BAHCO Made in USA tools

[davestlouis]

What is Snap On trying to accomplish with the BAHCO ratchets and wrenches that are turning up at retail locations? They are US-made, so they have no real connection to the Swedish BAHCO except the name and parent company. Where does Williams fit into this scenario?

My local Worldwide Liquidators store has both BAHCO and Williams sets, the BAHCO are full polish, the Williams have a matte industrial finish.

I have been unimpressed with the BAHCO ratchets, but the wrenches seem OK.

https://goo.io/KKQVMl

 

[wrenchr]

The wrenches have a weird design by the open end.

 

[Paladin]

The wrenches have a weird design by the open end.

If your talking about the beam tapering down right before the open-end, they are the same as the newer Williams USA Supercombo's. What purpose it serves, I don't know, but the Williams Supercombo's have the anti-slip open-end. The Bahco's probably do as well. I really like mine!

 

[davestlouis]

They have a thin spot by the open end, not sure why it's there. The sockets are fine, nothing special, but not junk either.

 

[davestlouis]

I just don't understand the purpose in selling a foreign-sounding product, with no obvious tie-in to SO that would give the name some brand equity, when they have JH Williams sitting there. The marketing escapes me.

 

[Paladin]

I just don't understand the purpose in selling a foreign-sounding product, with no obvious tie-in to SO that would give the name some brand equity, when they have JH Williams sitting there. The marketing escapes me.

I agree. If I didn't know anything about Bahco or Williams, I'd buy Williams. Bahco sounds like something I'd find at HF.

 

[davestlouis]

And I think my BAHCO's have smooth open ends, but I'm too lazy to look right now...I'll wake up the dogs and there'll be hell to pay. If they pushed the whole "Swedish Snap On" tie in there would be some Euro-panache there, but they don't even bother to do that.

They could sell the stuff for big money like Beta or Hazet, if they marketed it properly.

 

[Paladin]

Yeah, but I don't know if marketing would help because I don't know that the average American associates Swedish with quality like products made in Germany. On a personal level, I think VERY highly of Swedish steel because I am a fan of Gustav and Husqvarna rifles, so the marketing would work on me!

 

[davestlouis]

I have owned several SAAB cars and a Volvo ( and a couple of Swedish Mausers), so I'm a fan of Swedish engineering.

 

[Paladin]

I have owned several SAAB cars and a Volvo ( and a couple of Swedish Mausers), so I'm a fan of Swedish engineering.

Unfortunately, over the last few years, more folks seem to be appreciating the Swede Mausers. They ain't cheap any more!!! Yeah, I definately appreciate Swedish engineering!

 

[Monte]

The Bahco sockets/ratchets/wrenches which are sold here in germany are made in argentinia, the sets which are sold in these boxes *(click)* are made in Taiwan. So i guess no swedish steel here...

 

[amishman]

Anyone have a good source to buy Bahco in the USA. And I mean the slick looking sets like Monte just posted, not the snap on stuff you find at overstock.

tj

 

[eschoendorff]

I just don't understand the purpose in selling a foreign-sounding product, with no obvious tie-in to SO that would give the name some brand equity, when they have JH Williams sitting there. The marketing escapes me.

I dunno... but the only place I ever see Bahco stuff is at places like Big Lots and the like.

Then again I have a few Bahco saws that I REALLY like, but they were made in Europe.

 

[jerk_chicken]

Looks like basic quality stuff with a high price range due to it being perceived and marketed as a brand name.

 

[plinker]

The open end on the wrenches, at least with the Williams is a "flankdrive plus" style feature. It works pretty much the same as the Snap-on.

I have a williams 1/2 combo wrench with it and it will really chew up fasteners with enough torque.

 

[Theo]

BAHCO tools are intended to be marketed towards Plumbers, Electricians and HVAC Techs.

Williams tools are intended to be marketed towards Industrial Millwrights and Mechanics.

Have a look at BAHCO Linesman Pliers, Adj Joint Pliers or Side Cutters. They have different features (and price points) than tools typically used by Industrial guys.

The differences between the brands isn't as apparent with combination wrenches and ratchets but they exist to round out the product lines. The other difference is the channels the tools are intended to be sold through.

You're more likely to see BAHCO Tools sold at Electrical Distributors like Graybar and Williams Tools sold at places like Hagemeyer. This detail is a little more relevant to the marketing, merchandising and promotion of the tools.

 

[Rigmaster]

Unfortunately, over the last few years, more folks seem to be appreciating the Swede Mausers. They ain't cheap any more!!! Yeah, I definately appreciate Swedish engineering!

Oh yeah, I appreciate it too!!!!

 

[bchee]

the Williams Supercombo's have the anti-slip open-end. The Bahco's probably do as well. I really like mine!

The open end on the wrenches, at least with the Williams is a "flankdrive plus" style feature. It works pretty much the same as the Snap-on.

