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Down Under: Tools from Australia?

B

Bolster

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Jul 8, 2008
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4,056
Location
Mexifornia
Are there any Australian made tools?

If the answer is 'no,' then what do you mates use?

What was that adjustable wrench that Mad Max carried?

madmax1.jpg
 
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R

rocketv

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Aug 24, 2010
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Location
Brisbane, Australia
There were quite a lot of tools made in Australia historically, but very few in current production. Seems as though most Oz companies either folded, were bought out or started manufacturing offshore.
I have old stuff made in Australia by Sidchrome, Dowidat, DUFOR, Zircalloy, POPE, GEE JAY, and Wiltshire, but I'm not sure that there are many, if any companies producing tools here on a large commercial scale. (I'm no expert on the topic though, so I may be totally wrong:eek: )

I believe the tool in Mad Max was Mel Gibson :lol_hitti

rod
 
S

spv

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Aug 6, 2010
Messages
301
Recent tool purchases that are "Made in Australia":
- Finkal punches are still made in Australia (I was totally shocked to see the "Made In Australia").
- Sutton still makes drill bits in Australia.
- I have a Peerless P17 Compressor (purchased new a week ago!) that is made in Australia.

The two main brands here are Sidchrome and Kincrome. Sidchrome is worlds better than Kincrome, but manufactured in Taiwan by Stanley.

If I see a tool that is made in Australia, I will pretty much always be swayed to purchase :)
 
S

Sick Puppy

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Jan 3, 2010
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Sydney
Don't forget Warren and Brown dual signal torque wrenches!

Raved about here in NZ and in Oz, come in at least four sizes, and about $400NZ! :shocking:

[goes off to find a pic of the one he's got]

I want to get a used 1/4" or 3/8" one, but they go for a pretty penny...

As an aside, Kincrome were also Australian-made, but are Chaiwanese now... :(
 
A

AussieDan

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Sep 18, 2008
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Syracuse, NY
The first socket set I bought was a small 3/8 Sidchrome set for car repairs when I was in college, it didn't make the trek to the states though.
 
M

Monte

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Dec 23, 2008
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Location
Germany
Some Sidchrome tools ain´t that bad i heard :) Like the french made pliers or this ratchet ....

1070_2.jpg
 
M

Monte

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Dec 23, 2008
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Location
Germany
Looks pretty cool huh ??!!

The round head Facom ratchets were once also available with red handle - rebadged as "Würth"
 
G

GBNZ

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Jun 16, 2009
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324
Location
Los Angles
Sick Puppy said:
Don't forget Warren and Brown dual signal torque wrenches!

Raved about here in NZ and in Oz, come in at least four sizes, and about $400NZ! :shocking:

[goes off to find a pic of the one he's got]

I want to get a used 1/4" or 3/8" one, but they go for a pretty penny...

As an aside, Kincrome were also Australian-made, but are Chaiwanese now... :(
Click to expand...


Warren & Brown are made in England!
 
Q

Quasimodo

Member
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Sep 26, 2010
Messages
14
There were quite a lot of tools made in Australia historically, but very few in current production. Seems as though most Oz companies either folded, were bought out or started manufacturing offshore.
Click to expand...

Good database of (mostly defunct) makers here:

http://www.htpaa.org.au/ausmakers.php

Liked the old Sidchrome stuff from the 1960's and 70's but have now become a Stahlwille and Gedore fancier.
 
J

jteck75

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Nov 25, 2009
Messages
294
Location
Benton Ky.
I've got a set of hose pincher pliers from Napa that were made in Australia. Well built and durable!
 
J

jabberwoki

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May 1, 2009
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6,454
Location
puyallup wa usa
Those older aussi made sidchrome spanners are very beefy great tool! It breaks my heart to hear they are now made in fkn china.
 
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C

Charles (in GA)

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Jan 11, 2006
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Location
50 mi south of Atlanta
GBNZ said:
Warren & Brown are made in England!
Click to expand...

I thought this didn't sound right. Their web site is not clear on where they are made so I could not offer any information to the contrary. I emailed Warren & Brown and asked them where their torque wrenches were made, and that I'd heard that some of them might be made in England. Their reply, directly from the email....................

Hi Charles,

Our torque wrenches are made in Australia and have been for the last 50+ years.

Never have been made in England.

Regards,

Ben Ciardullo | Warren & Brown Technologies Pty Ltd

Ph: +613 9317 6888 Fax: +613 9318 6091

Email: [email protected]

www.warrenandbrown.com.au
 
S

Sick Puppy

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Jan 3, 2010
Messages
869
Location
Sydney
Thought as much! :D Having said that, Kincrome have now come out with identical deflecting beam torque wrenches too- I hope W & B haven't leased the design to them/ Asia... that would be a huge mistake, and would **** too... I will bide my time and grab a 1/4" or 3/8" one when I have more cash... even second hand they fetch $80-130.

Never seen a bad review for one...
 
D

doctorschmullus

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Jun 13, 2010
Messages
135
Location
new zealand
just got a hacksaw, that was made in australia. Im pretty sure cooper hand tools makes a few crescent, weller nicholson tools in australia
 
G

gf0012-aust

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Joined
Apr 17, 2011
Messages
172
Location
Adelaide
managed to score an old Dufor. (DUFOR 10.5 inch RATCHET 1/2 inch drive)

Dufor Ratchet.jpg

some ****** has used it as a hammer so needs some grinding to get rid of the lumps.

also need to find a male/male 1/2" adapter!

$1.25 on ebay
 
S

spv

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Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
301
catfish said:
Kinchrome still makes these 'Finkal' Brand hole punches in Australia , probably one of the only quality tools kinchrome makes these days.The rest is OEM rebranded China
Click to expand...

Yep, sums it up nicely regarding Kincrome.
That said I have the Finkal set and they are quality. I purchased on principle when I saw the made in Australia on them. Have had a year of reasonably heavy home workshop use and are still perfect. I really do not get Kincrome as a company. Why be another Chinese rebadging brand? If only they would go back to the Japanese made gear..
 
S

spv

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Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
301
I am thinking about buying one of those W&B torque wrenches. I have 2 Gedore Torcofix torque wrenches and 3 Kincrome (don't ask! Would not trust them - never used them).

Hammer looks good. Any pricing? I was thinking about grabbing some Thor Hammers. Made in the UK. That is Australia right? ;-)
 
G

GTVi

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Joined
Sep 8, 2009
Messages
222
Location
Australia
PrecisionTools said:
Anyone seen these before? I was at a friends place yesterday and he showed me his set an he loves them.

http://www.tekiwi.com/products/superwrench/index.php
Click to expand...

Yes I have them, I bought them new when they were all the rage...never use them...display purposes only...however they are great for doing pull up exercises when you hook them to an overhead tube/pipe/bar at a play ground....they grip very well, but not for precision use, and a bit fiddly to use in tight places...they are perfect for locking onto pipes...
 
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