree. They may be the best tool in the world, but they just look cheap.

This assumption probably comes from our being conditioned either by advertising, or associating chrome with quality, and is the reason Sears offers their polished line of 'pro' wrenches, or NAPA, or ACE hardware carries a better looking fully chromed wrench line.

Fedwrench · Jun 20, 2009

I also wish they were longer. I don't mind the satin finish or them being ugly. Ugly tools are less likely to walk off. However, about 6.6 inches for a 13mm wrench is a little short for my liking.

billymade · Jun 20, 2009

I think they take their design cues from German/European manufacturers like Stahlwille and Hazet; many here think they are ugly tools! I don't know if they are ugly but they are different; they definitely do not look like the often copied Snap-On ultra smooth chrome look; that seems to define the USA made pro tool esthetic. I will say that if you compare a old Hazet to a old Snap-On; the matte finish seems to hold up better then chrome. I have heard many people say european cars like VW or Porsche are ugly... european design and specifically German design; has a strong design sense and its concerns are different then stuff made here in the USA. Understatement is preferred over chrome flash. To each his own; like so many things in life, we tend to reach for what we are familiar with and in many cases "grown up with"!

superautobacs · Jun 20, 2009

Hrmm, the offset in the open-end is a copy of what Stahlwille has been doing for some time.

Rotar seems to be able to produce quality, design, and aesthetics that meet European standards. Case in point: the Facom 440 series.

I think they really try to embrace the Euro look for their design concept.

I think they look great, IMO.

Rico. · Jun 21, 2009

I own a full set of Facom 440 series spanners from 4mm to 34mm and
without doubt they are the most comfortable spanners I have ever used.
they don't dig in to your hands and are so strong. The clever desgin in
being able to undo recessed bolts when even thin walled sockets won't fit can
be the difference between a good day and a really horrible one.

They do look different and as always beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
I happen to like them, I would guess I'm in the minority. However you really
have to use these spanners before you make a firm judgment on them, they
truly are superb. :thumbup:

Cheers,
Rico.

r6_cannibal · Jun 21, 2009

I actually like how they look, but I'm a fan of Stahlwille and Hazet tools. I dig the satin finish and have a full set of toptul 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 of sandard and deep wall sockets in satin. They look unusual, but they are surprisingly easy to clean.
The design of these wrenches looks like what I've been hunting for, and if they're available in a long or extra long set I will definitely be ordering some. I was actually looking to purchase a set of toptul combo-wrenches in the near future anyway. I really want a Stahlwille set, but for the price the toptul ones fit my budget.

Monte · Jun 22, 2009

i want the Facom ones for a Toptul price....

Bo Heck · Jun 22, 2009

Monte said:
i want the Facom ones for a Toptul price....

Yea that'd be nice

ultgar · Jun 22, 2009

Monte said:
i want the Facom ones for a Toptul price....

Toptul will not come out and admit they are producing the 440 series (and presumably some of the other wrenches) for Facom. I suspect they don't want bite the hand that feeds them (a lot of business). I believe the design is Facom's but it was cheaper to have these made in Taiwan. I wonder if Toptul uses cold forging technology as used at the French factory. SD

Monte · Jun 22, 2009

I wonder why Stanley had to contract a 3rd party with manufacturing these wrenches (if it`s true that they`re made by Rotar)

superautobacs · Jun 23, 2009

I remember Alfajuj stating Rotar made the new Facom combo. wrenches.
Through conversations with Reversegear, I found that, although Stanley has a factory in Taiwan, they couldn't muster up a wrench that met Facom's standards. Hence, contracting Rotar for the wrenches (and even more?)

I still wonder what other brands under Stanley's umbrella is made by Rotar. I'm pretty certain that Britool has quite a few items from Rotar.

wrenhandtools · Jun 23, 2009

If there is enough interest, I will bring this new style wrench in sooner rather than later, but so far the demand is for larger sized sockets, complete sets as well, and the specialty auto tools along with the auto body items.

Sincerely,

wrenhandtools · Jun 23, 2009

Forgot to mention that they sent me a couple samples in the last shipment. The finish is flawless. They are very nice. I have never used this style but I can see where it would be handy for sure. I'm also pretty certain this wrench will only be made in the satin finish.

ultgar · Jun 23, 2009

wrenhandtools said:
Forgot to mention that they sent me a couple samples in the last shipment. The finish is flawless. They are very nice. I have never used this style but I can see where it would be handy for sure. I'm also pretty certain this wrench will only be made in the satin finish.

They sent me the same samples in satin....this is the traditional Euro finish. Surprisingly, Toptul does not show the 34mm or any of the fractional sizes (of the AAEW wrench) in their 2009 catalog.

I still prefer the old 40 series 32mm wrench for fan clutch removals....the AAEW3232 is too thick to fit over the fan clutch hub nut. SD

Joe Mamma · Jun 23, 2009

Can anyone comment on how well the Toptul wrenches (especially the open ends) fit?

One of the things I like about high quality wrenches is that they fit better (i.e., tighter) than lower quality ones, and are less likely to round off the corners of a fastener. But I haven't heard anyone comment on that point with the Toptul ones.

Thanks.

Joe Mamma

The Muffin Man · Jun 23, 2009

wrenhandtools said:
Forgot to mention that they sent me a couple samples in the last shipment. The finish is flawless. They are very nice. I have never used this style but I can see where it would be handy for sure. I'm also pretty certain this wrench will only be made in the satin finish.