And I think my BAHCO's have smooth open ends, but I'm too lazy to look right now...

just fyi the BAHCO open ends do NOT have any kind of flank drive grooves like the Williams Supercombos. The beam shape is otherwise the same

 

[Paladin]

Oh yeah, I appreciate it too!!!!

Oh yes, I really appreciate those kind of Swedes! Very nice!

 

[Vinko]

I picked up some Bahco gardening tools -- some rose pruners (pretty good) and hedge trimmers (great) in my last order from Harry Epstein.

 

[jerk_chicken]

So is the concensus that if I buy Williams Supercombos, then it's a great and cheaper alternative to SO Flanks?

 

[plinker]

So is the concensus that if I buy Williams Supercombos, then it's a great and cheaper alternative to SO Flanks?

Based on my experiance, I would say so. YMMV

 

[jerk_chicken]

Damn, black finish only in SAE.

 

[paramudduck]

Supercombo's? They are made in chrome, black, yellow and red. Now finding a dealer can be the hard part.

Edit: Here is the address for the online Williams catalog.

http://digimag.rrd.com/JHWilliams317/

 

[lbgradwell]

Damn, black finish only in SAE.

Keep your eyes on these two eBay Sellers for potential great deals on NOS Williams Supercombos...

I bought a metric set - New Williams 12 pc Combination METRIC Wrench Set 9-23mm - for $36 in May 2007 and I think I've seen SAE sets before too.

http://myworld.ebay.ca/matsuda499a

http://myworld.ebay.ca/matsuda499b

http://myworld.ebay.ca/findyourtools

The first 2 links are for the same guy; I have dealt with him several times and can vouch for Chris. The other fellow is a (former?) partner of his.

 

[jerk_chicken]

Ahhh, he used to sell Toptul. I also saw a listing that showed the A and B accounts are different and shipped from different parts of the country (one from Ak).

I would love a black finish metric in the Flank profiling.

 

[Chris Adams]

Keep your eyes on these two eBay Sellers for potential great deals on NOS Williams Supercombos...

I bought a metric set - New Williams 12 pc Combination METRIC Wrench Set 9-23mm - for $36 in May 2007 and I think I've seen SAE sets before too.

http://myworld.ebay.ca/matsuda499a

http://myworld.ebay.ca/matsuda499b

http://myworld.ebay.ca/findyourtools

The first 2 links are for the same guy; I have dealt with him several times and can vouch for Chris. The other fellow is a (former?) partner of his.

Ditto. I've bought a number of boxes of tool from both vendors (the a and b are the same guy, of course) and everything has been as stated, not one problem.

 

[paramudduck]

Chris is cool, I've bought several items from him. Only problem was when he sent a pair of prybars in an cardboard priority envelope. They punch through the side and disappeared.

Told him and he sent me another set right out.

 

[Paladin]

Yup, another thumbs up for Matsuda. That's where I got my Williams Supercombo's. Fast shipping and the Supercombos are great wrenches, especially for the price you can get them for on ebay!

 

[NugeConstruction]

Funny you should mention SuperCombos, JC, because in following up on all the talk around here about them, I stayed up ridiculously late last night thumbing through the Williams catalog.

But I could not find any listing there of complementary metric sets for:

* WS-8707 7 Piece Double Head 60 degree Offset Box end Wrench Ste, SAE, in Roll Pouch (made in USA if I am correct)

* WS-1142PC 14 Piece Mini Open End Wrench & Plier Set, SAE, in Roll Pouch (made in USA if I am correct)

If I had the choice between (a) a pair of pliers being thrown in on a deal, and (b) being able to buy a metric set to complement an SAE set...

...I would choose being able to buy a complementary metric set over FIFTY tag-along pliers!

Hoping to receive feedback from the powers that be on this concern,

NC

 

[35mastr]

I was at Motion Industries yesterday and they are a Bahco dealer.

 

[Paladin]

Funny you should mention SuperCombos, JC, because in following up on all the talk around here about them, I stayed up ridiculously late last night thumbing through the Williams catalog.
NC

Nuge- if your looking for Williams, Matsuda on E-Bay is in Dutch Harbor. That would be pretty fast shipping. I hate you, by the way! I'm an Alaska resident as well. I'm only in Idaho because I'm stationed here. I miss Anchorage bad. The lower 48 *****...

 

[jerk_chicken]

Matsuda has a set or two now, but missing lots of sizes I'd need, so I'd have to buy the missing ones. However, they look pretty nice. I wonder how the alloys stack up against SO and other high end mechanic's brands.

 

[bimmer630]

I dunno... but the only place I ever see Bahco stuff is at places like Big Lots and the like.

Then again I have a few Bahco saws that I REALLY like, but they were made in Europe.

Thats "BAYCO" not BAHCO, that you see at big lots

 

[bimmer630]

By the way the only reason I revived this old thread is because I was looking into US made bahco stuff after seeing this bahco breaker bar for sale https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=368342