Rico. · Jun 23, 2009

superautobacs said:
I remember Alfajuj stating Rotar made the new Facom combo. wrenches.
Through conversations with Reversegear, I found that, although Stanley has a factory in Taiwan, they couldn't muster up a wrench that met Facom's standards. Hence, contracting Rotar for the wrenches (and even more?)

I still wonder what other brands under Stanley's umbrella is made by Rotar. I'm pretty certain that Britool has quite a few items from Rotar.

Nearly all my socket sets are Britool and they are made by Rotar, Very high
quality and the ratchet heads are identical to Toptul, I would go so far as to
say that Totul tools would seem to be the best quality/price compromise.

If they can make Facom's spanners to their very high standards, it would seem
to me that would use this know how to make their own brand spanners at
very nearly the same quality if not as good as Facom's.

Cheers,
Rico.

r6_cannibal · Jun 23, 2009

wrenhandtools said:
Forgot to mention that they sent me a couple samples in the last shipment. The finish is flawless. They are very nice. I have never used this style but I can see where it would be handy for sure. I'm also pretty certain this wrench will only be made in the satin finish.

Mike: Any word if these will come in longer versions?

superautobacs · Jun 23, 2009

Rico. said:
Nearly all my socket sets are Britool and they are made by Rotar, Very high
quality and the ratchet heads are identical to Toptul ...

I seem to remember saying the ratchets were from Rotar, but was told otherwise. Maybe my recollection is wrong. :headscrat

Some other things in Britool's line that are Rotar: ball pein hammer; rachet wrench socket adaptors; wobble-plus extentions.

Rico. said:
If they can make Facom's spanners to their very high standards, it would seem to me that would use this know how to make their own brand spanners at very nearly the same quality if not as good as Facom's.

Cheers,
Rico.

We can only hope so.

vssjim · Jun 23, 2009

My extra long metric combo wrenchs fit good and tight and work great.

wrenhandtools · Jun 24, 2009

No word on longer versions at all.

Monte · Jul 19, 2009

Which products exactly are made by Rotar in-house and which sourced from other companies ?

Joelfke · Jul 19, 2009

im not even sure if he can answer that legally.... lol

Coach James · Jul 19, 2009

I like to shape and don't care between chrome and satin etc. If the price is one I can afford, I would be interested in getting a set.

Coach

Monte · Jul 19, 2009

their new "Tiger`s paw" oooops i mean "paw" adjustable wrenches are not from rotar ... (and not from Kastar) ..... what else ?

Proxene Tiger`s paw

Monte · Jul 21, 2009

The manufacturer of Toptul T-handles.......(?):

Taylor J. · Jul 21, 2009

Monte said:
The manufacturer of Toptul T-handles.......(?):

Has anyone tried these?
If so how do you like them?

Thanks,
Taylor J.

Monte · Jul 21, 2009

just found a manufacturer of Toptuls ratchets........: (?)

www.wtools.com.tw

theirs:

Toptul

Joelfke · Jul 21, 2009

looks to be similar but not the same....

site says theyre made in taiwan too...maybe both are made by the same company for these two different companies?

superautobacs · Jul 21, 2009

Vibratory finishing seems to be Rotars core competency, so they could very well be purchasing semi-finished ratchets elsewhere, like William Tools, then having them vibe finished and fully assembled within Rotar. Their line of tools, with the Toptul brand, was created from having the cooperation of a network of OEM's/ODM's/OBM's in Taiwan.

As for William Tools, IIRC, even CDI / Snap-on sources stuff from there.

wrenchr · Jul 22, 2009

Those wrenches are fugly to me.

autoace · Jul 22, 2009

wrenchr said:
Those wrenches are fugly to me.

They kinda look like Hazet wrenches, I thought.

wrenchr · Jul 22, 2009

autoace said:
They kinda look like Hazet wrenches, I thought.

Not a fan of those either. :spit:

wrenchr · Jul 22, 2009

Monte said:
just found a manufacturer of Toptuls ratchets........: (?)

www.wtools.com.tw

theirs:

Toptul

Yup those are at your local murray's. :lol_hitti

Uncle Buck · Jul 22, 2009

To me they look no different than the index head Husky's I bought at the HD, or for that matter they do not look any better than The Pittsburg Professionals that HF sells. Not really a lick of difference. I will keep my old school coarse tooth ratchets thanks.

Monte · Jul 22, 2009

whut ???? Hazet ??? They`re much more uglyful ehhh beautiful !!!!!!

Like superautobacs already mentioned Wtools help them (CDI/Snap-On) build the components of their Digital Torque Wrench. And they produce other things such as Rotator Ratchet for Stanley (Link)
The CDI Computorq3 wrench also not really look like its from the US or snap-on (Ratchet head.....) they give no information of the country of origin too...

BTW:
Here the snap-on Techwrench: Country of origin Taiwan:
click

Here the snap-on Techwrench: Country of origin USA:
click

So with the addition of a ratchet head its made in USA then ?

superautobacs · Jul 22, 2009

Monte said:
So with the addition of a ratchet head its made in USA then ?

Something a little fishy is going on there...
mabye the FTC needs to be given some awareness of this :bounce:

enkratestool · Jul 27, 2009

No SAE version of the Toptul super-torque wrenches?

ultgar · Jul 27, 2009

enkratestool said:
No SAE version of the Toptul super-torque wrenches?

You'll find something VERY similar under the Facom name as part of their 440 series. SD

New Toptul wrench

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